The Obsession

Chapter 37

The gardener, trembling with fear, stood before the guards. "I didn't bring the snake, I swear, I was just planting flowers in Lady Maanvi's garden, as ordered by the Queen Dowager herself."

The guards exchanged skeptical glances. "Don't lie to us, gardener. We have eyewitnesses who saw you sneaking into the forest, and now we find a snake in chamber. It's clear you're trying to harm her."

The gardener protested, "I didn't see any snake.Maybe it came with the plants I brought from the forest. I'm just a simple gardener, I don't know anything about snakes"

The guards raised their voices, "Don't play dumb with us.You know how we can take the truth out of you,You're coming with us."

The gardener's thoughts flood in "Oh no, oh no, oh no... I'm trapped. If I reveal that it was her Highness concubine Maanvika's(Leela) maid my cousin who asked me to bring the snake, she'll surely tell the Queen Dowager. And if the Queen Dowager finds out, I'm dead. She'll never let me live."

"But if I keep quiet, I'll be punished for a crime I didn't commit. I'm torn between the King and the Queen Dowager. If I betray Maanvika's (Leela) trust, I'll be going against the King's favorite concubine. But if I don't, I'll face the Queen Dowager's wrath.

"Why did I agree to this? I'm just a simple gardener. I didn't want to get involved in the palace politics. But now, I'm in too deep.

"Maanvika's(Leela)maid words still echo in my mind she told me "I just hope that you'll not tell truth to anyone,the concubine is favored by grand Queen Dowager herself."

"I have to think of a way out of this. Maybe I can convince these imperial guards that I'm telling the truth? Or maybe I can escape and flee the kingdom?

"But what if I'm caught? What if the Queen Dowager finds out? I'm doomed either way..."

The gardener's mind raced with thoughts of fear, anxiety, and desperation as he tried to find a way out of the dangerous situation he found himself in.
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Maanvika sat on the bed, trying to rest after the traumatic experience with the snake the night before. She heard the eunuch voice" the king arrival" and thought to herself, "Why did he come? Can't he let me have some peace?"

She slid back into bed, closing her eyes, pretending to still be asleep. Ranvijay entered the room and sat down next to her, asking the maid, "Is she still asleep?"

Then Jaanvi replied surprisingly, "Your Majesty, maybe she's not feeling well. She woke up an hour ago and went back to sleep again."

Ranvijay thought"is she feverish??"he gently placed his hand on Maanvika's head, and she opened her eyes muttered, "I'm not ill, I'm good. Your touch make me sick."

Ranvijay's eyes crinkled at the corners as he said, "You're not ill, but you're definitely feverish. Let me check."

Maanvika's eyes widened as Ranvijay's hand moved to her forehead, his palm gently pressing against her skin.

"No, I'm fine," she protested, trying to push his hand away.

But Ranvijay held firm, his eyes locked on hers Ranvijay eyes flashed with intensity and he leaned in close,his face inches from Maanvika's.

Maanvika's pupil dilated as she gazed down from Ranvijay ,her eyebrows shot up,her brow furrowed, a faint tremble ran through her,her face frozen in fear.

But then,he seemed to catch himself and his anger,seeing how she is in her nostrils flared,her heart darted in her throat as if she is scared.

Ranvijay chuckled and whispered in her ear, "I just touched your head. If you allow me to do other things, i might really make you sick... for 9 months..."