She just messed up my mind. Yet, I'm supporting her. I exactly don't know where Ezhil was trying to take her. But, I was clear with one thing that she wasn't willing to go.

"I don't care if she's mine or who's mine. She's my wife now. She is supposed to be in my palace. What will people think if you drag my wife in front of the people? I don't like that.", I said to Ezhil as he gritted his teeth in anger.

"Ohh really? You accepted her as wife even though she cheated you? You don't care about your Aarthi.", He said which made sense.

I care for Aarthi. She have been in my life as my love for 9 years. She loves me. How can I give up on her so soon. She have been with me since Thara rejected my love proposal.

Aarthi was standing nearby expecting my answer.

"I didn't mean that. I care about Aarthi. At the same time, I have to care about my reputation. If people see my wife with another man, my reputation will be damaged."

"You don't make sense.", Ezhil said in which I grabbed Thara's hand and pulled her to my side.

"Why can't you be gentle?", She muttered under her breath.

I can't..

"Now, I got to go.", I said holding her wrist and dragged her to my room. After entering the room, I closed the door behind.

"What are you going to do?", She literally yelled.

"I will give you one chance. Tell me the truth. Everything!", I demanded in which she nodded.

"Yesterday night, I was called downstairs and main consort informed that I'm gonna marry your big father at the same time you marry Aarthi. She also told that she put on a deal with your mother that she will marry me to that old man in return Aarthi could marry you. When I denied, Aarthi pretended like killing herself. So, father agreed that I will marry him. He soothed me telling that he will never let anyone lay a hand on me. Then, father gone missing and the main consort sent a note that she will only leave my father when I marry that old man. Mother told me how she and we suffered my the main consort and Aarthi. She asked me to put on a veil and marry you. I did as she said. Also, Ezhil was the one who knows where your big father is. Please help me find my father.."

"What?", I breathed out.

I never thought the main consort and Aarthi would be doing this.

"Do you have the note which the main consort sent you?", I asked because it would be an evidence for her crime.

"Yes!", She said.

"But..."

"But what?", I asked as she was hesitating.

"There was no pocket in this dress. So, I kept it inside my..."

"Inside your blouse?", I asked suppressing my smile.

She closed her eyes tight and hummed in response. It's been 9 years since I'm trying to forget her. But, it's increasing my memories. She still have an effect on me. But, this recent week, I started liking her and expecting her more.

I feel like she changed her behaviour and character this week. Her tastes changed. Her behaviour changed and almost everything changed.

"Take it out then.", I said and she shook her head.

"Wait outside. I'll call you when I'm done.", She said and I shook my head slowly making it hard for you.

"Come on! It's normal for girls to keep their money inside their blouse."

"In your world. It's not normal in 2022! I had a designer purse when I was back there-", she clamped her two palms in her mouth to not speak further.

2022? Designer purse? What's that?

"What was that?", I asked as she shook her head closing her eyes.

I left the room giving her space. I lost all my hopes to be with her 9 years ago. I just pretended to love Aarthi just to make her jealous. I was angry.

Anger dumbfounded my eye. When Aarthi loved me truly, I couldn't tell her that I didn't love her truly. She made me company for 9 years. I know I can't win my love. I know I'm going to marry someone I don't love.

So, I decided to marry Aarthi. She cared for me. A lot. She's not very good to other people. But, she's good for me.

I felt my love fading for Thara. But, past week made some effect on me. This week was so hard to take her out of my mind.

"You can come now.", She yelled from the room in which I entered the room.

She was holding a piece of paper on her hand and handed it to me. Holding the paper reminded me that she was keeping it inside her blouse all the time and I chuckled at that thought.

"Why did you chuckle?", She asked and I mumbled a "nothing" to her.

"You're having dirty thoughts. Didn't you?", She said which made me smirk.

"You want me to?"

"No!", She literally yelled and ran out of the room. I read the note which she stated that main consort sent her.

You're looking forward for your father. Aren't you? He's in my control now. Marry the man I told you. Or.. I hope you don't want to see him dead.

Now, it was clear that the main consort was the one who did this. Because her handwriting matches. She's really dumb to write in her own handwriting and send it to her.

I went outside my room shoving the note inside my pocket where I saw Thara talking to Tamizh. She was talking about finding her father.

I went downstairs and saw the main consort soothing Aarthi. I went towards them placing my hand on Aarthi's hair brushing it smoothly.

"I'm sorry.", I said and she hugged me.

