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Part 1: Strict Security and Disrupted Evidence
Just as Malikat Haseenat had ordered, security was tightened significantly around the room where Iffah was being held. This force did not consist of ordinary soldiers, but rather elite security personnel who typically only provided security for the Shahan-shan (Emperor) himself. Additionally, Malikat Haseenat remained among those who could directly monitor everything. Even the food currently being brought to Iffah was under special surveillance; by the fifth day, her prolonged hunger strike had begun to severe threaten her health, forcing a physician to step in and examine her. Consequently, she was forced to resume eating, though she would take no more than three mouthfuls of food or three sips of milk before setting it aside.
Meanwhile, the ruling class of the royal family continued to gather necessary information through an ongoing investigation. However, the first major setback they encountered was the complete loss of the CCTV footage from Tajwar Eshaan’s section of the palace, covering the period from the early morning of the incident until the exact moment Daneen Ammarah and Miran Jasim arrived there. Furthermore, Iffah’s phone and laptop were completely missing, despite being searched for high and low.
This development sparked immense controversy, leading security agents to arrest and detain the officer in charge of the surveillance control room. Despite intense interrogation, he swore on everything he knew that he had no idea how it had happened. Similarly, all the domestic servants assigned to Iffah’s section were rounded up, and they too swore under oath that they had no idea how Iffah’s phone and laptop had vanished into thin air. They insisted they had not seen anyone sneak into the section.
This absolute lack of concrete evidence to conclusively prove Iffah's guilt—despite everyone’s unshakable conviction that she committed the crime—caused a massive rift and internal conflict regarding her final judgment. Sensing the vulnerability of their position, Miran Jasim's faction grew deeply paranoid and began aggressively pushing for Iffah’s immediate execution. Conversely, the opposing faction, which included the lineage of Sayeed Khairul-Bashar, rebelled against this haste, insisting that the investigation must continue until everything was verified and her own side of the story was heard; they argued that even if she did commit the act, there must have been inside collaboration from others within the palace.
It was an incredibly severe conflict, even resulting in a second high-level council meeting that ended in complete gridlock. The faction arguing that executing Iffah was the easiest way forward was technically the most powerful group, as many of its members belonged to Tajwar Eshaan's inner circle. Malikat Haseenat, however, remained steadfast, insisting that the investigation must proceed to avoid an irreversible act of regret.
Similarly, Daneen Ammarah’s heart completely refused to accept that Iffah would commit such an atrocity of her own free will—assuming she was even the culprit, given that there was still no definitive proof showing she was the one who handed him the poisoned milk. After all, the chefs who prepared his food and his trusted personal assistant were also locked up under investigation. It was purely the complex plotting of Miran Arshaan's circle that had directed the overwhelming weight of suspicion onto Iffah. As it stood, they had firmly positioned themselves to fan the flames of the crisis, displaying far more outrage than anyone else—especially Miran Jasim, who currently held the reins of the kingdom until the hoped-for recovery of Tajwar Eshaan...
Part 2: The Ultimatums of Barbushi
Even after a full week had passed, there was still no resolution to the matter; instead, each opposing faction grew more entrenched and aggressive. Iffah remained untouched solely due to Malikat Haseenat's unwavering insistence on a full investigation. This stubborn stance left Miran Jasim and Miran Arshaan in a state of constant, anxious restlessness.
Their spiritual consultant, Barbushi, explicitly warned them that as long as Malikat Haseenat was still drawing breath, they would never easily achieve their desires. Because of this, he presented them with two distinct choices: either they must move quickly to assassinate her with their own hands, or they must work to instigate Malikat Bushirat, manipulating her into eliminating Malikat Haseenat for them, just as they had previously used Iffah.
Their anxiety spiked at this revelation. Eliminating Malikat Haseenat was a monumental and highly dangerous task, particularly at this critical juncture where she was playing a decisive role contrary to their interests, despite her being closer to Tajwar Eshaan than them. No matter how much they debated and weighed the options, they realized that attacking Haseenat directly was a perilous path. Consequently, they chose to head to Malikat Bushirat’s section to confront her directly. Their hope was to kill two birds with one stone, because since this crisis erupted, Malikat Bushirat had refused to say a single word; she had withdrawn her attention completely, focusing solely on the health of her only son, Tajwar Eshaan, whom no one in the palace had been permitted to see except her and Malikat Haseenat—up until this very day, which marked the ninth day since the incident occurred...
