Hello everyone! How're you all? Fine and safe, I hope.

Thanks so much to Golden Glow of Amber, Cutetyhil, shashreetha, kaihil fanfiction, LadyPeach7 and James Birdsong for reviewing. Also special thanks to Golden Glow of Amber and shashreetha for faving it and to Golden Glow of Amber for following it. Here remains the second as well as the last chapter of this two-shot of love, sins, righteousness and redemption. Enjoy!

Warning: Slight...very slight sexual themes.

Enjoy!

"Dear Tala Valkov,

You're one of my most trustworthy companion in the whole castle. That's why, I have full faith on you that only you are able to carry out this task. Meet me when everyone falls asleep, in my own room.

Sincerely,

Julia Fernandez,

The princess of Spain."

The feet of the redhead were proceeding towards the room of the princess; as fast as they could. One of his hands was clutching the same letter which had been sent by her in that morning, through a white pigeon. It was the dead hour of night, almost everyone in the castle fell asleep. In front of the doors of the royal members, the knights were guarding, keeping their spines straight and holding their spears tightly. By both sides of the red-carpeted lobbies, tapers were flaring from the limestone lamp-stands. In gentle breeze, transparent georgette curtains were swaying in a ghostly way. Tala couldn't understand why the princess had called him at that time all of a sudden. As a result, he was a little anxious. Was everything really okay with her?

He halted before the room of the dual-haired girl. Every chamber of the fort was being guarded by the soldiers-except this one. He frowned, not able to guess the reason. Coughing, he voiced, "May I come in, your Highness?"

"Come in." The feminine voice permitted, seeming slightly inebriated and embraced.

Taking a sharp breath, Tala opened the door and stepped in. Immediately, his aquamarine orbs went widened in surprise. The entire chamber was gorgeously decorated with red and deep-orange roses, white night-queens, camellias and fresh garlands of jasmines. Even the bed of the princess was also covered with them so densely that the bed cover was nearly invisible. Fragrant candles were lit by the side of the windows, on the tables-near the crystal vases. Perfumed steams were being emitted from silver steamers, making a lot of things fade in front of his eyes. Floating wax-lights were swimming in the golden bowl-filled with rose water and flower petals. On a round wooden table, there was a brass jug along with a pair of metal goblets. Right by its side, on a golden chair-

The dual-haired princess of Spain was sitting, lifting one leg on another thigh, crossing them and keeping her hands on her knee. She embodied herself in a body-hugging, halter-strap, sleeveless, plain deep-red column gown, displaying a bit portion of her cocktail-glass cleavage. Even her c-cup breasts and slender hips were also struggling to tear the barrier of the cloths and come out. Chocolate hair was unbound, releasing the fresh fragrance of iris root, flurrying gently. Orange bangs weren't less; fluttering equally on her forehead. She wasn't wearing many jewelries-except the golden-pearl chandelier earrings and broad, gold wristcuffs with tassels. A bit thick lips were coated with the mixture of honey and beetroot. Kohl smudging her eyes; darker than the night was divulging the sharpness of her bright emerald orbs. Tempting she was looking; even for a saint who had never glimpsed at the face of any woman in his lifetime.

However, having her sight, immediately, the young man lowered his gazes, not looking at her for the second time. Why did she adorn herself in such an erotic manner? What was the matter? He couldn't know despite trying much.

"Good evening, Valkov," She stood up like a snake raising its hood and walked, still, keeping her legs crossed. Taking the letter from his hand, she spoke, "Hope you're doing fine."

"Yes," He nodded, trying not to be nervous, "I hope you are too."

"Why're you standing in a corner, Tala?" She softly offered him, putting the scroll into the fire of a lamp in front of the frowned eyes of the redhead, "Have a seat, along with a little wine. It won't be that bad, I guess."

"Pardon me, princess," He shook his head, "But I don't drink alcohol."

