The Betrayer’s Redemption

The Betrayer’s Redemption

The fire crackled softly in the heart of the stone chamber, casting long shadows on the walls as Nefertari stood in front of it, her thoughts swirling like the smoke that twisted upwards toward the ceiling. She hadn’t expected this meeting, not tonight, not ever. Yet here she was, face to face with the one who had once shattered her trust and left the kingdom vulnerable.

Across from her, Malik knelt on the cold stone floor, head bowed. His face was thinner than she remembered, the sharp angles of his jaw more pronounced under the flickering firelight. It had been years since he disappeared after the fall of the outer provinces, and his betrayal was the beginning of the kingdom’s descent into chaos. Nefertari’s heart tightened as she recalled the night he vanished with secrets that had almost destroyed her empire.