Part 3: Manipulating Malikat Bushirat
The bitter, furious tone of her voice as she paced angrily back and forth made it absolutely clear that she was enraged to the highest degree. This was Malikat Bushirat, who, since the beginning of this crisis, had kept completely silent while everyone else was arguing and interfering. Right now, her supreme desire was nothing short of the recovery of her only son. As for the punishment of the girl who caused it all—Iffah—she was well aware of all the frantic debates going on around the palace, but she had chosen not to intervene yet, claiming there would be a proper time for that later.
Throughout these long days, every single movement within the Ruman Empire reached her ears clearer than it did to those who were actively pacing the corridors. The sharp spike and growth of her current fury was tied directly to her recent discussion with Miran Jasim’s faction; their entire meeting focused on how Malikat Haseenat had directly blocked Iffah’s immediate execution until the strict conditions of her investigation were met.
Seeing Malikat Bushirat in such a state of rage was exactly what they had prayed for. Miran Arshaan and Miran Jasim looked at one another, barely hiding the sinister smiles creeping onto their faces. They adjusted their postures and opened a new chapter of their manipulation. Miran Arshaan forced a deeply sorrowful and worried expression onto his face as he looked toward Malikat Bushirat.
"In my opinion, anger or despair alone will not provide us with a way out," Arshaan said smoothly. "We need to sit down and discuss the most appropriate step to take before time completely runs out. I truly do not understand why Mammah (Malikat Haseenat) has treated this grave matter with such a lack of urgency. In my heart, I feel that by now, that girl should have been history. I see absolutely no reason why an investigation must be conducted before she is punished when everything she did is glaringly obvious. To me, this delay is practically showing that our boy’s life means nothing to them..."
"You are absolutely right, Brother Arshaan," Miran Jasim chimed in quickly, faking intense outrage. "I myself can no longer comprehend anything, especially Mammah's perspective. It makes me wonder—does she simply not care? Or does she love that strange girl more than her own flesh and blood? If that isn't the case, what is the meaning of these groundless conditions? Everything is out in the open. Now she claims an investigation must happen, yet even the CCTV footage has been mysteriously wiped, which proves a massive conspiracy was prepared.
I am absolutely certain that this girl orchestrated everything before she ever stepped foot into this palace. Our background checks show that she only married him to exact vengeance for her two siblings; that is why she humbled herself to infiltrate their inner circle, especially targeting Mammah and Sister Ammarah, who are now bizarrely supporting her survival as if they have completely forgotten the status of the person she tried to assassinate..."
Their words deeply unsettled Malikat Bushirat, fanning the flames of her inner rage. Instantly, her resentment toward Malikat Haseenat and her deep-seated hatred for Daneen Ammarah multiplied in her heart. For a long time, Jasrah had constantly been poisoning Bushirat's mind against Daneen Ammarah under the secret guidance of Miran Arshaan, constantly bringing her daily reports of their movements in the palace, particularly because their stance on executing Iffah differed drastically from theirs.
Seeing her visibly swelling with rage, they waited breathlessly for her to say something definitive. However, because she was a woman of an unpredictable, difficult disposition, she did not utter a single word of what they wanted to hear; instead, she merely kept her fury bottled up tightly inside. No matter how much they continued to instigate her, she remained silent until the scheduled time arrived for her to visit Tajwar Eshaan. Since the incident occurred, they had not been granted access to see him due to the strict decree and high security surrounding the Emperor's recovery room. It was only due to Malikat Bushirat's intervention—who herself was only permitted a single visit per day—that they were finally going to see him today.
Part 4: The Recovery Room Secret
Every single movement, entrance, and exit was heavily scrutinized by the elite guards of the medical wing. Everywhere one looked, high-definition CCTV cameras monitored the corridors. Even the staff members watched one another’s movements with intense suspicion, as a climate of mutual distrust had completely taken over the palace.
They were received by his chief specialist physician, who stood guard like an unwavering sentinel under the direct orders of Malikat Bushirat. Greeting them with immense professional respect—completely unbothered by their arrogant, high-handed responses—he led them toward the specialized ward set aside for Tajwar Eshaan's treatment. The room was practically a state-of-the-art hospital wing, equipped with the most advanced medical apparatus any country could pride itself on. The Ruman Empire was globally renowned for possessing elite medical professionals and cutting-edge facilities across all fields. This was precisely why even the Shahan-shan, despite his critical condition, had not been flown abroad; instead, international experts traveled to Ruman seeking medical breakthroughs due to their superior standards.
