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***

Even before Riya could comprehend what exactly was wrong with this situation Raghuveer picked her in a bridal style and once again she was startled by the sudden move. Why couldn't this man ever give her a heads up!

She quickly threw her hands around his neck and unintentionally he pulled her close to his chest to keep the balance which turned Riya's cheeks crimson realising their close proximity as his warm breath tickled her face.

"Dhruvan, after you are done with this clean up outside come and find me." His voice came out stiff and ordering which caught Riya in an awe effect, his strong jawline moved in perfection as he gave commands to Dhruvan and his pink plum lips- oh no, she is doing this again, she should stop ogling him like this now!

After a few seconds, he turned around with Riya in his arms as he marched inside his house, "Look, you-"

"Oh yes, I am looking at you!" Riya batted her eyelashes as she gave him a smile.

Raghuveer scoffed in irritation controlling his anger, "This is not the time for jokes, woman-"

"Riya!"

"What?"

"My name is Riya not, woman." She tried to imitate his manly voice as she said the word woman and his jaw tensed in anger. Raghuveer was already irked enough hearing about minister Kashyap's sudden visit and on top it this woman has the audacity to mock him.

"Whatever. Don't you even dare to step out of your chambers as long as the minister stays."

"Why?" Now his warning tone has woken those sleeping cells of curiosity in her and nothing other than an explanation about why can put them back to sleep.

"None of your business and do what I say." Saying he slowly dropped her on the bed and unexpectedly her wounded palm tangled with his chain, Riya would have been ecstatic with this close proximity but unfortunately, her wound started to hurt due to the rough moment.

"Ahh!" Riya yelped in pain and Raghuveer was equally shocked to see her wound to reopen.

"Oh no." Saying he turned behind and pulled out a small bronze box from his almirah at the corner of the room.

Raghuveer sat on the bed beside her, as he carefully spread a turmeric coloured paste on her injury and Riya couldn't help but cry out at the burning sensation caused by it as her eyes brimmed up with tears.

He almost cursed himself as he caught sight of her red face. Raghuveer quickly leaned forward slowly blowing on her hurt and Riya was stunned to see this sweet side of him. Her eyes fluttered as she carefully observed his unhurried blows of air on her wound, trying his best to comfort her and Riya couldn't help but keep stating, soon he quickly dressed her injury.

He lifted his eyes only to find her staring at him but almost naturally he looked in her eyes as he asked, "Is it still hurting?"

Riya nodded her head slowly and unintentionally Raghuveer whipped those stained tears on her cheek saying, "It's okay, it will heal soon. This paste tends to work faster."

He rubbed her cheek slowly, trying to comfort her.

"Rajkumar Ji, you have summoned me?" Dhruvan stood by the entrance with his hands folded together as he asked.

And once more Riya's gawking came to an abrupt halt and Raghuveer asked him to come inside.

"Dhruvan, it is your responsibility to see to it that this woman shouldn't even peek inside the hall room. So stay here with her and-".

"It is R I Y A, " She shouted in between his sentences but got ignored as Raghuveer continued with his directions.

"-and make sure that she remains far from minister Kashyap's eyesight."

Raghuveer patted his shoulder as if he delivered some words of duty to him and Dhruvan seriously vigorously nodded his head accepting his commands.

Riya couldn't but snort in annoyance observing their plans to keep her inside this room at any cost, what are they even planning? For laughing out loud she can't even walk properly!

And shortly Raghuveer left the chambers casting one last look at Riya and Dhruvan just stood by the entrance facing his back to her. Ha! Scaredy- cat.

Riya quietly observed the chamber, it was huge and had a wooden meshy partition at the end of the room with tiny holes from which you can get a partial peek of the hall and her lips curled up in a small smile as an amazing idea hit her brain.

"Hey boy, is it a full moon tonight?"

Riya swallowed a laugh as she could see his legs trembling in fear.

"I do-don't know."

"Ah what a pity that you don't know, but it's alright I can clearly see the full moon from this window." She had to press a hand on her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

His naiveness was encouraging her to pester him some more but unfortunately, she has got no time at her hand.

"S-so youwilleatme??" Riya burst out laughing listening to his gibberish. Such fun it is to annoy this boy.

"Maybe not, but only if you answer my questions." Seriousness laced her voice as she tried to sound threatening and she herself was shocked to see how naturally she was able to pull this act.

But Dhruvan just didn't jump at her feet begging for his life instead he thought for a second before opening his lips.

"Um okay, but I won't be talking anything about our Rajkumar Ji."

Riya felt a sudden found respect for this boy, he was ready to become food for a demon but will never reveal information about his master.

"Alright, I won't ask anything about your master so tell me," She bent forward looking straight in his eye, "Who is this Kashyap? And what is his importance?"

Meanwhile, Raghuveer stood outside at the veranda as his eyes drenched in the calm, radiant pink evening sky. A lone bird was soaring in the vast sky, desperately trying to catch up with its flock who were flying ahead but this small bird couldn't reach them, the heavy swirls of wind were pushing it behind.