"Such a sober and nice guy, aren't you?" Smirking, Julia poured some wine in a goblet. Having a sip, she stretched the chalice towards the redhead, "What if it's been tasted by me?"

The guy was awestruck, noticing the daringness of the dual-haired girl. What the hell did she want to mean? Was she okay? Tala Valkov, being a non-relative man to her, would drink from the same glass which had been touched by her mouth? It was beyond his imaginations!

"I'm sorry," He was stern in his decision, "But…I don't think you are feeling okay. I'm going to call the physician."

Saying this, no sooner had the red-haired guy turned back than the dual-haired girl pulled him, seizing his wrist. He was shocked to no end when she pinned him against the wall. Grabbing his collars, she gawked sharply into his eyes and hissed, "You cannot leave my room without my permission, Valkov! I'm the princess of Spain. In this kingdom, without my allowance, not a single leaf of a tree even sways in the air!"

"What…" Tala bit his lips, "What do you want from me?"

"You, Valkov…" Her voice was sending chills to his spine, "I don't want anything from you except you."

Stunned to no end, the red-haired guy tried to look at the eyes of the royal lady, not giving any stare to anywhere else. Those jades were fuming like boiling water kept on a burning stove. Her long, flamboyantly polished nails were dipping in his skin. He could feel her heated breaths throwing themselves on his nostrils, lips and chin. Her lips were twisted in anger, nose was a bit red along with her cheeks. Yes, she was truly obsessed with the Russian. Even Tala got to know it. When he realized it, again, his eyes hung low at his feet.

"What happened?" She snickered, decreasing the gap between them, "I thought you would enjoy my company for this night. Come on, honey, the night is young. Let's not waste it by our motionlessness!"

"Pardon me, princess," He lightly pushed the dual-haired girl far from him, much to her disappointment, "But I fear God."

Completing his sentence, he turned back to the door, intending to leave the room right then. Julia couldn't tolerate her humiliation in this way. Fuming, she chased the redhead as he speeded his feet more. Thrusting the door, he got out, yet, leaving a part of his top clutched in the nails of the crazily obsessed princess who did it only in order to stop him. When she found out that she couldn't keep him back, she clenched her teeth and fists. Rushing to the table, she threw away the goblets and the jug, letting the wine spill all over the floor. Ripping all the flower garlands, extinguishing all the lamps and throwing away her ornaments couldn't pacify her infuriation of failure.

"Tala?" From outside, she heard the voice of Romero, "You're here? In front of the princess's room at this moment?"

Right then, the flames of obsession were replaced by the fire of vengeance. Taking a sword from a pillar, she made some cuts and scratches on her arms and shoulders. Rubbing her eyes and lips and smudging the cosmetics, she drew a blood line on her forehead and in the corner of her mouth. She didn't forget to rip some portions of her gown too. Ruffling her well-dressed hair and wrapping a shawl around her torso, she collapsed on the ground and screamed, tears of rage streamed down from her eyes which she decided to use as a weapon against the scarlet-haired Russian.

Consequently, within a few moments, Romero dashed in her room. Seeing the condition of his niece who was miserably sobbing, fallen on the ground, he was shaken to no end. Somehow, hurrying to her and helping her stand up, he asked, "Julia? What's this? How…how did it happen?"

"T…Tala…." She was shivering amidst her tears, "He suddenly broke in my room. I…I asked him the reason but…without letting me speak…"

She couldn't finish her words, bursting into tears again. Her painful sobs, ripped attire, messy hair, bloodshot eyes, bruised forehead, cheeks and lips made the blood of the blonde Spaniard bubble. Gritting his teeth, he made his niece sit on a chair and yelled, "Soldiers! Arrest Tala Valkov! Right now!"

