Disappointment dimmed his tender eyes and Abhijishya swallowed the fresh guilt that arose along with it.

His forehead came down to rest on her left shoulder as a heavy sigh ghosted over her arm.

"Can't this wait?" his tone reeked of slight frustration and weariness.

Abhijishya mulled for his words. Could this wait? Yes. Most certainly. It could wait till the sun rose tomorrow. Except she didn't want it to wait. She needed time to nurse the invisible burns of her heart and his affection now would feel like scalding water over them. So, she settled for a diplomatic answer instead.

"Maybe. If Rajkumar chooses so," she whispered aware of the grimace on Nakul's face as he immediately reared away from her.

Her chamber seemed to have grown colder. The grasp on her hand was bordering on painful or perhaps it was her hand almost crushing his- she was unsure because her eyes remained trained on the velvety bedsheet awaiting his reply.

"And a Rajkumar always chooses to serve his people," Nakul said flatly then added, "Pardon me, I slipped there for a moment Rajkumari Abhijishya. I forgot that my duties follow me everywhere."

"Even here" - It wasn't said but Abhijishya heard it all the same. Words of apology and appeasement almost bubbled up her throat but she exhaled soundly.

She bent her head, her chin touching the cool metal pendant and she breathed slowly refusing to let his calloused fingers escape.

"Such is the price of the throne," Abhijishya remarked.

'Forgive me, I am using it to protect myself.'

'Forgive me, I am unable to protect you from it.'

She didn't say. Nakul didn't deign her words with a reply.

The fingers entangled in hers slowly left her hold. This time she didn't try to entrap them.

"So?" One even word made her head look up at the familiar brown eyes. Nakul appeared composed, regal and unaffected. His posture was relaxed yet keen eyes like hers could decipher the coiling tension within. Infront of her sat Rajkumar Nakul, adept in politics both domestic and foreign.

Abhijishya straightened her posture and narrated the happenings of her time in the infirmary in details. She added further, "Now that I reflect on the time spent there, I felt some workers, servants and maids were in a hurry. It couldn't be because of a medical emergency because I didn't notice any healer rushing. This aberrant movement was going on near the storehouses except that I didn't catch anything out of the place when I inspected them." Abhijishya huffed in frustration.

Nakul was frowning slightly, deep in thought. "Could you elaborate on what you saw in that boy's room again?"

"Well, that was what confirmed my suspicions actually. Ahim was working on making copies of the original record but there were well hidden anomalies in almost every other category. As you are aware, the infirmary receives a document listing the supplies we get; be it imported, be it made or produced inside the kingdom. Then the officials in the infirmary make a record tallying the quantity and quality of the supplies received which is kept inside the infirmary office and reviewed either by me or Shreeman Jatasya. After that, another document is made where the amount of which supplies are sent, the amount kept, the place where the supplies are being sent as well as the number animals used to transport the supplies. Once everything is distributed throughout the kingdom, a messenger arrives with a confirmatory note from the local infirmaries," Abhijishya paused taking a deep breath. Then continued, "What troubles me most is that I am sure Ahim had all the four types of records in his room - the most current one being today's. The confirmatory message was being forged by him even though there were unusual slants to the handwriting. Perhaps, a poor tactic to make it appear like someone else's?"

Nodding in agreement, Nakul stretched out his legs to recline against the cushion covered headboard, too immersed in the conversation to pretain the earlier discontent. "Most probably yes but it could also someone else like a higher up official."

"You don't mean Shreeman Jatasya, do you?" Abhijishya tried to keep the disbelief out of her voice.

"It would explain why his son has access to all four records without it coming to your notice," Nakul replied, running his fingers through his hair.

"You are right but..." Abhijishya worried her lower lip. She shook her head, "You are right. I can't afford to trust the wrong person. For now, Shreeman Jatasya is also a suspect along with his son. What about Rachit? I don't think he has anything to do with this."

"I can't say until I have inspected the situation and met the boy myself. From what you said, he does appear to be innocent. But we can't rule out the fact that he is most likely to side with his family should we make a move," Nakul mused out.

Abhijishya hummed then spoke up, "Or he could side with us, be our invaluable ally and turn out to be loyal to the crown given his father's prestigious record in the army. He had sensed something is out of place too but chose to not enquire further. So, he could also choose to stay neutral."

"Either way, I'll put some of our trusted men to investigate. Jyesth needs to be made aware of the situation too and so does Deva. We need his mind in this," Nakul yawned, lazily encircling her waist presumably unaware of his action.

Abhijishya stiffened for a moment but let herself lean back against his chest. She was tired and too weak to refuse his comforting warm embrace. "Yes, we do," she murmured. "Also, the number of bullock carts were higher than needed. It can only mean one thing-"

"The medicinal herbs and supplies are being transported illegally," Nakul completed for her. Both shared an unnerved expression between themselves thinking of the implications.

Usually illegal export and import was just the surface of more grievous problems which only meant glaring security issues in their kingdom. It also pointed towards the existence of black markets too.

"Who knows how long this has been going on?" Abhijishya closed her eyes feeling strong arms hold her tighter. "If only I hadn't been so lackadaisical then-"

"Enough," Nakul's voice was chastising. "You are as dedicated to your duties as Bhrata Arjun is towards archery. I won't stand you demean yourself unnecessarily."

Abhijishya blinked up at him. His rough thumb pad caressed her cheek then traced her lips. "You always think the best of me. I don't think it is a good thing."

"I think the best of you because you are the best," Nakul replied matter-of-factly before pushing his face in the crook of her neck. "I say the meeting is adjourned. Now, everyone is ordered to let their husband hold her because he had been waiting for her highness for an entire day, all cold and alone."

