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Abhinandan POV

My head was bursting with the pain. And when I tried to open my eyes, I could not see anything. It was all blurry.

Inhaling a sharp breath, I pressed both of my hands on my head and noticed the bright sunlight falling into my eyes through the window's holes.

"Is anybody here?" I asked, wondering why did I sleep for so long.

But no one answered my question, so I tried to sit up.

My whole body ached with the joint pain, and I clenched my jaw.

"Trisha," I called out loud.

I tried to stand up from the bed but sat back. I could not see anything. Closing my eyes, I focused on my breaths for a while.

Something seemed off. It was way too calm here.

"Is anybody here?" I asked again, raising my voice, and suddenly, an attendee came running.

"Ji, Maharaj," she asked, and I tightened my jaw and fisted my hands.

"Prepare for my bath," I ordered and stood up from the bed again.

But, instead of walking inside, she ran away.

And within a few moments, I noticed physicians walking in.

My brows knit with confusion.

"How are you feeling? Maharaj," he asked, and I asked.

"Why? what happened to me?" I asked, and he stood silent. In a few more moments, Ashwin came running.

"Maharaj," he said and ran to me, holding my shoulder.

"What happened?" the lines on his forehead tensed me immediately, and he shook his head slowly.

"What happened?" I asked, raising my voice, and he lowered his gaze.

"Someone attacked Maharani past midnight a day ago," the moment those words escaped his mouth, my eyes widened, my dizziness died, and my hand went to his collar.

"What do you mean?" I asked, muttering under my breath, and he lowered his gaze.

"I am sorry. She asked me to attend the riots that day, and I was out with more than half of our soldiers. And when I came back, she was bloodied, and there was a dead body in her chamber," he finished, and I immediately pushed him away and walked toward Trisha's chamber.

Ashwin followed me.

"Why did no one wake me up?" I asked, and he replied.

"Attendees tried, but someone had spiked your medicine, and you were unconscious for more than a day," his words made me halt in my steps, and I looked at him with disbelief.

"Someone spiked my medicine to make me fall asleep?" I asked, wondering why someone would do that when he had the chance to feed me with the poison.

"Yes," he answered, and I knit my brows with confusion.

"Why? Who attacked us?" I asked, and he shook his head.

"It was just one man who sneaked into the Kingdom and killed the soldiers around Maharani's chamber, but before anyone could know about it, he was killed," he answered, and I clenched my jaw.

"Killed?" I question, resuming my speedy walk.

"Yes, Maharani killed him, but she did not tell who he was," he answered.

"What? Why?" I questioned, stepping into her chamber, and Ashwin stayed back.

As I walked in, I noticed a group of attendees working inside her bed-chamber, cleaning it, and she was feeding the babies.

"Ekaant!"

"Privacy!" I called out and looked at her, not even lifting her gaze to me.

Everyone walked out, and I tried to control my anger when approaching her.

"Who was he?" I asked, and she gently caressed the baby's head and put him to sleep before adjusting her blouse and dupatta.

"I do not know," she lifted her gaze and put her feet down.

And, the moment my sight fell on her neck, my heart beat racing, and my hand went to her cheek.

"Who did this to you?" I immediately asked. My anger and frustration bubbled up, and she lowered her gaze.

"Whoever did this is dead now," she said, and I looked around her chamber. It seemed like it was recently deep-cleaned.

"What do you mean?" I asked, lifting her cheek. There were minor cuts on the side of her neck, marks of giant fingers, and a little on her cheek.

My eyes reddened with anger; I immediately stepped closer and made her look into my eyes.

"I do not know who he was. He tried to touch me... force me, so I killed him," she replied, and I immediately pulled her closer.

"What do you mean you do not know? You know who he was, Trisha. Tell me what the hell are you hiding from me," I asked, and she looked into my eyes with her red ones while shaking her head slowly.

"I cannot tell you," she replied, and my hand immediately cupped her neck firmly.

"Trisha, I am not joking. I am not in the mood to play. Just tell me the name, and if you do not, I swear I will burn every fucking man alive on this earth," my voice came out slow and angry. My fingers were itching to kill.

"I do not know, Abhi. But who tried to touch me is killed now," she said, and I gritted my teeth, stepping even closer. She pressed against the bed and lowered her gaze.

I immediately made her look up. A lone tear rolled down her cheek.

"Trisha," I breathed, "I know you are protecting someone. Do not," I shook my head, "Do not do this to me. Just tell me who touched you, who dared to reach to your neck, and who the hell dared to do this to you," I asked, and she looked into my eyes with a breaking voice.

"I am still as pure as I was, Abhi. He tried to touch me, but I killed him," she said, and I could not stop cupping her neck and pulling her closer to look into her eyes.

"No man can dare to step into a Queen's chamber without an army. This is not a political move but a personal agenda. I know you are hiding a name. Just tell me who tried to send that man here. Or who is that man? From where did he come?" I asked, and she shook her head.

