'Throw me to the wolves and I'll come back leading the packs.'

All the smiles that were seen on his face evaporated the moment he left her chamber. Aditha seemed pensive about something. This bothered his commander, Veera. He walked behind him without asking any questions. He was aware of his master's situation. The palace might seem like a normal place, but it wasn't in reality. Many eyes were watching his master's movements. That's why his master restrained from entering his anthapuram. However, it felt strange when his master entered today and his fourth wife was in a peril at the same time. 

Was this someone's evil plot against master? If they wanted to attack the master, why did they cause an harm to fourth princess?..

He asked the same questions to his master when they reached his chamber. His chamber was located in the east wing of the palace. Since he was a crown prince with wives, he had moved to this palace after wedding. His father, the current reigning king of Zilam, lived in the main palace.

Adi lifted his head and looked at Veera. Veera noticed the grim expression on his face.

Veera: Idhu yaaroda velai ilavarase??? Ungaloda aranmanaikulla vandhu Ilaya ilavarasi eh apdi panna yaaruku dhairyam irukkum???? Oru velai idhu ilaya ilavarasi oda velai ah ve irukkumo... Avanga unga mela irukka veruppule thannai thaane konnuka paathiruppangalo????

Adi: Ava seiyale idhe. Avaluku en mela veruppu irukradhu unmai. Ana avale konnu avaluku enna kedaikka podhu??? Adhu mattum illama....

He stopped midsentence. As Veera wasn't inside the room, he didn't know what happened. But, how Adi could have missed it??? He saw Sangamithra dying and coming back to life. He didn't realise then but he was so sure at this point that she died and came back to life. This was the part that troubled him.

After thinking for a long while, he wanted to concentrate on the issue that was on his hands. Someone tried to kill his princess in his palace. Fortunately, he was able to stop before anything had happened.

He was initially about to visit the city in disguise. When he was crossing his anthapuram, he saw someone climbing the wall in guard's uniform and heading towards fourth princess chamber. With a doubt in mind, he followed from behind and assaulted the guard when he didn't notice. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that the guard wasn't from his palace. He searched his belongings to see for any emblems or notes to find the perpetrator.

Someone has clearly plotted against this fourth princess. When he visited her chamber, he noticed that the girl was lying on her bed with nothing on her. He covered her quickly and tried to wake her up. She didn't open her eyes but kept moaning.

Sangamithra: valikiradhu.... Valikiradhu....

He noticed that her room was extremely smoky. He quickly covered his nose and extinguished the lamps and scented candles. She still didn't show any improvements.

Aditha: naan poi marithuvare kutitu varen... Epdi Inga oru paniyal um illa????

Sangamithra: Veandom... Naan pogiren... Indha naragam Veandom...

That was her last statement and she breathed her last. Adi wasn't able to understand the things that happened. Before he realised, he noticed the girl moving again. Mithra came back to life.

He was grateful to God. He had promised the dying man to give a proper house to his daughter. His father, the King, had given his word for the promise. All his goodwill would have got evaporated if she had died in his palace.

There was still something amiss. The girl acted differently from her original self. Had she forgotten everything??? The previous Sangamithra hated him to guts, after all he had killed her father.

But this Sangamithra sat next to him and didn't say anything when he hugged her.

He shook his head and Veera was quite puzzled with his antics.

Ilavarasar ku ennamo aayiruchi...

Adi: Adutha sila naaluku ilaya ilavarasi suthi enna nadakkudhu nu enaku paathu sollu Veera. Enaku ennamo Ava uyiruku aabathu irukku nu thonudhu.

Veera: Apadiye ilavarase....

-------

Next morning...

Sevili: Devi..... Devi..... Devi.....

Sangamithra: Enna Anni???

Sevili: Devi????

Sangamithra woke up and looked around. She was still in her chamber.

Sangamithra: Unaku en mela konjam kooda paavame illa le????

Angayum naan kalyanam pannale.... Ingayum saaga pora aaluku 4vadhu pondati...

She was scolding the creator by looking up at the ceiling.

Sevili: Devi.... Mela enna paathu pesuringa????

Sangamithra: Kaalai vanakkam... Suryanuku....

Sevili: oh aagatum Devi.... Surya Deva Potri Potri....

Sangamithra: indha ponnu enna ellathaiyum nambudhu.... Poor girl....

Sangamithra: Sari edhuku ennai ivlo kaalai le ezhuppure????

Sevili: Devi vidindhadhu...

Sangamithra: irutta dhaane irukku....

Sevili: Surya Devar Kizhakil udhithu vittar...

Sangamithra: Innum mela varale le??? Konja neram thoonguren...

Sevili: Devi naama Periya Raniyar munnadi poganum. Marandhutingala???

Sangamithra: Yaaru Adi Amma va???

