Chapter 8
(Madhu's POV)
I rushed for the guards on reaching the palace. They helped me take Rishabh inside to my room. He was moaning in great pain. I tried to stop my tears as best as I could. I had to be strong.
They laid Rishabh onto my bed. I rushed to his bedside and unbuttoned his shirt. The wound was still bleeding profusely. The sight of raw flesh and blood made me nauseous. I needed to tell father.
"MOTHER! FATHER!" I yelled. My voice echoed in the vast palace.
"Princess! What happened?" One of the maids said.
"Rishabh! He is gravely injured!" I choked out.
"Oh dear!" The maid gasped. "Come with me. Your parents are in the garden."
We hurried down to the garden. My parents were sitting in the gazebo, drinking their evening tea. Letting my emotions get the best of me, I ran up to them and pulled them inside.
"Madhu! What happened all of a sudden!?" Mother asked.
"When did you return home?" Father asked. "Is everything all right?"
"It's Rishabh! Prince Sultan kidnapped me and fought with Rishabh. He is severely injured mother! Please save him!" I pleaded.
"Oh dear! Come, take us to him!" She said.
The maid had already sent a messenger to the kingdom's best doctor. Father ushered her out and tried to speak to Rishabh.
"Rishabh, everything will be all right. We are all here for you." He assured.
I took Rishabh's hand and held it tightly. Nothing could take hime away from me, not even death. Mother brought me a handkerchief to wipe my face with. It was covered in tears and snot.
"Madhu! Why did Prince Sultan commit such a heinous deed?" Father asked. His face was red in fury.
"I told him that I wasn't ready to marry him...but he got angry and kidnapped me. He tried to violate me, father." I said. "Rishabh fought back to save me, that Prince Sultan injured him."
"I won't spare that b****rd!" He roared. I gasped in fear.
"Calm down, Shamsher." Mother said. Father took a deep breath and took me in his arms.
"Shhh...don't cry my little girl. I shouldn't have sent you there in the first place."
"It's okay..." I said, sniffling. "Father...Rishabh." I said, pointing to my knight.
"He will be fine. I promise you." He said.
The doctor arrived shortly after. He first cleaned the wound. Rishabh moaned in pain as he did so. I couldn't watch it. Mother took me out of the room, to get some fresh air. Father joined us. I laid my head against the closed door until the doctor emerged.
"He is absolutely fine. A true fighter, I must say." My face lit up as soon as I heard those words.
"Just give him a few days of bed rest. The wound will heal on its own now. Thankfully it wasn't too deep."
"Can I see him?" I said.
"Yes. He is conscious. Just make sure he doesn't move too much." I nodded.
I threw the doors open and saw my Rishabh. He tried to give me the biggest smile he could. I kneeled down next to him and caressed his face with my hand. The wound had been bandaged. The glow began to return to his skin.
"Don't do this to me again! Did you know how scared I was?" I scolded.
"Never again...I promise you my princess." He kissed my hand.
He tried to get up, groaning each time he moved. I held him down by his shoulders.
"Rishabh, stop moving! You're hurting yourself." He chuckled.
He fell asleep shortly after, holding my hand. I watched him. He looked so innocent, like a small baby. I took advantage of his unconsciousness and gave him a small kiss on the forehead.
"I love you Rishabh." I murmured, something I never said to his face.
I took the spare blanket and wrapped myself in it. I sat down next to the fireplace. I didn't know when I dozed off.
For the next few days, I stayed by his side. Getting him his meals or changing his bandages...I always kept an eye on him. He watched me intently, never shifting gaze from my face. Like he loved me too.
(A couple days later...)
Rishabh had almost fully recovered. He began walking again. Now I could finally believe he was out of danger.
Father informed me that Prince Sultan was found dead last night. He had committed suicide. Father cursed him under his breath, saying what a coward Prince Sultan was.
I searched the palace for Rishabh. He couldn't stay in one place for a moment. I had freshly squeezed orange juice for him. I continued to roam the palace like an idiot, holding a glass of juice and sticking my head into random rooms. Normally he stayed near me, but today was not the case. I eventually found him in my parent's room.
"Rishabh! I was looking all over for you." I said. "Here. I brought juice for you."
He took it from me, not even saying thank you...
He walked out drinking the juice. Completely ignoring me. He was behaving strangely. My parents were laughing in the corner.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Nothing." Mother said. "Go to the garden, the minister needs to speak to you."
"About what?"
"Political matter, dear." Father said.
I walked out in huff. Something was up. My parents wouldn't be laughing about a political matter, would they? I marched out to the garden. I called out to the minister.
No answer. I only heard the sound of the wind. I took shelter under the gazebo to escape the tornado of leaves being blown at my face.
"Good evening my princess..." I heard. Rishabh.
He pulled me close to him by the waist. I turned away. First rude behavior then trying to butter me up.
"Good probably for you..." I said, sulking. "I don't want to talk to you."
He held his ears in apology. I didn't budge. Instead I broke free of his grasp and stood with my back facing him.
"Please forgive me Madhu...you know I can't see you angry at me."
I plugged my ears with both my hands. He approached me and pulled them off.
"I love you Madhu..." He whispered. I whirled around. Did my knight just say he loved me?
"What? Say it again?" I said.
"I love you Madhu..." He said louder.
My anger washed away on hearing those three words. I threw my arms around him and kissed him on the cheek.
"And you? Do you love me?" He asked.
"More than anything else in the world."
He picked me up into the air and spun me around. He set me down and lifted my face up to his. He kissed me. His lips molded around mine. I pulled him closer and kissed him back. He wiped the new tears from my face.
"I hate tears." He said. I giggled.
Mother and Father came out to the garden.
"Madhu, I have made an important decision. Regarding your future."
I waited silently.
"I've seen the love and concern you two share for each other." He paused. "...so we've decided to get you two married."
My face beamed with joy. I was finally being united with my love. I hugged my father and mother.
"Thank you so much!" I said.
"There is no need for a thank you Madhu. I just want my little girl to be happy." Father said.
Rishabh approached my parents and bowed.
"Thank you Your Highness. I promise I won't let your daughter shed a tear ever again."
Father embraced Rishabh, patting him on the back.
"It is the least I could do for my bravest knight."
"We planned this news as a surprise. Rishabh helped us with it. That's why he was ignoring you the entire day."
I playfully slapped Rishabh, then laid my head on his chest. He held me in his arms, resting his chin on my head.
"Now you are truly my princess." He said.
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Next update is last update
I'm warning you all...it will be short...epilogue types 😛
