Upon reaching the corridors of the royal palace, Shatrunjay signaled the soldiers to deal with Rana Sa and the guards, while he himself moved towards Adhi Shri's chamber with a few soldiers.
"Adhi Shri, we are coming to make you our slave," Shatrunjay said with a sly smile.
Meanwhile, Adhi Shri had reached the secret passage inside her chamber.
"Mama Sa, please go inside with the guards," Adhi Shri told Chandrasen.
Chandrasen and the guards refused, saying, "No!!"
Holding her hands, Chandrasen tried to reason with her, "You have endured so much just for this moment, and now you are rejecting it?"
"No, Mama Sa. We will come after you all. Please leave first," Adhi Shri explained. She was making sure everyone left one by one.
"Princess!! You are a pure soul. May Allah bless you with infinite happiness," a young girl fell at her feet. Adhi Shri lifted her by the shoulders and said, "You don't need to do this, Shama. We are only doing this to save you from your father because it is our duty. Go inside. We are all heading to a safe place outside the palace."
Lowering her head in obedience, Shama followed the others. As soon as they left, Adhi Shri shut the passage door.
Deepa, Shama, and a few maids who had just reached a little ahead stopped in shock upon seeing this.
"Why didn't the princess come?" Shama asked Deepa in a worried tone. Deepa replied, "You all go ahead. I will come."
Shama and the maids moved forward. Deepa rushed to the door and called out, "Princess! Princess!"
"Deepa, we will leave after securing all the doors. If they reach this chamber, they will get to us too. Go with everyone. I will come," Adhi Shri answered.
"No!" Deepa protested, but Adhi Shri cut her off, "We don't have much time. Go, this is my command!"
Reluctantly, Deepa moved ahead. Adhi Shri locked all the windows and doors and then went to secure the outermost door of her chamber. After locking it, she placed a heavy sofa in front of it.
By then, Shatrunjay had reached her chamber.
Seeing the closed door, he ordered his soldiers, "Break it down!"
The soldiers obeyed and broke the door. Meanwhile, Adhi Shri, unable to escape, hid inside a chest.
Shatrunjay entered and the soldiers accompanying him said, "Sardar, the princess is not here."
"She is here. Find her!" Shatrunjay commanded, his eyes fixed on the sofa.
The soldiers searched for Adhi Shri, while inside the chest, she struggled to breathe. Darkness engulfed her vision, and she lost consciousness. Moments later, Shatrunjay opened the chest.
"Beautiful! Even more than I imagined! Go and bring the shackles," he ordered.
Nightfall
Inside the royal palace
Adhi Shri's eyes fluttered open. She was lying on a bed.
She tried to get up but found her hands and feet bound in iron chains.
She struggled to free herself.
"Seeking freedom, my little runaway?" A familiar voice rang in her ears.
Shatrunjay sat on a sofa in front of her bed, playing with a dagger. He was still dressed like a bandit.
Adhi Shri pleaded, "Prince, please let us go. We are innocent. You have already claimed your kingdom. Even my father is in your captivity. Our enmity is over."
"Your father has escaped—leaving you to burn in the fire of our enmity," Shatrunjay replied indifferently.
Adhi Shri clenched her fists in anger. She pleaded again, "I have nothing to do with my father. Please grant me freedom."
"I will, if you surrender to me. Marry me or become my slave—the kind of slave I can use in any way I desire," Shatrunjay said, his voice laced with amusement.