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Once I finished my duty, I returned to working on my plan.

I needed to resolve everything with only six days left before the wedding.

The more people I had on my side, the better it would be.

Because that girl had gone insane and wasn't heeding my words, I wouldn't have prevented her from marrying.

She had every right to happiness, but she chose the wrong man—my uncle.

I understand she was angry about my actions, and she had every right to feel that way.

However, her anger was now blocking my path.

I had several reasons to stop her from marrying my old uncle.

First, she would be the biggest obstacle in my path to the throne because she was a liberated and strong-willed girl.

Somewhere, I sensed that she was aware of my master plan, which explained her sudden decision to marry.

She knew that if she married my uncle, she would gain power, and her standing against me would weaken me.

Next, I loved my Badi-Maa, one of my uncle’s wives, and I didn't want anything she wouldn't like, especially another bride for her husband.

In addition, I deplored the sight of her ruining her life.

I had begun to care for her.

Yet, I left her because I couldn't love any woman until I became the king.

I had many purposes, and loving someone was definitely not one of them.

My life demands sacrifices from me.

I had to leave her because of my growing feelings for her.

I didn't want to see her suffer the pain of being with me.

I wasn't sure if I would become the king or if I'd ever have a good life.

So, how could I have promised to live with her and bring her to my small cottage to struggle alongside me? She was a princess and deserved to be a queen, not the wife of a servant.

But it was wrong of me to toy with her feelings.

I knew from the beginning that I could neither love nor become intimate with a girl, nor bear a child, because I was bound—bound by the promise I made to my mother on her deathbed to become a great king.

I wandered through the palace searching for my target, and finally, my gaze fell upon a familiar face: Haider.

Well, my friendship with Abhinandan brought many benefits, one of which was getting to know all his family members and relatives.

Haider was Abhinandan's cousin, and I had met him once.

He enjoyed drinking, which I planned to use to my advantage, as I could connect with his father and Ruhani's husband through him.

Ruhani was 's cousin, whom she often talked about.

She once mentioned her wedding to a powerful Sultan in one of her letters to me.

I needed to incorporate such people in my plan to lessen the enemies.

I had to turn them on my side as soon as possible.

“Haider,”

I called out as he walked through a corridor.

He was surprised to find me there and narrowed his eyes at me.

“Rudra, Abhinandan's friend.

We met two years ago,”

I reminded him, and he nodded, recognizing me.

“Oh, yes, yes, Rukra! How are you?”

he asked, opening his arms to hug me.

Patting his shoulder, I replied, “I am all well.

What about you?”

Scratching his head, he looked at me.

“Well, I’m in a little trouble right now,”

He said worriedly.

So I asked about it.

“My brother-in-law, Aahil, such a drunkard he is.

I'm trying to find a good place to grab some drinks and have fun, you know,”

He filled me in with the information, and I nodded.

“Yeah, why are you here? By the way? Oh, yes, you’re invited too, of course.

You are Abhinandan's friend.

is like your little sister,”

he said, and I instantly tapped his shoulder, trying not to smack his face flat.

“Haha… ”

Such scatterbrained relatives.

I tried to laugh it off.

“ is not like my sister.

Not at all,”

I gritted with a sweet smile, and he frowned, unsure.

“Oh,”

He uttered, and I took my hand back.

“Well, I can help you with the drinks and other stuff.

What do you want?”

I asked in a friendly tone and he said, “Uhmm, nothing special.

I have the drinks, but if you could arrange a Hookah26 for me, it'd be a welcome addition,” I nodded.

“Alright, consider it done,”

I said, and he looked at me dubiously.

“So….

will you send it to my chamber?”

he asked, and I assured him. I will,”

I confirmed.

Pleased, he patted my shoulder, whispered, “Perfect,”

and walked away.

He wasn’t of any use for my mission.

I had to find the Sultan, ’s cousin’s husband.

I just wanted to ensure I had fewer swords pointing against me on the wedding day.

I thought of going back to Suryagarh.

So, I sneaked out when the king was asleep because he’d create an unnecessary scene if he didn't find me around.

I wanted to meet , but it wasn’t of any use at the moment.

Though for once, I at least wished to see her.

But, before that, I had to arrange a hookah for Haider.

I walked toward the back of her chamber and craned my neck above to look up at her window two floors above.

Like every time, I had to climb on the wall.

It was midnight, and I jumped into her chamber over the window.

In the light of a few lit lamps, I walked toward her bed, and my sight fell on her sleeping figure.

As I staggered near, I found her shivering.

Unfolding the comforter, I adjusted it over her form and settled on the edge of the bed near her.

She looked serene, and her angelic face and rosy, pouted lips looked beautiful as I watched her sleep calmly.

I couldn't control my hands from touching her delicate petals.

“You are beautiful,”

I muttered under my breath.

Her eyelids fluttered, wrinkling tighter.

She must be dreaming of something.

“Why are you doing this, ?”

I pleaded almost inaudibly to her.

I remembered the first time I saw her.

To my eyes, she was the most enchanting, intelligent and tenacious girl.

Her sharp wit always attracted me.

The most tempting thing was that she was secretly getting tutored on seduction in her palace.

She managed to get herself a teacher who used to come to the palace disguised as a maid and teach her.

She flinched in her sleep, and I scooted a little closer to her, caressing her cheek.