Tajwar Eshaan was sitting up on the hospital bed, his back propped up against soft pillows and the elevated mattress. Although he had lost some weight, his natural charisma, regal aura, and striking presence remained fully intact across his flawless features. He looked remarkably pale yet radiant, a contrast that highlighted the dark, soft hair cut neatly around his head, cheeks, and chin. He wore light-blue medical robes that further accentuated his bright skin, making him look exceptionally handsome, as if he had dressed up for an occasion. However, his large, piercing eyes were still slightly swollen, bearing the clear signs of a man undergoing intensive medical recovery. Despite hearing them enter the room, he did not move a muscle; his gaze remained fixed calmly and regally on the laptop he was operating with complete composure.
Miran Arshaan and Miran Jasim froze instantly in absolute shock and bewilderment. Their minds had not prepared them to find him in such an alert, functional state—especially given how his personal physician had completely refused to answer any pressing questions from journalists regarding Tajwar Eshaan's current health status. Ever since their initial press conference the morning after the incident, the palace medical team had maintained absolute radio silence regarding his condition.
Malikat Bushirat, whose entire focus was consumed by her son's well-being, rushed to his bedside with a broad, relieved smile. She pulled up a chair and sat close to his side. As the familiar scent of her premium perfume reached his nose, he slowly raised his head...
(These are the available books: Daudar Gora by Bilky Abdul, Ki Kulani by Hafsat Xoxo, A Rubuce Take by Huguma, Rumbun K'aya by Hafsat Rano, Idon Nera by Mamuh Ghee...)
(May Allah forgive our parents 😭🙏🏽)
Typing...
Part 5: The Confrontation and the Traitors' Panic
Tajwar Eshaan slowly directed his slightly heavy, swollen white eyes toward her. "Good morning, Ammie," he said softly, a faint, polite smile gracing his lips as if forcing himself to be social.
"Good morning, my Prince (My Niger)," she answered, her smile widening with the pure maternal care and intense love she harbored for him.
He closed his eyes briefly and opened them again, shifting his gaze toward Miran Jasim and Miran Arshaan, who were standing frozen by the doorway like statues placed there for historical exhibition. For the first time since they entered, he turned his sharp eyes completely onto them. Guilt naturally breeds fear; even in their weakened, recovering state, his piercing eyes held an immense, intimidating weight over the traitors. It took everything they had to suppress their mounting panic and the frantic pounding of their hearts against their ribs.
Being a man of exceptional intellect and lightning-fast situational awareness, Eshaan read their body language instantly. He lowered his eyes slightly, concealing a cold, knowing smile that threatened to break across his face. Completely ignoring their visible discomfort, he welcomed them calmly and asked how they were doing. They forced themselves to composure with great difficulty, their faces twisting into fake expressions of deep worry, care, and sorrow.
Malikat Bushirat, whose attention was completely monopolized by Tajwar Eshaan, failed to notice the bizarre tension between the men. She turned back to them with a wide smile, acknowledging their hypocritical inquiries about his health—though Eshaan himself did not answer their questions directly, brushing them off as if he hadn't even heard them speak.
"His health is perfectly fine, Alhamdulillah," Malikat Bushirat explained to them. "Although the doctors mentioned they still need to perform a minor surgical procedure on him in a few days. Right now, they are administering medications to neutralize and isolate the venom to a single area, as they have already successfully neutralized the primary snake toxin."
This medical update struck the traitors like a physical blow to the heart, yet a twisted part of them found a dangerous opportunity in it. They quickly masked their shock, vocalizing deep sorrow and anger while heavily slandering Iffah. They loudly declared that they would make sure her entire lineage paid dearly for this atrocity, not just her alone. They claimed their only supreme wish was for Allah to grant him full healing so he could reclaim his imperial throne.
Their dramatic words visibly stoked Malikat Bushirat's overt fury. However, she said nothing more, mirroring Tajwar Eshaan's stoic silence. In fact, the moment they began their dramatic speech, Eshaan simply glanced toward his physician, Doctor Afif, who was also standing in the room as strictly required by the medical wing's visitation rules. With a silent look, Eshaan communicated his command.
Doctor Afif nodded respectfully, stepped up to the bed, and pulled away the small over-bed table holding the laptop. He closed the laptop screen and set it aside. Then, using the remote control, he lowered the bed slightly. Eshaan adjusted his posture, closed his eyes, and drifted back to sleep, completely shutting them out. He did not open them again or acknowledge any further comments, despite hearing every single word they said...
Part 6: The Imperial Announcement
"Are you absolutely certain that miserable boy isn't hiding something dangerous from us?" Miran Arshaan hissed in a state of sheer panic, pacing frantically back and forth.
They had just left Tajwar Eshaan’s ward. Malikat Bushirat had returned to her private quarters, while they hurried directly to Miran Jasim’s section, which was located quite a distance away.
