Rajgarh Palace, Midnight.
Rain lashed against the ancient jharokhas of the Raghuvanshi royal palace. The corridors whispered centuries of betrayal, war, and blood. Outside, under the golden glow of palace chandeliers, a convoy of black SUVs pulled in.
Inside, the silence was louder.
Aarohi Maheshwari sat quietly on a velvet sofa in the grand durbar hall, draped in a blood-red bridal saree, her fingers clenched in her lap. The gold jewelry weighed heavy, but not heavier than the fear in her chest. Her eyes, lined with kajal, searched for escape. But there was none.
"Your groom will be here in minutes," whispered Rajmata Devyani coldly, her voice as sharp as the cane she held.
Aarohi didn't respond. Her throat was dry. How could she explain that her father had sold her—her freedom, her soul—for the price of a deal he never deserved to make?
The heavy doors opened.
Footsteps echoed.
And then—he entered.
Aviraj Raghuvanshi. Prince. Kingpin. Shadow.
Clad in a black sherwani with gold embroidery, his presence sucked the air from the room. A scar ran diagonally across his right brow, barely visible under the palace lights. His gaze scanned the room like a predator evaluating prey. Then his eyes locked on Aarohi.
Something flickered.
Not desire. Not love.
Recognition?
She looked down instinctively.
"Get up," Aviraj said, his voice gravel and silk.
Aarohi rose slowly.
He walked up to her, leaned in slightly, and said lowly, "You're smaller than I imagined. Quieter too. That's good."
Aarohi shivered. "Why me?" she dared to ask.
Aviraj's lips curled into the hint of a smile. "You'll find out. Eventually."
Before she could speak again, a priest stepped forward. Vows were exchanged. Fire lit. Rounds completed.
And just like that, the devil wore a crown, and the dove wore chains.
---
Later That Night:
Royal Private Chamber
Aarohi sat on the edge of a lavish bed, the silence unbearable.
Then Aviraj entered, loosening his sherwani collar. He poured himself a drink and leaned against the window, watching the rain.
"Why did you marry me?" she asked again.
He sipped slowly. "Because you're the daughter of Anirudh Maheshwari."
"My father owes you money?" she asked, barely able to breathe.
"No. He owes me blood."
She froze.
He turned to face her.
"You see, your father once betrayed my family. Twenty years ago. I was ten. My mother was poisoned. Your father's signature was on the sealed deal that delivered the vial. But it wasn't money he wanted. It was my mother's death... and silence."
Aarohi's lips trembled. "I didn't know..."
"I did. Which is why I let him live… so I could marry his daughter."
"You want revenge… through me?"
His eyes darkened. "Not exactly. I want peace. And maybe punishment."
She backed away. "I'm not him."
"I'll decide that," he said quietly, setting his drink down. "But remember, you wear my name now. That makes you untouchable. To everyone. Except me."
And with that, he left the room.
---
In a Hidden Surveillance Room, Underground Palace
Rajmata Devyani watched the scene unfold through hidden cameras.
She pressed a button on an encrypted phone. "He's started to care. That's dangerous. If she opens the secret vault under the Durga Mandap… everything we buried will rise again."
A distorted voice replied, "Then she must disappear. Before she remembers anything."
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End of Chapter One.
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Would you like Chapter Two next, or a breakdown of chapter arcs and suspense twists for the full novel?