Devraj's gaze was unreadable as he stepped further into the dimly lit library, his presence commanding the space. He studied Satya and Saanvi for a moment before speaking.
"You've come too far to turn back now," he muttered. "But the truth you seek is far darker than you realize."
Satya held his ground. "We're ready to hear it."
Devraj exhaled, his fingers tracing the spine of an old book on the shelf. "Veer's death was not an accident," he admitted, his voice low. "He was executed."
Saanvi's breath caught. "Executed?"
Devraj nodded. "Veer was accused of betrayal. The Rathore family considered him a threat—not just because he loved Meera, but because he knew something he shouldn't have."
Satya clenched his fists. "What did he know?"
Devraj hesitated. "It's buried in history. But from what I've learned, Veer discovered secrets about the royal family—secrets powerful enough to destroy them."
Saanvi's mind raced. "And Meera? What happened to her?"
Devraj looked at her, his expression unreadable. "She disappeared soon after Veer's death. Some say she ran away. Others… believe she was taken."
Silence fell between them. The weight of the revelation settled over them like a storm cloud.
Satya broke the silence. "Where can we find proof?"
Devraj's lips pressed into a thin line. "There was a letter—written by Meera herself. If it still exists, it would be in the hidden archives beneath the palace."
Saanvi's pulse quickened. "Then that's where we need to go."
Devraj exhaled. "You're playing with fire."
Satya met his gaze. "Then let it burn."
---
The Forbidden Archives
Night had fallen by the time they reached the palace again. The air was thick with anticipation as Satya and Saanvi made their way to the underground chamber Devraj had hinted at.
The entrance was hidden behind an old stone pillar. With a push, the mechanism clicked, revealing a passage leading deep beneath the palace.
Their footsteps echoed in the darkness as they ventured inside. The walls were lined with ancient scrolls, crumbling parchments, and forgotten records.
Saanvi's hands trembled as she sifted through the documents. Then, her fingers brushed against something brittle—a sealed envelope, its edges worn with time.
She held her breath as she read the first line.
"To the one who finds this—know that love was never our crime. It was their fear."
Her hands shook. It was Meera's handwriting.
Satya's heart pounded as he read over her shoulder. This was it—the missing piece of their past.
But before they could read further, a sound echoed behind them.
Footsteps.
Someone else was there.
A shadow moved in the darkness.
And then, the lights went out.