The guest chambers felt more like a prison than a safeguarded palace room as I stood by the window, staring out at the garden bathed in moonlight. The laughter and chatter from the dining hall were a cruel reminder of the shift that had occurred within these walls. Tara's family had welcomed Hemant with open arms, treating him like the family member they believed he was, while I was left in the shadows, a forgotten relic of a past they no longer wished to acknowledge.

I felt the weight of my failures pressing down on me. The manipulation and choices I had made had driven a wedge between us. My heart ached at the thought of how easily she seemed to slip away from me, drawn to Hemant's light while I remained trapped in the darkness of my own making.

As I paced the room, trying to gather my thoughts, I noticed a flicker of movement in the garden. I rushed to the window, and my heart sank. Tara was there, her figure wavering as she stumbled on the uneven stones. Instinctively, I flung the door open and dashed down the corridor, desperate to reach her before she fell.

"Tara!" I called out, panic rising in my chest as I hurried into the garden.

Just as I reached her, she regained her balance, but the look of surprise on her face mirrored my own shock. "Ansh?" she said, her voice a blend of confusion and concern.

"Are you alright?" I asked, stepping closer, my heart racing at the sight of her. She looked pale, and a flicker of worry coursed through me. "You shouldn't be out here alone."

"Why not? This is my father's kingdom and my father's palace. You cannot dictate your orders here," she replied, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands.

"I understand," I said, my voice softening. "But you need to be careful. You're not just carrying your own weight anymore. You have our child to think about."

The mention of our child hung in the air between us, a silent acknowledgement of the bond that still tethered us together. But as her gaze dropped, I sensed the conflict brewing within her.

"I'm trying to figure things out, Anshuman," she said, her voice strained. "It's not just about us anymore. It's about what's best for the baby."

My heart sank. "And you think that means pushing me away?" I stepped closer, trying to bridge the distance that grew with every word. "I'm not the enemy, Tara. I've made mistakes, but I came back for you-for us."

"Did you really?" she challenged, her eyes glinting in the moonlight. "Because it feels like you're still playing games, manipulating everything around you to get what you want."

"I'm not manipulating anything!" I exclaimed, desperation lacing my tone. "I came back to protect you both. I won't let Hemant take you from me."

Her expression shifted, a mix of fear and defiance. "He's not trying to take me. He's trying to help! Something you didn't seem to care about when you made your choices."

I flinched at her words, the truth cutting deeper than I wanted to admit. "You think he cares about you? About our child? He sees you as a means to an end, a political advantage!"

"That's not true!" she shot back, her voice rising. "He treats me with respect. He sees me as I am, not as a pawn."

I felt the world around me tilt, her words landing like a heavy blow. "And what about me?" I asked, my voice lowering. "What do you see when you look at me? Am I just the man who ruined everything?"

Her gaze softened for a moment, the barriers between us wavering. "I don't want to feel this way, Anshuman. But every time I think of you, I remember how you manipulated everything. You put us in danger."

"And I'm here now," I said urgently. "I'm trying to make it right. You're my wife, and you're carrying my child. I won't abandon you. I can't."

Before she could respond, the sounds of laughter echoed from the hall, drawing her attention. I could see the conflict warring in her eyes, the pull of familial duty versus the connection we once shared.

"I have to go," she said softly, stepping back. "They'll be looking for me."

"Not yet," I pleaded, reaching out to grasp her hand, desperate to hold on. "Just... stay a moment longer. Please."

Her hand trembled in mine, a fleeting moment of connection that I clung to. "Anshuman, I can't keep doing this. I need time to think."

"Time?" I echoed, feeling the panic rise. "You don't have to decide everything now. Just know that I'm here for you. I'm willing to fight for you-for our family. But I want you to come back to Aranyapura with me."

As she looked at me, I saw the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, the fear that I might not be the man she hoped I would be. But before she could respond, Hemant's voice rang out, calling for her from the hall.