Raghuveer's eyebrows knitted together frowning, why can't that bird realise it's speed, the reality? It can never catch up with that flock and the sooner it realises, the better it will be. After all, he can see his childhood self in that little bird, he always tried to run behind a flock of his family to get their love but he was hit by the harsh winds of the truth that he will never be a part of them.

The large wooden gates of the entrance opened with slight screeching sounds, pulling him away from his deep thoughts and minister Kashyap strode inside with his usual numb face. His every step carried power with him, his cold face weaved silent poems about his threatening nature. And behind him was Lady Sahasthra; Minister Kashyap's one and only daughter, she was dressed in bright maroon coloured half-saree with eye-catching ornaments around her neck and arms.

Raghuveer's expressions grimed up as he required no more hints to understand the intention behind Kashyap's visit.

Inside the chambers Riya indicated Dhruvan to sit down with her on the bed as he spoke. Reluctantly sitting down he cleared his throat as if he had an entire day of information about the minister.

"Minister Kashyap is the most powerful and valued man in our kingdom, of course after our king and prince Raghuveer-"

"Who is Raghuveer?" Riya asked in a low tone as she moved her eyebrows up in a questioning way and Dhruvan sat motionlessly.

"You are joking right?" His face remained expressionless as he asked and Riya pressed her lips together shaking her head in a no.

"Seriously! So now you are asking who our Rajkumar Ji is?" Dhruvan looked angry as he was offended by her expression.

"Hold on," Riya's eyes grew wide as she connected those dots, "His name is Raghuveer? I thought it was Rajkumar!"

Riya caught her stomach laughing at her stupidness and Dhruvan face palmed himself seeing her and after she was done laughing to her heart's content she folded her legs up to her heart so that she could rest her head on them.

"Alright, do one thing. Tell me everything, from the b of beginning to the g of ending, okay?"

And soon Dhruvan began with the tale of minister Kashyap,

"Our empire Sagara is very powerful and prosperous, even though we are surrounded by several other kingdoms no empire has the guts to attack us. Why? We have the largest army and tight security which is almost impossible even for a fly to buzz without the army's noticing."

"Even though our king is powerful but our queen is dangerously stronger than anyone, all of our kingdoms is like a puppet in her hands but minister Kashyap is the one and only minister whom our queen is unable to control, of course once again only after our prince Raghuveer."

Somehow Riya was amazed to hear this as this all seems foreign to her heart as if this some bedtime fairytale she always wanted to hear about.

"Why?" She asked excitedly, burning with curiosity.

"That is still a secret as in why the queen is unable to control him," Dhruvan huffed as he continued, "But should I tell you something creepy about him?"

Riya nodded her head vigorously, happy to see that this boy has the same level of interest in gossips as much as she has.

"Minister Kashyap has only a daughter. But she is different from other girls." Dhruvan bent forward as he whispered those last few words.

"How? Is she extremely pretty?"

"No, Lady Sahasthra is mute. Her mother died after giving birth to her and minister Kashyap never married any woman again."

"Wow, he must love his wife-"

"Nah, Nah." Dhruvan cut her sentence as he picked up his talk, "It is said that the minister was scared thinking that he might get a son as a child if he marries again. Why? Two things might happen if he gets a son as a child. One, he might be stupid and degrade the minister's reputation. Two, his son might be more intelligent than him and can grab his position after he grows up."

"What kind of stupid logic is that?" Riya's face scrunched up in disgust hearing that logic.

"Yes. So he was happy with his mute powerless daughter and got her betrothed to the military head's son when she was fourteen."

Her eyes peeled open hearing the age, "Isn't that too young?"

"No it's alright, but I heard that her fiance passed away recently due to some health issues so everyone is now scared to even have a glance of her. It is said that bad luck follows her like a shadow." Saying Dhruvan stood up stretching his hands and picked up a plate full of fruits on a table.

He popped a grape in mouth and Riya slowly put her legs down as she asked him, "Then why do you think he is here?"

"Maybe to ask Rajkumar Ji to marry his daughter?"

"What!!"

"Oh god, don't shout! Minister Kashyap is right outside. And also though our queen hates Prince Raghuveer, he is deeply respected by everyone so for minister Kashyap what can be a better option than to keep our prince tied to his side by getting his daughter married to him?"

A weird sense of discomfort filled her heart, practically speaking if a prince is married to some powerful minister's daughter it will strengthen his power, moreover Raghuveer has saved her life and is sheltering her so she should be happy about this then why is she not happy?

"What do you think? Will your master accept his proposal?" Riya used all the strength in her to cover up her sad voice as she asked. Her heart raced with fear as she anticipated Dhruvan's reply.

"Ha! As if, Even the greatest of the greatest beauties have failed to tempt our Prince." Dhruvan scoffed with proudness walking towards the end of the room, trying to peep from the meshy partition trying to get a view from the holes. "Or maybe this time can be exceptional."

"What do you mean?" Riya frowned at the sudden found excitement in his voice.

"From what I could see, she is extremely beautiful! Maybe Rajkumar Ji might accept his proposal!" Dhruvan squealed in excitement like a girl and twirled around humming tunes of happiness about his master's marriage whereas Riya burned with unseen waves of jealousy.

***