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Later that night, Tanvi and Mira stood before the king once again, this time not as prisoners, but as heroes. The king looked at Tanvi with newfound respect, his expression solemn.
"I owe you my deepest gratitude, Tanvi," the king said. "Not only have you saved these children, but you've also uncovered the truth behind this terrible ordeal. I am in your debt."
Tanvi bowed her head, still shaken by the night's events. "Your Majesty, I only did what I had to."
The king's expression darkened. "There is something else I must confess. The bandits had sent a ransom demand weeks ago, but I did not bring it before the court. I feared it would cause panic among the people. I see now that I was wrong to keep it hidden."
Tanvi looked up, surprised. "A ransom?"
The king nodded grimly. "They asked for a sum so large it would have drained the royal treasury for years. I thought I could handle it quietly, but my decision only led to more suffering."
Tanvi shook her head. "What's done is done, Your Majesty. The important thing is that the children are safe."
As the king dismissed them, Tanvi felt a weight lift from her shoulders, but she knew there was still much to be done. Rahul was still in prison, and Mahesh remained free.
The royal hall was filled with murmurs of approval and nods from the gathered nobles, each agreeing with the king's decision. Tanvi stood in the middle of the vast chamber, her hands clenched at her sides, her heart pounding with frustration. She had just risked her life to save the children and the kingdom from the bandits, yet here she was, being rebuked for what she had done.
The atmosphere had shifted drastically. One of the senior ministers, an older man with a long beard and a stern face, stepped forward, pointing an accusatory finger at her.
"Your Majesty, this woman," the minister began, his voice dripping with disdain, "has overstepped her bounds. She interferes in matters that should be handled by men—warfare, battles, threats to the kingdom. These are not affairs for a woman to involve herself in. She is reckless and has hurt her dignity by behaving in such a way."
Tanvi's face flushed with anger, but she held her tongue, for now.
The king, sitting on his gilded throne, listened with a furrowed brow. "The minister speaks wisely, Tanvi," he said, his tone firm. "You have done well to protect the kingdom, but you must understand your place. These are not tasks for women. Future threats and battles will be handled by our warriors and officials."
Tanvi's chest tightened, a burning indignation rising within her. She had expected some resistance, but this? To be told that, despite her efforts, her role was simply to stay out of it? She couldn't stand it.
Without thinking, the words escaped her lips, sharp and unfiltered. "If I hadn't been in the palace that day, no one would be alive today!"
The hall fell into stunned silence. All eyes turned toward her, some shocked, others angry. Even the king's eyes widened, his mouth parting in surprise. Tanvi immediately regretted her outburst, but it was too late to take it back. Her words hung in the air like a challenge.
The minister's face contorted with fury. "How dare you speak such insolence!" he barked, taking a step forward. "A woman, a mere commoner, questioning the decisions of His Majesty and his court? Do you think you are above the laws of this land? Above your station?"
Tanvi remained silent, her mind racing. She had stepped too far, and she knew it. But how could she stay quiet when her contribution was being dismissed as nothing?
The minister continued, his voice rising, turning the attention of the room fully on her. "This woman's arrogance knows no bounds! She behaves as though she wields some unnatural power over men. Perhaps it is witchcraft! Or maybe she uses deceit and trickery to gain influence in places she does not belong. We must be cautious with her kind, lest she bring more disgrace upon the court!"
At the mention of witchcraft, murmurs of agreement spread among the other nobles. They whispered to one another, some nodding, others casting suspicious glances at Tanvi.
Tanvi felt her throat tighten, her hands shaking with a mix of fury and helplessness. She opened her mouth to respond, but the minister's voice drowned her out.
"What woman dares to claim victory in a man's battle?" he spat, his finger jabbing in her direction. "We must be careful, Your Majesty. She may be nothing more than a troublemaker, someone who disrupts the natural order of things. First she meddles in matters of war, what's next? Will she attempt to rule in your stead?"