Tara's face shifted, the moment shattered by the reality of our situation. "I have to go," she said again, her voice firm this time, pulling away from my grasp. "Please, just... give me space."

I stood there, feeling helpless as she turned and walked away, her silhouette disappearing into the shadows. The laughter from the hall felt like a taunt, a reminder of the distance that had grown between us.

As I watched her go, my heart felt heavy with the weight of what I could lose. I was fighting just for her. But would it be enough?

I returned to the guest chambers, the silence oppressive. My pulse was still racing, every fibre of my being telling me to act, to do something-anything to stop the unravelling that was happening right before my eyes. But how? Tara had asked for space, and yet every second that passed felt like I was losing her to Hemant.

I spent the next few days trapped in a suffocating limbo. Hemant seemed to integrate himself deeper into the family, always at Tara's side. He was playing the part of the hero, always a step ahead. Worse, he played the game with an infuriating politeness, never showing his cards directly. But I knew what he wanted. He wasn't just after Tara-he was after Indravathi's throne, using her as a pawn in a game far grander than we could see.

And yet, I was stuck. Every time I tried to approach her, she slipped away, offering excuses, her once warm gaze now distant and cold. My frustration mounted, and I could feel that dangerous pull inside of me-one that urged me to take back control, to force the situation into my favor. But wasn't that what had pushed her away in the first place?

On the seventh day, something shifted. There was a commotion in the palace-rumours of a plot against Tara's family, whispers of unseen threats lurking in the shadows. A knot formed in my stomach as I overheard the palace guards murmuring about assassination attempts, and my instincts flared to life.

I sought Tara out, finding her sitting alone in the garden, looking more fragile than ever. Her usual strength seemed to have crumbled under the weight of her divided loyalties. As I approached, she didn't look up, her fingers tracing patterns in the dirt absently.

"I heard the rumours," I said quietly, stepping toward her. "I heard a pigeon being sent to Sasurji(father-in-law) about a possible rebel uprising demanding your family to abdicate."

She tensed but didn't speak for a long time. Finally, she whispered, "I don't know what to believe anymore."

I crouched down beside her, lowering my voice. "Believe me when I say this isn't just about us. Your family is in danger. I know you don't trust me, but I need you to understand-I wouldn't let anything happen to you or the baby. Ever."

Tara looked up at me then, her eyes clouded with doubt and fear. Before she could respond, footsteps echoed from the entrance to the garden. Hemant emerged, his face serious, though there was a hint of satisfaction beneath it.

"There you are," he said smoothly, his eyes flicking between us. "I've spoken to your father, Tara. He agrees it's best for you to stay within the palace walls. These are dangerous times. The rebels apparently have too much anger against the royals."

The tension in the air was palpable as he stepped closer, his presence a constant barrier between Tara and me. But as much as I loathed him, I couldn't deny the truth of his words. Indravathi was on the brink of something catastrophic. So much had changed in a week.

"We should leave," I said, the urgency in my voice unmistakable. "Come with me to Aranyapura. You'll be safer there."

Hemant crossed his arms, an amused smile curling at the edges of his lips. "Aranyapura? And who's to say your kingdom isn't in even more danger? No, she's staying here, where her family can protect her."

My fists clenched at my sides, but I kept calm. "This isn't a debate, Hemant. She's my wife, and I have every right to protect her as I see fit."

Tara's eyes darted between us, caught in the crossfire of our words. "Stop it, both of you," she finally said, her voice shaky. "This isn't helping."

Before I could argue further, a loud crash sounded from within the palace. All three of us turned toward the source, the unmistakable sound of a struggle filling the air. Guards shouted orders and the palace descended into chaos. My instincts took over.

"Stay here," I commanded Tara, though I doubted she would listen.

Without waiting for Hemant, I sprinted toward the main hall, my heart pounding. When I reached the entrance, I was greeted with a scene of utter mayhem. A group of armed men had breached the palace, and the guards were in a fierce battle trying to hold them back. It was an ambush, just as I had feared. This was a coup. The rumours about the rebels in the western province of Indravathi was true and they had decided to act.