"I do not know,"

"Is it Rudra?" I immediately asked and closed my eyes, shaking my head.

"He would not do this," I took a step back.

"Abhi, let it go," she said, and I immediately looked into her eyes.

"Who is more important to you than me? Trisha. Whom are you protecting?" I asked, and she closed her eyes, shaking her head.

"No one," she said, and I immediately held her hand and placed it on my head.

"Khahiye hamari kasam. Hum maan hi nahi sakte ki koi vyakti aapke kaksh me aa jae, use aap jaan se maar de, parantu ye janne ki koshish naa kare ki use kisne bheja, vo kon thaaa or use mehal ke gupt maargo ke baare me kese pata tha,"

"Swear by me. I simply cannot believe that someone could enter your chamber and you would kill him without even trying to find out who sent him, who he was, and how he knew about the secret passages of the palace," I said, and she stared silently into my eyes.

"Kasam nahi kha sakte hum,"

"I cannot swear by you," she said, and I immediately pushed her hands away.

My anger boiled, and I immediately twisted her hand behind her and cupped her cheek to make her look into my eyes.

She inhaled deeply and groaned with pain.

"Just the name," I muttered, and she shook her head.

"One name, Trisha. My love, I swear, I will kill you. Just tell me the name, or many will get killed," I tried to make her understand, but she shook her head.

"Not yet. I will tell you at the right time," she muttered. I immediately moved my hand behind her nape and fisted her hair in anger to pull her closer.

I could not control myself.

"You do not tell me what the right time is. Your husband demands an answer. Just tell me the fucking name. Who sent him? From where did he come from? Just one name. Just name the fucking Kingdom, Trisha," I breathed in a low voice, and she looked into my eyes.

Seeing her tears, I closed my eyes and immediately pulled my hands from her neck and hand. My heart was beating so wild with anger that I could kill anyone at this moment.

Someone spiked my drink, made me unconscious, led a man into my wife's chamber, abused her, and she was hiding the name.

Why?

Why??

Taking a step back, I closed my eyes for a moment, and suddenly, she came closer and hugged me tightly.

Her fingers fisted on my back, and I could not help but feel a tear roll down my cheek as I wrapped my arms around her.

"I am sorry," I muttered in a low voice, and she sobbed into cries.

"Kise bacha rahi ho, Trisha. Bata do, kasam se hum pagal ho jaenge. Aapko haath lagane se pehle hum das baar sochte hai, or kiski itni jhurrat ki der raat hamari patni ke kaksh me ghus jae,"

"Whom are you protecting, Trisha? Tell me, I swear I will go mad. I think ten times before even touching you, and who dares to enter my wife's chamber late at night?" I asked and tightened my hold around her.

"Nahi bata sakte. Bata paate to bata dete,"

"I cannot tell you. I told you if I could," she said, and I immediately held her shoulder and pushed her back to make her look at me.

"Why?" I asked, and she shook her head.

"Who is more important to you than me?" I asked, and she shook her head.

"Aapko hamari kasam hai, Abhi, Aap nahi poochenge humse,"

"Swear by me, Abhi, that you will not ask," she said, and I immediately stepped closer.

"What? What did you say?" I asked, and she looked into my eyes.

"Just do not," she muttered, and I immediately pushed her against the bed's pillar and looked into her eyes.

"Say that again," I challenged her. My blood boiled with anger, and she stared into my eyes.

"Swear by me that you will not ask again until I tell you by myself," she repeated. I immediately cupped her cheek and gritted my teeth, looking into her eyes.

"Aapne khud ko samajh kya rakha hai? Hn,"

"What have you thought of yourself? Hn," I asked, and she lowered her gaze.

"Patni hai hum aapki, Hak hai hume,"

"I am your wife; I have the right," she muttered, and I immediately lifted her face up.

"Kis cheej ka? Baat chupane ka?"

"Of what? Hiding things?" I asked, and she gulped, looking into my eyes and shaking her eyes.

"Koi hak nahi hai aapko. Ye adhikar naa humne kabhi diya na kabhi denge. Or ek kasam hum bhi khate hai, jab tak aap bataengi nahi, aap hamari patni nahi,"

"You have no right. I have never given you this right, nor will I ever. And I swear this as well—until you tell me the truth, you are no longer my wife," I said, and she stared blankly into my eyes, letting a few more tears roll down my cheeks.

"Abhi?" she muttered, and I punched into the metallic pillar of the bed.

"I will find him and kill on my own," I said before walking out of there.

I went insane. I could not think of anything else and could not control myself from throwing things away from the table after entering the chamber.

I screamed, letting out the pain of my heart—the cuts she had on her neck. She could have gotten killed.

And how could she hide this from me?

How the hell could she?

