While Sunlite was still panting, the last words of Hirday were ringing in her ears—'the bond can only be severed when the binder willingly rejects the blood bond.' Her key to freedom was now completely in Hirday's hands. Her hatred and fear, however, now combined with an intense courage.
A moment later, a loud sound of an explosion (the sound of the Golden Karkaj attack) and two successive, piteous screams were heard from the abandoned corridor.
Hearing the sound, Sunlite could no longer stand still. She quickly went to an old, dusty glass window in the library. A part of the corridor below was visible through this window.
The scene she witnessed outside the window instantly stunned Sunlite.
Maharaja Hirday stood there. The Golden Karkaj was in his hand. His two advisors' lifeless bodies were sprawled at his feet. The magic of the Golden Karkaj might not have just attacked them; Hirday seemed to be performing the final act himself.
Sunlite saw—
Hirday was clutching one man's throat in extreme rage, as if ensuring they wouldn't breathe again. Their bodies were dismembered by the Karkaj's attack, and a large amount of blood was pooling on the stone floor. That blood looked like boiling lava of rage. Some spatter of blood had also landed on Hirday's royal attire.
Hirday's face bore a grotesque, victorious smile—a smile that proved how ruthless he could be to protect his power and wealth.
Sunlite was utterly shocked. She knew Hirday was ruthless, but seeing him brutally murder his own trusted advisors instantly multiplied her inner fear a hundredfold.
Her limbs started trembling with fear. She immediately covered her mouth tightly with both hands, as if to prevent any scream or protest from escaping her lips. She quickly moved away from the window, trying somehow to control herself.
She understood that if she tried to kill this man, it wouldn't just be her own death waiting for her, but a terrifying consequence for her soul.
Sunlite leaned against the wall, panting. Now, not the diary, but her main goal was to find a path to break this blood bond where Hirday's willing rejection would not be necessary.
Still leaning against the wall, Sunlite was panting. Her mouth was covered with both hands, as if she didn't want the inner terror to come out. The image of the advisors' blood and Hirday's horrific smile was still vivid in her eyes. She knew that to break the blood bond, she now had to be even more cunning.
In the corridor below, Maharaja Hirday moved the Golden Karkaj away from the advisors' bodies. He barely cared about the blood stain on his sleeve. After finishing his work, he looked around for a moment with a winner's satisfaction.
Just then, Hirday's eyes went to the old, dusty glass window of the library.
Hirday saw a pair of steady, blue eyes watching him through the gap in the window. Sunlite!
Hirday realized that Sunlite had seen the whole act. A cold, authoritative smile returned to Hirday's face. He seemed to send a silent message to Sunlite—'See what happens to those who betray me?'
Sunlite removed her hands from her mouth at that moment. The extreme fear that had accumulated inside her instantly transformed into a cold, controlled courage.
She smiled.
It was not the joyous smile of victory that she had shown during the dance. It was an intense rebel's smile—a mixture of ruthlessness and challenge. That smile seemed like a silent declaration thrown at Hirday:
'Your brutality couldn't frighten me. You can kill me, but never my resolve.'
Hirday was disturbed for the first time by Sunlite's unexpected smile. He had expected the Queen to cringe in fear, scream, or cry. But in that moment of terror, such a steady, mocking smile in Sunlite's eyes raised a new apprehension in Hirday's mind.
He realized that this woman, though bound by the blood bond, had not surrendered mentally. Even while being his biggest weakness—his shield—she was now his biggest threat.
Hirday kept staring at Sunlite with steady eyes. Sunlite also maintained that smile from across the window. A silent challenge was exchanged between the two rivals.
Hirday didn't delay for another moment. He quickly left the corridor. He had to clean his bloody hands and ensure that Sunlite didn't make any mistakes taking advantage of this chaos.
Moving away from the window, Sunlite slowly started to breathe normally. It had taken immense mental strength to hold that smile.
Now she had very little time. Hirday could return to her chamber any minute.
After giving Maharaja Hirday that silent, challenging smile from across the window, Sunlite quickly returned to her chamber from the library. Her legs were still trembling, but a fierce storm was raging inside her mind. Knowing that Hirday would willingly reject the bond, she had no choice but to change her strategy.
She was now sitting silently on the soft cushion on the floor. The broken door of the room was quickly repaired, but the sign of her humiliation and helplessness seemed to remain there. Her blue eyes were steady, cold, as if she was solving some deep problem.
Just then, the chamber door was softly pushed open, and the maid, Lisa, entered. Lisa's eyes were panicked and cautious. She had seen the Maharaja's terrifying actions in the corridor.
Lisa advanced toward Sunlite, kneeling.
"Ma'am," Lisa said in a very low voice, her voice trembling with fear, "a message has come from the Royal Chamber."
Sunlite didn't reply, just looked at her with steady eyes.
Lisa gathered her courage and said, "The message says—your wedding is tomorrow. The Maharaja wants you to prepare for tomorrow's ceremony."
Hearing the words, a cold wave seemed to run through Sunlite's entire body. Wedding! Hirday was planning to formally and publicly claim her as his property. He would turn this blood bond into a sacred royal bond. This meant he wanted to crush even the last phase of her rebellion.