Miran Jasim, whose mind was plagued by the exact same terrifying suspicion, bit his lip with violent force. "Brother, I feel the exact same dread in my soul. I simply cannot calculate his movements correctly. You know as well as I do that this boy is far more dangerous and unpredictable than his late father ever was. We have no choice but to return to Barbushi first thing tomorrow morning; we urgently need an emergency consultation with him."
"That is exactly what we must do," Arshaan agreed. "But our trip tomorrow must be backed by a massive, foolproof strategy. We need to completely eliminate that little girl (Iffah) over there before we can fully deal with him."
"No problem at all. The way I feel right now, if someone told me to execute it this very second, I am fully prepared. Tomorrow morning cannot come fast enough."
True to their words, that was their plan. However, later that night, they held a long, secret meeting with one of the specific doctors on Tajwar Eshaan's medical team. They conversed in deep secrecy for hours, and absolutely no one knew what dark transaction took place between them.
The following morning, they were unable to leave the palace to visit Barbushi as intended due to the unexpected arrival of high-profile dignitaries. The regional rulers of the entire Ruman Empire had arrived in mass to officially inspect the health of the Emperor. To the absolute shock of the conspirators, this high-profile visit gave the public their first real glimpse into the Shahan-shan's condition—because, Alhamdulillah, Eshaan actually walked out into the grand reception hall to receive them.
He sat and conversed with the regional rulers for nearly thirty minutes. As he stood up to return to his ward, his sharp ears caught the distant, echoing roar of a massive commotion rising from just outside the imperial palace gates. At first, he wasn't surprised, assuming it was simply a continuation of the public protests that had been raging since his poisoning.
However, he paused in his tracks, halted his movement out of the hall, and turned his gaze toward Sayeed Fayzul-haq, who had led the delegation of rulers into his presence. Fayzul-haq rushed forward immediately, bowing his head in profound reverence. "May the peace and protection of the ALMIGHTY continue to guard you, oh our just leader. Do you require something?"
Eshaan remained silent for a moment, as if deciding whether to speak. He then took a slow breath, closed his eyes briefly, and opened them fully onto the official. A single command slipped from his lips: "Is there something happening out there behind my back that I am unaware of?"
"To the best of my knowledge, there is nothing new, Your Majesty," Fayzul-haq replied quickly. "Unless you are referring to that loud noise outside. The journalists are simply displaying an aggressive obsession with uncovering your true medical state, and the citizens of Ruman are equally desperate for answers. Although they gather at the palace gates daily, the sight of the regional rulers arriving today made them believe they would finally get the information they desire, so they gathered in far greater numbers than usual. The security forces are currently working hard to disperse them by tightening the security perimeter."
"Organize a grand international press conference," Tajwar Eshaan commanded calmly. "I will personally address the journalists tomorrow morning, Insha Allah."
Sayeed Fayzul-haq snapped his head up in absolute horror, panic, and shock, completely losing his royal composure before he could stop himself. The words of Tajwar Eshaan had struck his eardrums like a sudden, terrifying crack of thunder. Without a doubt, anyone who heard this statement would be profoundly shaken, because such an event had never occurred directly in the history of the Ruman Empire. Whenever the Shahan-shan needed to address the media, he would traditionally appoint a high-ranking proxy to deliver his official statements. Even though Tajwar Eshaan had not explicitly stated what he intended to reveal, the mere fact that he was breaking imperial protocol to speak directly to the media shook Sayeed Fayzul-haq to his very core.
In less than an hour, this unprecedented directive from Tajwar Eshaan spread like wildfire through every single corner, valley, and street of the Ruman Empire and its surrounding territories. Everywhere one turned, it was the sole topic of discussion: Tajwar Eshaan was going to sit down live with the international press tomorrow morning, Insha Allah. Everyone desperately wished for morning to come—not just the journalists and the common citizens, but even the high-ranking politicians and elites with hidden agendas joined the ranks of those breathlessly waiting.
That night, the heads of the major media corporations in Ruman called an emergency meeting. They needed to strategize and outline their approach, knowing that the citizens possessed a mountain of burning questions that demanded answers—and they were going to hear those answers directly from the mouth of Tajwar Eshaan Ibn Haysam Abdul-majeed himself, an opportunity everyone knew was incredibly rare and near-impossible to secure...
Part 7: The Witch Doctor's Terrifying Prophecy
Griped by absolute terror and desperation, the traitors arrived at Barbushi's shrine. Despite the dead of night and the oppressive, pitch-black darkness of the cursed forest, they possessed no fear of physical danger; their hearts had become entirely hardened by malice. Their true terror did not stem from the wilderness, but rather from the constant, agonizing state of paranoia and suspicion they lived in due to their failing plots.
