Chapter 53

Early in the morning Ranveer had notified Omkara that Rudra's troops were attacked during the night and that he was missing along with Gauri's maid. Knowing how much Gauri cared for this maid Omkara took it upon himself to search for them.

"I will come with you Your Majesty."

"No Ranveer. You stay by Lady Gauri's side. I will be back soon."

After hearing from Dandi that there was someone looking for Gauri he made sure to increase the number of guards within the palace. However he still did not want to leave her side for too long. With his black armor and sword Omkara summoned Ari.

"Let's go."

Back in the cave Bhavya was still asleep while Rudra had been awake for quite some time. When he first opened his eyes he felt her arms tightly wrapped around him. Soon he was starting to be aware of their situation. The tighter she held on the more he felt the soft mounds pressed against his hard chest. He didn't know what to do and so he decided to just lay there still as can be but the wait was unbearable. Her every breath and movement caused his body to react in ways he was unable to control. His mind was full of impure thoughts and his hands were wanting to touch the soft skin that was expose to his eyes.

"I can't go on like this."

Reaching out Rudra softly patted the back of Bhavya's head.

"Wake up." He softly whispered on top of her head.

Still drowsy from sleep Bhavya forgot where she was and kept on burrowing her head into the warmth that made it hard to pull away.

"Just a little bit more sleep...."

"If you don't wake up then you can't blame me for what comes next." Rudra threatened.

Bhavya jerks up her head in haste and was met with a pair of dark brown eyes but then she looked down at her naked self.

"Ah!"

She quickly turned around to let her bare back face him instead while trying to look for her clothing.

"General...please close your eyes."

"Em."

Bhavya turns her head around and true to his word his eyes were closed. She quickly got up to put on her clothes while but before that she threw her cloak on top of his naked body.

"I...I'm done."

When he opened his eyes she was holding his clothes. As he sat up to grab his clothes he let the cloak cover his lower half.

"Are you going to stand there and stare or help me dress?"

Once again Bhavya reminded herself that she need not be shy. She was his caretaker now and seeing him naked should be a norm but as she helped him dress she saw him grab for his sword.

"What's the matter?"

"Someone is coming."

When they saw the large Black Lion stride in both Rudra and Bhavya stood up.

"Your Majesty."

With a smirk Omkara took one look at the two and turned his gaze towards Rudra's wounds.

"I see you still manage to stay alive."

"Yes. To burden Your Majesty to come here...I...."

Omkara raised up his hand to stop Rudra from speaking.

"I should have known. Even with my warning I should have thought about your wounds. Your soldiers have already annihilated the assassins from last night. I have also ordered more troops to travel with you. Ari will fly you back to the Northern Border."

"How could I take your Black Lion?!"

Omkara walks over to his most trusted General. "Only Ari will give me peace that you will get there safely. Remember what you need to do there. We still need to take over the entire northern troops."

Rudra's eyes turned cold and dark at the mention of their plan from the moment both their parents died that day.

"Do not worry! I will overthrow him even if it will cost me my life!"

Patting his friend on the shoulder "Your Uncle is not an easy person to overthrow. Just look at last night. You need to find the best time to strike."

"I will."

Bhavya was confused as to what they were talking about but she knew that it was best to not get involve.

"I will go then. Make sure you take care of her. I don't want Lady Gauri to be sadden if anything were to happen to her."

Rudra nodded his head as Omkara walked out the cave leaving Ari to him.

Outside Omkara had his black stallion waiting for him and with a jump he perched himself on top of his horse.

"Let's go home."

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Back at the garden Gauri was meticulously applying the paste onto Priyanka's face. The sensation was cooling and comfortable.

"Why not tell me your price now?" asked Priyanka.

She could see Gauri's smirk prompting her to be more suspicious.

"When the time comes I will collect Princess. Rest assure it will not be something that will be against your conscious. It will be well within your power and ability. Besides...shouldn't I prove that this paste works before collecting?"