The courtroom was packed with a lot of eminent persons of Spain since the morning. The king was sitting on his gorgeously designed throne. Romero was standing beside him, holding his naked sword, with a pair of fuming eyes. By the other side, there was Raul. Being slightly naïve in nature, he was feeling baffled and anxious. Other court members were present too, having their own seats in two separate queues, centering a linear velvet runner. Tala Valkov was brought by a pair of soldiers. His wrists and feet were chained, neck was bound in a metal cangue. Eyes were dimmed, yet, having much courage and faith. Hiding behind the silk curtains where it was reserved for her, Julia smirked bitterly.

The process of adjudication started once everyone arrived. Almost all the opinions and words were against Tala. Especially, when the dual-haired princess burst into fake tears while giving a testimony against the red-haired guy, everyone shivered, getting the eyes watered and feeling sorry for her. Tala was silently listening to each and every word delivered by her, noticing the fake quivering of her voice. In anger and humiliation, his head got lowered, yet, a single world couldn't escape his throat. He wanted to scream in the court, "I am innocent!" But he couldn't because he'd already been trapped in the cunning, obsessed, hating brain of the princess.

"We have heard everything from everyone," The king turned to the convict, "Now, Tala Valkov, do you want to say something to guard yourself?"

The redhead raised his eyes and watched the entire courtroom. Everyone was gawking at him just like staring at a creepy lizard. He wished he could have got mixed with the earth. What would he say? All the evidences and witnesses were clearly against him. Even the letter which had been written by the princess had been destroyed on the same day, by the same writer. Of course, he was innocent but framed so badly that he didn't have a way to escape. What would he do?

"Relax, Sir Valkov…"

Near his ear, he heard a feminine voice as he inaudibly gasped, avoiding the eyes of the court members. Who was it?

"You don't need to know my identity at this moment, Sir," She spoke, "Now, it's more important to save your honor. I know that you are innocent, so do I have a way to prove it. Just listen to me. Tell the court members that your top was torn from the back, not from the front. I hope you have got my point."

"Thanks…" Closing his eyes, he murmured. Receiving double confidence and faith, he shot his aquamarines open and pronounced deeply, "Your Majesty, I have something to say."

Julia screwed her brows but her father allowed, "Sure, carry on."

"That night, I was called by princess Fernandez in her room," Tala took a sharp breath before saying, "She wasn't behaving sane. At a moment, she wanted to commit adultery with me but I stepped back, coming out from the room sharply. When I was leaving, she grasped my top from behind. As a result, it got torn."

Julia mutely hissed, Romero exploded, "Impossible! Princess Julia herself was in a battered condition; injured while trying to protect herself from your nasty hands!"

"Then why isn't there a single cut or scrape on my body, Sir?" Tala blurted, "If I was supposed to rape her and she was supposed to protect herself from me, I should have been injured too-more or less as she was in her full sense, not intoxicated or dazed. Instead of all these things, why did my dress get ripped from behind? Why not from the front or the sides?"

The Spanish princess gnashed her jaw, the court members exchanged baffled stares. Whispers could be heard; some in the favor of Julia and some for Tala. The king was also puzzled, not knowing what to do. Romero was a cool-headed and shrewd person. Nearing him, he murmured, "Brother, maybe Tala is speaking the truth. But if he is spared, all the fingers will be raised at our princess. It will be a disgrace to Fernandez clan. That's why, Tala's punishment is inevitable for our own good. I hope you are getting my point."

Nodding, the king stood up and raised a hand as the courtroom fell silent again. Coughing, he declared, "I'd like to thank everyone for giving their opinions and testimonies. According to all of them, I, Sebastian Fernandez, the emperor of Spain, announce Tala Valkov to be a criminal, charged with the rape attempt of princess Julia. Thus, I sentence him to life imprisonment! Guards, take him to the dungeon."

Tala bitterly smirked, lowering his head. Yes, he was surely humiliated in front of the court and punished despite being innocent but he had full faith on his lord and his own nature. Behind the curtains, Julia was expecting him to look at her but shattering her expectations, the redhead went with the soldiers in the direction of the prison, not staring anywhere else. Stiffing her fangs and kicking on the ground, Julia turned away and left the courtroom.