Who was more important to her than me?

I immediately clapped twice, and an attendee came.

"Bring the physician who gave me the medicine," I ordered, and the attendee left. My hand went to my sword as I tried to calm myself down.

Ashwin walked in, and I immediately looked at him.

"Prepare for the war," I ordered, and he stared at me silently.

"I said! Prepare for the war. Are you deaf?" I asked in a raised voice, and he nodded.

"Ji, Maharaj," he replied.

Before he walked away from there, I palmed my face, and in no time, the physician who gave me the medicine that day walked in.

I immediately stood up from the couch. My sword moved by itself towards his neck. He immediately fell to his knees.

"Maharaj. I have not done anything," he cried out, and I pushed my sword against his neck.

"Who told you to spike my medicines?" I asked, and he began crying.

"I swear, Maharaj. I did not. No one. I do not know how it happened. I swear," he cried out. Suddenly, Ashwin's voice caught my attention.

"He is not lying, Maharaj. I have asked everyone. It seems like someone knew our Kingdom very well and did everything by himself," he said, and I immediately pushed the physician away.

He ran away, and I sat down on the couch.

"Only Maharani can tell, Maharaj. No one saw him; no one knew who he was. And, whoever he was knew the Kingdom well," he said, and I clenched my jaw.

"Alright, you can go," I said and pressed my head to calm down the bursting pain.

I hated her.

I hated her so much.

"Maharaj, your bath is ready," the attendee said, and I nodded, signaling her to leave.

Shaking my head to calm myself down a little, I went in to take a quick bath. I changed into a fresh pair of clothes and asked for all the ministers to meet me in the court in a while.

They all gathered in no time.

And as I stepped into the courtroom, they all bent their heads down.

"Where the hell were you that night?" I asked, raising my voice. My eyes glared at the commander in chief, the second in command, the finance minister, the head of staff, the head of guards, and everyone.

A wave of silence ran through the courtroom.

"Someone steps into the Queen's chamber, and no one is there to protect her. What the hell was everyone doing?" I asked, yelling at all of them, and looked into the second in command's eyes.

"Why was there no emergency bell ring?" I asked, glaring into his eyes. He had his eyes low.

"I am sorry, Maharaj. The moment I got to know, everything was done. Nobody knew. The person stepped in through a secret passage, killed the guards around the Queen's chamber, and before anyone could get the news and soldiers run towards the chamber, he was killed," he answered, and I gritted my teeth.

"And nobody knew. A single man came in and tried to crumble my pride, and nobody knew. How can a single man do this?" I asked, and he gulped with fear.

"We tried to search a lot. But no one knew that man. And he was alone. There was no one with him," he replied confidently, and I looked away.

"How can this be possible? The riots happened in the Kingdom. More than half of the soldiers go there to deal with that, and behind everyone's back, a single man walks in and steps into the Queen's chamber, where the King is lying unconscious. This is nothing but a fully planned conspiracy," I roared in anger.

"And tell me who the hell among you is included in all this. This cannot happen without someone who is from this Kingdom," I added, and everyone just stood silent, bending their heads down, doing nothing but increasing my anger.

"Get the hell out of here and find out who is behind all of this. Do not show me your faces until none of you has anything to say about this," I yelled, and all of them had just walked out of there.

Standing there, I could not help but stare silently at the crown.

What was the use of it?

Someone came into the Kingdom, stepped into my wife's chamber, and abused her, giving me the sleeping herbs. And I could not do anything.

"Maharaj," suddenly, an attendee's voice caught my attention.

"Maharani said that the lunch is ready," she said, and my blood immediately boiled.

"Where is she?" I asked in a low voice.

"She is in the Kitchen," she answered, and I immediately walked towards the kitchen.

The moment I stepped into the royal kitchen, I saw her tasting the food herself. She wore beautiful yellow attire, which I had overlooked before.

She turned towards me all of a sudden and gulped silently.

My gaze lowered down to her neck again. The heavy choker necklace hid all the marks and cuts, and I lowered my gaze.

Stepping forward, I held her hand and muttered.

"Chaliye hamare saath,"

"Come with me," I said and looked at an attendee.

"Bring the medicine for the blade cuts from the physician," I ordered her and took her to her chamber.

As we both stepped in, I tried to calm myself down.

And, finding the bed and cradle empty, I asked in a low and calm voice.

"Bache kaha hai?"

"Where are babies?"

She pulled her hand back from mine slowly and replied, stepping down the stairs and walking towards the couch.

"Maasa or Daadisa ke pass hai,"

"They are with Maasa and Daadisa," she replied.

I looked away for a moment and immediately went after her, but I could not stop myself from hugging her tightly.

I could have lost her.

She stood frozen when I wrapped my arms around her from behind. My chin pressed against her shoulder, and I closed my eyes, inhaling her smell.

"I could have lost you," I said, and she placed her hand on my hands.

