The name hung in the air like a ghost, freezing everyone in their tracks. All eyes turned to Princess Anjali, who was suddenly pale as if the blood had drained from her face. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. She was frozen in place, staring at Olimpia with an expression that was unmistakable—fear.
Everyone in the room exchanged confused glances. Who was Meera?
Serena's anger momentarily gave way to curiosity, as she watched Anjali, now visibly shaken. Adanna glanced between Olimpia and Anjali, her heart racing as the unspoken secret hovered in the air.
"Well, Anjali, you can tell them... or I can." Olimpia's voice was sweet, yet it dripped with venom. She took a step closer to Anjali, who had gone eerily still. "But I am sure they would love to hear about your little scandal."
The room was utterly still, the tension palpable. Adanna, standing closest to Anjali, looked at her friend with concern. "Anjali... what is going on? Who is Meera?" she asked softly, her voice gentle, trying to reach her through the thick fog of tension.
But before Anjali could even gather the strength to respond, Olimpia stepped forward, her smirk growing wider. "Oh, I suppose I should just tell them, should I?" She paused for dramatic effect, savoring every moment of control she held over the room. "Meera... is Anjali's lover."
The words hit the room like a bomb, the shockwaves of gossip spreading through the air. The other ladies gasped, their eyes wide with astonishment. Adanna felt the blood rush to her ears as she stared at Anjali in disbelief. Princess Anjali liked women?
Serena's heart stopped, the anger in her chest now replaced by a heavy weight of guilt. She had been so quick to accuse Anjali, so quick to let her jealousy cloud her judgment. And now... this. Serena's lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out.
Adanna's eyes widened in disbelief. She glanced at Anjali, her face a mixture of shock and concern. "Anjali..." she whispered, her voice barely audible over the noise. But Anjali couldn't meet anyone's gaze.
The whispers grew louder, some of the ladies murmuring with judgment, others with curiosity. Lady Isabella, ever the opportunist, leaned toward Countess Seraphine and whispered something smugly. Serena's fists clenched as guilt flooded her. She had been part of the attack, part of the reason Anjali was now standing there, humiliated and cornered.
Anjali's chest heaved as she tried to breathe. The walls were closing in, and she could not take it anymore. Without a word, without a single glance at anyone, she turned and bolted for the door.
"Anjali!" Adanna called after her, but it was too late. The princess was already gone, running down the corridor, her footsteps echoing in the silence she left behind.
The room remained in a stunned hush. Olimpia stood tall, her victory clear in the cruel smile she wore as she watched Anjali's retreating figure. She glanced around at the women in the room, most of whom now looked anywhere but at each other, guilt and discomfort etched on their faces. "Well," Olimpia said with a casual shrug, "I guess the truth always finds a way to come out, does it not?" She flashed a wicked smile at Serena before sauntering toward the door.
Adanna's heart pounded in her chest as she stared at the door where Anjali had fled. She turned to Serena, her eyes filled with disappointment. ""What were you thinking?" she demanded, her voice sharp, but filled with a mix of concern and frustration. Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Serena's arm and pulled her out of the drawing room, guiding her down the hallways and up the stairs until they reached their chambers.
Once inside, Adanna closed the door behind them with a hard thud and rounded on Serena, her voice shaking with emotion. "Serena, what were you thinking?" she repeated, louder this time, her frustration evident. "Why would you accuse Anjali like that? You know what this contest is like. Why would you add fuel to the fire?"
Serena, still in shock, stared at the floor, unable to meet Adanna's eyes. "I did not—" she started, but her voice was thick with guilt and confusion. "I did not mean for it to go that far."
"Then why did you do it?" Adanna pressed, her hands on her hips as she tried to understand what had just happened. "What was that about sneaking around and bribing guards? That does not sound like you at all."
Serena let out a shaky breath, her fists clenching at her sides. "I... I saw her with Leonardo," she finally confessed, her voice soft, barely audible.
Adanna's brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"In the library," Serena continued, her voice strained with emotion. "I saw Leonardo and Anjali talking. They were too close, whispering... I thought something was going on between them." She shook her head, tears gathering in her eyes as she spoke. "I do not know why, but I just—"
"You were jealous," Adanna said, her voice softening in understanding. "You thought Anjali and Leonardo were—"
Serena's jaw tightened, and she nodded, biting her lip to stop it from trembling. "I do not even know why it bothered me so much," she admitted. "I have never admitted it to myself, but... but seeing them together, it made me so angry."
Adanna let out a deep sigh and sat down beside Serena on the edge of the bed, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Serena, I get it. But you have to understand... whatever you saw with Leonardo and Anjali, it does not justify what happened. Anjali did not deserve that."