Tanvi's heart pounded. The accusations were growing more outrageous by the second, but she knew that denying them could only dig her deeper into trouble. Still, she couldn't let these allegations stand.
"Your Majesty," Tanvi said, her voice strained but controlled, "I only did what was necessary. There was no time to wait for someone else to act. The bandits were already inside the palace, and the lives of the royal family were in danger. I—"
"Silence!" the minister snapped, cutting her off. "You speak too much for a woman who should have learned her place! A lady of any decency would never boast of such actions. And now you seek to justify yourself? To claim that without your interference, we would all be dead? Such arrogance!"
The king, who had been watching the exchange with a stern expression, finally raised his hand, calling for silence. The room grew still, and Tanvi braced herself.
"Tanvi," the king said slowly, "you have indeed done a great service for this kingdom. But the minister is correct. Your actions, while brave, were out of place. You cannot involve yourself in matters of battle or governance. It is not your role. From this day forth, I forbid you from taking part in any future threats or conflicts. Such matters are to be handled by men, as they always have been."
Tanvi's chest ached with frustration. She wanted to shout, to tell them how wrong they were, how absurd it was to limit her just because she was a woman. But the weight of the room pressed down on her, and she knew she couldn't win this fight—not here, not now.
Still, she couldn't remain silent. She had to say something.
"Your Majesty," Tanvi began, her voice trembling with the effort to stay composed, "I understand your orders, but I only wish to say this: I acted out of necessity, not arrogance. If my actions saved lives, then it was because the situation required it, not because I sought glory."
The minister snorted, his expression darkening. "Spare us your excuses. You've already shown your true colors, and they are not those of a woman with humility or honor."
Tanvi's fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms. She was biting back her fury, holding her tongue against the rising tide of frustration. But the minister's next words shattered her resolve.
"A woman like you has no place in these halls, nor in any position of influence. You are a mere shopkeeper, and now you think yourself a hero? Perhaps it would be best to strip you of your status entirely and send you back to where you belong—in obscurity."
Tanvi's heart raced, and before she could stop herself, she spoke, her voice sharp and clear. "My status doesn't define me, Minister. My actions do. And while you sit here, questioning my dignity, remember this: I have done more for this kingdom in one day than you have in a lifetime."
Gasps filled the hall. The minister's face flushed with anger, his hand reaching for the hilt of his sword.
"Enough!" the king's voice boomed, silencing the room. He rose from his throne, his eyes fixed on Tanvi, his expression unreadable. "Tanvi, you have overstepped your bounds. But I will not allow this matter to escalate further. You will leave this court now, and you will follow the orders given to you. Is that understood?"
Tanvi bowed her head, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Yes, Your Majesty."
She turned and walked out of the hall, her heart heavy with a mix of regret, anger, and frustration.
The tension in the grand hall was palpable, the silence only broken by the queen's firm voice.
"Stop!"
The boldness of her command echoed off the marble walls, silencing the murmurs and halting Tanvi's steps as she was about to leave. Heads turned toward the regal figure at the back of the hall. The queen, draped in her royal attire, stood tall and graceful, her eyes focused on the court and the people assembled before her.
"Indeed, she is a woman," the queen began, her voice steady but filled with authority. "A woman, like me. But does that mean she does not belong here simply because she wasn't born into royalty? Does that make her any less capable?"
The nobles exchanged uneasy glances, and the minister, who had been railing against Tanvi moments before, stiffened visibly. His face darkened with indignation as the queen continued.
"She doesn't come from royal blood," the queen acknowledged, stepping forward. "But blood does not define greatness. If we silence her now, we lose more than just her voice—we lose the sharp mind, the bold courage, and the cleverness she has displayed not once, but time and again. If a person like her is not welcomed in this court, then we are fools to reject her strength."