When she saw Gauri put the paste away Priyanka wanted to touch her face but there was a piece of fabric laid on top.

"When will I see the results?"

"In a month."

The thought that the scare that haunted her would disappear made her mood very happy.

"You know Lady Gauri...if this scar disappears...maybe...."

Gauri could see that there was probably a very sad story behind her scar but she was not the type to say sugary words.

"The pain will always remain until the heart is able to let it go Princess."

Priyanka couldn't help but to blame her naive 16 year old self 10 years ago.

Priyanka's Flashback 10 years ago (The night before her parent's death)

She was eagerly waiting for him to enter through the secret entrance. Every night they would stay up and talk until the first ray of light would appear and soon her heart had become his. Though she was a Crown Princess that fell in love with her cousin Priyanka couldn't stop how she felt. The way Daksh treated her was like no other man. All she knew was that without him she didn't want to live. So when he said he had a plan to ask her father and mother for their blessing Priyanka couldn't wait any longer. Her eyes kept looking towards the back wall next to her fireplace. A secret entry that only her and Daksh knew about. When the small candle perched on the mount by the fireplace moved Priyanka hopped out of her bed and ran towards Daksh who soon appeared.

"Daksh! What took you so long?"

Seeing her hop into his arms Daksh had a satisfied smile on his face.

"I was busy planning how I should propose tomorrow."

Priyanka was now blushing and her heart wanted to leap out of her chest. Especially when Daksh had scoop her into his arms as he made his way towards her bed.

"We shouldn't...not until we are married." Priyanka protested.

"Do you not trust me? Even if the King says no I will take you and runaway and live our life in some small village where no one knows of us."

His words were like music to her ears. How could she find such a man that gave his all to her. As Daksh slowly loosened her belt that barely secured her robe Priyanka asked him again. "So how will you ask Father tomorrow?"

"Well that is up to you." smiled Daksh as he pulls the robe away.

"Me?"

Softly kissing her bare shoulders Daksh threw the robe onto the floor leaving Priyanka to grasp the sheets.

"Tell me where you will be at tomorrow."

"What? You know I can't. That is the one day Father has reserve time to spend with all of us. Where we can enjoy ourselves outside without worrying about any dangers. You know that Daksh."

Gently stroking her cheek Daksh looks at Priyanka lovingly where she found it hard to reject him.

"Don't you see Pri...this would be the perfect time to ask for your hand. His Majesty will see that he could trust me. With the perfect setting The King will be in a mood to grant our wish. He will see that your happiness is with me."

The more Priyanka listened to Daksh's reasoning the more it made sense.

"Okay I will tell you."

"You also have to tell me where the guards are station. Only then will I be able to sneak in the area unnoticed."

Nodding her head Priyanka revealed everything to Daksh and during that night she gave her all to Daksh. She even dreamed of marrying him and living out her days blissfully only to wakeup the next day to experience the nightmare of her life.

Gauri could see Priyanka's eyes shake as she was lost in thought.

"Princess. Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

She wasn't going to push the Princess because it was apparent that the demons she was fighting had to be dealt with alone. Gauri pushes the jar of medicinal paste towards Priyanka. "Apply twice a day for one month." When she saw Gauri stand up to leave Priyanka also stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"Walk around Mordis. It would be a waste to not sight see while I'm here."

"Oh..."

"If the Princess doesn't mind would you take me?" Gauri kindly asked.

"Let me change and we can go out."

"I'll wait here."

When Priyanka left Ranveer came up to Gauri who was sitting calmly drinking her tea.

"Lady Gauri. It is too dangerous to go out right now."

"You expect me to hide in this palace? Are you unable to protect me?"

"There will always be a chance for failure My Lady. Please reconsider."

Gauri waves Nala over so that she could play with it's soft white fur while she waits.

"We are just going out to shake out the pest. No need to worry too much. In broad daylight no one would dare make a move. I refuse to be confined."

