The Royal court was filled with anticipation and tension. While a few ministers were worried that King Aditya's words might trigger their king's anger but the others were eager to know what their king might do. Would he abide by the rules his father set? Or will he create a new set of rules and take another wife. Vikram stood in a corner watching Arjuna's amused expression, how would he react?

As Arjuna rose from his throne, his rich laugh echoed through the huge court, his laugh was a humble one it was almost in a mocking way which irritated king Aditya.

"May I know what has made you laugh about this serious issue?" Aditya asked, as he took a step forward, his fingers twitching in anger.

"King Aditya, have you ever attended any Administration classes?" Arjuna asked with a playful smile on his face and he looked very calm.

"Of course I did!" Aditya spoke with a raised voice, was king Arjuna making fun of him?

"I don't think so, if you have ever attended any you would know that a king has only one queen. And a king is nothing without his queen."

"But-" Aditya tried to interrupt but Arjuna didn't let him.

"Our great ancestors have ruled this country with the directions their ancestors have conveyed. And I respect their thoughts and value their beliefs, so I, king Arjuna Prathap Verma of this Great kingdom Abhiras will never take another woman as my wife."

"That woman! Whom you have taken as a wife is a daughter of a concubine! She is a low born and-"

"ENOUGH!" Arjuna's voice roared making everyone shiver with fear. He took angry steps near Aditya and glared at him.

"Don't you dare utter another word from your disgusting mouth about a great queen of Abhiras!" He spoke as his jawline twitched and Aditya took a step back in a reflex as Arjuna's angry alpha aura was dominating.

The court broke out into loud hushes and whispers. Wondering if what Aditya has spoken were facts. If so, why will a king take such a low born woman as his queen.

Before Aditya could speak, Arjuna moved close to him and whispered in a icey tone, "You know what Aditya? You have dug your own grave. The moment we get our hands on the minister who was betraying us you are dead for sure." The smirk on Arjuna's face woke up those sleeping fears in him.

"But my lord! You can always reset those rules and take another wife." Arjuna's smirk widened when he heard that voice. He caught the traitor. He gave Aditya a small smile and said, "Got him!" Arjuna wisphered in a mocking tone looking straight inAditya's eyes, "The moment I have proves in my hand, that would be the end of your happy life."

Shifting his expression to a serious one he called for Vikram, " Vikram! Take this traitor and pump out all the information." Arjuna ordered.

It was Raghavendra, the minister of foreign relationships. Arjuna now understood why he was so keen on attending the swayamvar of Princess Priyamvada. The moment that thought had passed his mind a small doubt started to eat his brain, was king Indradas also involved in this with king Aditya?

Vikram started to chain the minister as everyone at the court remained confused and shocked.

Arjuna has to dismiss the court before more gossips can make their way out, but a loud bell of alarm rang through the palace walls making him still. The intensity of the bell made him understand that this was trouble.

A panicking sense of deja-vu settled in his heart.

"Vikram! Go and guard your queen and hand over this traitor to the authorities of the dungeon." He said and pulled his sword out making his way towards the royal quarters but he was stopped by a soldier who was badly hurt bleeding.

"What happened!" Arjuna asked, helping the soldier stand.

"An att-atack a-nd que-en Chitra-" Blood spiller out of his mouth as he fell to ground losing his last breath.

Arjuna bent down and closed his eyes which were open saying a small prayer so that his soul could rest in peace.

He reached the spot only to find several soldiers lying dead on the ground and far from there he could see a familiar person lying down lifeless. It was Ratan.

He was lying in a pool of blood, blood was still oozing out from his neck where it had been stabbed.

"My lord! We are unable to find queen Chitra-" Vikram's voice came to a halt as he saw Arjuna bent down near Ratan's body and Vikram's body went rigid.

He walked silently almost as if in a trance praying that he should be alive.

A small sob passed through Arjuna as he slowly pulled Ratan's cold body close to him, "Ratan, stop it with these games! Wake up brother!"

A thin line of tears slipped through Vikram's eyes as he saw Arjuna hugging Ratan's body.

"Brother please!" Arjuna's voice sounded almost lost as it was filled with a sad emotion. He hugged Ratan's body close to him, "Who would disobey my orders if you are gone? Please wake up!" Arjuna's face turned red as tears slipped from his eyes.

