Later that evening, the grand Rajvanshi Palace shimmered under the golden chandeliers. The carved marble floors echoed with the sound of Sitara’s footsteps as she walked in, Kavya close behind her.

She was quiet… too quiet. The silver jhumkas clutched in her hand were a reminder of everything that had just happened.

Suddenly—

“Rajkumari Sitara Rajvanshi!”

The voice thundered from the far end of the hall.

Prince Rudraksh Rajvanshi stood tall and furious, arms folded, jaw clenched.

“Tumhe bola tha, bina security ke palace se ek kadam bhi bahar nahi nikalna. Par tumne meri baat phir se nahi maani.”

Sitara braced herself.

“Bhai, main bacha nahi hoon. Kavya mere saath thi. Mujhe uncomfortable feel hota hai jab guards saath hote hain.”

“Tum uncomfortable feel karti ho, aur main yeh sochta hoon ki agar kuch ho jata toh? Tum ek rajkumari ho Sitara… Udaipur ki shaan. Tumhara har kadam soch samajh kar uthna chahiye.”

Maharaja Raghvendra Rajvanshi, their father, stepped in calmly.

“Rudraksh, zyada gussa mat karo. Sitara theek hai, yeh dekh lo sabse pehle.”

But Rudraksh wasn’t backing down.

“Theek tab hoti jab kisi aur ne uska khayal na rakha hota. Sitara, tumne mujhe nahi bataya tum Abhay Rathore se mil chuki ho.”

Sitara’s eyes widened.

“Aapko kaise pata?”

“Kavya ne sab bataya,” Rudraksh said sharply, glancing at Kavya who quietly shifted behind Sitara.

“Aur usne tumhe ‘Mrs. Abhay Singh Rathore’ kaha? Sadak ke beech? Sitara, yeh koi joke nahi hai.”

“Aur main uske kehne se kuch ban jaungi?” Sitara snapped. “Main abhi bhi Sitara Rajvanshi hoon. Apne faisle khud leti hoon.”

The hall fell silent.

Then came a soft but firm voice—

“Bas karo, dono.”

Maharani Meenakshi Rajvanshi entered, her grace undeniable, her expression calm but firm.

“Sitara, beta, tumhe samajhna hoga… tumhare naam ke saath zimmedaari judti hai. Abhay Rathore se rishta sirf naam ka nahi, ek rajneetik samjhauta bhi hai.”

Kavya leaned toward Sitara, whispering with a mischievous grin—

“Waise, agar yeh naam ka hi rishta hota toh Abhay Rathore tumhare liye jaan se nahi khelta.”

Sitara looked down at the jhumkas in her hand, her fingers brushing the soft silver. Her heart was louder than her thoughts.

Just then, a palace guard arrived and bowed.

“Maharaj, Maharani… Rathore Haveli se sandesh aaya hai. Rana Abhay Singh Rathore aaj raat yahan aa rahe hain.”

Everyone turned to Sitara.

And Sitara?

She lifted her head, took a breath, and said coldly—

“Aaiye… dekhte hain kaun kis haq se mera naam leta hai.”