| Edited |
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Since night was approaching fast, Karna ordered his soldiers to place the tents at the safer place near the long wood forest of Himavanti.

Later, his commander enlightened him about Mayurvan and its capital, Himavanti. The kingdom of Maharaj Jaydev, which was bounded by the holy rivers, Mahanadi and the Ganga, and by the foothills of the Himalayas in the north, making it a pleasantly chilled region throughout the year.

Due to the flat plains and fertile land, Himavanti had a rich variety of biotic resources. Flora around Himavanti comprises of sal, oak, and alpine forest. Dense evergreen forests of sal and oak lie around the town, where a wide variety of roses, tulips, rare orchids, and many other floras were found.

The whole Mayurvan was indeed a beautiful kingdom.

The King of Anga lay inside his luxurious tent. Flat on his back, his bare chest heaved up and down, as sleep consumed him. He was in deep slumber after a tiring day, unaware of what destiny had stored for him next.

★

Another beautiful morning, when Suchitra walked inside Madirakshi's chamber.

"Didi, let's go out," Suchitra insisted as she sat on the bed, watching her sister getting ready.

"No, I don't like people giving me special treatment as if I'm a goddess, not some ordinary princess." Madirakshi replied, uninterested.

"Well, you indeed give the vibe of a goddess," she murmured. "But fine, if that's the case, then let's go out in disguise," the younger sister grinned.

"Elaborate,"

"In simple clothes, like simple girls."

"You have a magic box full of ideas. Don't you?!"

"Oh, I don't mind compliments!" Suchitra grinned, flipping her hair.

★

The sisters roamed around the city market. Bought some accessories— bracelets, earrings, some jewels, etc.

Before moving back to the palace, they thought to visit their favorite place, the long woods forest of Himavanti. Bare feet, they sat on soft green grass, near the stream of Ganga River.

"I like this one too. We could share it, right?" Suchitra said, pointing at a pair earrings.

"Of course! You don't have to ask," Madirakshi smiled, making Suchitra giggled merrily.

When the elder one saw a beautiful swan couple. She elbowed her younger sister to look at the side of the river, where the swans were. Suchitra was about to squeal out of excitement, but soon enough, Madirakshi gestured her to be quiet.

Their white feathers made they look so pure and serene. It was a beautiful scene.

"So beautiful," Madirakshi whispered.

"Indeed," Suchitra agreed. The next moment, she thought to tease her sister, who was busy looking at the swans.

"Didi,"

"Hmm?" Madirakshi replied softly.

"You know what, there is a saying,"

Madirakshi looked at her, listening to what she was saying.

"The person who notices a swan couple before anyone else can soon gets the love of his or her life!"

Madirakshi eyes widened as she realized what her mischievous sister's words implied. Composing herself, she said, "What are you saying? It is nothing like that."

"No, didi, I've heard about this many times from the maids!"

"So you actually eavesdrop,"

"Come on, sister, don't try to change the topic."

"I'm not,"

"So that's means, Princess Madirakshi will be blessed with love soon. Or who knows, perhaps already has!" Suchitra whispered teasingly.

"What nonsense?" Madirakshi turned crimson red and tried to hide her embarrassment but failed miserably. Thus, she stood up, walking away.

"Didi listen," Suchitra laughed, but her sister walked away, and she decided to give her sister some personal time.

"I never saw didi blushing so furiously before." She giggled.

★

Madirakshi walked bare feet. She couldn't help but thought of Karna each time when Suchitra said those words. She knew her sister was just teasing her, but still, she blushed so much.

Her long, wavy, hips length black hairs tied in loose side braid.

She walked ahead and saw a beautiful butterfly. She giggled in excitement as she slowly ran beside the beautiful insect. She tried catching it but failed each time.

"It's too hard to catch it. How do these butterflies sit so easily on Madhav's palm?" She murmured herself.

She whined and turned back, not noticing a sharp stone on the ground, and mistakenly put her left foot on it.

"Ah!" She winced in pain and lost her balance. But before she falls on the ground, a strong hand catches her wrist.

★

Karna was alone roaming through the forest of Himavanti, admiring the beauty of it. The place reminded him of Madirakshi, a smile came on his lips.

His thoughts broke upon a painful yell coming from near. He walked in the direction from where the voice came and soon found the princess of Mayurvan, who was about to fall.

With a quick pace, he reached to her and caught her wrist, making her stand straight.

"Angraj," Madirakshi looked astonished, her hair loosely tied in a braid, got all opened, and her gorgeous locks fell on her shoulders. Though her expressions were painful, she still looked so ethereally beautiful.

She wore simpler clothes than usual. Dressed in yellow blouse and long skirt, with a fuchsia pink and a blue uttariya with beautiful prints on it.

"Are you fine, Princess?" Karna looked at her concern and noticed blood oozing out of foot, "Clearly, you're not." He whispered.

"Let me help you," His voice softened as she nodded and looked down.

Gently, he held her shoulders and made her sit on a huge rock near. He sat on his one knee, close to her feet, placing her injured foot on his lap as she slightly turned her face shyly.

He tore the hem of his angvastra, glancing at her face for a moment, then again at her wound. He spoke, "You should have been careful, Princess." She looked at him for the tiniest moment and then looked down.

He carefully held her foot and delicately wrapped the cloth around the around it, stopping the flowing blood. His care increased the love she had for him.

"Do apply antiseptic herb on the wound as soon as you reach home." He said softly as he smiled.

"Thank you, Angraj," she said, with the hue of red on her cheeks.

Karna thought Madirakshi looked even more beautiful when she blushed. He tried controlling his smile.

The feelings in his heart, for Madirakshi, were increasing, and yet, he didn't know what to name them.

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Hello readers!
Hope you all are doing well.
The new chapter is here. I wanted to publish it yesterday itself, but Wattpad was glitching a lot.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Please comment your delightful thoughts and hit the star button to vote.
Stay tuned!