I was waiting for him outside. I don't know why he made me wait here. Maybe, he wanted to tell his sister about me.

But, to be honest, I was really surprised and shocked when I came to know he is the Prince of the kingdom.

Surprised because how polite and genuine he was to give me a job. And I was shocked thinking if he will punish me for my crime.

I was just trying to steal because of my father who argued a lot yesterday night.

"Why the hell did you come home without money!?", My father yelled the next second he came home.

"I lost my job. I'm sorry, tomorrow, I'll search for a good job and-"

"Shut up! I want money right now! I don't care how you do but I want money in my hand in next 5 minutes.", He said something that was completely impossible.

Only if my mom was here, she would've protected me like no one did. Just the mere thought of that made me sad.

"If you don't bring money, I will not hesitate to sell you for a night..", he said and I was shocked.

These days, he always would demand me more amount of money and I was able to give it because I had a job.

But, I never thought something like this would slip out of his mouth. This is probably the first time I feel insecure from the whole world. I feel like there's no one for me.

That's when I noticed my father's bar friends were waiting for him so that they could go to the bar together and drink again.

"You're running out of time.", He said and I don't know what to do.

"I promise, I will try to make money tomorrow.."

"What about today? How will I drink today?"

"You have lung disease.."

"I don't care. Just give me money."

"I don't have money right now and-"

"Well, I'll give you to one of my friends and they'll pay for my drink. How does that sound?", He said and I was more and more disgusted.

He held my hand and dragged me outside forcefully. Many people were watching and I felt ashamed but who cares about those people. They only know to gossip about others life.

"You're not entering home until you make some money.", He said and along with his friends, he entered inside the house and locked the door.

I knocked the door the entire night but there was no response. I was crying. Many people who work at night was giving me pitful look which I hated the most.

The sun rose and I was standing outside the whole night.

"Bring money and I will give let you in!", He yelled from inside and I don't know what I'm going to do for money.

I really hate the idea of standing outside everyday like this so I decided to get money from any source.

I walked and walked till I can find a job but I can't. I was tired from all this. That's when I saw a weapon store. I entered inside like a customer and looked at the swords which were of the cost my father was demanding of.

So it means I can sell this sword and I can finally give him the money he want. I know it's only temporary but I can't bear it anymore. My legs were in pain and I was having a headache as I didn't sleep the whole night.

That's when I saw a handsome man who caught me stealing.

And, I was surprised to know he was the prince.. he wasn't so harsh though.

I smiled thinking how he helped me. But, since the job is temporary, I want to find another job soon.

That's when I saw Tamizh walking towards me.

"We can have lunch and go enquire one by one.. okay?", He asked and I nodded.

He took me to a hotel in which only zamindars and royal people are allowed to eat. They don't allow common people like me.

"Tamizh, they won't allow lower class people like me.", I said and he seemed like he doesn't care.

"Don't worry about that", he said and we walked inside where a man stopped us.

"Sorry Prince, lower class people are not allowed to eat here. This is a place where all royal families and zamindars prefer to eat and people like them aren't allowed here.", He said to Tamizh looking at me.

"Well, she's not lower class people. She work too close to me.", He said and the man thought for few seconds before leaving us in.

"This is the first time I'm coming to such hotel.. will it create some problem?", I asked and he shook his head and we took out seat.

"What do you prefer eating?", Tamizh asked.

"Anything..", I said as I was unsure what to eat. In places like this, I believe everything would be delicious with high quality then why should I choose.

"Two dosas for me and a royal platter for her.", He said and I was shocked. Royal platter.

"You're probably eating here for the first time. So, I should give you a proper meal, right?", He said and I simply nodded.

I was collecting the list from the store room when Tharun entered the room.

"You done collecting?", He asked and I sighed.

"There's a lot of papers..", I replied and he came forward and started helping me in sorting out the papers in order.

"Where's Tamizh?"

"He went to have lunch along with his girl."

"His girl? They're gonna marry?"

"I don't know but the way she called him by name, I can say they're going to.", I said and he nodded.

"Did you tell the maid to give food for her?", I asked and he hummed.

Finally after we were done sorting out the sheets, we came back to the hall where we saw Tamizh enter through the door along with that girl following him.

