You'll never know the psychopath sitting next to you
You'll never know the murderer sitting next to you
You'll think, "How'd I get here, sitting next to you?"
But after all I've said, please don't forget

All my friends are heathens, take it slow
Wait for them to ask you who you know
Please don't make any sudden moves
You don't know the half of the abuse

Thank you so much for voting and commenting on the previous chapters.

Target- 100 votes

Fasten your seatbelts! This is one of the longest chapter of this book and most important one. We have reached the darker universe of Royal verse.

"You could tell me the stories of handsome men you met in Asaka"

Meglos suggested with his signature smirk lingering on his face. Right now, he and Tanirika were travelling to the kamdhenu temple positioned on the outskirts of The royal kingdom of Rakshatra.

"I am a princess Meglos, our beauty was hidden from men other than our close family and trusted individuals. "

"That's so boring. My whole life will be wasted if I missed the beautiful women I met. And you, you have never allowed other men to look at your pretty face" he exclaimed fastening his horse.

The wind blew pleasantly as they both travelled with a few troops of soldiers towards their destination. The villages appeared smaller and happier making Tanirika exclaim in happiness. The prosperity and calmness residing around the streets of Rakshatra made her feel like a proud Queen.

She smiled mischievously staring at a little boy who stood near a well, sucking his thumb. The little boy ran away feeling shy. She laughed lightly making meglos look in the direction which intimated a laugh from his friend.

Tanirika was grateful that she was not dressed in one of her heavy embroidered lehenga and gold jewelleries. She was wearing a plain lilac black cotton lehenga with her nuptial chain, a few silver bangles and her gold Borla resting on her forehead with a few inks of the vermilion peeping out of her hairline. To the outsiders, she looked like a lady from a rich household maybe a wife of a zamindar (Landlord) or sarpanch.

Meglos on the other hand was dressed in a cotton dhoti and kurta which he claimed looked nice as powerful meglos wore them.

The troop moved forward passing several people and villages. The meadows, mountains and the beautiful water flowing in the river added essence to their journey.

"When I travelled to Hind for the first time I was fascinated with the gold laying carelessly around everyone's neck here. Back In Romania or any other country we travelled there's no one this rich my beautiful eyes have witnessed. "

"Then what is the speciality of Romania?"

"Nothing. That place is hell on earth" He muttered fastening his horse and increasing the speed. Tanirika rolled her eyes, following meglos as she caught him running away.

"You cannot run away from questions, meglos. "

"I don't want to answer your question"

"You are so rude. If I was in your place then you would have announced my betrayal to you with drums to the whole palace. " Tanirika mumbled moving away from meglos. She counted till 24 when meglos joined her from behind mumbling incoherent words.

"You are the only woman I allow to disrespect my glorious presence "

Tanirika started laughing as soon as he uttered those words making meglos grunt. Her eyes squeezed together, lips curled into a tight grip while her brown skin glistened under the orange rays of the sun.

Sunsets were beautiful and mystical. The yellow rays now turned into a maze of orange hues shrouding the beautiful drawing of the sky with its essence. Everyone appeared to retire to their homes watching the sun bidding a farewell. The moon was already clambering the sky with all its glory ready to surround the sky with its silver-rich aroma to provide a little ray of the alley in the night.

"How long will it take from here? " Tanirika asked one of the soldiers riding a horse behind her.

"It will take 5 more hours from here, your majesty. Due to the canal construction going on the outskirts of the kingdom the road is engaged. It will conceivably seize extra time than the traditional journey time. "

"Then we should stop someplace for the night " Meglos added making Tanirika nod in agreement. 

"There is a dharmshala at a  few distances from here, your majesty.  It will be safest for us to accommodate. "

After coming to a common decision the little troop scouted toward their destination which was a dharmshala.

It took them half an hour to reach the dharmshala constructed by one of the rich merchants of the village. The ladies were instructed to occupy the front section of the rest house whereas the men were scattered around the rest house. The owner of the resthouse explained this as a security measure. Though the royals were in disguise meglos made sure Tanirika was well guarded.