Six full months passed. Tala was suffering his punishment in the dungeon but no grief or grudge against anyone could be seen in his behavior. He befriended with almost all the fellow prisoners residing with him. He would follow the orders of the guards without protesting. For his good manners, etiquette, kindness and honest courage, everyone started growing fondness for him. Even the prison workers also knew that the allegations against him were false but they couldn't say it; due to the fear of the king and Romero. However, Tala didn't mind. He just kept patient and praying to Almighty, spending his days with hopes and satisfaction.

The prisoners liked him for a particular trait of him too, or say, a unique skill. He was a good interpreter of dreams. One day, when a captive who had used to be a court worker of the king of Spain shared his dream with him, he immediately told the convict, "Very soon, you'll get released, along with getting your job back."

At first, the prisoner didn't believe it. But within a few days, he received a letter from the king, regarding his bail and the job. He was so happy knowing it that he forgot about Tala.

Some more days went. One day, the king dreamt a nightmare. Obscure, fade and clueless it was; just showing eight healthy sheep grazing in a verdant meadow caressed by the sunshine and eight skinny sheep eating them all of a sudden, appearing out of the blue. Next day, when he shared it with his court members, nobody could unearth the hidden meaning of his dream. The same worker who had been in the prison with Tala was present there too. Hearing the king, he suddenly recalled the redhead.

"Your Majesty," He spoke, "If you allow, may I say something?"

"Sure." The king nodded.

"When I was in the prison, there was a captive named Tala Valkov," He started, "He was a good interpreter of dreams. He was the one who informed me that I would get released along with receiving my job back. If you don't mind, you may share your concerns with him."

At first, the king didn't want to agree with him as he knew that Tala Valkov was the criminal of his daughter. Romero was disagreeing even more. Yet, much to the support and opinions of his court members, he decided to visit the redhead in the prison. Hearing everything from the king, the Russian spoke, "Your Majesty, it means that for the next eight months, there will be a good harvest of crops in Spain. But after it, for eight more months, a famine will break out. It will be my suggestion to prepare for the famine in the first eight months."

"Fine," The king stood up, "I'm following your words. If they come out true, you'll be released. If they don't, then you'll also be released-from all the worldly bonds."

Tala's fate did support him this time; his words came true by each and every letter. Though the famine broke out, the king of Spain didn't have to face much difficulty to encounter it. Pleased with the redhead and his spiritual skills, he got him discharged, thus promoting him to the food and health minister of Spain as an additional reward. Not being so overwhelmed, Tala thanked the Almighty and started performing his new responsibilities with much dedication and efforts, amazing all other court members. Julia tried to object against the decision of her father but in return, she only got chided. Thus, she didn't have anything to speak.

One day, while dealing with the distribution of crops and foods, Tala met Kai, his favorite brother. After a lot of emotional moments and conversations, Kai told him that before a few years, he had shifted to Spain for job purposes along with the entire family. Tala immediately wanted to meet his family members. When he met his parents along with the step brothers, their happiness knew no bound. Bryan, Spencer and Ian felt ashamed of their deeds, thus apologizing to the redhead. Tala's heart was made of gold; he forgave them. As a reverence, all his family members-bowed in front of him, finally making his dream before thirteen years true.

Everything was going happy and positive with the scarlet-haired Russian. Sometimes, Julia came to visit him too. Maybe for his apology or for creating a new bond, making him forget about his harsh, torturous and humiliating past. Whatever the motive was, he used to ignore her purposedly. It couldn't be known whether the redhead had forgiven her or not. The more the girl witnessed this unsurety in his behavior, the more it bled her heart. One day, restless and impatient, Julia asked, "Tala, I truly loved you. Why did you use to ignore my proposal? Had you accepted it, you wouldn't have had to tolerate so much pain and insult for such a long period."

