The trumpet buzzing sound was heard where we were settled on the seat and the princes were on the ground.

"The next and last stage of this day is to be announced. Before that, the main consorts are requested to come to the ground and join with their lawfully wedded husbands.", The head soldier announced and I have no clue why we were asked to settled on the ground.

"It's going to be something interesting for sure..", Keerthana said and I nodded agreeing.

In total, 12 main consorts of the princes reached the ground and settled with their princes. I went near Arjun as he circled his arms around my waist.

I smiled at him where he reciprocated it.

"You all know how much importance I give to married life. I want my sons respect their wives and treat them equally as them.", The emperor's voice echoed through the whole stadium.

I was anxious about what was coming up. I wasn't prepared of anything but having Arjun beside me is giving me a little bit of courage that I haven't got all these days.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

"Don't worry. I'll not let you get hurt in any ways.", He whispered across my ears which sent shivers down my spine.

In a fraction of second, I jerked seeing the arrow coming towards me. I stumbled on Arjun's chest where he caught the arrow before it gets stuck in my eye.

My breathing became unever and I was scared.

"Don't worry. I'm here for you. Just relax!", He said as many arrow came towards the ground.

With me in his arms, he extended the string near our face and left the arrow where it got stuck in a big soldier doll. I was confused why everyone was aiming at the soldier doll.

"If you look at the doll precisely, there's a hole in the forehead of the doll which is aiming arrows at us..", he said.

Just then, I looked at the forehead of the doll where arrows were coming from. I was shocked to see an arrow coming towards me. I felt him circle his arms around mine.

I turned back and saw the arrow which was stuck in his bicep. Blood was oozing out where tears rolled down my cheeks.

He took out the arrow from his hand with a great deal of effort and aimed at the soldier doll with me in his arms.

I was feeling bad for his arm. Tears struck in my eyes which threatened to fall. I felt a finger brush my cheek wiping my tears off. I realised he was wiping of my tears even though he was in an critical situation.

I didn't have a glance at how others are doing because all I want is to get out alive from this ground. Arjun aimed another arrow towards the doll and it got stuck in the forehead of the soldier doll and the arrows which was coming towards us stopped.

I sighed in relief. Finally, everything was over. Every people stood up and clapped and screamed in excitement but I was shaking in fear.

"It's alright. Everything's over." He said and I nodded.

I looked at his wound with a glint of guilt in my eye that I'm the cause of his wound. If it wasn't me, he wouldn't have been hurt.

We walked towards the special seats of royal family and took a seat where the 12 princes were stood infront of the emperor.

It's obvious that the emperor's going to select Arjun. I was anxious that in any case, if the empress manipulated the emperor against Arjun.

"Your husband's the one who's going to win.", Keerthana whispered across my ear in which I blushed hearing the word husband.

The only thing I was worried about was his wound. It's not a simple deal if you got hurt in your wound and stand there like nothing happened.

"My every sons did so well. You all respected your wives well. I'm very proud of my sons that they'd rather get hurt instead of their wives.", The emperor said proudly and the crowd clapped their hands.

"Everyone knows that Arjun did more than perfect in this first process of selecting the crown prince. So, I'm declaring Arjun's the best of this day. I hope he does well in the second process which is to be held in my palace.", The emperor announced.

"Thank you so much, father.", Arjun said and once again everyone clapped their hands so did I. I was feeling proud that my husband was the highlight of this whole day.

I looked through the crowd where I couldn't find Aarthi and Chitra anywhere. I was confused. I know Aarthi and Chitra won't leave so soon before the event is over. Maybe, something's awaiting for me?

I shook those thoughts off me where I saw Arjun walking towards me and emperor getting off his seat and making his way towards the royal carriage. People scattered everywhere as the event was successfully over.

"Shall we go?", He asked and I nodded.

"You wound..."

"I'm fine, Thea. Don't worry about me. We'll dress this wound after reaching our palace.", He said as I nodded.

We left outside the whole big ground where our carriage was. As soon as we reached outside, we saw a crowd circling around something where I was curious to see what was in there.

"What's happening there?", I asked Arjun and he shrugged.

We went near the crowd and peeked at what many people were looking. I was shocked to see what I was seeing. I stumbled backward where Arjun was shocked.

It was the dead body of the little boy whom I saved from Aarthi and Chitra last week. Tears struck my eyes. I shouldn't have challenged Aarthi about someone's life.

Multiple tears rolled down my cheeks. I was desperate now. I couldn't bring him back to life. The voices of the little boy could heard inside my head.

I have a sister who's 5 years old. If you can finish healing my wound, I can go see my sister. She's waiting for me and hadn't ate for 2 days.

