"I said strip! Don't just stare blankly at me!"

"But your Highness! Please!!"

Clawing down onto Tia's shoulder until the pitiful maid fell down to her knees as she pleaded with her tears. 

"Please?! Do you know what is at stake here?! Now strip before I do it for you!"

At this very moment Tia was regretting the day she fell for Svetlana's bribes. This was surely heaven punishing her for her evil deeds and to think she didn't even bat an eye when Svetlana asked her to harm Princess Gauri.  As she looks down at her naked body and once again at the woman who gave her all that she wanted Tia tried one last time to beg for mercy.

"Please your Highness! There must be another way!"

Grabbing the shaken maid up from the floor Svetlana swung her onto the bed next to Ajay. 

"IF you even dare deny anything I will make you and your family back home suffer!"

As she laid there next to the naked man that unintentionally started to touch her Tia could only cry silent tears as she sees her future vanish into thin air. All these years she had helped Svetlana carry out her dirty plans thinking that by saving all the jewels and the money she had received would one day result in a good marriage proposal. Her dream of being married to a General or even a rich aristocrat shattered as his dirty hands started to squeeze her breasts. It was too late for regrets now because karma had finally caught up to her. Soon the rumors of her being just another maid who was defiled by royalty will spread ending any chance of her living a more prestigious life. 

From outside Svetlana could hear the voices coming closer and closer but when she saw that everything was already in place she quickly stood up straight with her back towards the door. And once she heard someone opening the door it was time for her to put up a show. 

Svetlana: Gauri dear? Are you awake? 

Gauri who was the second person to walk through her own bedroom door could already tell that a new show was now in progress and seeing how Svetlana was trying to be her usual self in front of others made Gauri even more amused. 

Deciding to play along Gauri smugly answered from behind. 

"I have been awake your Highness."

Turning around as if she has just seen a ghost Svetlana quickly walked away from the bed. 

"What?! If you are here who is there?"

Omkara couldn't help but cover his laughter with his sleeve while whispering in Gauri's ear. 

"It seems there are some adjustments to your show Princess."

"So it seems."

Veer could hear his little brother grunting on the bed and he could also see a silhouette of a woman who he hoped was Ishana laying right next to him. 

Veer: It sounds like Ajay!

Walking pass everyone Veer quickly opened up the chiffon drape only to see his brother fondling the maid he saw last night. 

Veer: Ajay!

Hearing his name being yelled at by his older brother was nothing new to Ajay.

"Come back later brother! Let me have some morning fun."

Ajay who was still in a daze could not grasp that the situation was not one his brother had hoped for but instead it was an embarrassment that he was in bed with the Queen's head maid in a Princess's bed! Grabbing his brother by the shoulder to wake him up Veer was boiling with anger. 

"Ajay! Get up and cover yourself now!"

Everyone could hear Ajay refusing to leave Tia who everyone could now clearly see but his vile words made everyone woman in that room cringe especially Ishana who was trying her best to be invisible behind the curtain. 

Snuggling closer to the naked woman thinking it was Ishana Ajay started to kiss the smooth neck and caress the perky breasts only to have Veer grab him by the hair to wake him up.

"Do you know who is all watching! Do you even know where you are at! Wake up before I kill you right here!"

Finally waking up to see everyone looking at him with disgust Ajay quickly glanced over to see a naked maid who was trying her best to cover herself up with the blanket. Looking around to see his clothes on the floor Ajay tried to grab them but seeing how Veer was angrily staring at him Ajay just didn't know what to do. 

"I said cover yourself!"

As he tried to get off the bed Riddhima and Svetlana looked away leaving Gauri to stand there looking on as if nothing was wrong. Samarjeet thought it was a bit peculiar that Gauri was staring so intently that he wanted to somehow shield her from such perverse but the moment his foot was about to take that step someone had already beat him to it. 

Gauri was not just staring at Ajay she was trying to observe the rest of her bedroom to see where Svetlana had so slyly hid her. Just when she was about to look over towards the curtain that was slightly moving she was blocked by him. She never liked it when he would gaze down on her as if trying to conquer her each time but instead he was always in her way. 

"Your Majesty did you need something?"

Hooking up his lips as those pair of honey doe eyes stared at him.

"Your eyes should only be filled with me. Don't look at such scum it will only taint you."

Wanting to further scan the room Gauri tried to gently nudge Omkara to the side only to realize the sudden warmth on her hand when she touched him. Not wanting anyone to take notice Gauri quickly pretended to not want to see Ajay's naked body and coyly grabbed Om's hand while burrowing her head into his chest.

Checking his pulse Gauri knew without a doubt the poison in his body was acting up earlier than expected. Taking her finger she pressed on a specific spot on his chest and when he flinched she knew he was in pain. Luckily she always carried her needles with her but due to the situation at hand she could only give him time till she tend to him tonight. From her sleeve she quickly took out one small crystal needle and inserted into the pressure point on his chest to quickly alleviate his pain as well has reduce his fever. 

