After Tamizh left, finally the palace came back to peaceful state. If this dynasty or kingdom gets destroyed, I can surely tell it's because of them.

They are having vengence on each other till the extend they could kill for their sake of ego.

It's good that I let it go for now because, the more I try, the more they fight. I have planned on going to my palace next week. I know Aarthi would be there but still I can't stay without visiting my parents and brother because of her.

All I have to do now is, ask permission from Arjun to go there. I hated the fact that I have to ask permission from Arjun for everything but what can I do when this place is so strict than military.

I went towards his study where I saw him examining a blood stained knife. I have no idea who the knife belonged to but was really scared to see the real blood.

"What are you doing there? Come in.", He asked without even looking.

"Uhh, what about- I mean, can we go to my palace next week?", I asked standing in the entrance. He placed the bloodied knife back in the table and turned to me.

"Come to me..", he said and I frowned.

"But, I asked you-"

"I said come to me..", he repeated. I walked towards him and he circled his arms around my waist and pulled me closer.

"You're not worried that you'd have to face Aarthi?", He asked.

"Why I have to be worried? I mean, you're with me and I don't want to be afraid that-"

"I didn't mean that. I mean, will you not be jealous that I have to meet Aarthi again?", He asked directly.

Just a bit..

"Maybe, I am.. but, I couldn't keep myself from meeting my parents just for that reason.", I said. I avoided Tamizh's conversation because I know it wouldn't end up well.

"What about when I'm with my concubines or other woman?", He asked and I looked at him for once.

There might be a lot of incorrect activities and practices in this era like child marriage, polygamy and sati. But, it doesn't required to be practiced in love.

Maybe, I started loving him that I'm jealous?

Love is always the same. It can be any place or any era. Love always had the same meaning.

"Yeah, I was always..", I said truthfully.

"And, why didn't you tell me that you were jealous?", He asked.

"I- how could I?", I asked back.

"You should, Thea. When you're my wife, you can share everything with me and you know that, right?"

"Yeah, but, I couldn't bring myself to tell that.", I said.

"From now onwards, it's just you and me. Is that okay with you?", He asked and I took a couple seconds to process what he actually mentioned me.

"What do you mean by you and me? You dismissed-"

"I had concubines ad side consort just because there was not a person who was loving me. I don't require concubines or a side consort when I have the woman I love. Do I?"

"Uhh, you mean, I love you?", I asked.

"Yeah, you do. Just see yourself in mirror and ask yourself. When you realise you love me, you'll surely have an uncontrollable smile and blush on your pretty face. Try it.", He said and I stayed quiet.

"And, fine I'll take you to palace. You can go to your room now.", He said unwrapping his hands from my waist.

I walked away from his room and looked around. The concubines weren't to be seen anywhere. I was shocked when Arjun said that I love him.

Maybe, it can be real but-

My thoughts were interrupted by an arrow which crossed my face and stuck in the wall. It was just an inch away from my face. I nearly got an heart attack.

My heartbeat was heard by me and I felt like my heart stopped for a second.

"What happened?", Arjun came running out of his study.

"I- it's-", I stammered.

"Check out who is that bastard!", Arjun yelled at the soldiers where they all rushed at one side where the arrow came from.

He came towards me and cupped my face.

"You okay?", He asked and I nodded multiple times. I was sweating crazily. There's no words to describe how scared I was.

"Yeah, I'm fine..", I said as I taking deep intakes to calm myself.

"I'll take you to room..", he said and the next thing I know was, he carried off the floor and was walking towards our room.

"I can walk"

"I know"

After reaching the room, he placed me on bed gently and tucked me inside the blanket. It started drizzling outside and I was feeling a bit cold.

"Stay here. I'll be back in few minutes.", He said and left the room closing the door.

The whole room was sank in darkness which I hated. I wonder who had guts to enter the palace and aim arrow at me.

After few minutes which felt like hours, my room door opened revealing Arjun. I sighed that he was fine.

"Who was the attacker?", I asked.

"Ezhil", he said and my eyes widen.

"H-He tried to kill me?"

"Yeah.."

"Oh my God! The people who want to kill me is getting higher and higher every day! We have to do something..", I was blabbering in fear.

"Calm down, Thea. You don't have to be so worried about this. I'll make sure it won't happen again. Fine?"

"No, Arjun. How did he escape from my brother. He have high security cell with a lot of guards. How's it possible for him to escape?"

"We're going to your palace next week, right? We can ask them about it.", He said and I was looking at him in disbelief.

"You serious? What are you going to do in this one week gap? See me die? Or, see him kill me?"

