His face changed when I questioned him why he ignored me for past 2 days. It was really a necessary explanation he should give me.

"It was you who talked about my mother. I don't care when you talk about Aarthi or others. But, it really hurts when you talk bad about my mother. She's my mother after all. And I don't like my wife talking bad about my mother."

"But you don't care about your mother talking about me. Am I right?"

"No. It's not like that. She's elder and treat almost everyone like she treats you. She's a empress and your mother-in-law whom you should respect, right?"

"Don't tell me you forgot how she tried to marry me off to an old man..", I said shaking my head in disbelief.

"She just used my life as a deal. She put on a deal with my life in return she'll marry you to Aarthi. And that bitchy queen accepted!", I added.

"And I'm not supporting it. You know when everyone started spreading the rumor that Aarthi will be marrying me as main consort and you'll be my concubine, I fought with my mother regarding that and finally came to an decision to marry her as side consort. Because, no one will ever marry her if everyone knows she loved me for 9 years.."

Bipolar Bastard!

"But, I still don't like you marrying multiple woman.", I said calmly.

"I already said you're my priority.."

"Okay. Now, talk about Ezhil.. why did he try to-"

"He's just mad. Became mad in his obsession. I will make sure to teach him a good lesson..", he said and I smiled.

"What are you going to tell the empress about your brother?"

"The truth. I need to make her know the true face of her son.."

"What if she supports him?"

"If she does, I'll surely stand by your side.. Fine?", he said and I nodded.

Don't make me lose my trust on you..

"Does it hurt somewhere else?"

"No", I said and he nodded. At the same time main consort and Aarthi entered into the room. I didn't react as I know they're going to bark again.

"What happened to my sister, Arjun?", Aarthi asked in a mocking tone looking at me. The nerve of her!

"You know it!", I grumbled in a harsh tone. The empress glared at me for being rude to her so-called daughter-in-law.

"Just learn to respect everyone.", The empress growled at me.

"Teach it to your beloved favorite daughter-in-law. She's the one who's talking in a mocking tone."

"Leave it", Arjun yelled and everything became silent.

"Who did this to her?", The empress asked emotionless. Curiosity kills a cat!

"Your son. Ezhil.", Arjun said and her eyes widened. Aarthi didn't react. Seems like she knows about it already.

"There's no chance he could do such thing. It should be your main consort who seduced him!", The empress shouted. My eyes widened. Do I look like I seduce someone for my needs?

Many bad words rushed through my brain as I was trying hard to not react.

"What are you saying, mom. He tried to rape her! Do you hear me? If I didn't come in time, he would've raped my wife. How could you tell she seduced him?", Arjun yelled.

I felt somehow relieved. Atleast now he know who's good and who's bad. I sighed as their eyes widened seeing Arjun yell like this.

"I want you to release Ezhil right away, Arjun. Or else, I'll make sure you're in one of our palace's cell.", The empress threatened.

"Go on. I don't know about you but father will surely support me. He'll give Ezhil more worst punishment than you can ever imagine. Go on!", He talked back.

"She manipulated you. Didn't she? She's trying to create sympathy.", Aarthi said with a disgusted look to me. I got up from the bed and slapped her. How dare she?

"Just get out before I slap you with my slipper!", I yelled at the top of my lungs. She was shocked.

"How dare you slap my daughter-in-law!?", The empress snapped at me.

"We'll talk about it later. Now, can you both get out?", Arjun asked and they left angrily. I plopped on my bed angrily where Arjun sat beside me.

"Don't put their words inside the little head of yours. Okay?", He said and I nodded.

"Lay back on your bed. You need to rest.", He said and at the same time the maid bought the tincture which the herbal doctor suggested me.

I gulped down the bitter liquid and looked back at Arjun.

"You remember when you whispered dirty words to me when you were stitching my wound?"

"Yes..", he replied. His face seemed to be refreshed as a smirk danced across his lips.

"You like it!", He declared and I shook my head faster. But, I did like it..

"No"

"Yes, you like it.."

"No", I said laughing.

He started tickling me and it was hard not to laugh. I struggled in his embrace as I was laying on bed and he was in the top of me.

"St-Stop it!", I shouted between my laughs.

"You want me to stop?", He asked still tickling me.

"Yes", I again shouted. He circled his arms around my waist and laid on the bed along with me.

"I don't want to sleep. Leave me!", I yelled.

"You should. You have just had a tincture. Rest and your pain in the forehead will be gone.", He said and I whined.

"Leave me. I don't want to sleep.", I yelled again.

"Can't you see it's midnight. You should sleep!", He said strictly.

"I-I want to change my dress. It's really uncomfortable you know?"

"Okay. I'll wait outside.", He said and left the room within a minute. The next moment, Arjun sent a maid to help me get dressed. I wore something comfortable than the last one.

When I was done dressing, I dismissed the maid and Arjun entered into the room. I laid on my bed where he laid beside me after closing the door.

"What punishment will you give to him?"

"I won't tell you. But, it's worse than you can ever imagine..", he stated.

"Why? You're worrying about him?", He asked and I stared at him in confusion.

"Why would I worry about someone who tried to rape me?"