He knew That lady Manika and that courtier was on house arrest but he cannot take chances, especially with the safety of his family. He had positioned one of the best Romanian-trained women with Tanirika to guard her against any threat. He was well known for the fact that Tanirika was a great warrior but still his senses were always on alert. And something about everything happening smoothly made him more suspicious.

"Today's weather appears extremely problematic. I predict that half of the huts residing in this village will blow away by the wind. " A random voice spoke from one of the corners of the old room where meglos stood staring outside the door. As it was a common resthouse, there were no single rooms available for the travellers. Everyone was ordered to live with each other in groups around various rooms scattered. 

"The scholars of scholar have spoken!" another man taunted and that's how laughter cackled around the house.

"Mark my words! If the storm didn't hit Rakshatra today then I will shave my beard" Meglos snorted in annoyance, The guard standing beside him in disguise shared the same expression.

"This place reminds me of Romania, your majesty. But the only difference is people have freedom here. "
the guard whispered. 

"They also have gold and happiness "

"Ah! gold. My wife loves the gold. I have heard the small fair around the kamdhenu temple sells the best gold jewellery around
here. I will buy some for her. "

"Will she be happy? "

"Ornaments are the second skin of a woman's body. And we all know how jewellery shows the wealth and prosperity of a household. But it also makes my woman happy.  "

Meglos nodded sparing a glance at the soldier his mind full of thoughts of the beautiful flower he left in the palace of Rakshatra.

The next day, Meglos and Tanirika scooted for their destination. The sun was still surging towards the sky to take its position. They reached their destination before the morning prayer. Meglos watched tanirika perform various rituals instructed by the priest.  He was not a believer in God, he didn't believe in someone who was never visible, never took accountability but always sat in four-storey walls just to get people around him.

He pitied people who bowed to him, poor they. They didn't have any idea that their god loved to watch people writhing in pain and calling him for help. He loved people's sufferings. He was a liar.

He smiled at Tanirika taking the offering to the god in his hand and gulping it in one go. It was just a substance of food for him and he never said no to food We all were lucky to get one grain of food in our stomachs. His eyes fell over the red powder resting on Tanirika's hairline. She looked pretty but the vermiliion's godly significance irked him. People married each other and signed the invisible God as a witness what kind of arrangement was that. Though his thoughts were not normal for any other common human, he always kept silent about them. He hid them from others, he had his own mask of disguise.

"I want more," He grunted picking another white ball of rice and gulping it in one go. Tanirika glared at him sometimes he was so childish.

"I pity the woman who will marry you "

"Who said I will get married?"

"You will meglos, " She smiled.

"Your smile is contagious. My princess "

"Time will answer everything, my lord" She answered back offering the white rice balls to various people who stood in our way. Tanirika walked around the open area of the temple halls, her tensed shoulder and firm eyes examining the food placed in different containers for the needy people. She picked one of the containers, balancing the copper bucket in one of her hands she walked toward her friend.

A frown settled on meglos's face staring at the copper bucket filled with some potato vegetable curry.

"I love food but I cannot finish this all alone. "

Tanirika giggled pushing him towards the queue of people sitting in a proper pattern parallel to each waiting for the food to be served. Meglos got the memo and bowed lightly before he walked toward the people who waited for the food. Tanirika picked another container of food and started serving the people making Meglos do the same.

"What do you call this thing you wear on your ankles?"

Meglos asked Tanirika after they both sat on one of the stairs of the temple exhausted after feeding everyone hungry. The attendees were busy cleaning and packing the items they brought from the palace.  The sun appeared smooth, silky collusions of the sky burst red and yellow in the night's clam. The peaceful sunset indicated a well-spent good day whereas the breeze caressing the body directly lanced through the heart with a feeling of contentment.

"This," she pulled her red plain simple embroidered a little up, tilting her right foot she rang the little bells of the silver band she was wearing on her ankles.

Meglos modded brushing one of his fingers around the fragile bells dangled to the silver string. Tanika smiled hugging her knees, wrapping her hands around her legs and staring at nothing in particular.

