Tales Of The Heart

(37)

Princess Anam stormed into her chamber, her face flushed with rage. The moment the door slammed shut behind her, she let out a furious scream. The delicate vases, the finely crafted ornaments, and the silk cushions, everything within arm's reach, became the target of her wrath.

"How dare she?", Anam yelled, throwing a glass bowl across the room. It exploded against the wall. "How dare she speak to me like that? Who does she think she is?",

Her head attendant rushed in cause of the noises, but stopped in her tracks when she saw the chaos. "Your highness, please, calm down, otherwise you will hurt yourself",

"Calm down? Calm down?", Anam's eyes were wild as she glared at her. "Do you know what just happened? That lowly woman, had the audacity to humiliate me in front of Shahzaib.. She stood there, claiming her place, as if she is untouchable now because she is carrying his child", she screamed furiously.

"Your highness, it is best not to act rashly", she inched closer with trembling steps, afraid she would be the target of Anam's rage.

"Rashly", Anam knocked over a nearby table, sending more delicate pieces crashing to the floor.
"Do you know what this means? Inaya is already expecting. She is going to give him a child..and if it's a boy, she will be untouchable.. Everything I have worked for will be gone..gone", she shouted, heaving for breath.

The attendant flinched at the loud voice but managed to approach her with caution.
"But the Empress... Certainly, she will do something. She always favors you", she tried to reason with Anam.

Anam stopped, her chest heaving, and stared blankly at the floor for a moment. Then a slow, dangerous smile crept across her lips.
"Yes. The Empress. She wouldn't let this stand. Not if I fill her ears with enough poison about Inaya and that child. She wouldn't risk Inaya holding the power", she laughed like a maniac and the attendant was practically shivering.

With a sudden determination, Anam straightened herself, smoothing her disheveled dress and fixing her hair before wrapping a head scarf.
"I must visit the Empress", she said coldly. "She must know how to handle this",

The attendant's relief was visible, but only for a moment. She hurried to summon other attendants to clean up the mess before following Anam who swept out of the room, her rage now suppressed beneath the composed facade.

●○●○●○●○

Anam arrived at the Empress's private quarters, not even bothering to announce herself. She entered without hesitation, her face held determination.

The Empress looked up from a book she had been reading, her face calm and collected.
"Princess Anam", she greeted, her voice was devoid of warmth.
"What brings you here in such a hurry?", she demanded not liking her barging in unannounced.

"Your Majesty...", she greeted before starting without wasting a time.
"Inaya. That woman has crossed every line. Now that she is carrying the prince's child, and she is flaunting it, arrogantly as if she has already won. You have to do something, your majesty. We cannot let her gain more power", she exclaimed.

The Empress's expression remained unreadable as she listened, her eyes cold yet thoughtful. When Anam finished, she sighed softly, putting the book down.

"Anam..There are certain things you need to understand", she began slowly.
"What do you mean?", Anam blinked, taken aback by the Empress's tone.

"What I meant is that Inaya is with child. My Shahzaib's child. And if that child is a boy, there is little anyone can do to challenge her position. The court will favor Shahzaib's decision if Inaya produces the grand heir", the Empress continued, her voice now firmer.