No, Durkhanai would need to think of something else.

She would sneak in, dressed as a maid—but her face was too easily recognizable.

She could bribe them? No. Their allegiance was to the Badshah.

Sleeping ointment? No, again. They would be too confused when they woke. It would be too suspicious.

She would need something more.

Then, something turned in her mind. A bud, blooming into shape. Durkhanai smiled.

She went to her dressing room. She discarded her shawl and simple clothes. Maids helped her dress. She adjusted her crown atop her dupatta, her chudiyan clinking together on her arms. She straightened her back, lifted her chin.

As she exited her room, she grabbed a little pouch, then began making her way to the lowest levels of the palace, a floor very few even knew existed. It was deep within the mountain and impossible to reach without the specific directions from within the palace. This level was where they kept most of the gold, jewels, important documents, and other invaluable objects.

It was where they hid the lady’s suite.

Durkhanai walked to the room, smiling at the guards who stood there. They were young, just as she suspected they would be, because protecting the lady wasn’t the most vital job down there.

The younger they were, the easier to fool.

When they saw Durkhanai approaching, they lowered their heads in respect.

“Shehzadi,” they said.

“Good morning,” she said, smiling sweetly. “I know the lady isn’t meant to be interacting with anyone, but as it is my beloved cousin, I have some . . . personal things for her.”

Durkhanai held up the bag as evidence.

“And what would be inside?” one guard asked. “We can deliver it to her.”

“I’d much rather deliver it myself, thank you,” she said. Without waiting, she moved toward the door. Confidence was key.

They did not move to open it but exchanged a wary glance. Durkhanai narrowed her eyes at them. Her voice harshened with petulance. “What exactly is the problem?”

“Apologies, Shehzadi, but we have been given express instructions not to let anyone through,” one guard said. “If the Badshah found out . . .”

“If the Badshah found out you were stopping me from seeing my beloved cousin on the eve of her wedding I assure you, he would not be happy,” Durkhanai said, eyes hard. “I believe what he would be is furious, especially considering I have personal items to deliver. As I already said. And I do hate to repeat myself.”

The guards were visibly starting to sweat. “Perhaps, if we could see what was inside . . .” The younger guard started to reach for her bag.

“How dare you!” Durkhanai snatched the bag tightly in her hand. “To even think of going through my belongings!”

“No, no, Shehzadi! That was not our intent at all,” the older guard said, hitting the younger guard. “It is only . . . we were told not to—”