The Army chief entered the Tent after the Prince left. I didn't know, why he wanted to hide that he came. 

The chief guided me to a safe place and soon the ladies who hid in the caves also assured to be saved by the Army. My mind went blank after the war as if it was stuck to the scenes, blood, screams, and the reality I heard today. I was walking, sitting, and heading towards the Palace again but it was all absentmindedly. 

I couldn't forget how many lives I had taken, how much destruction was caused by my hands. Moreover, it was unexpected for me too to accept that I killed that Suryadev But I could agree that I got so angry and nothing could stop me at that time. 

But, The moment My sight fell on Prince. I breathed, I came back to reality. I realized that he was there for me. I couldn't stop myself from hiding in his embrace. His smell, presence, arms soothed me to the core. I relaxed and I was still trying to relax because I wanted to meet him as soon as possible. 

He left for the Palace, Didn't know why, But I wanted to reach there as soon as possible. 

I sat in the carriage in which I came to the temple and then we all with the Winning army heads back towards the Palace. 

While moving to the Palace, I was missing Prince and my heart was aching for Gulaab. I didn't know she was holding so much. I didn't know that she was the one for whom Prince killed my brother. She was the one for whom he was always tensed. she was the one for whom Prince doubted on me and hated me. 

I didn't know a lot of things before but now I knew. I knew that Neither Gulaab was the culprit, neither Prince. The one who was actually the culprit was my brother and that Suryadev and I were relieved that both of them were no more. 

But, I couldn't deny the fact that I still loved my brother and would never be able to forget what he did for me for the whole life. No one could ever take his place in my life but still, He had to die for what he did. 

The time passed and we reached the Palace when the day came to the end. The stars became visible and my sight fell on the palace which beautifully lightened with the uncountable oil lamps and diyas.

I climb the stairs and I was welcomed grandly by The Queen, The king, Gulaab, Prince, and everyone. The sound of hooting, hailing, trumpets, drums was so high that I could hardly listen to what they said. I greeted everyone and when I met Gulaab. I just wanted to ask for forgiveness for my Brother. 

I had processed why she tried hurting herself and why Prince was so possessive when It came to his sister. Somehow, A kind of respect grown in me for the Prince as he was holding so much inside him but still never shown to me. I knew there was something when he used to hate me but I didn't have even the hint that there could so big a conspiracy. 

I hugged Gulaab and said "I am Sorry Gulaab for whatever my brother did to you" 

She was crying and I couldn't stop myself from crying too. She lifted my veil to the forehead and washed my tears. 

"I am Sorry Bhabhi Saheb. I should have trusted you." She replied and I couldn't help but nod. 

We broke the hug and she smiled. The Last Person I had to meet my eyes was the Prince. I felt shivering inside my stomach as I was moving towards him. I didn't know why I was feeling trembled while meeting my gaze with him. I bent to touch his feet too but he stopped me midways and placed his lips on the back of my hand. I inhaled a deep breath and lowered my gaze as the blush was clearly visible on my cheek. I didn't know why I was feeling so warm in my cheeks just by looking at him in plain kurta and Loincloth. 

After that, I was welcomed beautifully and Maa Saheb asked me to take a rest. I moved towards my chamber after saying thank you and Goodbye to the crowd who were still hailing my name loudly. In my whole life, I never experienced such appraisal and with every hail of my name 'Abhishree', I was feeling powered and a kind of currents was passing through my body. 

I was feeling tired and there was a pain in my body. I had wounds and cuts in a few places but the worst was my feet. I stepped on someone's sword and got the cut in the battleground. 

I moved towards the inside as the Crowd allowed me to walk inside the Palace. I placed the foot on the rocky path and I lost my balance in little. Suddenly, the prince came closer and Picked me up in his arms. My hand locked behind his shoulder and I lost in his embrace. 

He brought me to my chamber and I asked softly when he stepped inside, to put me down. Only, I knew how hard I was trying to not blush, as his presence was holding something magical. I never felt such beauty in front of anyone. 

I didn't know what to say or what not because I got to know a lot of things that he never told. I wanted to ask but didn't know how to take the initiative but moreover, I wanted him to be with me. I wanted him to spend that particular night with me. I wanted to rest and soothe my wounded body in his arms. I needed him as much as I needed the air now. 

I realised suddenly that I needed a bath as I was looking more like the dirt and then my focus diverted towards the bathroom. I started walking away from him but his voice caught my attention asking where was I going. I answered him but suddenly he hugged me from behind and I could feel his hot breath on my shoulder. I felt the warmness of his strong body and I melted more when he asked me to join him in the bathroom. 

I couldn't deny and let him come after me. 

I didn't know what was happening to me. My mind and heart were not working in the same rhythm and I parted the curtains of the bathroom. I was in fewer clothes or precisely in just my blouse and Lehnga. The smell of bathing oils, milk, flowers especially the roses hit my nose and the roses reminded me of Prince. 

I felt his presence as he entered the bathroom. I turned softly and looked at him. The surrounding was still a little dark as the few oil lamps weren't helping much. But the yellow light was enough to see the love and pride he was having in his eyes for me. He had definitely melted me and won my heart. 

