"The next day, under the guise of doing her business, Rabia inspected around the campsite. There was a little niche hidden well anong the bushes.
Every night after Sanah left, Rabia left after some time and hid in the niche hearing them talk.
Their talk mostly made little to no sense to her. They were talking about strategies. And after a couple of days, they talked about assassinating the king and the queen.
Rabia's blood ran cold. Her sister and her brother in law were going to be killed.
She wanted to scream and ask them why. What had they done? Wiping away her tears, Rabia planned to listen to them every night abd sabotage the assassination.
***
"I have decided on my first wish."
The next morning, she was surprised that the mad king had called for her. They were to break fast in the king's personal garden.
Dilruba got ready as soon as possible l, she chose a yellow chiffon dress and simple jewelry to adorn her neck and ears.
Dilruba had thought long and hard about how she would execute the plan. There were a mere 10 nights left. She was glad she had asked for 3 wishes.
She was going to redeem one of the wishes today itself. She was dressed to entince him. But she found herself enticed.
When she walked in the garden, she was amazed. Sun beams streamed in the garden and yet it was cool and pleasant. In the grass was a table with various items.
"You're here." Her eyes turned to him and her breath notched in her throat.
He wore a red tunic studded with tiny stones which shined in the sun. He wore a turban today. His eyes gleamed in various hues of amber. Dilruba thought he had looked divine.
Now that after the story and the breakfast was done, she waited for him to say somehing.
The mad king swirled his tea, his pressed his lips on the rim and sipped the bitter liquid. He looked at her and his eyes told her to go on.
Dilruba took a deep breath abd cast her eyes away from him. She couldn't relay it to him while he looked at her like that. She twisted her fingers and squared her shoulders.
"I wish to marry you in a grand wedding."
Dilruba looked at his face and instead of shock there was a calculating look. The glass clinked as he set it down.
"Marriage won't save you." He told her.
Her hands were in fists. "I know that."
"Then why? Why do you ask for this?"
"Isn't it every girl's dream? To get married?" He did not seem convinced to her so she said, "Are you going to deny me after you gave me your word?"
He shook his head, "Forgive me, Sherezaade. I was merely trying to understand your reason."
"Will you grant me my wish, your majesty?"
"We shall have a wedding in 2 days."
***
The kingdom was abuzz with the news. The mad king who was rumoured to hate women and kill them was marrying. The people rejoiced and they were curious about the woman who had tied him down.
Rumours of her beauty and wit spread far and wide. The wedding was announced in court and Dilruba's maids rushed in giggling and stumbling asking her questions.
Outside her balcony, there were people waving and cheering at her. Dozens of flowers and gifts arrived at the palace for her.
Her popularity seemed to soar. Dilruba was happy that her plan seemed to move in the right direction.
It would be extremely difficult to kill a figure who was in the limelight. And she made sure she was in the linelight. On the ocassion of her wedding, she ordered the kitchen to make breads which she then ordered to be distributed outside the palace.
Inside the palace too, she helped out in various tasks. Learning about the ladies and their life was intriguing. She had learnt that they all arrived early at dawn and left at the first light of dusk.
Once while roaming the palace idly,she heard giggles and familar deep rumble, peeked hiding behind the corner and saw him. Beside him was a woman of slender stature, her long dark hair was pinned in an elegant fashion.
What surprised her was his broad smile while he talked to her. Jealousy took root in her heart.
She turned the corner to leave and saw the vizier block her path. He had a sinister glare on his face.
"I know what you're doing. It won't save you, Miss."
Dilruba squared her shoulders abd tipped her nose, "It's your highness to you."
"What?"
"I am engaged to the king. The king's fiancè has to be addressed as your highess."
"Dilruba!" A growl sounded from behind her. The hairs on Dilruba's neck stood upright. Fear lodged in her heart as she turned to him.
He didn't even seemed to fazed that he had called her by her name. Dilruba clutched hands to stop them from shaking.
"Your majesty!" She bowed. Once she looked up, she saw the woman beside him. Dilruba found her the most beautiful. Her face was angelic.
"You have to apologise." The mad king addressed Dilruba. Her heart couldn't contain the hatred she had for him anymore. She looked at him with all the hatred he could muster.
"I ask for forgiveness your majesty but I will not heed this order of yours." She had relayed in a frigid tone. And once again after bowing to the mad king, she turned arounf and left.
