His gaze flicked to the woman before he turned to her. "Nalini's potential suitors."
Nalini? Since when was he able to say the queen's name so lightly? I wasn't the only one who noticed, as all the men perked up and stared at the two new people in the room. They must have been high-ranking officials to speak so lightheartedly of the queen.
"Suitors? Ah, right." She nodded at us. "I forgot she was looking for one."
"She still hasn't chosen one."
"Why not? They're all so handsome." The woman smiled widely at us. "You men are very handsome; don't worry too much about the queen."
The man beside me, who had been berating me with insults, raised his head and smiled sweetly, the complete opposite of what he looked like before. "Excuse me, but the queen hasn't even come to greet us or see us. I'm worried she's forgotten that we're even here."
The more petite woman raised her brows and shook her head. "There's no way she forgot—"
"The queen is busy," General Varun said stonily, his expression stern and his gaze cold. "She doesn't have time to dawdle with men, and she will choose one of you at her own pace. That is if any one of you catches her attention. The queen is picky, and men that pester her with questions incite her anger."
A few gasps resounded throughout the room.
The more petite woman playfully slapped General Varun's shoulder. "Varun, don't scare them." She smiled at the rest of the men in the room. "Please don't fret too much. My name is Chandra, and hopefully, I'll see the rest of you around."
With that, the two left, leaving the rest in the room to look around quietly and speak.
How long would it take for the queen to send me home? I wanted to go home and enjoy spending time with my younger siblings and parents, with our animals, and peaceful, quiet life. The palace life wasn't for me. Jealousy, rankings, and men obsessed with the two were annoyingly persistent, and I wasn't accustomed to it. If I became the queen's suitor, my life would be full of those three.
It was an honor to be in the palace, and I had never anticipated ever being in it for so long—as a guest, no less—but the awe had worn off after a week, especially since we were only permitted in a few rooms. Although it was terrific and honorable to think that I could potentially become the queen's suitor, it was a scary thought as well. Queen Aditi Nalini had ascended the throne four years ago, and her reign thus far wasn't pleasant. Though she was known to be the most beautiful woman to rule the kingdom, her actions were anything but beautiful.
Even her name was foreign and aggressive.
Aditi. Who had a family name like that?
"The queen will pick me as her suitor," the man continued. "I will—"
I tuned him out and stood from my seat. I didn't want to listen to him or the other men; I only wanted to get back home where my family was. The queen wouldn't choose me and probably wouldn't choose any of the men in this room. She was picky, and I doubted we would suit her needs. By her pace, she probably wouldn't choose anyone anytime soon. How could it take longer than six months to find a suitor? She had the entire kingdom under her rule and couldn't pick a single man.
I left the room and continued walking down the halls I had become familiar with. I wanted to take a long, lovely bath where I could rest myself and soak in the warm, nice-smelling water. There was a separate bathroom used by someone other than me that I liked to frequent. One of the men around the palace told me that it wasn't in use and that it was rarely even visited.
After crossing a few hallways, I finally reached my destination. I pushed the door open and entered without a second thought, closing it behind me and trekking inside the room. It was a quiet and peaceful bathing area where the soap smelled like flowers. I was about to cross to the other side of the room to strip when I noticed a woman was already in the water, steam rising all around her.
I paused, my eyes widening as I stared at her dark eyes. She had long black hair cropped on the left side of her head, giving her an odd hairstyle. She was sitting in the water casually, her arms resting on the ridges on the ground—the bathing pool was in the ground—and her eyes were on me, her face void of expression.
What caught me off guard wasn't that she was staring at me or in the room when I thought no one was, but that she was so stunningly beautiful that my chest ached.
"I-I-I'm so sorry," I stammered once I found my voice, my eyes wide, and my fingers suddenly trembling. "I didn't realize that someone—"
"Who are you?" she spoke calmly, her gaze raking me up and down.
"My name is Arjun Patel." I took a few steps back. "Forgive me; I'll leave at once—"
"Don't leave so suddenly," she said as she watched me, eyeing me like a hawk would its prey. "Why are you in the palace?"
I swallowed, unsure why this beautiful woman wanted to know so much about me. I understood that I had made a mistake in entering the room without checking if someone was inside, but why did she have to interrogate me? Couldn't she let me leave without a second thought? "I was chosen to be the queen's suitor, possibly."
"The queen?" The woman smiled, and I noticed three scars on the right side of her jaw, reaching down to her collarbone. "Do you know who the queen is, little fox?"
I stiffened under her scrutiny, the answer dawning on me.
"I am the queen," she said with amusement. "My name is Aditi Nalini, the little fox."
In the captivating novel "Veiled Desires," the alluring tale unfolds within the walls of the palace, where a delicate balance of power, passion, and longing intertwines. Set in a fictional empire, the story follows Lila Ashbourne, a young woman unexpectedly thrust into the world of court intrigue and imperial desires.
As the emperor, Drakkon Meilin, seeks to select a new consort from a pool of hopeful women, Lila yearns for nothing more than to return to her simple life with her family. Palace life is a daunting experience, with jealous rivals, complex hierarchies, and an emperor whose name alone evokes fear and mystery.
However, an unexpected encounter with the enigmatic emperor himself unveils a connection that defies expectations. Drakkon Meilin, with his mesmerizing beauty and a reign marred by violence, discovers a profound fascination for the unassuming Lila, who possesses an inner strength and a spirit untamed by the palace's seductive allure.
As their paths entwine, Lila must navigate a treacherous web of courtly politics, forbidden desires, and the ever-present threat of a tumultuous empire. Will she succumb to the emperor's veiled desires and risk losing herself in a world of opulence and danger? Or will she find a way to reclaim her freedom and the love she left behind?
"Veiled Desires" is a spellbinding novel that delves into themes of love, sacrifice, and the indomitable human spirit. Through lush descriptions, intricate character dynamics, and an evocative setting, this story of forbidden romance and personal growth will transport readers to a captivating world of secrets, where true desires remain hidden beneath the surface.
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