"So, did you arrange the papers?", He asked casually.

"Yeah we did..", I said and he nodded looking at those sheets. The girl gasped looking at how much sheets were in the table.

"Do you think we finish all these papers before we die?", She asked him and he simply shrugged.

"Okay, I believe we four can finish enquiring all the thousand people within a week. Each one of us are responsible for enquiring 250 people. Is the plan good?"

"Yeah, I guess. But don't you think it's taking too long? Maybe we should hire some more people so that we could finsih soon.", Tamizh said.

A slight ego raised inside me that he's objecting my plan.

"Fine, I will take care of the hiring."

"No, I'll take care of the hiring. I want the hired man to be so loyal and not the one who's working for money.", He said and it kinda made sense.

But, he's saying I can't find a man who's loyal. I was again feeling mad because of his words.

"Fine.", I said angrily and I took some sheets so that I can start enquire from now.

Because, I don't want to delay anymore. I want to know what is the real truth and I'm becoming mad without knowing it.

They say even thousand criminals can be released but not one innocent souls be punished. I want to know who's criminal and who's innocent. That's my only goal for now.

I took my horse and started riding along the village and looked at the first name in the list which was written along with the address.

I made my way towards the address and enquired the man who's name was first in the list.

"Sorry Prince, I was concerned with my own survival the time when fire was spread and I didn't notice if the girl in this photo in the palace.", He said after looking the photograph of Aarthi.

With that, I left to many people's address which was in my list. My body was draining out of energy because I hadn't had my food since morning.

I decided to eat something before continuing to enquire but that's when I remembered her tear stained face. She looked devastated by everything.

I'm not that tired and frustrated than her. So, I continued to enquire the people without having my food. I thought I could do it later.

At the end of the day, I managed to enquire 23 people because everyone's address were far away from each other.

People from different parts to part in the ceremony. That is what makes the situation complicated.

It was night 11 and I was damn tired. I don't know what I have to do. I decided to stay in nearby hotel since going back to my palace is tiring.

I went to a hotel, had my food and reserved my room. After entering the room, the next thing I did was sleeping. I was exhausted as hell.

As soon as I closed my eyes, I drifted off to sleep.

I woke up as soon as the sunlight hit my face.

The next thing I did after freshing up and had my breakfast. While eating, I was sorting the people who live in the same area.

After I was done sorting the sheets, I climbed on my horse and started riding towards the place where there are 5 people to enquire.

I asked each one of them and their answers were same. They didn't see such person in the ceremony.

"God, this is exhausting.", I said moving to my next destination.

As I find more people who haven't seen Aarthi in that spot, my suspicion on her was increasing without my knowledge. I hate to agree that but I do.

I don't know what that live has made me do but I'm literally mad for her. I feel like I'm stuck in this love and was confused inside this web.

Most of the people say that they love a person but it's not sure if they mean it but since I mean it, it has become more painful.

As I reached my next destination, sun was on its peak. That was not my problem but my real problem was, my overthinking.

I never thought that someone like me, especially who is going to be a emperor will be wandering around the streets just for a girl. Just for a single girl in this world.

Doesn't that enough to mean that I love truly?

I sighed and started enquiring the 3 people who were living in that place. But they said they hadn't seen her in the party.

As time passed, I was getting more frustrated about the fact that I'm travelling miles to only hear their negative answers.

I don't know about Tamizh, Tharun and that unknown girl. But, I'm sure there doing their work perfectly.

Also, my father was hella scared that I would leak this out to people but I can't because the people believe that Thara is already dead.

Now, I have to conceal about Thara being alive so I can't tell about my father's real face to people. If people come to know she is alive, her life is at stake and I don't want that.

If people come to know that the emperor is doing such things, he have to take down his position and make me the emperor. But, I don't want her life to be at stake..

With that thought, I just started my journey to the next destination.

I don't know how long this goes on but I hope it ends soon. On the other hand, I feel bad about her.

As time goes on, I believe her sufferings are increasing. If I can't find anyone who witnessed her, she will be hanged to death.

The thought of that was gutting me because there was only 1 month left. I have no idea how this 1 month passed so quickly and depressingly.

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