Fortunately everyone was focused on Veer pulling his brother out of bed while Tia was frantically wrapping herself with the small blanket trying to hide in the corner of the bed. 

As he looked down at the woman in red shoving a needle into his chest Omkara could only wish he could hold her tighter right now.  How can he not want to take her? Everything about her entranced him. A woman like her would only appear once in a lifetime.

Once she inserted the needle Gauri quickly grabbed Omkara's wrist to check his pulse and when she was sure that his heart rate had decreased and his hand was not as hot Gauri slowly pulled away from his embrace only to see him smiling  at her again.

Squinting her eyes a bit to show her displeasure of his flirtatious ways Gauri stepped aside to see a crying Tia and Ajay who was scrambling to get dressed. 

Svetlana: Tia! Weren't you suppose to be by Princess Gauri's side last night? What happened?!

Omkara's entire demeanor went frigid hearing the Queen try to blame Gauri for this maid's fate but when he saw Gauri smile he calmly stepped back to enjoy the show.

Gauri: I sent her back after she drew me my warm bath and since I had Bhavya I no longer needed her services. I wouldn't know where she went after that. But since she is here with Prince Ajay then I assume maybe sister Riddhima might have seen her sometime last night?

Riddhima: Yes. She came to get your tea but Ishana refused and after the night was ending she was suppose to escort Prince Ajay back to his room. 

Svetlana took this opportunity to blame everything on Tia who was hopelessly clinging onto her blanket.

"You ingrate! You are my head maid and you dare to seduce the Prince of Uthon?!"

Climbing off the bed Tia quickly started to grab Svetlana's leg.

"Your Highness!! Please!!! It wasn't..."

But before Tia could say anything further Svetlana kicked her to the side and commanded one of her guards to take her back for further punishment later. 

Veer: I must also apologize for my brother's behavior your Highness.

Svetlana: Let's just forget this matter and quickly join the King for breakfast. I am sure he is waiting. 

Everyone started to move out but when Svetlana saw Gauri move closer to the curtain her heart stopped. 

Svetlana: Gauri dear...are you not coming?

Gauri: I will meet you all shortly I just want to grab a few things from my room.

Gauri who was now positive Ishana was hiding behind the curtain started to purposely run her fingers through it while poking at Ishana's body. Ishana tried hard not to make a single noise but whenever Gauri poked her it sent a sharp pain throughout her body.

Svetlana: Worry about that later Gauri. You can't keep our guests waiting any longer. They must be famished. 

Gauri turned to smile "You don't have to wait on me. Just help yourselves to the breakfast spread."

When Gauri was about to open the curtain Svetlana used the one thing she knew would stop Gauri.

"Aren't you suppose to give Sahil is daily morning tea Gauri? I heard that the King has planned a hunting trip with everyone this afternoon. And without his tea we wouldn't want anything bad to happen would we?"

Her hand stopped midair "Hunting?"

"Yes. Your father wanted Sahil to hunt with the Princes and if lucky the King of Mordis."

Sharpening her gaze at Svetlana she clearly knew that a threat was just made. Deciding to let the matter go Gauri slowly walked passed Svetlana "Good help is hard to find these days your Highness."

Under her robe Svetlana was clenching her fists at the thought that this little girl had knew the entire time. And now it was her daughter who was suffering behind a curtain. 

When everyone left to the dining area Svetlana signaled her secret guard to usher Ishana back to her place without anyone seeing.

Breakfast was peaceful but now and then Omkara would purposely ask for the whereabouts of Princess Ishana and every time Gauri would laugh inwardly. The look on Svetlana's face was priceless. When breakfast ended Riddhima suggested everyone to walk around the palace Garden to let the food digest so that by afternoon they could enjoy the hunting grounds. Gauri wanted to return back to her old courtyard to rest but Omkara made sure she was to join them. 

"Come."

If it wasn't for his fever Gauri would have just ignored him but the glossiness in his eyes made her worry. 

20 minutes into the walk they finally stopped by the fountain that was in the middle of a large lake but what was surprising was Tia's body  floating just beneath them.

Samarjeet: Isn't that the maid from awhile ago?!

Riddhima who tried to bury her head into Omkara's arm "AHH!! I'm scared your Majesty!"

Veer and Ajay remained silent as they watched the body drift by. 

Gauri could only laugh bitterly inside. 

"When you suddenly became head maid to Svetlana did I realize that only you could have poisoned my mother. I have told you that one day you would regret it Tia."

*************

Queen's Courtyard

Ishana could barely move as she soaked her body into the warm bath her mom prepared for her. 

"Mother! You have to punish her for me!"

Seeing the markings on her daughter Svetlana was determined that this time around Gauri will pay.

"You think you have outsmarted me?! Let's see what you will do when that precious little brother of yours falls prey during the hunt!"

**Hope you guys enjoyed this update. Let me know your thoughts and do Vote if you enjoyed it.**