"You are a disgrace."

"You don't deserve to be a princess."

"This is against the laws."

"Snatch away her title."

"She's a disgrace."

Gasp.

Again, that nightmare. I got up from my small bed, my legs shaky. Even after a year, this nightmare still haunts me. Removing the lid of the earthen pot, I filled up the glass and gulped it down in a single breath. I sat on the cold floor.

A year of being abandoned, a year of being exiled from my own homeland, and living in an empire where no one knows who I am.

That one night changed my fate, ruined my reputation in society. A scandal.

That I was in a scandalous relationship with the notorious Prince Vijay.

I still remember that night clearly.

It was my parents' anniversary.

The empire was brimming with happiness and celebration. The royal hall was decorated with flowers and candles, sweet delicacies, and fine drinks. The hall was filled with royalties. I had worn a blue lehenga, my hair tied in a braid with flower accessories, and adorned with authentic and expensive jewellery from head to toe.

Whispers and murmurs spread through the hall when Prince Vijay walked in. He was said to be the charming, handsome prince, but he was known to be notorious—someone who often shared his bed with different women.

I just needed a breath. The celebration was getting too overwhelming, so I quietly stepped away, walking down the silent corridor beside the royal hall.

But then, I heard it—low whispers, a woman's soft laughter, a man's voice that sounded far too familiar.

I turned the corner and froze.

There stood Prince Vijay with a woman of high society in his arms. She gasped the moment she saw me and fled in haste, leaving behind only the echo of her heels. Vijay, however, didn't move. Before I could process anything, I heard footsteps approaching—the heavy boots of authority.

And in that moment, everything changed. Vijay grabbed me, pulled me into his arms, and before I could even protest, the higher officials of the Royal Society saw us.

Their eyes narrowed, their judgment passed without a single word from me. I wanted to scream, to explain, but nothing came out.

The news reached my parents before I could defend myself. That night, I lost everything—my title, my home, my family. I was exiled in mere hours.

No one questioned him. No accusations touched him. Why? Was it because he was a prince? Or simply because he was a man?

The door knocked. I stirred slightly on the cold-hard floor. The rapping of knocks became frequent on the door as I stretched my body.

"I must have slept on the floor last night," I whispered and stood up, walking to the door.

Now, my body is used to all these conditions. It doesn't ache like it used to in my earlier days, when I was trying to get accustomed to all sorts of problems.

Unlatching the door, I found Meera standing there in a mustard yellow saree, similar to my plain green one. Her face bright, with a wide smile and her hair neatly braided, rested over her shoulder. Seeing her, I knew she was going to her work.

Meera was twenty-three, a year younger than me. She was the only one who helped me settle here in a new place. I was given this small hut on rent, and I was glad to have met her.

"Saanvi, were you sleeping?" Meera asked.

"Yes, I just woke up," I replied.

"Did something happen? You don't look fine," she asked with warmth and concern in her voice.

"I had a nightmare last night, so I'm restless. Nothing else," I tried to sound convincing.

She shook her head and continued, "You remember you told me you need a job or a place to work in?"

I nodded. A few days ago, I had asked for a job because all the work I did in the last one year isn't enough, and I needed a little more money that could help me. Besides that, the little savings I had are about to finish.

"Then get ready and come with me," Meera said.

"But where?" I asked, as I began to take out a peach-colored saree that I had decided to keep for important occasions.

"To the palace."

I halted, hearing Meera. I knew she was a hardworking maid, serving the palace for two years. But going back to all the same corridors that once felt familiar is dreadful.

"Palace? Why? I mean, you work there," I said.

"I know. But we need a few more maids to serve the prince, who's coming back in two days," Meera said.

The prince? Coming back?

"What do you mean, Meera?" I asked as I changed into the new pair of saree.

"I mean that there are preparations going on for the arrival of Prince Rudra. After two years of tough training and education, he is coming back to the empire. And he is the next successor. We need some worthy maids who can serve the prince—and lucky you, who needed a job—so I gave your name to the head maid. Now she wants to meet you," she completed.

"Okay, I got it," I said.

I know somewhere deep inside me, a part of me is still afraid. What if someone finds out who I am?

But I can't worry about that now, not when I really need this job.

And if going back to the palace is the only option, then I will go.

Do share your thoughts 🤗💕