My solemn face reflected in the mirror, across which a shimmering ray of light swept over the glass, hiding the jewelry that was ornately hanging down my neck.

The pattering of feet broke my trance and I shifted in my dressing table seat to face the doorway. The maids all left at the sight of Rani Dharma.

I stood up expressionlessly and waited for her to stop a few meters away from me.

She started with a deep sigh.

"Kaurvaki. I salute your courage and humanity to be able to -"

"Courage? Humanity?" I blurted, not even processing the difficult situation for her.

"I know how you must be feeling." Was all she could say. She turned round quickly.

A tinge of poignance swept across my heavy heart and I refrained her from leaving.

"Rani Maa?" My voice curved down, high pitched.

She turned and looked at me with a hurt face.

I walked towards her; the tinkle of my anklets sounding amidst the chilly autumn breeze that was blowing in from the side windows.

"I apologize for my disrespectful behavior, Rani Maa."

She drew up a weak smile. Upon seeing this, I straightened up.

"But if you don't mind me asking, I was wondering....."

"Yes dear?" She asked me questioningly.

"Why were you happy when the wedding was announced?" I asked straightforwardly.

She hesitated for a short amount of time until I could work out a few broken words exiting her rosy lips.

"The truth is, Kaurvaki, that - that.... I'm not happy." The tips of her eyes melted and her vanilla eyes glimmered in the reflection of mine.

"Then why were you smiling?" I found myself interrogating her quite frankly.

"I had no other option. I never liked the close relationship between Ahankara and Ashok from the start. Once Ahankara was hurt, and Ashok was accused of touching her before her marriage with Sushim a few years ago. Ever since then, I wanted them to stay away, and that's why I suggested to Samrat that it would be best if Ahankara could leave this palace."

I was shocked at her acrimonious response. It wasn't what she would usually say.

"But, she's such a nice person!" I said, unsurely.

"However innocent she may be at heart, the society will never accept her as Ashok's second wife. Ever." Rani Dharma sighed and left me.

I let my hands dangle either side, helplessly and I walked across to the window which revealed a beautiful view of the pale, translucent moon which appeared to be dancing in between the evening clouds.

The air brushed the loose strands of my shoulders and I felt the sun ray heating up the tip of my nose.

My melancholy gaze was settled upon it, not keeping track of the time.

I gulped, forming a painful lump of sorrow in the middle of my throat.

"Princess Kaurvaki, a message has been sent from Maharani. She is asking you to help with the preparations for the marriage tomorrow."

"Alright, you may leave." I ordered the maid. "Oh and - tell anyone who wants to enter this chamber that I have forbidden them from doing so at this time of day. Every day from now."

I titled my head to one side, not moving from my position to tell the maid.

"Didn't you hear what I said?" I urged her, reacting to her silent response.

Immediately, she left me.

A pattering pair of feet stopped at the door and I walked towards the opaque, golden curtains which were the entrance.

"Kaurvaki, don't sit there crying dear. Come out and help us. There isn't much to do just sort out the jewelry." Maharani's lazy voice sounded and she turned on her heels as soon as she said this.

My head looked up towards her shadowed figure on the curtains.

I wasn't crying. Why should I? It's not like I'm leaving my husband's house is it?

What had gotten into me?

I straightened up my face slightly and went out to witness a crowd of servants all debating over which garland to put where.

As I arrived at the sight of this commotion, they instantly stopped and bowed down.

"Good evening, princess."

I nodded. "What is all this for?"

"Princess, the wedding tomorrow?" A servant spoke from the back.

The other servant next to him smacked him on his head gently and his annoyed face dissolved into a fake smile towards me.

"Shut up you idiot! She knows of course! Why are you adding salt to her wounds?"

I pretended to look around and I pointed up to a pillar next to me.

"Put that there." I ordered with a quiet voice, leaving the group of servants.

💓

Ahankara and Ashok's wedding was definitely not as happy and grand as our's had been. Decorations were minimal; everything was quite silently done. The music people were playing softly and it didn't feel like a very family-type atmosphere.

As I was deep in my thoughts, walking through the corridor, I bumped into a figure.

"Oh, Samrat." I stopped abruptly.

Samrat didn't know how to react. He smiled and nodded unsurely.

"Err, the ceremony will commence soon. I'm just carrying this to the hall. I'll meet you there."

Samrat watched me go past him and I felt awkwardness surround me again.

The Royal hall was gleaming with cleanliness inside and each pillar had an unrecognizable glisten to them.

I placed the platters down by the priest who was sat at the altar.

Now there was only one more job to do.

I picked up clothing platter, filled with royal robes for Ashok and jewelry of all sorts. I entered his chamber with a knock.

"Kaurvaki? Is that you? Why did you knock?"

"No I.... maybe you needed privacy - you know." I smiled sarcastically.

He stared at me with a hurt face. Before he could say anything, I began with a start.

"These are your clothes for the wedding. I accidentally put two red cloaks but only wear one and leave the other. And yes..... if the glittery robe is too itchy then leave it. You don't want to be itching during your wedding and R....."

I trailed off, noticing that Ashok was gazing softly into my eyes during my speech, not even looking down once at what I was talking about.

I gulped and blinked away; he could sense I was unhappy.

He began taking his clothes off and I quickly faced away.

Behind me, I could hear he was irritated with something. I ignored it at first, but when he started sighing I turned round uncertainly.

I went over exasperatedly.

"What are you doing?! Stop - you'll break the pin!"

I noticed that he was struggling to get the pin into his robes so I snatched it out of his twiddling thumb.

He watched me as I put it in carefully, trying to not get too close to him as I did it.

I pulled away from him and spun round the corner, filled with guilt. I was being rudely kind.

As I walked past Ahankara's room, I stepped back slightly to peer in and take a glimpse of her.

She was sat in front of the dressing table mirror, brushing her hair and putting in her jewelry. Her smile was evident and I had never seen her smiling so shyly before; in face - I had never seen her smile at all.

I sighed and my heart felt heavy.

As I turned to go, I saw Maharani standing still in front of me.

"Hmm, observing your husband's wife? Oh, sorry - I meant your husband's wife to be..."  she smiled coldly.

I shot her an anticipating look.

"True friend isn't she? Lovely girl." Maharani added, and left me with the same phrase humming in my mind.