It's been a week since I saw his dead body. I couldn't forget that.. His corpse was pictured in my mind that it refused to go away.

Me and Arjun paid a visit on that boy's sister. She was so little to be abandoned. The day Keerthana met her, she was so attached to that little girl and spent all the time with her.

Today, after the boy's funeral, Keerthana and Tharun have decided to adopt her. The emperor was more than happy to hear that. The empress didn't react for this.

Aarthi has left to home since her mother came back from the devotional tour. She and her mother is going to pay for all bad deeds they did no matter what.

It was raining heavily and I was standing below the umbrella which some soldiers were holding for me and Arjun.

An old man was chanting mantras in order to make his soul rest in peace. After all the Poojas, the boy's body was put in fire as his little sister, Sri was crying.

Tharun and Keerthana adopted Sri after getting blessings from the emperor and empress. The emperor gave his heartly blessings while the empress gave them a fake blessing in order to keep her standards infront of the crowd.

I hugged the child one last time and promised her I would get her sweets and dolls the next time I see her. I got into the carriage so did Arjun and we reached our palace real soon.

I went straight to my room and got freshened up and wore another set of clothes. Arjun entered the room as I sighed.

Thank God, he didn't come a minute earlier..

"Shit, I am late. I should've come a minute earlier..", he said making sure it was audible for me and plopped on the bed.

"How do you feel about today?", I asked and he sighed.

"It's been a weak, Thea. A weak since that boy's dead. I think you haven't came out of this yet. Move on and that's the best thing for you.."

"I couldn't thinking the fact that he's dead because of me.", I accepted and he rubbed my back to calm me down.

"Don't worry. Everyone makes mistakes intentionally or unintentionally. The mistake you've done is unintentional. It has nothing to do with being guilty or feeling sad. Nothing's going to change..", he said and I nodded understanding.

"I will try to move on.", I said as he hummed smiling.

"So, what'd you like to have for lunch?", He asked trying to lighten my mood.

"Uh, maybe veg biriyani?"

"Okay. You don't want any nonveg?", He asked and I shake my head.

"Today is the day of his funeral. It would be not right if we eat nonveg today.", I said and he nodded. He caressed my cheeks.

"You're really meaningful.", He said and I looked down at my lap.

He left the palace as he got some work. Once again in this week, I was left alone. I drank tea which maids served me, walked in the garden and took a small nap.

I was waiting in the dining table for him as it was already lunch time. I couldn't see the three concubines anywhere and I have no idea where they have gone.

"Where are the concubines?", I asked the maid who was setting the table.

"They left with Princess Aarthi to see the queen of chola kingdom.", She said and I took a second to process her words.

So, Aarthi runs a small gang which consists of the three concubines, the queen and her. I scoffed thinking about that as the maids were done setting the table.

"Shall I serve lunch to you, Princess Thara?", A maid asked.

"No, I want Arjun to come..", I said and she nodded. I waited, waited and waited until it was 4'O clock.

"Princess Thara, you need to eat. Maybe, you can have tea and snacks with highness evening..", she said and I nodded without choice.

"Do you know where he is?", I asked as she placed the cold rice in my plate.

"Yeah, he's in emperor's palace for second selection process..", she said and I hit my head gently for forgetting that.

"The food became cold. I will heat it up and be back in five minutes..", another maid said and took all the food to heat it.

I leaned on the chair, drinking the water as I was hungry. I shouldn't have forgotten that it's one of the important day in his life.

In the future, if he becomes the next emperor, these would be special and happy memories for him.

After five minutes, the maid came back and served me food that was hot. I devoured my meal like I hadn't eaten for days. The food was delicious and it would've been great if I ate the lunch without waiting for Arjun.

"The food is great..", I moaned.

"Thank you so much, Princess Thara.."

"Do you know when will he be back?", I asked.

"As far as I know, he will be back within the sunset.", She said and I hummed continuing to eat my meal.

After eating, I walked through the garden where beautiful flowers were bloomed. I absolutely love the garden. Birds were chirping all around the garden. Bees were sucking on the honey.

I don't know if I could get this view in 2022. Everything is different and special here.

I went back to home and plopped on the couch. I heard sounds from basement. There were not much soldiers in the house because most of them went to emperor's palace as there were crowded people blocking the palace.

I was scared for the fact that there was no many soldiers in here if anyone was trying to escape from the basement. There's high probability of chances that they could attack me.

I paced to the doorstep where two soldiers were standing.

"What's the sound coming from the basement?", I asked and they exchanged glances.

"There's sounds from basement, Princess Thara?", One of them asked and I hummed.