"Both are same I guess.."

"I know! Just do something!"

"What do you mean by something?"

"Something that can save me from all these stuff. Please, Arjun. You know what? Life is too short. But, they're trying to make it more shorter.", I said with a pout. Why doesn't he understand the situation?

"Don't worry, Thea. No one can touch you as long as I'm with you.", He said assuringly.

"Then, can you explain me why the arrow was inches away from my face?", I asked almost yelling.

"Come on, he's my brother and the soldiers would've thought I'd not have any issues with him coming inside my palace. And, the soldier was a-"

"But your soldiers know that Ezhil tried to-"

"Don't remind me that.", He said and I didn't talk about it. It was disturbing for me as well. I don't want to remind the day where I was forced and hurt.

"Well, your soldiers know he shouldn't be let in. Also, the emperor ordered all of us that he's not in the royal family anymore. Then, why should your soldiers respect him?"

"My wife is smarter than I thought. Well, the soldier was betraying me for past month."

"What?"

"Yeah, he was spying. Like your brother's men did.", He said and I was again frustrated that he started dragging my brother.

"Don't talk about my brother and we can be in good terms.", I said and he nodded giving me an apologetic look.

"You aren't even capable of checking out your soldiers whether they're spying or not?", I asked.

"There are lakhs of soldiers in our dynasty. It's not simple to check everyone."

"Can I give an idea?", I asked and he hummed.

"Set a secret spies inbetween your own soldiers to check out their activites from what they're talking and whome they're meeting. It's simple."

"Have you imagined how much men will be required for that?", He asked.

"Not more. Just 2 spies for 20 soldiers. It'll be perfect. Appoint men for two sessions, day and night.", I suggested and he was thinking about it.

"I don't know if it'll work but I surely will try.", He said and I smiled.

Even I don't know if this plan will work, but it's better trying something instead of leaving it like nothing.

"By the way, how many days have you decided to stay in your parents' house?", He asked.

"Just 3 days.", I said and he frowned.

"But, I have many works. Maybe, we can come back in a day."

"No, Arjun. It's been long since I met my mother and father. You don't know how much I missed them..", I grumbled.

"But, the work-"

"Can't you just skip your work for just 3 days? Or, hand it to one of your brothers and then, you can come with me.", I said.

"Well, I'll hand it to Tharun before coming with you. There's chances that Keerthana and Tharun will be staying here because all the works to be done is in my basement.", He said and I caught his words immediately.

"You have work with your prisoners?", I asked chuckling.

"Yeah, an important prisoner and you know who is it."

"Umm, who? I don't know any of them.."

"You don't know Ezhil? Now, my own brother became my prisoner.", He said with venom spilling from his mouth. Now, I know he has a worse side with him that should not be disturbed.

"I said I can't come with you because of Ezhil. He's quite smarter than we think and needs to be watched every single hour. Or, he'll escape."

"You sure Tharun will take care of this?", I asked.

"Yeah, sure. He's my brother after all."

"Ok, now, I have some work and I'll be back tonight.", He said and I hummed as he left the room. I decided to sleep but I was so scared to even sleep because, what if someone tried to kill me in sleep?

Being alone always gives me nightmares. Nightmares about how my dad treated me. About how miserable my life was. About how I ended up in here. About many attacks that was aimed at me.

For past few days, I forgot about the watch which I placed in the closet safely. I didn't think of opening it because I'm scared. Scared that this life in here with Arjun will end. Scared that there will not be a person who can love me.

The fact that I miss my mobile phone more than my parents or anything. I still can't believe that I lived this much months without my mobile phone.

I miss it but I've have learnt to live without it which I was proud of.

I opened my closet and took the locker opening it. There it was. The watch I was scared to face. The reality I was hiding from.

I didn't want to think about it. I don't know why I overthink when I'm left alone. I closed the locker and placed it back in the closet closing it.

I don't want to see that.

I never thought I'd be reluctant to even see that watch. It feels like, I'm going to choose hell again after living in heaven for months.

There are many fairy tales in this world. But, Arjun is the best fairytale of all. I wish I could live with him like this forever but, I don't know if it will happen or not.

It's the first time in my life I thought of not leaving something and wished to stay with it forever. But, I don't know what plan has God got.

I couldn't even expect what will happen next because the situation is complicated. I chuckled at the fact that how much he changed my life.

I have got anger issues where I yell at literally everything. The anger gave me courage to move out of my house at a minor age.

He made it disappear completely. Is it so strange that I never seriously get mad at him?

Is that because I love him?

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