"It's called anklets. Anklets enhance the delicacy and feminine side of elegance. They are ornaments that women wear for beauty and spiritual beliefs. It is believed that The sound of anklets is auspicious when a new bride enters her new household, her husband's, the ringing of these anklets means optimism. It also symbolises bravery and respect. "  she explained staring intently at the scenery of trees resting below the temple which was situated a level high on the normal land.

"You like them?" Tanirika smiled nodding her head in approval.

"One of the soldiers was saying that there's a jeweller here who sells one of the intricate jewellery in Rakshatra. Do you want to have a look?"  His eyebrows creased together, frown resting on his face as he stared at Tanirika. She appeared amazed.

Why was meglos suddenly so interested in jewellery?

"You are my responsibility. I intend to keep you happy, my friend " He added turning around as he ascended the stairs indicating that he was walking towards the shop. Though Tanirika had many pieces of jewellery and had no craving for new ones. She was still obliged to have a look at them.

What could go wrong?

After walking a few steps they asked random people about the directions to reach the jeweller's shop. Making small conversations, they both reached the shop which appeared to be grand in its glory.

The jeweller's shop was built with old stone and had unique textures on its walls. One can easily predict that the person sitting inside was an artist of their league. Meglos
Stood outside examining the security placed outside the shop in the less crowded market. The guards dressed as commoners disguised themselves around the shop. Meglos nodded at one of the troop's leaders before moving inside the shop following Tanirika.

Tanirika was busy looking at some hand jewellery when meglos entered the shop. The man who was entertaining her threw an expression-less stare at Meglos as he continued to place some ornaments on the small wooden board.

Tanirika liked one of the gold bangdi, with a thick red lining and a small round gold protrusion covering the bangles. The combination of gold and red colour paired with intricate stone studded work was to die for. Before the brooded man could help Tanirika to try the bangdi, meglos stepped in throwing a death stare at the man. It was a sin to touch a royal woman.  For him, it was an invasion of privacy.  Tanirika threw an amazing glance at Meglos as he recited a few lines in the Rajasthani language. His tone had a warning odour while the expression laid on his face was easygoing. But eyes say it all.

"Bhaaya, Mhari baisa ka bind ghanne unche khandan se hain. Waki lugai ko, koi ger mard hath language waane pasand na. Chamdi ukhedego voh thaari."

(brother, my sister's husband is not fond of other men touching his wife. He will peel your skin for touching his wife. )

To say Tanirika was shocked would be an understatement. Her mouth was wide open and her her eyes widened like saucers as she stared at meglos who conversed with the man in Marwari. His accent was clean as the river ganga. Meglos pushed her jaw up, making her close her mouth.

"Abb main iska thera bhaisa, Maane na bolega kuch. Choti laadesar hain yeh mhari. "

(I am her brother, her husband won't say anything to me. After all, this woman is my little sister.)

He smiled snatching the bangdi from the salesman's hand and helping Tanirika to wear it. Tanirika stared at meglos with a hint of mischief as he slid the bangles into her hands. He threw a glare at her making her giggle in delight.

"Mhare bind ne ghani bhawengi je bangdi, haina bhaisa"

(My husband would love these bangles, right brother )

She whispered shaking her wrists a little looking intently at meglos, the playful glow never leaving her face.  The salesman nodded as the bangled twinkled colliding with each other on her wrists.

Meglos shrugged in annoyance flicking her forehead playfully. She slapped his bicep in return earning a chuckle in return from him. The salesman just stood at his spot looking at the two weirdly.

"There's another shop in the adjacent row, they are selling glass artic rafts I want to have a look " 

Meglos glanced at her and then nodded whispering to stay close in her ear. Tanirika smiled moving out of the jewellery shop to the other shop she desired to have a look at. One of her maids joined her as soon as she exited the jewellery shop.

"Show me the best anklets you got in your store. Don't care about the price " He ordered once he was left alone with the salesman. The man nodded moving inside the small red shop to hunt for the desired anklets one of his weird customers wanted.