"Okay. Now sleep.", He whispered across my earlobe which sent shiver through my spine.

In few seconds, sleep consumed me. I was feeling damn comfortable in his embrace.

I woke up to only find no-one beside me. I carressed the bedsheet where he was laying the whole night with me. I got up and freshed up changing into another dress.

"Mind your business!", I yelled. She started sniffing and cried fakely to Arjun.

"See, your highness! She just slapped me for no reason.. since she entered this palace, she keeps humiliating me without reasons..", she complained to Arjun which dug a slight fear that Arjun will fell for her manipulating pathetic act.

Meanwhile, I saw Tamizh coming from his room with a bag.

"You ready?", He asked and everyone was confused.

No

"Oh your brother is leaving? Let's bid him a small farewell by offering him a good breakfast..", Arjun said seemed to be relieved by Tamizh leaving.

He left the argument in middle and was ready to bid a farewell to Tamizh.

"For your kind information, Arjun. Thara is coming with me too.", Tamizh announced and there was a shock in Arjun's face. He looked at me with a disappointing face.

No! Don't look at me like that..

"What? Is that true, Thara?", Arjun asked. I could feel his sharp gaze on me.

"Yes. I-I'm leaving for a week. I decided to come after every problem is over.", I said. Hesitation was clear in my face.

Arjun looked at Chitra, Aarthi and the empress and then looked at me.

"Okay. I'll pay visit to you often.", He said and I nodded. He did that because he knew they will cause me more problem.

"I don't want to pack. There's enough clothes left in my palace. Now, I'm leaving. Or, it'll be too late when I reach my kingdom.", I said to Arjun and he nodded slightly with a painful smile.

"I want you answer me and then wave a goodbye to your wife, Arjun.", The empress yelled.

"I'm not letting him out, mother.", He said determined which I liked the most.

"Well. I'm taking Ezhil to my palace.", Tamizh said and I frowned.

"But why?", I muttered to him.

"The empress would do anything to release him from the cell. It's better if he's a prisoner in our palace. I also want to punish him so badly.", He muttered back to me which was inaudible to others.

"Why?", Arjun asked. Tamizh eyed Arjun in which he nodded and looked at the empress.

"Umm... Well. I'll tell my men to drop Ezhil at your palace..", Arjun said and the empress was shocked.

"You can't do that, Arjun. I won't let you to take Ezhil to their kingdom. They will kill him!", The empress said starting to cry.

"I don't care. He did all cheap acts he was capable of. If people come to know his cheap acts.. think about your reputation, mother..", Arjun said in a sadistic tone.

"My son is more important than reputation..", she declared and Arjun scoffed.

"But, what will people think about my wife if I release him. They think my wife seduced him. I don't want that.."

"But, it's the truth. That bitch seduced your brother and you're blind to notice it.", Aarthi yelled and Arjun chuckled.

"Well. It'll be alright if I put my dear side consort along with Ezhil in cell.", Arjun said and fear flashed in Aarthi's face and she shut her mouth from talking further.

"Tamizh. You can leave now. And don't worry about Ezhil. He'll be in your palace before you reach there.", Arjun said.

"Fine, prince. And, I'll drop your wife back in a week or two. Don't worry about Thara. I'll not eat her.", Tamizh said. There was a small ego crash between them yet they both are good.

"I want to talk to you, Arjun.. umm.. alone.", I said and he nodded. We went to our room and Arjun closed the door behind.

"What? You ought to give a farewell before you go.", He said and I wondered what it'd be.

"What farewell can I give to a great prince of Chera Kingdom?"

"A kiss", he said and I gulped.

"Umm.. I came to ask you something.", I said remembering what I came for.

"Ask me what?"

"Did you give me permission to leave because you don't like me to be with you?", I asked expecting an answer. Then, why do he have to give permission to leave so soon. I still remember when I was in fever and Tamizh said he's gonna take me with him, he just didn't leave me go with him.

"Why women have to overthink about everything?", He shook his head in disbelief.

"Then, why did you leave me?", I asked again.

"If I say I won't leave you, you would've scolded me that I'm not letting you to leave or letting you to stay peacefully. Now that I gave you permission to leave, you are saying I'm letting you go because I hate you. Am I right?"

That kinda makes sense..

"Uhh. You're the one who's overthinking now!", I grumbled.

"If you stay here, my mother would always pull some stunt with you. Going to your house will give you refreshment. I'll take you back to the palace after my mom leaves. Okay?", He asked and I nodded.

"What about Aarthi? She'd pull some stunt in the place of your mother too.", I complained.

"I'll figure out a solution for that. I'll check you out often. Okay?", He said and I nodded slightly. I swallowed my saliva and looked at his eyes. His eyes can catch any woman's attention quickly.

I leaned towards him and pecked his lips. He was surprised. I left the room without making delay as I was shy to see his face again. I left the room with a refreshed face.

"Let's leave.", I said Tamizh and he gave me a quick nod.

"And we don't want to have breakfast. There's a small shop on the way which is famous. We can have breakfast there. It's my long time wish to have breakfast there.", Tamizh said and I smiled.

"Okay. So, leave soon or you'll be late by the time you reach there.", Arjun's voice came from behind. We nodded.

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