Chapter 6: Promises and Suspicions

While I was in painful turmoil, my beloved consort suddenly began to cry.

Her shoulders shook, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Even in illness, she was beautiful. Her bangles jingled softly as she grabbed my hand.

“Your Majesty, do you still remember what you promised me at Lotus Ghat? Who was I doing this all for, to the point of harming my health? After much prayer, I finally conceived this child, but if he is to be born only to suffer cold looks and ridicule in the palace, I’d rather not give birth to him at all.”

She pounded her belly hard. I immediately grabbed her hand and blurted out, “I remember, my son will be born as the legitimate heir, and I will make him crown prince.”

Back then, I was hunted by traitors, wounded and blinded. If not for Meera risking her life to get medicine for me in the ice cave, I might have died long ago. How could I have doubted her? I’m truly not human.

“But Your Majesty, if the crown prince’s mother is only a consort, what place will he have? And what place will I have? How will I face my family, or step into the temple, if I remain only a rakhail in people’s eyes?”

Her words struck deep, echoing the gossip that snaked through the bazaar and the whispers that grew louder every festival. Even the local pundit had, at the last Holi puja, muttered about the importance of bloodlines and station. Since ancient times, the crown prince was always the son of the Maharani. That day, I stopped the order to remove the Maharani, but have yet to fulfil my promise to make Meera Maharani. No wonder she feels uneasy.

“The Maharani has the Singh family army behind her, and her father is the grand general, but I have nothing—only Your Majesty. When the time comes, the Maharani will never let me go.”

My beloved consort’s words were a warning. The idea of removing the Maharani resurfaced faintly. But in my mind, that clear and beautiful face from yesterday kept appearing. Pity she has the Singh family army behind her. General Singh has lately been refuting me in court, making me lose face. If I favour his daughter again, won’t that just strengthen the Singh family and put Meera in even greater danger?

My thoughts churned, as if a monsoon storm had struck inside my head. I tried to reassure her: “Don’t worry, Meera, that order to remove the Maharani, I’ll go back and…”

Before I finished, the pop-up appeared—

[It’s over, the clueless Raja is going to be foolish again.]

[Back then, the one who saved him at Lotus Ghat was not Consort Meera at all. When will he ever realise the truth?]

My pupils dilated as I stared at the pop-up, afraid to miss a single word. But this time, I waited a long time, and nothing else appeared.

“Your Majesty?”

Meera’s voice was soft, almost breaking, and her eyes shimmered with tears. I was torn. I wanted to promise her the world, but the doubts planted by those pop-ups would not let me.

“As for removing the Maharani, let me think it over again.”

The smile on Consort Meera’s lips gradually faded. She wanted to say more, but a tall figure entered from outside, knelt, and said:

“This humble official greets Your Majesty and the lady.”

The newcomer wore the uniform of the Royal Medical Bureau and was neither servile nor overbearing. My eyes flickered as I held Consort Meera’s hand and said meaningfully:

“Doctor Ravi, you’re finally here. Quickly check on my beloved consort. She caught cold saving me before, and now she’s pregnant. Will there be any harm?”

The pop-up said the one who saved me wasn’t the noble consort. Then she couldn’t have caught cold because of it. I want to see who is lying to me.