***
Thunder and lightening rumbled in the sky matching her mood. She did not know when her legs carried her to the garden she had been in, in the morning.
The sky was dark and wind blew harder indicating the arrival if rain. And moments later, the rain lashed all over.
All her memories flashed in front if her eyes,the screams if her family, the first time she decided to whore herself out if hunger. She clenched her fist.
The cold rain pounded on her head,it did help her with her temperament. She squeezed her eyes shut. She fought tears, refusing to cry.
When she opened her eyes,the mad king stood before her. Drenched in the rain, his hair matted, his eyes as dark as the cloudy sky.
Raindrops dripped down his nose anf his lips.
"Get inside." His bouce carried over the blasting rain.
She stood defiantly. She wanted to show him, she wasn't obligated to do as he said, that she wasn't scared of him. He grabbed her hand and led her to her chambers.
He shut the door behind her. The raging rain muted in the background, there was a bigger storm brewing in the room.
He let out a loud huff and combed his hair back. "Change and then we'll talk."
She stripped out if her dress as his eyes widened.
"Any other orders for your servant, your majesty? "
"I haven't the slightest idea why you are choose to act this way."
"Oh don't you?! Let me tell you, I was kidnapped and then brought to this place where I was help prisoner and in 10 fucking days, I am going to be slaughtered like a sacrificial lamb! And it is all your fault"
He flinched at her words. Her chest rose and fell, her abger not subsiding.
He stalked to her and she stepped back, until her back hit a wall.
"I agree it's my fault." He breathed out. "But I would like it if you didn't cross his path."
"I did not! He did! He told me whatever I did, it won't save me." Her voice tore unbehest to her.
"It is the truth." He sighed.
Dilruba's chest pulled. They were wrong. She thought. She would save herself. That was what she was doing all this time.
"That doesn't mean I like it being thrown in my face."
After a brief silence she raised her eyes to look at him, what she found surprised her. His eyes was hooded and dipped in lust.
Her hair was dripping wet, she found his eyes following the wet trail as it disappeared under her chemise.
Dilruba wanted to laugh out loud. She had put him on a pedestal. But he was right below with her. Mortal. Who felt everything she felt. He was just better at hiding it, she realised.
She raised her palms to his chest and she found him shiver. Supressing a laugh she moved her hands to his shoulders.
"You're cold. You should remove this. Your majesty." He hands moved smoothly to unbutton his crimson coat and slide it off his shoulders.
She caught him straining to breath as his chest rose and fell. Blood rushed to his neck and upper chest competed with his tunic.
She found him swaying towards her with hooded eyes. She moved away from him to the fireplace. An amusing smile played on her lips when she heard a stifled groan behind her.
It had been long since she played these games willingly. She placed the coat in front of the fireplace to dry and sat on the floor basking in the warmth.
Through her peripheral vision she saw him opening her almari and grab something from inside it. Maybe he was going to tell her to cover up, she thought.
He settled on the chaise behind and she found a towel on her head. His hands moved, rubbing her head. He was drying her hair, she realised.
Her chest constricted with a strange feeling. He had surprised her again. Tears stung her eyes. She wanted his moment to last forever.
"Promise me that you will not cross paths with him on purpose."
She tipped her head up ready to fire her words. What she saw was pure concern reflected on his face. She remembered the night she met the vizier. He had urged her to act asleep.
She had thought that he was fearful of him that day but she realised he was scared for her.
Hey eyebrows knotted. Her breatg was out of tune. The feelings in her chest pained her, it was overflowing and overwhelming for her.
So she responded in the best way she could. She tipped her chin and planted her lips to his. It was a short and chaste kiss.
She turned to look at his face. There were so many emotions running through, she doubted whether she had made a mistake.
"I am so-" Her apology was cut in half as he claimed her lips. His fingers were in the back of her back as he pulled her forward.
He tasted like coffee and his lips were soft as he continued his onslaught.
She moved towards him without breaking the kiss. She used his arms for support until she was in lap. He groaned as she moved her hips.
Suddenly he pulled away from her. From all the years of experience she knew when she wasn't wanted. Disappointment crashed into her as she abandoned his lap and walked towards her bed.
"It's late. You should leave, your majesty."
She settles inside her covers and squeezed her eyes shut. Shame washed over her. She wanted to marry him to kill him not fulfill her carnal desires, she reminded herself.
After a while she heard the door click.
***
A/N : vot and comment