“Calm down, it's just a bad dream, little bird,”

I spoke hushedly.

She shivered, and I understood what it was.

Her menstruation was close, and she was having vivid dreams.

Her body would become numb during this time, and with the onset of her menstruation, she would start feeling sick and experience nightmares.

She would often faint and always had trouble sleeping peacefully.

I held her hand and looked at her face marred with fear.

“I am sorry.

I know you must have been dreaming about me and everything that happened.

But trust me, I didn't want any of it to happen to you, I didn't want to taint your character.

However, I had to leave because I couldn't get married.

I cannot become anyone's husband,”

I explained in a hoarse tone, looking at her, sensing that she was listening to everything.

“I regret returning to use you as a pawn again in my game, but looking at your face, I just couldn't.

I did not have the heart to touch or do anything to you.

However, it is hurting me, so please refrain from doing it anymore.

Everything will get so complicated,”

I mumbled, sliding her loose hair locks off her face.

I couldn't stop myself from pecking her hand.

Her brows pulled up together, her cheeks too hot.

Leaning in, I gently kissed her forehead and promised never to let her marry an old man—especially my uncle.

I stood up to leave before anyone caught me.

After seeing her, I went back to my Kingdom, Suryagarh.

***

Another four days passed, spent guarding the king.

A part of me wanted to discuss backing out of the wedding, hoping he would understand.

But I knew a womaniser like him would never step back from having a girl like .

She, very diligently, managed to pull the right strings to get me infuriated by marrying my enemy.

The next four days, each moment passed in excruciating agony, causing a strong turbulence in my heart.

I felt a strange pain inside just thinking about the consequences I would face if she were to marry my uncle.

For example, I might gain the kingdom, become the king, and avenge my father's death with her family, but at what cost?

On one side, I had standing against me; on the other, everything awaited me.

It was as if she had presented me with only two options.

Either drop the plan of getting the throne because she had determined to marry my enemy and produce him an heir, or stop her from getting married by...

marrying her.

But to confirm what was going through her mind, I had to meet her and see her reaction.

I could not force her until I knew what she felt for me.

Only two days remained before her wedding.

And so, after everyone slept, I emanated from my empire to meet her.

After arriving there at midnight, I entered the royal garden through a secret passage and then came to the back of her chamber.

I looked around once for anyone, and found the way clear.

As I was halfway up the wall, a commanding voice stopped me in my tracks.

“What are you doing?”

And, before I could even look down to see who it was, the person quickly climbed up and dragged me down to the ground.

We both fell with a loud thud, and just when he was about to punch me, I shielded my face and pushed him away.

“What the heck are you doing here? Who are you? And, why were you climbing the wall?”

He interrogated in a threatening voice and pulled out his dagger.

I surrendered myself and showed him both my hands.

“I come with peace, you see no weapon, no armour.”

He scanned me from head to toe and asked, “Who are you?”

I took a deep breath and looked at the young man before me.

Well, he had a good physique and a charming face.

“I am Rudra,”

I introduced myself.

Realisation hit him and he took his dagger away.

“I’m Aahil, Ruhani's husband, Ruhani is 's cousin,”

he said, stepping closer.

“Haider told me about you a few days ago,”

I smiled at him.

“But why were you climbing the wall? And whose chamber is that?”

he asked, pointing towards the window.

“'s.

I was climbing over to meet her,”

I explained, keeping my hands on my hips, and he arched his eyebrow at me.

“Why?”

I geared up to tell him the reason.“Long story short.

I betrayed her, and now she is angry and getting married to my eighty-year-old uncle to teach me a lesson.

And, I don't want that to happen,”

“What?!?”

He looked at me, dumbfounded.

“Eighty years old? Eww…”

He said, making a face.

“So, you want to make it up to her and have her agree to marry you?”

he asked me.

I thought for a moment and replied, “Yes, I will have to marry her if she doesn't give up on this absurd plan.”

He narrowed his gaze.

“And, how will you do that? I mean, everyone is here.

Her father, her brother, my father-in-law, brother-in-law and probably me, we all might kill you if you try to spoil the wedding,”

He alerted me in a threatening tone, and I crossed my arms over my chest sarcastically.

“Of course, you all will run after me to kill me, but will not for once try to make her understand that what she's doing is wrong,”

Yet he spoke in her favour after a momentary silence, “Maybe she has her reasons, and how can she trust you when you betrayed her?”

He questioned, and I took a deep breath.

“Ever heard of ‘second chance’?”

I asked, and he stared at me for a few moments.

“Of course, but are you sure the girl will be happy with you?”

He asked and I smiled.

“She will.

Her anger towards me is so devastating, I wonder how much she loves me,”

I said, and he nodded, pursing his lips.

“You are right.

But what are you going to do?”

I stared at him blankly for a few seconds and replied.

“Kidnapping!”

he lifted his eyebrows with a smirk, clicking on his tongue.

“Interesting,”

“So….are you ready to help me?”

I asked.

He pondered silently, and my sight fell on the side of his neck, a visible purple mark.

“You must know how much love can mean to someone,”

I said, looking back at him, and he nodded.

“Of course, I know, young man.”

he took a few steps back, saying, “I will make my decision once I get to know you.”

I smiled, nodding at him.

“Sure.”

Turning back, he left, and I returned to climbing the wall.

***