Chapter 91: The Race Against Time

The storage compartment creaked open, revealing a stack of old parchments, yellowed with time and fragile to the touch. Satya and Saanvi exchanged a glance before carefully lifting them out.

The dim glow of their flashlight illuminated the words written in an elegant but hurried script—a firsthand account of the conspiracy.

Satya's fingers trembled as he read. It wasn't just about the betrayal—it was a carefully orchestrated coup. Veer had uncovered the names of those who plotted against the king, but before he could expose them, he was silenced and branded as the traitor instead.

He flipped through the documents, his heart pounding. Names appeared—nobles, advisors, even someone within the royal family.

Saanvi leaned closer. "This is it, Satya. This is proof that Veer was framed."

Before he could respond, his phone vibrated.

A single message from the professor.

"He's coming."

Satya's blood ran cold.

Jayant had noticed. He was coming back.

He exchanged a quick glance with Saanvi. They had only minutes.

"We need to hide these," he whispered, stuffing some of the documents into his bag. "We don't have time to go through everything right now."

Saanvi nodded, urgency flashing in her eyes. "What about the rest?"

Satya hesitated. If they left them behind, Jayant could destroy the evidence. But carrying too much would slow them down.

Footsteps echoed from above.

They had no choice.

Satya pulled out his sketchbook and began taking quick sketches of the crucial pages. Dates, names, key details—anything that could help them later.

Saanvi, meanwhile, hurried to reposition the storage space, making it look untouched.

Then—another sound.

The heavy creak of a door opening in the distance.

Jayant was inside the palace.

Satya barely had time to shove the last parchment into his bag before a shadow passed outside the room.

Saanvi sucked in a sharp breath. "He's close."

Satya grabbed her hand. "We need to move. Now."

They crept toward the hidden corridor, their backs pressed against the cold stone. They could hear Jayant's voice now—low, commanding.

"Find them. They're still here."

The sound of splitting footsteps sent shivers down Satya's spine. Jayant's men were spreading out.

Saanvi's grip on his hand tightened. "If we get caught…"

"We won't," Satya whispered.

But deep inside, he wasn't sure.

Because this time, Jayant wasn't just searching.

He was hunting.