We did not go down to meet Yug's mother or the extra female she had tagged along. Both me and Aarini were sitting back in her room, crying, talking and then crying some more. Eventually cursing everyone.

I was coming out of my room after downloading a chocolate bar from the Q tab to give it to Aarini, when Brinda met me on the way.

It was a very odd time for Brinda to roam around. She usually leaves for her quarters after the sunset. So her presence, this late at night did have me a little curious.

"What is it?" I questioned my PA. My voice had gotten all sore due to all that crying.

"Your Majesty is calling you downstairs." She spoke meekly.

"Now?" Is there something wrong with the day today. Why is everything so weird around?

She just nodded to my question.

"Where is he?"

"He is going towards the garden I believe."

I rushed towards the garden, careful enough to not trip down the mighty stairs.

---

"You were calling for me?" my voice filled the seemingly sushed area. He turned his attention towards me. His face reading coldness, the one that I hate.

"Hmm?" I uttered again, when he did not say anything for a while.

"I want you to leave the palace." He finally said words that made everything around me go dizzy.

I stood there, absorbing the seriousness in his voice. I know he isn't joking. He doesn't joke around. He doesn't make rash decisions. So I know this was coming from a place of thought.

"Why?" I asked, unsure if I'd really wanted to know the answer to this.

It was as if he was prepared for this that he immediately answered, "I have a feeling that you're going to interfere with Yug's marriage. I don't want you to do that."

I was taken aback at his response. This was the last reason I was expecting. Just yesterday this man, had shown a very vulnerable side of his, and look at him now.

But there is nothing I can do anyway.

Aarini had been crying non-stop ever since she has got the news. Yug's reaction doesn't look hopeful. And I can't erase the fact off my head that I am first hand responsible for this.

I knew for a reason that if I stay here I'll either change the matters for good or worse, and as of now the latter seemed more possible.

I nodded in agreement.

If this is what the King wants, then so shall be.

"Ok" I hardly uttered. "You won't see me tomorrow morning, I'll make sure of it" I turned to rush back to my room, before I break down in front of him.

"Just what the heck is up with you?" He spoke loud as soon as I started walking. His voice getting all restless.

I turned back looking at him at shock and confusion

What did I do now?

He walked towards me, narrowing the already little space between us. It made it a little difficult for me to look up at him directly.

"Is he really that important to you?" his voice getting softer as he looked down at me, yet cold.

I couldn't comprehend what he was speaking. Perhaps because I was mentally already out of the palace, figuring out my life there. Or maybe because I was breathing his approximation, taking in his scent.

So I did not speak anything further, letting him go ahead.

"Would you really not argue this time" I was hearing hurt. I looked up to him, figuring in the dark that his eyes appeared sad.

Does he want me to argue? What is up with him?

He held my face, cupping between the palms of his hand, having a better look at it.

"Do you really like him that much, that you cried when he is getting married to someone else? Do you really like him that much, that you agreed at once to leave this palace behind? You did not hesitate to leave me behind for once?" There is no way I could have ignored the heaviness in his voice. I had never heard him sound like this.

I was confused at what he was saying.

"Who said I liked Yug?" I questioned him, somehow freeing myself off his grip.

His face changed expressions, turning it into color of confusion.

He walked a little behind offering me a little space to breathe.

"Who said I liked Yug?" I questioned him again, a little louder this time.

"Uh- um" he tried speaking.

"I don't" I asserted before he says anything more.

"I mean I do, but not in the way you think" I spoke again, leaving no space for confusion at this.

"but—you cried" he said again, confusion still evident in his tone.

Just how long has he been believing this shit?

"Yes I did, so?"

"And you entered his room, but you were hesitant to enter my quarters." He spoke again.

"I entered his room, because I thought It wasn't a big deal. I am friends with him, and I thought it was ok. And to be honest Yug doesn't mind it." I was getting irritated at this now.

"But-" he tried speaking again, but stopped when he heard me make an irritated noise at him.

"I cried because I am done dealing with fools. I don't know how can you not see, Yug is not happy with this marriage. Yug doesn't want to get married to whoever this female is. Yug loves-" I controlled my tongue at this. But my heart felt heavy. It wanted to get this load off.

Neel stayed silent, looking at me intently.

What can possibly go wrong now?

Fingers crossed, I went ahead.

"Yug loves your sister. He loves Aarini and she loves him too. She has been crying ever since she has heard about Yug getting married and I have been dealing with her and Yug; and on top of that when the King, when that one man I like, asks me to leave, what else can I possibly do, except obeying him." He fixed his gaze at me, till the point I realized what I have spoken.

I looked immediately at him, hoping he did not take a note of my latter sentence, but I guess it was too much to hope for.

This was all he heard. He wasn't shocked or surprised or angry and mad at Yug and Aarini. He was more curious and concerned about what I said after that.

I knew it. His smile said it all.

"What did you say?" his voice getting ecstatic at this.

"So all this while, where I thought you liked Yug was my mistake?" he was eager for my response.

"Yes." I sighed.

His grin widened.

"You like me?" he asked carefully again, even despite the fact that he already knew the answer to it.

I stayed silent, blushing to myself, containing my smile.

It felt evil, starting my love story, when I had witnessed one getting destroyed today.

" Cause I like you." He immediately caught my attention with his words. but I guess more than that, it was the sincerity and the seriousness in his voice.

I told you he doesn't joke.

I am sure my face read question mark, that he decided to solve it on his own.

He nodded in a yes, closing the distance between us once again, reaching ahead to hold my arm. I shivered under his grip, but that just made him hold it firmer.

"I like you Jiera."

My heart thumped in excitement, wanting to rush ahead and hug him. I did not know, I had been this attracted towards him, up until now.

But obviously I curtailed myself.

A normal 2069 romance would lean ahead to kiss, feelings intently getting stronger and steamier. But I don't know what a 1441 romance would do.

So I did only what I could. I smiled towards him, "I like you too. Neel." I confessed. Taking the liberty to call him by his name this time.

His eyes shone at this, indicating how much he loved it.

He picked my hand, which he had held, bringing it closer to his lips, placing a small kiss at the back of my fingers.

It was not strong and steamy and sexy what 2069 would have, but it was genuine. Not the one that'll make you wet, but the one that leaves butterflies to your stomach.

His lips felt cold, even in the fraction of seconds that they were placed against my skin. And as soon as he took it off, I knew what longing felt like.

"Do I still have to leave the palace?" I joked around.

"Umm, shall we run together?"

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