The minister could barely contain himself. His hands shook as he stepped forward, his eyes burning with fury. "Your Majesty," he began, his tone cold and sharp, "with all due respect, this woman—this commoner—has no place here. Her actions have overstepped every boundary, and to reward her now would only sow discord. It would be against tradition! A mere shopkeeper cannot be elevated to nobility!"
The queen's eyes narrowed at the minister's insolence. She took another step forward, her gaze unyielding. "Enough!" she said, her voice ringing through the hall with finality. "I am the queen, and my word holds weight in this court. Tradition must change when it shackles progress. Tanvi's courage and intelligence have proven that she belongs here."
The court erupted into murmurs again, some agreeing with the queen, others whispering about the breach of tradition. But the queen remained resolute, her posture regal as she turned her attention fully to Tanvi.
"I, the queen of this kingdom," she declared, "grant you, Tanvi, the title of noble. Do you accept this honor?"
Tanvi stood frozen for a moment, her mind racing. She had come to the palace expecting nothing but punishment, ridicule, and dismissal. Now, the queen herself was offering her something she had never imagined—a title, a place in the very court that had rejected her. She took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest, before answering, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions within her.
"I do," Tanvi replied, bowing her head in respect.
The hall fell into a stunned silence, the weight of the moment settling over everyone present. The queen smiled gently, then turned to the nobles and the minister, her expression hardening.
"Her last name," the minister interrupted, his voice tight with disbelief, "What family name does she carry? You cannot give her a noble title without granting her a lineage. It is impossible!"
The queen didn't waver. She turned back to Tanvi, her eyes soft but filled with determination. "Then she will carry my name," the queen said, her voice firm. "From this day forward, she shall be known as Tanvi of the House of Rajvar. Her place in this court is secured, and if there are any matters that this court cannot handle, she will have the freedom and authority to address them herself."
A collective gasp filled the room. The queen had just given Tanvi not only a noble title but also her own name—Rajvar, the name of the royal family. Tanvi was now connected to the highest lineage in the land, a move that sent ripples of shock through the court.
The minister, however, was not finished. His face was red with anger as he stepped forward, his voice rising once more. "This is a violation of everything we stand for!" he barked. "We cannot simply bestow such honors on a common woman without considering the consequences! She is untested in matters of state, she is—"
The king, who had been silently observing the proceedings, finally spoke, his deep voice cutting through the minister's rant. "Enough, Minister."
The court fell silent again as the king rose from his throne, his gaze sweeping over the gathered nobles before landing on Tanvi. "My queen has spoken, and I stand by her decision. Tanvi has proven her worth, not just through words but through action. We are a kingdom built on the merits of our people, not just their birthright. Let this be a reminder to all of you—those who serve this kingdom well, regardless of their background, will be recognized."
The minister's mouth opened, then closed, his face a mask of frustration. He could not argue further with both the king and the queen aligned against him.
Tanvi felt the weight of what had just happened, her chest tightening with a mix of pride and disbelief. She had gone from a mere businesswoman to a noble in the royal court, carrying the queen's own name. But more than that, she now had a responsibility—one that came with its own set of challenges and expectations.
As the king and queen resumed their seats, the queen addressed Tanvi once more. "Do not let the words of those who doubt you deter your spirit, Tanvi Rajvar. You are now part of this court, and your voice matters. But remember, with this title comes responsibility. We expect you to continue serving the kingdom with the same dedication and bravery you have shown."
Tanvi bowed deeply, her heart swelling with a mixture of gratitude and determination. "I will not disappoint you, Your Majesties."
The queen smiled warmly. "I trust that you won't."
As Tanvi turned to leave the hall, the minister muttered under his breath, still bitter. But it no longer mattered. The decision had been made, and Tanvi's place in the kingdom was sealed. As she walked out of the grand doors, she couldn't help but feel that her journey was only just beginning.
For the first time in her life, she wasn't just Tanvi the shopkeeper—she was Tanvi Rajvar, noblewoman, and a force to be reckoned with.