Serena wiped away a tear that had slipped down her cheek. "I did not mean for it to go this far. I did not know about... Meera."
"I know," Adanna said softly. "But now it is out there, and there is no taking it back."
Serena let out a shaky breath and buried her face in her hands. "What have I done?" she whispered, her voice thick with regret. "I just made everything worse."
Adanna sat beside her in silence for a few moments, letting the weight of what had just happened settle between them. The contest had already been filled with tension, lies, and secrets, but this... this was different. It was not just about winning the Duke's heart anymore. It was about survival.
"We will figure it out," Adanna finally said, her voice soft but firm. "But you need to talk to Anjali. You need to apologize."
Serena nodded, her face still buried in her hands. "I know."
"And maybe," Adanna added, "you should figure out what is going on between you and Leonardo. Because this jealousy—it is only going to hurt you more if you do not."
Serena looked up at her, her eyes red and tired, but there was a spark of determination there. "You are right. I need to fix this."
Adanna gave her a small, reassuring smile, though her mind was still racing with everything that had just unfolded. They had more questions than answers now—about Olimpia, about the threats, about who had pushed Enchantress Larissa. And with Lord Tobias Veridan's arrival, it seemed like the mystery was only deepening. But for now, the most important thing was fixing the rift between Serena and Anjali. And that... would not be easy.
Later that evening, Serena took a deep breath, her heart racing as she made her way through the dimly lit corridors of the castle, determined to find Anjali. She knew she had to apologize, to make amends for the hurtful words she had thrown at her in the drawing room. With each step, the weight of her earlier actions pressed down on her, making her more anxious.
Finally, she reached Anjali's chambers. Taking a moment to steady herself, she knocked softly on the door. There was a brief pause before Anjali's voice floated through the wood, sounding a bit shaky. "Who is it?"
"It is me, Serena," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
The door creaked open, and Anjali stood there, her expression guarded but curious. "What do you want?" she asked, her tone flat.
"Can we talk?" Serena asked, her eyes pleading. Anjali stepped aside, allowing her into the room, closing the door behind her.
"I... I just wanted to say I am sorry for what I said earlier," Serena began, her voice shaking slightly. "I let my jealousy get the best of me."
Anjali turned to face her, eyebrows raised in surprise. "Jealous? Of me?" She shook her head in disbelief. "Why would you be jealous of me?"
Serena hesitated, then took a deep breath, deciding to be honest. "I saw...you and...uhm Leonardo...together. And I just—I do not know, something in me snapped. I was jealous, Anjali. I have never admitted it to myself before, but I am. And it is not right, and I am sorry for taking it out on you like that. It is just... I have liked him for a while now, and I guess I was scared of losing him to..." she trailed off, not knowing how to explain the complex web of emotions that had been consuming her.
Anjali's expression softened as she processed Serena's words. "You like Leonardo?" she repeated, a hint of amusement in her voice. "So, you were jealous of me?"
"Yeah," Serena said, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I know it is silly. But that is how I felt."
Anjali crossed her arms, her demeanor shifting from guarded to contemplative. "You should have just talked to me about it," she said gently. "Instead of accusing me."
Serena nodded, her eyes brimming with regret. "I know. I am sorry. It will not happen again."
Anjali sighed and ran a hand through her hair, visibly relaxing. "I forgive you, Serena. I know how these contests can bring out the worst in us," she said, a hint of empathy in her voice. "But... I need to tell you something else."
"What is it?" Serena asked, her heart sinking slightly, sensing the seriousness of Anjali's tone.
"I am planning to leave the contest," Anjali said quietly, turning her gaze back to the window. "My parents would never accept my relationship with Meera. The kingdom of Scaleonia is very traditional, and they have certain expectations for me... for any princess, really."
"So you never had any interest in the duke in the first place?" Serena asked, her eyes wide with surprise.
Anjali chuckled sadly. "No, not really. I was here for my family but it is better to leave now than enter a loveless marriage with a man I have never met. I have thought about it a lot, and I just do not think I can do that. Not when I have Meera."
Serena nodded, understanding dawning on her face. "I see," she said, feeling a strange mix of sadness and relief. "Then go after what you want," Serena encouraged. "If Meera makes you happy, you should not have to hide it anymore. Not here, not anywhere."
Anjali's eyes met hers, filled with a silent gratitude. "Thank you, Serena," she whispered.
Serena nodded, her throat tight with unshed tears. "You do not have to thank me. Just be happy."
They shared a brief, awkward hug before Serena pulled away, feeling a pang of sadness. Anjali was her friend, and she did not want to see her go. But she knew this was what was best for her. With a final nod, she turned and walked out of the room, leaving Anjali behind with her thoughts and her decision.