Morning came soon but it wasn't peaceful .
Rudra woke up and saw that Aarush was not there .
She got ready .
Meera came to her .
" that minister is found dead in garden ....i promise that i didn't kill him " meera said .
" i didn't expect this . It was Tara who started the game but ..... something feels off . I am her enemy not him. "
" shall we go there princess. "
" yes . Maybe we can find any clue . "
Rudra and meera went to garden . The body was on the floor , surrounded by palace workers . Aarush was also there .
" seal the palace . "
Rudra noticed the perfect strike on his throat .
Rudra and Meera covered their mouths as if there are shocked .
" let's not overact , corpses are not new to royal families . " wishpered Rudra .
Meera just blinked her eyes in acknowledgement .
At court .
Aarush sat on throne .
" a minister is found dead in the garden . We are gathered to discuss about it . The family of the deceased should get justice and his soul can rest in peace . " announced the royal spokesperson .
" king ... i suspect someone but .... " said a minister
" who do you suspect ? "
" second queen , Rudra or her maid "
" suspected persons shall come before the court " said spokesperson .
Both of stood in centre of the hall .
" minister say the reason for your suspicion "
" yesterday night the minister was drunk and went to rest early but followed by that second queen also left the hall . "
" what do you say queen ? " Aarush asked .
" king ... i don't know anything . I left because i was asked to go . "
" who asked ? "
" fi...first queen's maid " .
" where is first queen ? " asked Aarush .
" she is resting as she felt unwell today " said his aunt .
" where is her maid ? "
" her father died yesterday night "
" i have suspicion on first queen's maid , majesty . She was pouring wine for him ."
" just pouring wine means killing someone ? " it was Tara .
She came with mother queen .
" then how can i be suspicious of these two persons because they were not present ? "
Aarush's voice thundered across the hall, silencing the whispers of the ministers and the accusations of the court. He stood from his throne, his gaze fixed on Tara, then shifting toward the empty space where her maid should have been.
"Enough questioning for today," Aarush declared, his tone cold and final. "If this maid is the one who summoned the Second Queen, then she is the key to this entire web."
He looked directly at the royal spokesperson and the guards.
"I want that maid present in this court by tomorrow morning. I do not care where she has gone. Even if she is in heaven with her father, she shall be brought before me."
The court felt the weight of his command. There was no room for excuses or delays. Tara's expression remained frozen, while Rudra watched the King, noting the hidden intensity in his order.
"The palace is to remain under complete seal," Aarush continued. "No one enters, no one leaves. This court is adjourned until tomorrow."
The ministers began to file out, the atmosphere thick with tension. The guards moved to lock the heavy gates of the palace, ensuring that every soul within the walls remained trapped until the truth was forced into the light.