I walked closer to him and touched his chest. His heart was beating fastly as mine and then I collected all the courage to lock my hands around his neck. I stood on my toes to hug him and soon his hands supported me by snaking them around me. 

The pain, wounds, hurt, and the memories of war went in vain for the moment when his arms were around me sending the warmest and safest feeling ever. 

I wanted to say what I was feeling and I lifted my head to reach his ears and said softly. 

"I would have died if you didn't come in my life" (Ab tak to hum mar chuke hote agar aap hamari jindgi me nahi aate) I inhaled a breath and then continued.

"There couldn't be any Abhishree if there wasn't you" (Aap nahi hote to shayad koi Abhishree bhi nahi hoti) 

His hold around me tightened and he picked me up. My bones hurt when his strong arms were holding me tightly.

"Ohh, Abhi. Even Rajvardhan couldn't be there if Abhi wasn't born." He said and I laughed a little. A tear of happiness scroll through my eyes and he continued after putting me down. 

He touched my right cheek softly and I looked into his eyes. His eyebrows were thinned and had the water in the corner of them when he said in the hoarse voice slowly. 

"I could have died, if anything had happened to you" 

I couldn't stop myself from kissing his palm that was touching my cheeks and I smiled. 

"But, nothing happened. I killed him" 

He pulled me closer softly and kissed my forehead. 

"You are truly a warrior Abhi, But I wonder you could kill me too and you tried also. But, Never killed me?" He asked me jokingly.

I took a step back and didn't know what exactly to answer because I could have killed him was true. But, the thing that stopped me was something, that might be the attachment but I answered that was factful.

"I don't kill unarmed. You never tried to kill me either" I said softly and turned to get into the water. 

We both went silent after that and I concentrated on the purpose for which I was standing in the bathroom. 

I stepped inside the pool and my feet felt the slightly warm water. I looked behind and blushed as the Prince pulled his Kurta out. My sight fell on his strong build body and then on the cut he had on the Chest. It was fresh but the blood thickened to stop the flow. I stood frozen when he came closer and stepped inside too. 

I was just looking at how boldly he removed the kurta, stepped in, and sat against the knee-length wall of the pool spreading his arms like the King. His eyes were darted over and mine was on him. I couldn't process how bold he was to do that. We never shared such close moments and he was smirking looking at me. 

Suddenly, he held my hand softly and looking into my eyes with that evil smirk pulled me down in a jerk. 

I lost the balance and fell over him almost and the splash of water made me and him almost wet. I terrified a little but then a smile formed over my lips. My clothes and hair soaked the water and my body felt comfortable with the water temperature and then the prince. 

I made myself comfortable in his embrace and sat between his legs keeping my back against his strong chest. I felt my wet hairs a little irritating so pulled them in front. I let the warm water, fragrances, and Prince's embrace soothed my nerves. The feeling was beautiful and comfortable. I was feeling light inside the water. Prince pulled his left leg closer as he kept his knee-high. I could slightly see his knee under the thin white fabric that peeked out of the water now. 

I diverted my gaze from there and closed my eyes as my breathing calmed and I relaxed. 

Suddenly Prince held my hand softly in the water and a smile formed over my lips. He brought our hands out of the water and I opened my eyes to look at what was he doing. My sight fell on our entangled fingers or precisely he was feathering my hand, fingers with his, beautifully. He pulled the rings out of my fingers and then kept them away. He softly rubbed my hand inside the water. 

The moment was so calm, warm, peaceful, and soothing. I let the Prince touch my hands as he rubbed off the dirt while saying.

"Abhi," 

"Hnn," I asked.

"Abhi, Did suryadev say anything before you killed him." 

I alerted a little and then looked above to look in his eyes bending my head on one side. 

"Yeah," I said softly and in a slow voice and continued. "He gave answers to my most hurting questions".

I turned a little and placed my face on his shoulder. He was softly rubbing my cheeks, lips, neck, and forehead. 

"I didn't know that my brother was playing with me and Gulaab," I said with a heavy heart and he nodded while replying. 

"You didn't know a lot of things Abhi"

"Yeah, But I never thought that my brother could be such heartless and disrespectful towards girls and especially to his sister and... Lover" I said and the tear rolled through my eyes. 

I couldn't hold it, neither I wanted to. I wanted to overcome all that on that night itself to start the next day with the new beginning and the new light. 

I never believed in holding on to the hurt, pain, anger, and precisely any emotion because I saw my brother who became a living corpse when My father and mother died. But, eventually, he had to learn that life was all about moving on and he also, always taught me to go further, not to hold things. 

His deeds were enough to make me hate him but I couldn't. He got what he deserved, A brutal death but I would never be able to forget his teachings and the moments we spent together. 

"Abhi, I am sorry. I didn't know life would take such a turn and then we got married and then this feeling but I can't see you crying or feeling pain. I know I shou-"

"You didn't do anything wrong" I cut him off and faced him after sitting properly. 

His face turned as a question mark with a thinned eyebrow and I continued. 

"My Brother deserved the punishment. I could have done the same" I said the last words a little painfully. I never thought of hurting my brother and killing was something not even in-universe for me. 