Almost as if he woke up he rubbed those tears from his face and got up saying, "Vikram, get the royal physician! Ratan is a strong man! He will survive!"

It pained Vikram to see Arjuna in such a state, he was always strong but losing his dear ones made him weak, so weak that he was not accepting Ratan's death. All through their childhood Arjuna and Ratan were always together and when Arjuna's father passed away it was always Ratan who tried to cheer him up by cracking some stupid jokes. But the fact that they can never hear Ratan's glorified rants about him and his dumb jokes pained their hearts.

Vikram hugged Arjuna, but he pushed Vikram away, "We don't have any time, take him to-"

"He is no more Arjuna." Vikram replied in a small voice, controlling his tears.

"How dare you-"

"You have to accept this bitter truth before we lose those bastards who did this to him."

Arjuna bit his lip in frustration as he bent down and hugged Ratan's bloody body. His whole body shook as he cried his heart out, "Oh Ratan! How can I do anything without you?"

Vikram sat down patting his shoulder trying to console but it was useless. This was the first time he saw Arjuna crying after his father's death but even then he was not this weak.

"I will send those bastards up to you, I will avenge your death brother!" Arjuna spoke in a serious tone as his eyes turned red.

* * *

If anything Abhiras kingdom's army was always a plus for them and this time they have a chance to utilize it. One fourth of the army, that is almost soldiers around ten thousand men were sent in search to find the queen and those men who were involved in this.

Ratan's body was handovered to his family members. The knife was dipped in poison and moreover it was stabbed right in his throat which pierced through the main nerves making it impossible to save him. All the members of the palace were dressed in white to pay their last tributes to a great minister who has sacrificed his life trying to protect his queen.

It would have been easy if Chitra was by his side but as if to just amplify his miserableness she was taken away. He won't be able to live if he happens to loose her too.

"What do you mean you don't know!!" Vikram screamed as Aditya's sister, Apsara stood in front of him crying profusely. She was barely eighteen but considering who her brother was they can never trust her.

"Please believe me! I have no idea-" Her words came to a halt as she saw a soldier's hand raising up to hit her, She closed her eyes in fear and stumbled behind.

When she didn't feel a hit she slowly opened her eyes to find king Arjuna gripping his hand tight.

"Stay in your limits!" Arjuna spoke in a warning tone as he let that hand go.

"What's happening Vikram?"

"Aditya ran away leaving his son and sister behind!" Vikram sipt those words out as his veins filled with hatred.

Arjuna lost all his calm listening to that. That bastard ran away which means that he was involved with Ratan's death. He punched the wall beside in anger, pain flooded through him but at least this pain was better than the one his heart was giving.

"Throw them in dungeons and let them starve!" Vikram shouted for the first time.

A soldier grabbed her hand and was ready to pull her when Nandhini walked inside.

"STOP IT!" Nandhini shouted as she barged inside with anger.

"All of you." She pointed towards all the guards around, "Leave us alone and see that no enters this room."

When all of them walked away she called for her maid, "Champa, take her to my chambers and get her cleaned and see to it she and her brother eat something."

She took careful steps towards Apsara and spoke in a soft tone, "I will come soon but till then take care of your brother."

Soon the room was empty with just three of them. "What is wrong with you two!" Nandhini asked in frustration.

"She is Aditya's sister and she should be in dungeons-"

"She is kid Vikram! Both of them are!" Nandhini rolled her eyes as she spoke.

"What Vikram said is true Nandhini." Arjuna spoke as he looked outside the window.

Nandhini's eyes widened in shock but she understood that shouting will not make them understand anything, not after Ratan's death.

"Did you even look at Apsara? You can see her bones through her skin and she is so weak that even a small flick can make her fall to the ground and she is just seventeen! Both of them are kids and if you knew Babhi any better she will never support this."

That sentence made Arjuna's heart quench in pain.

"I will try to get some information from them and till then please, please just focus on those bandits."

Nandhini gave her brother a hug and Arjuna had to close his eyes to stop those tears from rolling from his eyes.

He has to be strong, for Chitra. For his wife.

While leaving she caught Vikram's hand and gave it a small squeeze.

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