I looked at him blankly where his full attention was on the blank wall.

"What did the emperor do?", He asked without looking at me.

"You know.. you want to hear it from my mouth?"

"Kind of yeah.."

Your total family are perverts.. first, your brother. Now, your father.", I spat as he sighed.

"It isn't my mistake."

"It is"

"I said it's not. How can it be because of me?", He yelled.

"You were not even ready to hear me what I was going to say when your mother was killed. You should've asked my point of view right. Now, I'm saying Arjun, you don't deserve to be king.."

"You expect me to hear you when my mother literally died and you were with her with bloody knife?"

"Not all things you see with your eyes are true."

"I even checked the fingerprints in the knife holder. It belongs too none other than you."

"What!? It's Aarthi who stabbed the empress. Her fingerprints should've surely been in the knife."

"There was no trace of her fingerprints."

"There's no way..", that was the only word that left my mouth. I don't know what to say. It feels like, I'm losing my hope of being released.

"What did she say when you enquired her?", I asked and he sighed taking a seat in an wooden bench that was atleast 100 years old.

"She said she didn't come out of her palace at that time. Moreover, all the maids and soldiers saw her in the palace.", He said and that's when my hope completely shattered.

"You think I will really kill your mother? Am I that worst?"

"I wouldn't have if I hadn't seen you with a knife with my mother's blood on it."

"Oh yeah, it was my mistake thinking that you would believe me."

"No one would believe you if they had seen you with that knife."

"My brother did. My brother believed that I wouldn't have done such things. You're opposite to him."

"I don't care about your brother. All I care is about the truth.", He said and I scoffed.

"Truth? How can you see the truth when all are lie. You're the biggest dumb I've ever seen, Arjun.", I said.

"If it's true, then show me the proof.", He raised his voice as he was pissed off. Maybe, I was the one who pissed him off.

"I am the proof.."

"Don't play some jokes with me and show me a proper evidence."

"What if I show you proof? What will you do?", I asked and he stayed silent.

"I hate you Arjun. I don't care if I come out of this cell, or I rot in here but never expect that I will live with you again. I would rather die than living with you.", I spat angrily and he left immediately.

I broke into tears immediately. I remember how determined I was to be with him but now, I don't want to be with him ever.

I thought he'll always believe me no mattar what. But he always make me feel like I'm being fooled. The only reason I wanted to be with him was the happiness he gave me but now, it's completely shattered.

With a small hope that my brother would be able to get me out of here, I settled on the farthest corner of the cell.

It's been days since I started searching evidence but it seems like she cleaned out everything.

But there was a small hope inside my mind that she would've left something so silly behind.

Finally, I reached a weapon store where many things were on sale.

I entered inside the store with a drawing of the knife which Aarthi used to kill the empress.

"Good evening, Prince Tamizh. What can I do for you?", The owner asked respectfully where I showed him the drawing.

"Do you have a knife like this on sale? It have wolf symbol in it so it's rare."

"Oh yeah. It's so rare and costly as well. We had this last piece but it was sold out just before few days.", A new hope raised as I heard his words.

"If it's so costly, you should've had a list of the people who bought this, am I right?"

"Yes.. we have it. But, Prince Tamizh, is there any problem?"

"No. Just give me the list."

He nodded and went upstairs to bring the list.

I looked at the drawing and smirked.

"Your game is finally coming to an end, Aarthi.", Saying this to myself, I waited for the owner to come down.

That's when I noticed a girl who was trying to steal a sword without getting noticed by anyone. She looked like she was only 17 or 18.

I don't know why she wanted to steal that sword but she looked so cute though. I stood behind her and when she turned back she was shocked to see me.

"W-What?", She stuttered trying to act normal.

"What are you doing here?", I asked where I could see her sweat dripping down from her forehead.

She's scared..

"I-I.. I was just looking through the beautiful collection of the swords.."

"Really?", I asked and she nodded.

"Where do you belong to?"

"I belong here.."

"Okay then. Do you have any reason for stealing this sword?", I asked and she was in the verge of crying knowing that she was caught.

"Please don't.. tell anyone. I want some money for my father's treatment. I'm so sorry. I will never ever steal from anyone again. Please, please, please. Don't report me to the royals.. I swear, I won't steal again!", She begged.

"Do you know who am I?"

"Uhh, no.."

"Fine, what happened to your father?"

"He is a drunkard. So, he for some lung problem."

"You know what? I hate drunkards.. if you ask me, people can rather die than being a drunkard."

"You have no idea what you're talking. My father is my only family!", She said.

"What if I say I will help you with money and you'll never steal again."