Tanirika examined the exotic metal craft in one of the shows which caught her attention. The glass shop was long forgotten. The shop owner was talking so highly of the chikan work done on one of the metal crafts which appeared so fascinating to naked eyes. She had seen many metal crafts and antiques in her life but this bead metal craft in the shape of a caged bird narrated a different story.

The caged bird's wings had chikan work on it instead of common bird wings texture. The gems crafted on its body were exquisite for a common man to hold. The bird appeared glorified in its own artistry.  She reminded herself that right now she was in disguise otherwise she would have praised the person who designed it with royal honour.

"You seem to be very fascinated by this metal craft, my lady"  The seller hinted scrutinizing her cautiously. Tanirika was so busy assessing the wings of the bird that she nodded in approval without sparing the man a glance.

"The person who designed this appears to be blessed by Lord Vishwakarma himself. " She added caressing the object in her hands.

"He is. Would you like to meet him?"

the man suggested. Her eyes snapped at him as she heard him talking about something she wanted it. Maybe she could show her gratitude and praise the person who designed it. If she couldn't reward them.

"I will love too" She smiled placing the object in her maid's hands and gesturing her to follow her.

"He is an old man, I am sure you have heard of him, a  very famous man to be not heard of. His tales of artistry in the cruellest ways deposited with ethics and principles are famous in the whole hind"  The man sang as he directed Tanirika and the other lady inside his little hollow dark shop.

A commotion started just outside the shop as she entered the dark hollow corridor. She turned around to look at the commotion but the man stopped her.

"It's a daily happening here, my lady. The vendors love to fight among themselves. "
Tanirika nodded her mind racing around as the dark hallways and the frivolous expression on the man's face gave her anonymous vibes. 

The commotion outside hit too loud. Various sounds crashed with each other cancelling and fighting among each other to prove their frequency.  Meglos kept the anklet aside as the voices hit his earbuds. He walked out of the shop, his steps halted at the centre of the market as he scanned his surrounding to spot Tanirika. When he couldn't spot her in the crowd, he grew restless. This was not a good sign.

Few of the soldiers in facade came to him as the dilemma became worse. The commotion was now over and the market looked like a dead place.

"Search for her " He ordered as he walked towards the glass shop.

"Master meglos, her majesty was looking at some metal crafts from that shop when we saw her last time. Kirtha is with her " one of the soldiers answered.

Without wasting a single minute, he walked towards the shop pointed by the soldier. The shop appeared to be deserted with the objects lying idly in the thin air.  The unprotected shop gave him an alarming feeling. Something wasn't right.

Pushing the curtains away, he strolled rapidly towards the dark hollow corridor searching for Tanirika. He can't lose her,  she was his responsibility. What will he answer his friend?

That she lost the princess.

"decizie stupidă"

(Stupid decision)

He muttered grabbing his dragger. The corridor was vast and secluded maybe dead people lived there. Why would she walk inside? He grunted in tension pressing the edge of the dagger on one of his fingers. After walking few distances he thought he reached the end but was met with a wave of smoke emerging from the other hallway. The smoke grew larger with each passing second. Before he could take a few steps back or cover his mouth the smoke was already messing with his respiratory system.

The cough raised inside his throat while his eyes turned red. At that moment he knew he was trapped.

Zravasaya when he comes to know that meglos got Tanirika in trouble :

Hello HULKIESSSSSSSS, This is aditi and I welcome you to my little world of royalty.

I hope you liked this chapter. I don't know Marwari but I tried to write it ok. The text in the bracket is the translation of the foreign language text.

One second I want to add this.

Lekha when she comes to know meglos got Tanirika into trouble:

I am so funny lmao 😭😭😭.

Anyways, if you still haven't checked out Baisa. A book specially dedicated to lekha and meglos then please check it out. It's on my profile.

and if you want to follow me on Instagram then my id is- @thegrlulook_for same as here.

Tell me your names?

So what do you think? What actually happened in this chapter?

Zravasaya

Loki

Jugnu

Lekha

Tanirika

Etc

Etc

Lmao

Love Aditi ❤

Bye