The witch doctor Barbushi—whose face and entire body were completely caked in filth, grime, and the pure darkness of paganism—suddenly burst into a manic, unhinged fit of laughter that deeply irritated both Miran Arshaan and Miran Jasim. However, they suppressed their anger, refusing to say a word. He laughed to his heart's content before finally silencing himself and turning his sinister focus toward them.
They didn't even need to explain the purpose of their midnight visit; they blindly believed he already possessed supernatural knowledge of the unseen (a horrific sin of shirk! 😭🙏), because whenever they came to his shrine, he would accurately narrate their motives before they could speak. True to form, the moment his hideous laughter ceased, he began detailing their predicament in a raspy, ominous chant:
"An intricate, multi-layered web of complexity... a vicious, dark knot that has ensnared every single one of you! No living soul can decipher the true origin of this plot, let alone lay their hands on the final thread of its end. This is because everything was executed in a profound, absolute darkness that no eye can pierce—no matter how deeply versed they are in the arts of deception and malice. I state to you with absolute certainty: that boy is an exceptionally powerful, terrifyingly brilliant strategist. And in truth, the real game has only just begun! Hahahahaha!!!!..."
As his hideous laughter echoed terrifyingly through the silent forest, the hearts of Miran Jasim and Miran Arshaan hammered violently against their ribs in pure dread. The very saliva in their mouths and throats dried up instantly. They could only fix their panicked, wide eyes on the cackling witch doctor. Desperately trying to regain control of his senses, Miran Jasim raised his voice into a harsh, terrified shout to cut him off:
"We do not care what power he holds or what strategy he prides himself on! We want his life completely terminated this very night! Furthermore, we want that girl destroyed by using his own mother, Malikat Bushirat; let her secrets be exposed to the world so everyone witnesses that she killed the girl. That way, when he meets the journalists tomorrow, he will face them with structural ruin. We must unleash a catastrophic conflict between them and the citizens of this country, and we must permanently eliminate that old woman (Malikat Haseenat), whose survival has become a massive thorn in our side! We will use this engineered chaos to completely wipe out Eshaan through the medical operation the doctor..."
Summary
This segment of the political thriller shifts the power dynamics of the Ruman Empire into a high-stakes psychological war, revolving around the survival of the Emperor (Tajwar Eshaan), the desperation of the traitors (Miran Jasim and Miran Arshaan), and the breakdown of their elaborate conspiracy.
1. The Evidence Void and Fractured Council
- The Disappearing Evidence: The investigation into Tajwar Eshaan's poisoning hits a massive wall when the CCTV footage of the entire morning of the crime vanishes. Furthermore, the primary suspect's (Iffah's) phone and laptop disappear without a trace, leading to the arrest of the surveillance chief and the interrogation of the palace servants.
Political Gridlock: The lack of concrete evidence splits the royal court into two warring factions. The traitors push for Iffah's immediate execution to bury the plot, while Malikat Haseenat and the Sayeed Khairul-Bashar lineage demand a full investigation, leaving the court in a dangerous deadlock.
2. The Failed Manipulation of Malikat Bushirat
- Instigating a Mother: Recognizing Malikat Haseenat as their ultimate roadblock, Arshaan and Jasim attempt to manipulate the grieving and furious Empress Mother, Malikat Bushirat. They heavily slander Iffah and question Haseenat's loyalty, hoping Bushirat will use her influence to execute Iffah and cause a rift.
The Shocking Recovery: Their plot crumbles when they accompany Bushirat to the high-security medical ward. Instead of finding a dying or incapacitated Emperor, they find Tajwar Eshaan sitting up, fully conscious, and operating a laptop. Eshaan instantly reads their guilt and fear through a single, terrifying look, forcing them into a state of panic.
3. The Imperial Counter-Move and Barbushi's Warning
- Breaking Protocol: In a massive power move, Tajwar Eshaan walks out to receive regional rulers and orders a direct, live international press conference for the following morning. This unprecedented move breaks royal protocol and sends shockwaves through the empire, leaving the traitors cornered as the public breathlessly awaits the broadcast.
- The Witch Doctor's Prophecy: Terrified by the impending press conference, the traitors sprint to the dark shrine of the witch doctor Barbushi. Barbushi mocks them, delivering a chilling warning: Tajwar Eshaan is a master strategist who has completely outmaneuvered them in the dark, and their plot is failing. In a final act of desperation, Jasim demands that Barbushi use black magic to kill Eshaan that very night, manipulate his upcoming medical surgery, and trigger a bloody civil war within the empire.