The two soldiers immediately made their way towards the basement where the basement door crumbled and many prisoners started running towards the soldier and killed the two soldiers brutally.

More soldiers ran into the house. I gasped at looking the soldier's body which was don't bloodied that I couldn't even recognise him.

They were brutal. I wonder how the prisoners escaped from their cells. Meanwhile, the bustle of prisoners screaming in anger increased.

"Guard the Princess first. That's more important than catching the prisoners!", A soldier yelled where very soldiers rounded me.

"We will escore you to your room, Princess Thara..", one soldier said and we walked towards my room where the soldiers were guarding me from all the attacks threw by the prisoners.

Despite getting injured, they were trying to save me. I don't know until now soldiers could be this loyal. My heart was pounding in fear as we were walking up the stairs.

They left me inside the room and closed it from outside making sure I'm safe.

For the next half an hour, I heard screaming and crying sounds which was traumatizing me. I wonder when Arjun will come back. I think I could feel better with him.

Loud thudding noise could be heard which jerked me. But, I was a bit relieved by the fact that I'm inside the room and no one can hurt me right now.

I was sitting in the corner of the room hugging my legs tightly in my chest. The sounds started to fade as I sighed in relief.

Is everything okay out there?

I didn't dare to move my legs as I don't want to get stuck in the problem voluntarily. I heard the room door unlock from outside and Arjun walked in.

Without wasting a minute, I ran towards Arjun, hugging him tightly, burying my face in his chest. He rubbed my back and kissed my forehead.

I feel safe and protected with him.

"You okay? Are you injured?", He asked and I shake my head.

"What about the prisoners and your soldiers?"

"The prisoners escaped. But, I sent my soldiers to catch them and I believe that my soldiers are capable of catching them soon."

"They escaped because of me. If they didn't consider me as first priority, they would've been caught..", I explained and he chuckled.

"You're always my first priority. When it comes to letting go of prisoners and saving you from getting hurt, I would choose saving you without second thought.", He said and I smiled.

Meanwhile, some of the soldiers ran and halted in the doorstep of our room where Arjun turned back.

"Your Highness, we caught 57 prisoners. Our soldiers are still searching the remaining 65.", One of the soldier said.

"I really appreciate that.. I know not everyone will be caught in one day. If the soldiers can't find any of them, stick the pictures of the prisoners in every street and announce an impressive amount..", he said and the soldiers nodded.

"What if they left the whole dynasty?", I asked.

"No worries. I don't care if they escape..", he said casually.

"All I want is, my dynasty to be safe from criminals and thieves.", He said and I agreed with him.

He dismissed the soldiers as he closed the door and circled his arm around my waist. He traced my face to neck with his lips which sent shivers down my spine.

With a wet kiss on my neck, he pulled his face and looked straight into my eyes.

"Did you eat your lunch?", I asked.

"Not yet..", he said.

"Come on, have lunch. Maybe, I'll serve your lunch.", I said and I held his wrist, opening the door and walking towards the dining table.

He settled on the dining table where I served him lunch with my very own hands. He started eating the lunch as I filled water in his glass.

"Why did your brother set spies on my palace?", He asked all of sudden.

"You know?", I asked and he nodded while chewing his food.

"He said it was for my safety.", I said.

"How can he set spies on my palace like he's my enemy? How dare he!"

"He's my brother and wants to assure if I'm safe. What's the problem with that?", I asked justifying him.

"So, you don't trust me that I will take good care of you?"

"It's not like that. I trust you but my brother would be not satisfied with my words. He would be more than satisfied if he hears I'm doing good by his spies.", I said and he shook his head in disbelief.

"I want every of the spies out of my palace within tomorrow. Or, I will be the one throwing them out.", He said as he washed his hands, gulping the water.

"But, my brother-"

"Don't.. I don't want to hear anything about it from you. I don't want someone spying on my personal life.", He said.

"What if Aarthi kills me tomorrow!? You would be always busy in your works and you wouldn't allow anyone care for me! You would be definitely happy if she tries to kill me!", I yelled angrily as I regretted it the next second.

"It's not like that. I wouldn't let her lay a hand on you. I assure you that you're safe. And, I'm in work just for 5 hours a day. You are reacting much for this.", He said.

"What if she did? Didn't you see how she killed a little boy just for a challenge? There's no guarantee that she'll not kill me knowing that I stole her life."

"Okay, then. I will dismiss her from being my side consort.", He yelled and left.

Dismiss her? What does he mean..

I sat on the chair thinking about the argument. I never thought he could fight just for this small issue. It's not like Tamizh is spying on Arjun. He's just checking out on my security.. Is that really bad?

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