Abhijishya bit her lip, stifling a gasp as his beard grazed her neck then laughed deceptively light in contrast to the knot forming at the back of her throat. "How insolent much be Rajkumari to make a Rajkumar wait?! How unbecoming of a wife to make her husband wait when it is only her duty to be the one always waiting!"

The fake joviality felt like tar on her tongue and Nakul was silent. Perhaps trying to say something to lull her back into his embrace or perhaps stopping himself from snapping in anger.

Abhijishya was tired.

"Forgive me. I don't mean anything by what I said," she said softly then moved to get out of his hold. "I need to check on Anvi. I haven't seen her once in the entire day. Also, take Vindu from Jiji. He must be missing me."

Nakul sat up, watched as she fumbled to straighten her veil and gather up her shawl. "Can't this wait?" He sounded exhausted.

Abhijishya didn't turn to look at him and left her chamber quickly. She told herself she wasn't fleeing.

˚˙༓࿇༓˙˚˙༓࿇༓˙˚˙༓࿇༓˙˚

Prativindya was having the time of his life blowing raspberries against her cheeks and leaving sloppy kisses all over her face.

"Alright! Alright! I know my Vindu loves me a lot," she chuckled then held him away to get a better look at his face, returning the persistent affection by kissing his forehead. "And his Dhruvi Maa loves him so much more, doesn't she? Yes, she does. Yes, she definitely does." Prativindya giggled, eagerly nodding along.

Behind them, Charu laughed, giving a gentle push to the swing on which Abhijishya and Vindu were seated. "Rajkumari, Rajkumar Prativindya absolutely adores you. Why, this morning only Manju was complaining about our Rajkumar crying for his Dhruvi Maa last night insistently. So much that Maharani had to ask Manju to take Rajkumar to a different room because Rajkumar Shatanika would start crying along with his brother."

"I don't really find it that much amusing, Charu," Abhijishya glared half-heartedly as a pleasant warm coiled in her heart. "My poor Vindu shouldn't have to cry for anyone."

"Ofcourse, Rajkumari. But I thought it would please you to learn that you were missed," Charu's reply made her blush bashfully.

Abhijishya mumbled a rather immature, "Whatever" and proceeded to point at various things to keep Vindu entertained.

The sky was a pleasant blue unmarred by any cloud from which the sun beamed at them merrily. That along, surrounded by the blossoms of winter, swaying in the swing of the Royal Garden, seated on arguably his favourite person was Prativindya's favourite pastime. Or so Abhijishya had observed.

"Do you know who almost ran into me again this morning when I was coming back here with Rajkumar?" Charu continued, displeasure apparent in her tone as her palms pushed the swing devotedly.

"Who might that be?" Abhijishya asked, wiping Vindu's drool with the corner of her veil.

"That woman who pushed me yesterday, Poornima. Atleast this time it was not intentional," Charu grumbled.

Her words drew Abhijishya's attention. "Intentional? What do you mean?"

Charu hesitated for a moment before stopping the swaying swing. She came around the swing and stood before her. "Well, I thought you had noticed, Rajkumari. Poornima had intentionally slammed into us yesterday."

Abhijishya furrowed her eyebrows, absentmindedly bouncing Vindu on her lap. "How are sure that it was intentional?"

"She is upto no good, Rajkumari. Yesterday, she must have seen us listening to Rachit and that other boy's conversation. So, she exposed us and then altered the boy of our presence by pretending to run into me," Charu explained then mumbled, "I think Poornima is in leagues with the boy someway or the other. Or else why would she speak so loudly."

"You are right. I can't believe it went straight out of my mind. I should inform Arya about this," Abhijishya murmured but didn't make a move to get up. Last night was fresh in her head. She wasn't ready to face Nakul yet.

"Would Rajkumari like me to inform Rajkumar on her behalf?" Charu asked kindly.

Abhijishya patted Vindu's back as her little prince examined the embroidered edge of her veil. "Yes," gratitude coloured her voice as she leaned against the backrest.

The new added piece of information danced inside her brain as she thought how to use it to their advantage. Abhijishya eyed Charu who was patiently waiting for her, "Say, if this woman Poornima is involved in whatever is going on, then she must atleast have some names for us to investigate and summary if not details of the actions of said suspects. If we can bring Poornima into the fold, get her to confess then it would really cut the complications in half for us, won't it?"

"Yes it would, Rajkumari. Your thinking is again ten paces ahead of anyone," Charu bowed in respect which made Abhijishya roll her eyes.

"Give yourself some credit, Charu. Had you not pointed out the obvious, I wouldn't have figured this out," Abhijishya said, sitting up straight to convey her seriousness. "We can't let this opportunity go. Go inform Arya and send Parnika to me. I have some work for her."

"Go!" Prativindya added cheerfully which startled both Abhijishya and Charu.

A smile made it's way across Abhijishya's lips turning to full blown laughter. Charu too chuckled along.

"Go! Go! Go!" Prativindya proclaimed, clearly enjoying his Dhruvi Maa's laughter.

"Ofcourse, Rajkumar. Your first command will be followed to the letter and so will every other you give from this day on, Charu bowed with a smile and walked away.

Abhijishya, on the other hand, ran her hand gently through her Vindu's hair. "Oh, my sweet. You always make me happy, you know?"

In answer, Prativindya showed his tiny teeth and yelled, "Go!" before shoving his thumb inside his mouth.

A.N. - Subho Bijaya folks! Bet none of you expected an update so soon *winks*

Let me know what you think if this chapter and do vote if you liked it.

Can't promise about the next update but will try to update as soon as possible.

Until the next time,

Byeee ;")