"But, you did not. I am absolutely fine," she replied, and I shook my head slowly.

"This is not what you think it is, Trisha. You are my everything, and I am a Samrat, the supreme emperor of all the princely states, Kingdoms, and villages. And, a Kingdom does not only try to harm you but ruin my everything. Why don't you understand that? I have to teach that Kingdom a lesson for all of them to understand that never dare to lift their eyes for my wife, my everything," I tried to say, and she just stood silent.

"Trisha, please, please," I muttered, and she slightly turned to look into my eyes.

"Hum jaante hai. Hum sab jaante hai. Bass itna samajh lijiye, hum sab bataenge aapko, bass sahi waqt aane par,"

"I know, I know everything. Just understand that I will tell you everything but at the right time," she said, and I gritted my teeth with anger again.

"This is the right time. I can fucking burn everything for you. I will go insane,"

"Please, Abhi—"

"Do not Abhi me right now," I cut her off.

She lowered her gaze and tried to take a few steps from me. But I immediately pulled her closer and cupped her cheek.

"Please, please," I muttered, begging her, but she did not say anything. Tears escaped her eyes, and I looked away.

Why was she doing this?"

"Maharaj," an attendee's voice caught my attention, and I turned around to see her bringing the paste to a small bowl.

I forwarded my hand to take it from here and signaled her to leave. She closed the door behind her.

"Hum laga lenge apne aap,"

"I will manage myself," she tried to say while forwarding her to take the bowl from my hand.

I immediately pulled it back.

"Chup rahiye aap. Jo pooch rahe hai uske baare me batana nahi hai,"

"You stay shut if you are not telling me what I want to know," I said and held her hand to make her sit on the couch.

She washed her tears, and I sat in front of her, kneeling, putting the bowl on the table.

Lifting her gaze, she looked into my eyes silently.

And I did not know what I felt for her at that moment. I could die for her, I could kill for her, and strangely, I could not win from her.

I loved her more than anything in this world, and at that moment, there was no one I hated the most than her.

Looking away for a moment, I pushed her dupatta down. The loose strand of her hair caressed her cheek, and I gently pushed it behind her ear.

She lowered her gaze.

"Aapko pata hai hum dar gaye ki kahi vo rakshas hamare bacho ko kuch na karde,"

"You know, I was terrified that the demon might harm our children," she spoke in a low voice, and I leaned in closer to take my fingers behind her neck to untie her necklace.

"Naam bata do, Trisha, kasam se aag laga denge jisne bhi himmat kari hai,"

"Just tell me the name, Trisha; I swear I will burn whoever dared to do this," I said, pulling the necklace off her neck.

Just by seeing the depth of the cuts, I felt the rage building in me.

"Hume pata hai, jab aap hamare liye khud se lad sakte hai to kisi se bhi lad sakte hai. Hamara vishwas kijiye sahi waqt aane par hum aapko nahi rokenge,"

"I know, when you can fight yourself for me, you can fight anyone. But, trust me, I will not stop you when the right time comes," she said, and I lowered my gaze.

"Bass itna hi vishwas hai hum par,"

"You just trust me this much only?" I asked, and she pressed her forehead against mine.

"Itna vishwas hai ki uske praan lene se pehle usse bhi das baar samjhaya thaaa ki hume na chuye, varna theek nahi hoga,"

"I trusted so much that before taking his life, I warned him ten times not to touch me, or else it wouldn't end well," she said, and I closed my eyes for a moment.

"Humne samjhaya tha usse ki usse hume choone ka adhikar sirf or sirf hamare pati ko hai. Or vo bhi hume bade prem or soch samajhkar sparsh karte hai,"

"I told him that only my husband has the right to touch me, and even he touches me with great love and thoughtfulness," she muttered, and I opened my eyes to look into her eyes.

"But, he did not listen to me. He tried to touch me, my breasts, and when I tried to fight, he slapped me many times," her voice broke, "I had no option but to kill him. I am a killer. I do not know how many I shoved the blade inside him before beheading his dead body," her lips trembled.

"Babies were right there. I did not want him to harm them," she muttered, and I immediately pulled her closer with a hug.

"I do not know how dark that night was. But I promise you whoever sent him here will regret this decision of him until his last breath," I muttered and kissed her forehead.

She inhaled deeply before pulling back; I could not help but touch the cuts on her neck. I wanted to kiss them, take her pain away. But they were reminders of my loss. Even if I wanted to, I could not kiss them.

Until I pulled the soul out of that person and that Kingdom, I could not feel like kissing her neck.

Looking away, I lowered my gaze to the paste and took a little to apply to her neck. She sat still, and I just felt the anger and hatred increasing in me.

These wounds would heal, but what had happened to my heart would not until I avenged this.

And, I swore by God that I would not touch her until the Kingdom paid its dues.

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