The Lost Crown.

chapter 12 - The keeper of secrets.

Chapter 12: The Keeper of Secrets

Ishaani’s breath caught in her throat as the figure stepped forward, his face still obscured by the dark hood. The air around them felt thick with tension, as if the forest itself held its breath, waiting for what would unfold.

Arnav tightened his grip on his sword, every muscle in his body tensed, ready to strike. Raghav, standing just behind them, was unnervingly calm, his sharp eyes watching the figure intently.

"Ishaani," the figure said, his voice low and measured, "you’ve been running from this moment your whole life."

Ishaani’s blood ran cold. How did he know her name? How did he know so much about her?

"Who are you?" she demanded, taking a step forward, though her heart hammered in her chest. "What do you want?"

The man lifted his head just slightly, enough for the moonlight to catch the edge of his jawline. His lips curved into a chilling smile. "I am the keeper of your past," he said, "and the one who will decide your future."

Before Ishaani could respond, Raghav spoke up, his voice edged with suspicion. "You're him, aren’t you? The one they call the Shadow Prince."

The name sent a jolt through Ishaani. The Shadow Prince—a figure whispered about in dark corners, a legend meant to keep children awake at night. He was rumored to be a figure of immense power, a man who dealt in secrets and shadows, manipulating kingdoms from behind the scenes. But no one knew if he truly existed. Until now.

The man chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. "A name given to me by those too afraid to face me in the light." He turned his gaze to Ishaani, the weight of his stare making her feel exposed, as if he could see through every wall she had built around herself. "But I am much more than a name."

Arnav stepped forward, his sword gleaming in the moonlight. "If you think we’re going to let you take the crown, you’re mistaken."

The Shadow Prince's smile didn’t falter. "Take it? No, Arnav," he said smoothly. "I’m not here to take it. I’m here to give it to the rightful heir."

Ishaani's stomach dropped. The rightful heir.

"You're lying," she spat, her voice shaking with the fury that had been building inside her for years. "I’m not—"

"You are," the Shadow Prince cut her off, his voice sharp and authoritative. "You are the last of the royal bloodline, Ishaani. The lost princess of Viranagarh."

The words hit her like a blow to the chest. The lost princess.

She had heard the stories, the rumors about a royal child who had been taken in the dead of night when the kingdom fell, her identity erased, her life hidden away. But that child had always been a mystery, a ghost of the past. And now, standing before her was a man who claimed that ghost was her.

Ishaani staggered back, shaking her head. "No," she whispered. "That can’t be true."

"It is," Raghav interjected, his voice unusually soft. "I’ve known since the beginning. That’s why I agreed to help you."

Her heart raced, the world around her spinning. Why hadn’t he told her? Why had he kept it from her all this time?

"Raghav—" she began, her voice faltering.

"Ishaani, listen to me," Arnav interrupted, stepping closer to her, his eyes filled with concern. "It doesn’t matter who you were. It matters who you are now."

But the weight of the truth was suffocating. Everything she had been running from, the nightmares, the flashes of memories she couldn’t place—they were all connected to this. To her being the lost princess. The rightful heir to the crown.

"Why now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she looked at the Shadow Prince. "Why tell me this now?"

"Because the time has come," he replied, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous intensity. "The kingdom needs its queen, Ishaani. And the crown—" he gestured toward the stone archway—"is waiting for you."

The crown. The very thing that had haunted her dreams, that had pulled her toward this moment. It was inside, just beyond the stone entrance. And now, it was hers to claim.

But as she took a step toward the archway, the Shadow Prince raised his hand. "Not so fast," he said, his tone suddenly cold. "There’s still one final test."

Ishaani froze, her eyes narrowing. "Test?"

He nodded slowly. "The crown is not just a symbol of power. It chooses its bearer. It will test your strength, your heart, and your ability to lead. If you are found worthy, it will accept you. If not..." His voice trailed off ominously.

"What happens if she’s not worthy?" Arnav demanded, his voice edged with suspicion.

The Shadow Prince’s eyes gleamed in the dark. "Then the crown will destroy her."

A heavy silence fell over the group. Ishaani’s heart pounded in her chest. The crown would destroy her if she wasn’t worthy? She had come all this way, faced so much, only to be told that claiming her birthright could kill her?

"You don’t have to do this," Arnav said quietly, stepping closer to her. His voice was steady, but there was an edge of desperation in his eyes. "We can leave. We don’t need the crown."

Ishaani looked into his eyes, her heart torn. She could walk away. Leave this all behind. But deep down, she knew she couldn’t. This wasn’t just about a crown. It was about her past, her identity, and the kingdom that had been stolen from her.

"I have to," she whispered, her voice filled with a quiet resolve.

Arnav clenched his jaw, his eyes filled with emotion. He wanted to protect her, she could see that. But this was something she had to face alone.

Without another word, Ishaani turned toward the stone archway and stepped forward, the weight of her destiny heavy on her shoulders.

As she crossed the threshold, the air around her seemed to shift. The temperature dropped, and a strange, shimmering light filled the chamber beyond. At the center of the room, on a pedestal of black stone, sat the crown.

It was more beautiful than she had imagined, glimmering with jewels that seemed to pulse with their own light. But there was something menacing about it, too, something that made her hesitate.

Behind her, she heard the Shadow Prince’s voice, low and taunting. "Do you feel it, Ishaani? The power? The weight of centuries of rulers? It’s waiting for you. Take it, if you dare."

Ishaani’s breath came in shallow gasps as she stepped toward the crown, her hands trembling. Everything in her life had led to this moment. The shadows, the lies, the suffering—all of it had brought her here.

She reached out, her fingers inches from the cold metal.

And then, the room erupted in blinding light.

The crown had chosen.

But Ishaani would soon find out if it had chosen her to rule—or to perish.