Hello! 

New update for you all! I wanted to let you know that I will be updating another chapter to add to this short one tomorrow as well!

Enjoy! And as always, don't forget to let me know what you think!

-luckycharms <3

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As seemed to happen quite often, Seetha was awoken by me getting ready to head out. We had slept late last night, mostly because I forced her to come down to get some food to eat since she had not eaten that evening. Because of that, she did not get much rest and I really tried to get dressed quietly. Of course, she always seemed to wake up when she knew I was leaving.

When she sat up, I felt my heart stop for a moment before I sighed. I had nearly forgotten what had happened yesterday... I was always in a strange state when I woke up in the mornings. 

She rubbed her eyes, but when she did she winced before looking up at me, noticing my stare. "What?"

The bruise on her cheek had darkened and had spread around her eye as well. She had a black eye, showing how hard my idiot brother had hit her. I felt a rush of satisfaction knowing that he would never do such a thing to anyone ever again.

I let out a breath before grabbing a hand mirror and walking over to her. I sat next to her on the bed and handed her the mirror.

When she held the mirror to her face, her eyes widened. "Oh..."

I tried not to get angry... I assumed I had done enough of that yesterday, especially seeing as I was told by a maid who dropped off my silks this morning that Aarun was still writhing in pain in his chambers. "You should stay back and rest–"

"It's just a bruise," she responded quickly.

I reached out and put a hand on her stomach. "I am not just worried about the bruise," I said. "Yesterday was a traumatic day and I want you to be able to relax and keep your mind clear.

She set down the mirror and sighed.

"Seetha..." I started. I thought of my words carefully... trying to make sure that I actually meant them before I said it. "Maybe you should go back to your family."

She looked at me with surprise. "I can't!" She said, a little too quickly. At first I was surprised to think that maybe she did not want to go home, but then I realized what she meant. "I can't let my family see me like this," she gestured at her face. "They'd be horrified!"

I hesitated.

"I can't let them find out..." She sighed.

I frowned, as I realized she assumed her family would never find out. "Seetha... your family is going to hear of this." 

She looked surprised.

I wished they would never hear of it as well. I felt like the fact that Seetha got hurt was proving that I was unable to keep the promise I had made to her father.

It felt disgraceful.

"Rumours spread from Aathikara like wildfire," I explained. "It's hard to keep secrets here, so I'm sure they'll be hearing about it very soon."

She let out a frustrated breath as she put a hand on her face.

I watched her for a moment before I spoke again. "I think you should consider writing to them. Telling them what happened. They should hear it from you," I said. "And then you should go to them. I think it would make them happy to see you okay... and it would be good for you as well."

She looked at me.

"I will have to leave again soon and I'd rather you not be here alone right now."

After a moment of contemplation, she put her hand on her stomach. "There's only a little more time left... are you sure people will be okay with me being home when I'm reaching the end of the pregnancy?"

Of course not. I thought.

Of course no one would be okay with it, but I was more concerned with her health and mind. After everything that happened, the quiet of her village home may be what she needed.

"It's fine," I said. "Don't worry about what the others will think."

She let out a sigh. "Can I at least wait until the bruising heals a little?" She asked, looking at her face in the mirror again.

"That's fair," I said before leaning forward and kissing her head. "I will send Lady Suhanya–"

"No," she said, quickly.

I looked at her, surprised.

"I just... can I just be alone for a little while?" She clarified.

I hesitated, but I nodded. "Alright."

---

"Absolutely not!" My mother shouted.

"I was not asking, mother," I said, "I've made the decision–"

"She cannot expect to cause so much trouble here and then run off to the slimy place where she learned all those horrid manners–'

"What on earth are you talking about?" I asked. "Seetha did nothing to provoke–"

"She caused all of this!" My mother screamed. My mother was still infuriated and she looked a mess. Her hair was a mess, she wore no makeup, no jewelry, and her sari was put on sloppily. Her eyes were swollen too, as if she spent the whole night crying. It almost seemed as if someone had died... like I had killed her son.

I rolled my eyes, leaning back in my seat.

The whole family was here, except for Aarun, of course. We were sitting in my father's office while my mother stood and screamed her complaints. While my mother continued to shout, my father sat at the head of the table with a straight face. Anbu looked unbelievably nervous in his seat and Aayu was shaking his leg, looking impatient as he stared at his hands. Akshay, as usual, looked like he did not want to be here.

"We are warriors!" She screamed. "And you have crippled him! What will he do with his life? How is he going to live? Who will marry him now that he only has one hand?"

"Actually, I think I've done quite a bit of women a favour."

Aayu let out a humorless chuckle, though he still did not look at me.

"Do you think this is funny?" My mother shouted at Aayu before looking back at me. "This woman has been nothing but a nuisance since she arrived here–"

"Mother, you know that this conversation never goes anywhere," I said. "Why do you continue to bring this up? Why do you keep stressing everyone out–"

"Get rid of her!" My mother let out a loud breath, the hair in her face flying forward as she did it.

I blinked.

I was not offended by her words, in fact, I did not take it seriously at all. Her constant rambling had gotten so consistent that it suddenly started to mean nothing. So instead of entertaining her, I turned to my father. "As I was saying," I continued. "I am sending Seetha back home for the time being. I understand that I have to leave again in a little while towards the West to deal with Lord Sairan, so I can drop her off at her family home before I continue onwards–"

"She is only months away from giving birth," my father said.

"That's exactly why I am concerned," I said. "She's got bruises all over her face and neck and she's miserable. That's not the state I want my wife to be in right before she gives birth to my child."

"And what if she gives birth there?" My mother barked. "What if she gives birth to a prince in a tiny, filthy peasant home?"

I kept my eyes on my father. "When I am returning from meeting Lord Sairan in the West, I will bring her back with me. She won't be there for long, but the time she has with her family will be good for her."

My father was still frowning as he considered it. After a moment of thinking he looked at me. "Suhanya will go with her."

I raised a brow as my mother gawked at him, groaning and throwing her hands up in the air in frustration. "That's unnecessary," I said, not sure how much Lady Suhanya would appreciate having to leave the palace and go on such a long journey.

"She will go with her," my father repeated. "She is a talented midwife, I'd feel more comfortable having her near the mother of a future heir–"

"Seetha's family can handle–"

"Aaryaraavanan," my father called, sternly. 

I flinched, a little surprised by the harsh way he said my name. I knew at that moment that he was still angry. And I knew now that my actions had angered him more than I initially anticipated. 

"You made quite the effort to remind me yesterday that you are not the King in order to justify your actions," he continued. "So let me remind you of that right now."

I narrowed my eyes.

"The only reason I am even agreeing to let her go is simply because I feel pity for the girl," he continued. "So be happy that I have at the very least said yes. Now, that being said, if she is to return to her family, then it is only under the condition that Suhanya goes with her."

I kept my eyes on my father for a moment before I stood up. "Understood," I said before bowing my head and leaving the room.

As I left, I found myself frowning.