What will I answer to that 5 year old girl who's his little sister. She'll be broken if she comes to know that her brother is dead because of me.

I shouldn't have challenged her. Even if she challenged, I shouldn't have underestimated her. It was solely my fault that he's dead now.

Just one week. One week and that boy will be dead. Wanna challenge me?

I felt Arjun circle his arm around my shoulder. He wiped my tears where I was desperate to even look at him. How can I tell him that I challenged Aarthi with this little boy's life?

"A-Arjun, it's my fault that he's dead."

"It's not. It'll never be your fault.", He said hugging me.

"Aarthi challenged me that she will kill the boy and she succeeded in it. I shouldn't have underestimated her. Arjun, I-"

"No, it's her fault and not yours. You should never feel guilty of something that you didn't do. It's Aarthi's fault and not yours.", He tried to sooth me and I was quite consoled.

"We can leave home now. We'll talk about it later.", He said and I shook my head.

"How can we leave this boy's dead body in here? How'd his little sister react when she come to know he's dead? How could she-"

"I will inform my soldiers to take his body and we can arrange him a proper and royal funeral."

"What about his sister?"

"Tharun and Keerthana doesn't have kid and they're trying for 5 whole years. Maybe, they will be willing to adopt her. I will call them to funeral too. Now, let's go home.", He said and I was looking at his dead body with guilt.

"Keerthana will adopt her?"

"Yeah. She's a kind hearted person like you. She'd be so happy to adopt a little girl.", He said which soothed me a little.

I got into the carriage reluctantly so did Arjun. I was feeling heavyhearted to leave that boy's dead body here. I remember how innocent and loyal he was. And now, he's dead because of my shitty challenge.

Arjun was right beside me rubbing my shoulder soothing me. I can't deny the fact that his presence was somehow soothing for me.

"You'll be fine.. everything will be fine as time passes by.", He said and I nodded resting my head on his shoulder.

"I feel guilty"

"You shouldn't. I'll make sure Aarthi and her mother pays."

"Her mother?"

"Yeah. I do remember that I have to punish her for trying to sell you off to a jeweller.", He said remembering.

"But, this is more important, Arjun. She killed! She killed an innocent boy to just stand her challenge!", I said seriously and he hummed understanding.

"Don't worry. She deserves to get punished and I'll make sure she will.", He said and I hummed.

After few minutes, we reached our palace and I got down where suddenly Arjun carried me in his arms.

"I can walk. I was just crying and it had nothing to do with-"

"It's not for you. But, for making someone burn in jealousy. I hope you understand.", He said and I realised what he was talking about.

He's trying to calm me down by making Aarthi jealous.

Somehow, I personally think that making Aarthi jealous will give me satisfaction but right now, she might try to kill me to take Arjun back if she sees me this close to him.

"Arjun, I-"

"Stop talking and focus on me. Just me.", He said seductively and I focused on him.

His face was perfectly structured. His brown orbs were glimmering for me. He was handsome that I can't take my eyes off him.

I have never seen such a handsome and talented man in this whole life. But, I'm being grateful that I got a chance to be his wife.

Aarthi who was seated in a couch, got up immediately as if her ass was on fire. Arjun leaned and kissed my neck which enraged her more.

Apart from the fact that Arjun is with me, Aarthi might always try to kill me.

Arjun carried me to our bedroom and gently placed me on the bed. I was still feeling sad for that boy. His dead body is still pictured in my mind.

He caressed my cheeks gently with his finger which was soothing. I just remembered about the wound in his arm and got up from the bed where he frowned.

I made him sit on the bed and trotted towards the shelf grabbing the first aid kit. I trotted back to him with the first aid kit.

"I'll manage this-"

"Shut up"

I looked at his wound which was deep.

"Remove your shirt so that I can-"

Before I could finish my sentence, he removed his shirt where his naked chest was visible. His abs were perfect. He was perfect in every way possible but right now I decided to focus on his wound.

I plopped beside him and started to wipe his blood with a cotton. Blood was oozing out of his wound which made shivers run down my spine.

I would surely scream and turn a place upside down if it was me.

"Is it hurting?"

"No", he casually replied where I stared at him blankly.

I continued to clean his wound and wrapped the white cotton cloth around his wound where bandage could not be found in this century.

Soon in probably ten minutes, I was done dressing his wound.

"Thank you so much, wifey.", He thanked me and I blushed at the word wifey.

"So, when's the funeral?", I asked.

"Next week for sure. I asked my men to confront Tharun if he was okay with adopting that little girl. Keerthana was more excited to see that little girl. Happy?", He asked and I nodded.

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