"I'm not a begger. Give me a job and I could make money out of it.", She said and I chuckled.

"Uhh, fine..", I said and I was thinking what job could suit her. I was not going to run any risk by giving her job in my palace.

"Okay, I'm giving you a job but only a temporary one. Just assist me in finding a criminal and I'll pay you highly for that."

"You sure..?"

"Oh yeah."

"How many days?"

"I'm almost near finding the truth.. if my work is done, I don't care if you had worked or not, I will pay you..", I said and she nodded.

"When should I join?"

"Right now..", I said and she smiled. I don't know why but I like her for unknown reasons.

God! Since when did I start liking robbers..

The owner came downstairs with a big notebook in his hand.

"I suppose the list of people who bought that knife should be written in this notebook."

"Thank you so much. You have made a great help. I will take care act searching the list from the notebook. You can go ahead and do your work.", I said and he went back to his work.

"I need your help. There's a rare knife with wolf symbol on it. I want you to search the list of people who bought that. It's surely written in this notebook.", I said and she nodded.

I went outside the shop along with her and the notebook.

She started searching where I was having my tea. I hadn't had my breakfast today as I was too tensed about my sister.

"You look tensed.", She said while turning the pages.

"I know.."

"I still can't believe someone have problems more than mine.", She said chuckling.

"Really?", I said and she hummed. She continued to search through the pages while I was done drinking my tea.

"Did you get it?"

"No, it seems like it wasn't written."

"But, it's costly. It has to be noted down."

"I checked it thoroughly. There's nothing.."

I started rechecking everything because I have to be sure that there's nothing. After finishing my check, I sighed and placed the notebook near me.

"Can you tell me what's this about?"

"Umm, you realise that your surrounding place is on fire and then you witness a dead body lying on the floor and a girl was holding a knife which was full of blood. But the girl confesses that she's not the killer and point outs a girl who is said to be 1000 miles away. Tell me, who is the killer."

"The girl with that knife obviously. Words are empty promises."

"So, you're telling me my sister is a killer..", I said and her face completely changed to a shocked one.

"W-What? Your sister killed someone?'

"I said she didn't kill anyone. She's innocent. It was the other girl who killed and I'm searching for evidence."

"Where's your sister right now?"

"In jail.. she's in jail without doing any mistake."

"I'm sorry.. I just-"

"It's ok.. tell me if you have any other way to find evidence..", I said and she gave me a pitful look.

"Umm, maybe you can make her escape from jail."

"Don't give me criminal ideas.. just tell me a genuine way.", I warned and she nodded.

"Fingerprints in the knife."

"She was clear enough to clear the fingerprints."

"Someone should've seen her kill right? You said there was fire everywhere and everyone was running for life. Someone, atleast one person should've seen her in that place. That one person is going to be the one who can assure you she was not 1000 miles away.", She said.

It made sense. There were thousands of people in that ceremony. How's it possible no one didn't notice Aarthi when Thara did.

"You proved that you have some brain. Come with me.", I said and she came behind me.

I climbed in my horse where she was standing rooted in one place.

"What? Come fast with me."

"Actually, I'm afraid of horses."

"There no time for this. If you're afraid of horses, you can resign your job.", I said as I was in a hurry.

"Fine, don't be mad..", she said and climbed in the horse slowly and held me tightly as if her life was dependent on me.

She was closing her eyes really tight and I could see the fear dancing across her face.

I started riding the horse and she held me tightly. However, I continued to ride towards the Chera Kingdom. I have to collect all the list of people who came to the ceremony.

If I ask people one by one, there's chances someone would've noticed Aarthi's presence so that I could prove that she wasn't in our palace.

"We have to travel for atleast 1 day to reach the place. So, calm down. Don't be scared, I'm with you and I will assure you that I'll not let you fall from the horse."

"What? You serious?"

"I'm always serious."

"Oops, I forgot to ask your name. Since you work for me, I have to know your name."

"My name is Ananthi."

"Nice name.. won't you ask me what's my name?"

"Oops, tell me what's your name?"

"My name is Tamizh.."

"How should I call you? Tamizh or boss?"

It was good how my name rolled on her tongue.

"Call me Tamizh.."

I have never allowed any people except my family call by my name. Even though I hated when Arjun and Ezhil used to call me by my name.

It's the first time I'm willing that she should call me by my name.

"Tamizh, where are we going?", She asked and I smiled hearing her calling my name. It's new for me that someone unknown is calling me by my name.

"Uhh, Chera Kingdom."

"What? We're going that far? I left my sick father in my home."

"He should've already fled away to drink with his friends. That's what drunkards always do."

"But, he's my father anyway.."

"Well, well I'm sorry."

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