"I appreciate your feelings, princess," Tala would answer, not facing her, "But your way of expressing them was wrong."

"Do I still deserve another chance, Tala?" She bit her lips, not letting her tears fall, "I really regret doing all these things to you. Your…your life could be destroyed."

"Only Almighty Who has given us life has the power to destroy it, princess," Tala replied, "Besides, only He in this universe has the power to wash away all the sins-no matter how grave, how immense, how many they are. All you have to do is to apologize with a pure heart."

"Really?" Julia's eyes would sparkle with both tears and hopes, at the same time.

"Hm," He nodded, "About the chance…I need some time. It's a chance for you to purify yourself, princess."

The life of the princess of Spain changed from that moment onwards. Her restless, fierce nature got subdued bit by bit. Every day and night, she would pray to Almighty for forgiveness, drenching her cheeks and nose, letting her eyes become bloodshot. She gave up wearing so gorgeous and precious cloths and jewelries. She would sleep on the ground, confining her in a single room most of the time of the day. Often, she helped the maids in their chores. Donating all her jewelries to the poor, she paid attention to study more and more about the world, about the cosmos, about the mystery of spirituality. Even her foods were also much normal.

In the next eight years, she lost much weight along with a little part of her breathtaking glamor but she didn't mind. In return, she attained spiritual peace, satisfaction and a pure heart which were too big for her. Even the deadly obsession of the red-haired Russian wasn't also there in her heart. Reverence and devotion had replaced it long ago. One day, when she was reading a religious book, she heard a knock at her door.

"May I come in, princess?"

She recognized the voice. It belonged to Tala Valkov. Not being restless, she stood up and hid her behind a curtain. Then, she spoke, "Come in."

The redhead entered the room and glanced around. No, the princess wasn't present there. He smirked. In these years, she had surely learnt modesty and other etiquette for a regal woman. Satisfied with her, he uttered, "I wanted to tell you something."

"Yes?" She frowned.

"Princess, I wanted some time from you," He asserted, "The time has finally ended. Now, it's the decision."

"Tala, whatever the decision will be, I'll accept it gladly," Julia breathed, "I love you, thus, gave you an offer. It's completely your choice to accept it or reject it."

Julia's words filled Tala's heart with admiration and respect for her. Really, she'd changed a lot. Her obsession for him was absent there, or say, just disappeared. He felt much proud of her.

"I'd like to marry you," He announced his decision after a few moments of pause, "I've already talked to His Majesty in this regard. He's happily permitted me and asked me to take your permission. Do you have any problem with this proposal, princess?"

Julia's heart shuddered. For hearing this thing, she'd waited…waited for the eternity. Time stopped for her, closing her eyes, she thanked Almighty as pearly waterworks sprinted across her cheeks. She couldn't utter a single word in euphoria.

"What happened, princess?" Tala eagerly asked, "Why aren't you talking?"

"You're such a scholar, Tala…" Julia smirked, wiping her happy tears and inhaling deeply, "And don't even know that the silence of a maiden is taken to be her permission?"

And that's it! Thus, the story ended!

See, dear people, obsession is very dangerous. Whenever love turns to obsession, it can destroy everything (Before this fic, I've proved this fact in quite a few fics of mine, I guess.) But this is the first one with a happy/non-tragic ending. My dearies, try your best not to get obsessed with anyone or anything.

There will be more TalaJul from me in future (Damn! How can I forget this spicy, haughty, heartthrob, sinlessly hot couple?! They're my second favorite OTP after all! T_T T_T). "Venom: Another name of love (A tragedy)", "His clown (Family humor)", "Under the shower (Lemon)", "Painting (Horror)", "Don't ever fall in love (Horror TalaXJuliaXKai)" and what not? Stay tuned for them ;)

So, do read and review. Pardon the grammatical and spelling errors. Take care and stay safe :D

-Misty ^_^ ^_^