Sevili: Adi ah????

Sangamithra: Ama enga veetukaru...

Sevili: Ilavarasare per solla koodadhu Devi....

Sangamithra: yean??? Per kupda dhaane vechirukkanga....

She was enjoying Sevili's antics and panicked expressions.

Sevili: Devi....

Sangamithra: Sari sollu... Yaaru andha periya Raniyar???

Sevili: Ponnarasi Deviyar. Ilavarasarin mudhal manaivi.

Sangamithra: Appo avangalum Ilavarasi dhaane??? Yean Raniyar???

Sevili: Ellarkum avanga Ilavarasi dhaan... Nammakku mattum Rani...

Neenga Inga vandha mudhal naale sonnangale...

Inga irukra naanga moonu perum unaku Raniyar... Nee engaloda Pani pen nu...

Sangamithra: Apdi nu yaar sonnadhu periya ilavarasi ah???

Sevili: Illa... Irandam Ilavarasi, Poovarasi Deviyar dhaan sonnanga...

Ana avanga edhuvum periya ilavarasi oda anumadhi illama solla mattanga. Adhanale idhu melidathin utharavu.

Naama seiyanum.

Dhinamum kaalai le neenga poi moonu Raniyaraiyum paathu vanakkam sollitu varanum...

Adhanale neenga ippo kelambanum..

Sangamithra was pensive for a moment. Then got up from the bed. The original host of this body went through so much in this palace. She would avenge the poor girl's death. She could feel the animosity she would have felt in this unknown country. She realised that she was much weaker in health. This might also be because of these princesses.

She never knew there was a custom to visit the elder princess of the house in ancient times.

She didn't want to pick a fight on the very first day of our life in this castle. She already knew that Sendhamarai might have a bone to pick with her today with whatever happened on the previous day. Her mood became light when she remembered her angered face.

She quickly washed herself and dressed up.

Sevili was quite baffled with her mistress's choice of clothing.

Sevili: Devi, neenga eppavum adhigama gavanathe izhukadha vannathule dhaan pudavai kattuvinga...

Ana ippo indha sivappu???

Sangamithra: Naan theriyama irukradhu naale dhaane theriyama pogattum nu nenaikranga... Ini apdi aaga koodadhu le???

Sevili: Devi nijamave ungale kolla muyarchi panniruppanga nu soldringala???

Sangamithra: Ama Sevili... Illana unnai yean maruthuvar kitte anuppanum???

Sevili understood very lately and she was petrified when she understood what would have happened if her mistress wasn't vigilant the previous day.

The poor girl didn't know that her original mistress died the previous day and she was serving the future empress of this nation.

When they left the chamber, everyone was astounded to see her in bright red saree with beautiful ornaments. She had hair tied in a uptight bun garnered with flowers.

The original host always kept her makeup simple, dressed in light colors and never wore any ornaments. People had almost forgotten her existence in this palace.

They all remembered her entering these gates three months ago. Other than that, they never had a chance to meet her. Even her morning meetings to the other princesses were remained subtle. Hence, the tortures she went through in this anthapuram remained a silent secret known only to the princesses and their maids.

When Mithra entered Ponnarasi's chambers, she noticed the difference.

She was given a chamber with two rooms for her and her maid. Even for the bathroom, there was a narrow lane to cross. Her chamber was at the last corner of the palace like some hidden place while Ponnarasi's boasted wealth in all directions. She had a welcoming hall with several maids working around. The chamber seemed to have more rooms and many exquisite luxuries.

A maid announced her arrival to the first princess. There wasn't a response from inside. Mithra waited patiently. There was still no response and Ponnarasi didn't show up.

Sangamithra: Sari vaa Namma kelambuvom...

Sevili who was standing behind her started getting anxious.

Sevili: Devi.... Hmhum...

She shook her head to deny her idea.

Ponnarasi arrived at that scene to witness Mithra who was about to leave.

Ponnarasi: Ilaya ilavarasi, enna avasaram???

Sendhamarai: Innum kalaippu pogale pola...

Poovarasi: Periya Raniyar vara varaikum kaathirukka mudiyadha???

Mariyadhaiyaga mannippu kel...

Sangamithra: Thappu pannama mannippu keka koodadhu akka.

Poovarasi: Yaaradi unaku akka???

Sangamithra: Oh apdiya sari... Poovarasi Devi... Thappu pannama mannippu keka mudiyadhu...

Naan oru naazhigai*1 munnadiye vandhuten... Neenga dhaan kelambi Vara neram aachi.

Niyaya padi neenga ellarum dhaan en kitte mannippu kekanum...

*Author's note: Hello folks, thank you for patiently reading. Please vote and comment if you like the update. I'll try to post one more update tonight.

1. Naazhigai - 24 minutes

Thank you all.❤️❤️❤️