I suddenly processed that he knew everything but didn't tell me anything. Not even about Gulaab and Bhai Saheb. 

"You knew everything, Right?" I asked a little angrily. 

He nodded and I didn't know what came to my mind that my right hand that was resting on his chest jerked his left cheek with a light slap.

"And you didn't even tell me" 

His face turned angry all of sudden and his hand pulled me closer by grabbing my neck a little harshly with a roaring sound. 

"AAAAeeeeee!" 

My heartbeat raced and I felt our lips were very close. I realised that I shouldn't have slapped him, never in my worst dream. 

Oh, What the hell I just did.

His eyes were darted over my lips as he realized that he scared me, his hold on my neck softened and he touched my lower lip while saying. 

"Do it again and I will eat you raw" (Dobara karke dekhiyega, Aapko kacha kha jaenge)

 A smile formed over my lips as I cursed "Animal" 

He had good audacity and he also smiled back. I found his lips so adorable and beautiful. Suddenly, My mind went to the night when he was trying to eat or suck my lips. I didn't know what exactly that was but, that was magical as that made me feel things all across my body.

He was looking in my eyes and my eyes were looking into his, following his nose and then lips. His hand snaked my back and pulled me more closely. I softly touched his cheek while blinking nervously. 

I couldn't stop myself from leaning in and touching his lips with mine. The feeling that I had that night again traveled through my body as I was set on fire. His lips felt soft and then I pulled back. I couldn't figure out how he does that. I just touched his lips. 

He grinned and then suddenly he filled the jar of water and emptied it over my head. My breath hooked for a moment as I caught off guard. 

He repeated it to irritate me and I slapped on his chest harshly. He laughed and then I sat away from him to save myself from his hilarious torture. 

"Look, Now your hairs are looking clean." He said and I realized that I still had dirt on my body that needed my attention to getting cleaned. 

I ran my fingers in the hairs to make sure that they are clean enough and then turned to face towards the other direction from him. I tried to make a rough bun of my wet hairs as I had to finish bathing and I couldn't pay attention much to the open hairs. 

Suddenly, I felt his movement in the water as his hands grabbed my stomach and pulled me closer to him. 

"Come here," He said while making me rest my back again on my chest but this time I was more comfortable as the hair was tied in a bun. 

He started rubbing my hands softly and didn't know from where a thought came in my mind and I just said it. 

"You will be a great father, Prince"

"Hahhahhaaa" He laughed a little and then Continued. 

"yeah, I have two kids already" 

My mouth shut hearing his words. What did he mean? 

Then suddenly, I felt him touching my shoulders. His fingers feathered my skin gently and I lost in his touch. I felt a few sparks as his shrunk finger pads touched my skin beautifully. I was underwater till the breast and my shoulder was out of water. He hooked his fingers in the blouse and pulled it down softly. 

A cold breeze hit my skin as I felt a little revealed now. He did the same with the other side and I became a little uncomfortable. He was sitting beside me and I couldn't see in his eyes but knew that his heart was racing like mine. He leaned in my neck and I closed my eyes. 

His one hand was hooked on my blouse roughly and the other grabbed my neck keeping me still. He kissed over my shoulder starting from my ear and sending it to the hem of the blouse. 

My stomach twisted a little as he did the same to my shoulder but a little wider this time. 

"Prince," I said softly as I felt myself shivering a little. 

"Please, Don't Stop me today. I beg" he said in my ear and I felt his hand moving on back pulling the strings of the blouse. 

I felt the most unusual thing that was pleasing as he pulled the last string of my blouse.

He kissed my nape harshly and I shivered. He made a trail of kisses on my wet back till the water level allowed him. His arm around my stomach tightened a little as he turned me to sit over his lap in a quick move. He pulled me closer and I tried to cover myself with the cloth that was revealing most of me. 

He kissed my neck softly first. His one hand was resting on the backside of my waist and the other cupped my neck. Then his hand raked over my chest while making a trail of kisses towards the down.

He stopped suddenly but his lips were still close to my upper chest. I was just looking at him with my uneven breathes and precisely it was something that was new to me as a birth. I was feeling frightened in an exciting way. 

He hooked his fingers in the hem of my blouse which was still covering my bosom. My hand was resting on his shoulder and I inhaled a breath before realizing what was he about to do. 

He slowly pulled the blouse low and I closed my eyes. I felt blushed and felt my cheeks red and warm as his fingers unknowingly touched my breast. 

I felt as if my world was stopped when the feeling of his lips touching my untouched skin hit me. I felt goosebumps, shivering, and some itchiness in my nipples as he touched my right bosom. I opened my eyes and looked at what was he doing. 

He was looking into my eyes and his index finger and thumb took the bud between them. I was blinking and holding his gaze while breathing unevenly. 

Suddenly he increased the force of his finger and thumb around it and my mouth hung open while hissing in pain. A shiver ran through my spine and I shivered almost. I shut my eyes closed and then he relaxed and feathered it lightly. 

I opened my eyes slowly and he was smiling at me. I blushed a little and then he did that I wasn't expecting, never thought of, and shook me to the core. 

Phewww!!! (3500 Words)

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