Sunlite didn't react at first. Her face was as hard as stone.
Lisa whispered again, "They have already started all the arrangements, Ma'am. Especially the security..."
Sunlite looked at Lisa. A fire seemed to flare up in her eyes for a moment.
"Wedding?" Sunlite said in a calm yet terrifying voice. "He can bind my body, Lisa. But not my death. And I refuse to be his death shield."
She quickly stood up. She had no more time.
"How much time do we have, Lisa?" Sunlite asked.
Lisa replied fearfully, "It's morning after the night, Ma'am. Preparations are underway. By tomorrow morning..."
"Alright," Sunlite prepared herself. "If he doesn't willingly reject this bond, I must create a situation that forces him to. Lisa, will you help me?"
Lisa hesitated. "My Queen, I can die for you. But the Maharaja's blood... that bond..."
"I will not die, Lisa," Sunlite said with determination. "But right now, I have to go to the statue of that secret passage. There is something in the Royal Treasury that can break this bond. You will help me, and no one should see us."Seeing Sunlite's steady eyes and firm resolve, Lisa remained silent for a moment. After witnessing the Maharaja's bloody brutality in the corridor, Lisa's heart was trembling with fear. But in Sunlite's voice, she heard not only the authority of a Queen but also the fervent desire for freedom of a desperately helpless woman.
"I will not die, Lisa," those words of Sunlite gave Lisa courage.
Lisa bowed her head, kneeling. "I agree, my Queen. Wherever you go, I will be with you. If there is even one chance to break this bond, we will take it."
"Very good, Lisa," Sunlite said calmly. "We have very little time. There must be no delay."
The two of them immediately began their preparations. This preparation was extremely confidential.
Change of Attire:
Sunlite changed out of her delicate royal dress. She chose an ordinary outfit of deep, dark colors that would help her blend into the night. She carefully tucked Queen Alisa's diary into the folds of her clothing. This diary was her only guide.
Lisa's Role:
Lisa kept her ordinary maid's attire, but she hid a small lantern and an old, royally designed key under her petticoat—which might be useful for opening the door of the palace's old, almost abandoned section.
"If we are caught, Lisa," Sunlite whispered, "you will forget that I forced you. You will say I pushed you and ran away."
"I will remember everything, Queen," Lisa replied with firmness. "I know the future of this kingdom depends on your freedom."
It was the dead of night inside the palace. The time for the changing of the guards was almost over. Outside, only the whisper of the wind over the old stones was heard.
Sunlite and Lisa silently opened the chamber door. Sunlite checked the surroundings once—all was quiet, dark. They both advanced through their chamber's corridor like shadows.
They had only one destination now—that abandoned corridor, where the secret passage to the Royal Vault was hidden behind the huge, old statue. The blood of the Maharaja's two advisors might not have dried on the floor yet, but that blood was now showing Sunlite the path to freedom.
With every step, Sunlite's heart was pounding fast. She had to unravel that secret before tomorrow's sunrise. Lisa was now her only companion in this terrifying war. After a long descent down the secret passage's narrow, slippery stairs, Sunlite and Lisa finally reached an old, iron door. In the light of Lisa's small lantern, the ancient carvings and the strong lock on the door were clear.
"This is the Vault, Queen," Lisa whispered.
Sunlite noticed that the door was open! It was just slightly ajar, leaning inwards. This instantly made them realize that the Maharaja's advisors must have managed to enter.
Sunlite carefully pushed the door. Both of them entered.
The huge vault was dark and cold. A torch was burning in the middle of the room, its smoke rising upwards. The light of the torch revealed the true state of the room:
All the treasures, gold coins, and priceless diamonds that are usually kept next to the royal throne—all of them have been taken! The Vault was almost empty. The advisors had finished their work.
Sunlite's eyes were filled with disappointment. Her key to freedom was not here.
Just then, Sunlite noticed a pair of familiar footprints on the floor, belonging to two different people. And near the feet, lay a torn piece of paper, with an obscure symbol drawn by Queen Alisa's hand.
Sunlite realized that the advisors hadn't just stolen wealth; they might have stolen some valuable information or documents, just like the diary. Alisa's diary was now her most valuable asset, but at this moment it was her biggest danger. If Hirday found the diary in her hands, she would not dare to act against him even knowing the secret of the blood bond.
A fierce decision was born in Sunlite's mind.
She quickly took Queen Alisa's diary out from the folds of her clothing.
"Queen, what are you doing?" Lisa whispered in terror. "The diary is our only hope!"
"And it is our biggest danger, Lisa," Sunlite said in a harsh voice. "Hirday knows I have it. If the way to break this bond is not even in the diary, then if this diary falls into his hands, the last trace of my rebellion will be erased."
Sunlite didn't hesitate; she held the diary towards the burning torch. The flame quickly consumed the old, yellowed cover. Every secret truth, every symbol, and every obscure hope of freedom written by Alisa's hand began to burn in that fire.
The diary was burnt to ashes. There was no sadness in Sunlite's eyes, only a steady resolve to prepare for war anew.