"But The King...."

"His Majesty will not object. He said so this morning for me to explore did he not?"

"Yes..but he implied within the palace."

"For a King his country is his home."

It didn't take long for Priyanka to return and Ranveer had used that time to prepare a carriage for them to venture outside. Once the entered the bustling main city of Mordis Gauri step out of the carriage with Priyanka.

"Mordis sure is very peaceful. Everyone seem to live well and happy."

Looking around Gauri could see food stands everywhere as well as merchants happily selling beautiful items such as jewelry, fabric, and already made clothing. Unlike Ashen where some were still living in poverty in remote alleys.

Priyanka took Gauri to various places. They even stopped by to try snacks that Gauri has never seen before. But soon they started to hear people whispering as they passed.

Man: Isn't she the fallen Princess of Ashen?

Man 2: I heard a rumor she was ugly.

Man: Maybe she's here to seduce our King. People of Ashen cannot be trusted!

Woman: I heard she lost her father's favor and lost her title long ago and was just a regular Princess.

Woman 2: Such a shame she couldn't hold on to that either.

Woman: Why come to Mordis? Is she trying to stay by our King?

Woman 2: Look at her beauty. Of course that is all she has left. I hope our King does not fall into her honey trap.

Priyanka's eyes sharply gazed at the people but Gauri just walked on as if she heard nothing. Even Nala who was by Gauri's side started to growl at the people forcing them to cower down.

"Do not take their words to heart Lady Gauri."

"Their worries are reasonable." Gauri solemnly smiled.

Mordis was such a beautiful place that Gauri didn't realize that it was getting dark but she still needed to make a trip to the forest to collect more herbs.

"Princess should go back first. I need to collect more herbs for the paste. The jar this morning is not enough."

"No. Brother will be back soon. If he doesn't see you he will blame me. You can go to the forest tomorrow morning."

Shaking her head Gauri gestures Nala to come closer to her.

"The herbs I need only bloom at night. Besides we are close by right now. It's more convenient."

She knew she couldn't just forcibly drag Gauri along with her so she suggested maybe she should come too but Gauri flat out refuse.

"As Crown Princess of Mordis you should return and wait for your brother. You can tell him where I am at. Ranveer is by my side so do not worry. I will be back soon."

Hesitantly Priyanka returned without Gauri.

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Though it was dark Gauri was use to the Mordis Forest and it felt better than being in the city. The only downside was that it was a bit cold due to the snow. It even made it harder to find the herb she wanted but luckily Nala was here with her today. With her keen nose the herbs were dug out in minutes. As Gauri walked further into the forest she saw a blooming purple flower high on a mountain cliff. This flower was very rare. Her eyes beam with delight as her feet hurriedly towards the mountain.

"Lady Gauri..what are you doing?" Ranveer frantically ask when he saw her try to climb the slick cliff.

"I want that purple flower. It's use is very great."

When Ranveer looked up his eyes squinted a bit as the snow from the mountain trickled down.

"Let me get it for you."

"Okay."

Ranveer was indeed one of Omkara's most skilled guard. He was able to grab the flower so quickly.

"Here you go Lady Gauri. We should head...."

With the flower in her hand Gauri saw a tiny flash of light fly by hitting Ranveer. With him suddenly fall to the ground unconscious Gauri could only assume the small flash was a needle. Upon further inspection Gauri deduced that Ranveer had been put to sleep.

"You can come out now." Gauri commanded.

A mask man dressed in all white slowly moved out from a large tree.

"Princess Gauri. I am here with word from Fray."

**Hope you guys like this update. So I have been getting a lot of messages regarding people that read on wordpress not voting on wattpad and that it hurts to not reach goal. I guess it's also exam time (I would never know LOL) Anyways...since this wordpress has made so many sadden I have decided just to update The King once a week or even once every 2 weeks 😊. So do let me know your thoughts on the chapter. Till then...see y'all next time 😊**