"You should leave that cheater. You should marry Aarthi who loved you for 9 years.", The main consort said.

"Yes. You are right. But, there's nothing I can do now. Everything is out of my hand. She's married to me now. How can I-"

"You can!", The main consort cut me off.

What does she mean?

"Marry Aarthi as your side consort. You will torture her until she decides to runs away.", She said which made me go mad for a second.

"I have no issues in having her as a side consort. But, I can't let Thara go. I won't hurt her and make her run away from me.", I declared.

"Why not? She just ruined our love and life, Arjun! Why can't you let her go?", Aarthi yelled.

"You two won't be happy unless you ruin her left. Right?", I said in a calm voice.

"Yes! I won't leave her. I won't leave her until she wills to die instead of living. Because she stole you from me when you belong to me and only me!", Aarthi yelled out of agony.

I left without saying anything. Because, I couldn't yell at her when she's depressed. I couldn't stay calm when she talks about hurting Thara.

I left back to my room and plopped on my bed out of frustration. Meanwhile, a soldier knocked my room in which I nodded giving him permission to enter.

"We found the king, Prince Arjun.", He said in which I stood up immediately.

"Where is he?"

"In the basement. Tied up. We saved him. He will tell the truth when he's up.", He said.

I followed him to the room where he was unconscious and everyone were around him including Thara and Aarthi.

How are they staying at the same room without fighting?

The main consort and Aarthi was very nervous. I could tell they were nervous if the king would tell the truth to everyone and their mask will be revealed.

The guests and visitors of the marriage have already left. Only few of our relatives are present here because of the current situation.

I saw his eye movement which means he's going to get up. I saw fear consuming in Aarthi's and main consort's face.

I feel sorry for Aarthi. But, I'm not supporting her bad deeds for that. And I will never.

He was fully awake. He positioned himself and he glanced at Thara. Then, his glare went to the mangalsutra over her neck. He thought Thara was married to my big father.

"Don't worry, your highness. Thara is not married to my big father. She's married to me. I will take care of her well. You don't have to worry at all.", I said soothing words to him because of his current health condition.

"Are you ok, father?", Tamizh asked in which he nodded.

"Do you remember who did this to you?", Thara asked her father looking at me. She wants me to tell about the main consort and Aarthi.

"I don't remember anyone. Someone hit on my head and I blacked out. I don't remember who was that.", He said in which relief was pooled around me.

"Are you not going to show that note to everyone and accuse them?", She asked whispering and I shook my head slowly.

She was looking at me mad like show that or I'll kill you. I don't want to show because I will do this as a compensation for 9 years of love she showed me. She have soothed me when no one did. She have consoled me when no one did. She have showed affection when no one did. I think I should do atleast this for her.

"Why!? She kidnapped my father!", She was a lot mad now. As if I care..

"Can't you compensate it with you ruining my life?", I whispered back and she shut her mouth.

She grabbed my hand and took me out of the room. She let go of my hand and was very angry. This is the first time I'm seeing her angry.

"What did you say? I ruined your life? You are the one who ruined mine. You have 3 concubines! If you don't have me, you can go with them. If I don't have you, can I go with someone? Can I go to Ezhil?", She said which made me instantly angry.

"Better don't make me mad, Thara!", I gave her enough forewarning.

"Tell me. Shall I have few more men when you have many women for you? Shall I?"

I swear, she's getting on my nerves.

"Don't die on my hands. This is the first and last warning. Don't you dare say this again.", I said in a dangerous tone.

"I will. I will say this again and again. What will you do? You know you can't kill me. Then, why are you wasting your time threatening me?"

From where did she get this attitude?

"Yeah. Indeed. I can't kill you. But, I can do something else to shut your mouth.", I said and pressed my lips against her harshly.

She tried to pull me away but I was strong enough to hold her still. I finally loosened as I realised I was hurting her.

She pushed my chest and I stumbled backward. She just slapped me on my cheek and went back to the room where her father was.

I deserve the slap.

I swear, if it was someone else, I would've killed them. I wouldn't have let them go like this. But, I was hurting her. I was blinded by my angriness.

I went back inside my room and saw her crossing her hands on her chest with a grumpy face. Aarthi and main consort was looking at me and Thara.

They should've guessed that something should've happened outside. But, I don't care.

"I think you should leave him to rest sometimes. You can come visit him later.", The herbal doctor said and we obeyed.

We left outside the room so did the herbal doctors. He closed the door and left him to rest.

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