The Lost Crown.

chapter 17 - Rise from the ashes.

Chapter 17: Rise from the Ashes

The first rays of dawn pierced through the thick canopy of trees, casting a golden light over the hidden valley. Ishaani stood on a grassy knoll, watching the sun rise over the distant hills, its warmth spreading across the land as if breathing life back into the world. In the distance, the faint silhouette of the Nareshwar palace ruins sat beneath the horizon, but she no longer looked at them with sadness. Instead, there was peace in her heart, a peace she had not felt for as long as she could remember.

It had been six months since that fateful night in the crypt when she had destroyed the Crown of Nareshwar. Six months since she had severed the ties to the ancient power that had once dictated her destiny. And in those months, life had taken a turn she never thought possible.

The enemies who had hunted her for years—the shadowy figures lurking in the dark, the power-hungry factions that had sought to control the Crown—had disappeared. At first, Ishaani had expected retaliation, a new wave of violence aimed at reclaiming what they believed to be theirs. But nothing had come.

As if by some unseen force, her rivals had crumbled. Word had spread quickly through the kingdoms of Nareshwar’s revival, but instead of bringing forth more danger, the news seemed to bring her enemies to their knees. The powerful cabal that had orchestrated her family’s downfall was said to have been destroyed in one night—a mysterious force had swept through their strongholds, leaving them in ruins. No one knew what or who was responsible, but whispers spread of divine retribution, that the ancient power of Nareshwar had finally exacted its vengeance.

Ishaani didn’t care for the details. All she knew was that the weight that had been hanging over her head for so long was gone. She was free. Free to live the life she had always wanted.

"Enjoying the view?" Arnav’s voice came from behind her, and she turned to see him walking up the hill, a relaxed smile on his face. His usual seriousness had faded over the past months, replaced by an ease that mirrored her own.

"I am," she replied with a smile, turning back to the sunrise. "It’s hard to believe how much has changed."

Arnav came to stand beside her, his gaze following hers across the peaceful valley. "It is. But it’s real, Ishaani. You’ve made it real."

In the months that followed the destruction of the Crown, Ishaani had slowly begun to rebuild what had been lost. The Nareshwar palace remained in ruins, a symbol of the past she had chosen to leave behind, but she had made a new home for herself in the valley below. A place where she could lead the life she wanted, away from the politics and intrigue of the world.

The valley, once overgrown and forgotten, had transformed under her guidance. The villagers who had fled Nareshwar during the kingdom’s fall had begun to return, drawn by the news of the princess who had risen from the ashes. With their help, Ishaani had created a community—a place of safety and prosperity, where the people could thrive without fear of the old power struggles.

The village was simple, but it was hers. It was home.

"How are the preparations for the harvest festival?" she asked, turning to Arnav with a playful smile.

He chuckled softly. "You know, if you weren’t so good at organizing things, I would have said it’s complete chaos. But everything is on track. The villagers are excited. They haven’t had something to celebrate in a long time."

The harvest festival had been Ishaani’s idea—a way to bring the people of Nareshwar together and celebrate their new beginning. After years of hardship and uncertainty, they needed something to remind them of the joy of life, something to celebrate their survival. It was the first festival the village had seen in decades, and excitement buzzed in the air as preparations were made.