I saw Tara's father being ushered to safety and then I saw one of the attackers slipping through the melee, heading straight toward the garden.

Toward Tara.

The palace was a battlefield, the deafening clash of steel and shouts of chaos echoing through every corridor. I could feel it in the air-the weight of the coup bearing down like a storm. This wasn't a simple attack. It was a coordinated effort to seize the throne by capturing everyone connected to the royal family. No one would be spared. Not the king, not his advisors, not even Hemant or me.

As I ran, I heard the heavy boots of rebels pounding through the halls, their intent clear-take us alive. If they could capture us, the coup would succeed, and all of Rudravaya would fall under their control.

I bolted toward the garden, my pulse hammering in my ears. Tara was still out there. She had no idea the noose was tightening around her and everyone she loved. The rebels weren't just after the king-they were coming for her, for Hemant, and me. I wasn't going to let them take her.

When I reached the garden, the sight that greeted me froze the blood in my veins. Armed men were already closing in, moving swiftly and silently through the shadows like predators stalking their prey. Tara stood at the far end of the garden, her back turned, unaware of the danger creeping up on her.

One of the rebels, a tall man clad in black, spotted him near the edge of the courtyard. Hemant's eyes met mine, and for the first time, the ever-confident warrior looked vulnerable. The two of us had been rivals, but at this moment, a common fate united us-we were all to be captured.

I had no time to think. With a surge of adrenaline, I launched myself forward, my blade flashing in the moonlight. I crashed into the nearest rebel, knocking him off balance before he could grab Tara. The shock of my attack sent the others scrambling, but they quickly regrouped, circling me like wolves. Their orders were clear: take us alive, but if we resisted...they'd have no problem killing us.

"Run!" I shouted to Tara, my voice strained as I parried a strike aimed at my head, "Run to safety."

She turned, eyes wide with terror, but there was nowhere to run. More rebels poured into the garden from every direction, cutting off any escape routes. Hemant moved to her side, drawing his own sword, but even he looked outmatched by the sheer number of attackers. Only if Tara had a sword too.

"They're coming for us all!" Hemant shouted over the chaos, deflecting a blow aimed at Tara. His voice was desperate now, no longer the calm, collected man he had pretended to be. "Maharaj Anshuman, we have to hold them off!"

I fought with everything I had, but it wasn't enough. For every rebel I took down, two more emerged from the shadows. One by one, we were being overwhelmed. I felt hands clawing at me, gripping my arms, trying to drag me down. Panic surged through my chest as I struggled to break free, but there were too many of them.

Tara screamed a heart-wrenching sound that pierced the night. I turned just in time to see her being grabbed by one of the rebels, his grip tight on her arm as he pulled her toward the palace. Hemant lunged at the man, but another rebel knocked him to the ground before he could reach her. In a matter of seconds, Tara, too, was surrounded.

"No!" I shouted, my voice raw with desperation. I tried to break through the rebels holding me, but they pinned me down, their iron grip unyielding.

Hemant was struggling to rise, blood running from a cut above his eye. But even he was subdued, held by two rebels who pressed him to the ground ruthlessly.

"We have them!" one of the attackers called out, his voice triumphant.

I thrashed against the hands holding me, my mind racing. How had it come to this? How had we, people with mighty war prowess, been reduced to captives? I need to find a way to free everyone.

The rebels began to drag us away, each of us restrained, helpless to resist. I caught a final glimpse of Tara, her eyes wide with fear as she was pulled from the garden. Hemant, too, had been subdued, the fire in his gaze replaced by grim acceptance. We were all prisoners now.

As they forced me back into the palace, I realized that the coup had succeeded in ways I hadn't even considered. It wasn't just about seizing the throne. It was about taking everyone who mattered-everyone who could challenge the new order.

And as we were led into the depths of the palace, bound and broken, the grim reality settled in. We were no longer in control of our fate. The game had changed; now, we were nothing more than captives in a kingdom that had fallen to chaos.