Welcome to Satam kingdom once again! Here's another chapter!
Btw, a trilogy on this genre, would you like to read? It would probably be a prequel to when the kings were kids. ;)
(With cuteness overloaded!)
Anyways, Happy reading! :)
After about an hour, the kings and the Queens were busy discussing about the kingdom chorus. Walking the same path, the Satam Prince was also seated in the meeting and that did bother Muskaan.
She wasn't forbidden to the meeting hall, but all she felt was bored discussing over politics and economics of the kingdom, that wasn't even near her best interest.
She held her maid Eva with herself and chose to walk out to her favourite place.
"He didn't even look at me Eva! Was I expecting too much?" She spoke as a disappointed pout travelled her lips.
"No no your highness! Maybe he didn't because he was afraid to get lost in your eyes?" Eva as always, started buttering her.
"Stop it Eva! I don't think that's the reason -"
"Pardon your highness! Pardon!" The guard suddenly knelt in her feet, as she reached the entrance of the beautiful place, she never allowed anyone to enter.
"What is it?" She asked getting a little confused on his act.
"The.. the King made his way inn. And I.. I couldn't stop him!" He knelt down and joined his hands, "I beg your pardon! Please forgive me your highness!"
Muskaan thought for a moment guessing who the king was. Her forehead wrinkled as she entered in the garden totally ignoring the guard's apology. A doubt rooted in her mind and she grabbed the guard's sword and entered inside all alert.
Taking a few steps inn, she found a man standing with support of a big apple tree. She knitted her eyebrows and gripped the sword tightly, before stepping towards him. Gaining control on her breaths, she swayed the sword that hit the trunk of the tree and spared the man's neck by bare an inch!
To her surprise the man didn't seem any bothered with her sword. He ducked the sword and faced her with a smile.
The smile! The man! It was him! Finally!
She was shocked to find him there. What was he doing here instead of being at the meeting? And why didn't he react anyway normal? That's when morning's disappointment creeped her and she chose to act a little angry and rude.
"Didn't know it was that easy to get to a King's neck! Your grace doesn't seem bothered." She said divorcing the sword from the trunk as she heard his chuckle.
"Ah.. Wrong! I knew who was coming!" Daya had a teasing smile on his lips as he stared at her proud expression switching suddenly.
"Hun? How? How come?" Confused, she asked a little loud. He was always like a riddle. Tough to guess, tough to understand, and very hard to read!
"The wind whispered arround and I heard the warning." He spoke slowly pressuring every word.
"Alright then!" He throwing puzzles when she's pissed, really a bad combination. She turned back in a giff to leave when he suddenly crossed her in front to make her stay a little longer.
"Oh..kay! Okay! It was your anklets!" He smiled again but was a little hesitant this time, "They still.. ah.. sound the same!"
She smiled looking at him stammering like that. What a rare view!
"Hmm. I'm impressed!" She spoke with attitude as she dropped the sword down.
"I'm glad I'm still worth your highness!" He chuckled lightly before wandering his eyes around.
The garden was way too beautiful to be admired. Various flowering plants, various birds and the pretty fountain at the centre added to its beauty. The smell of the roses filled his heart giving him a different kind of sooth.
"The place's different and.. very beautiful!" He whispered being completely spellbound with the nature's beauty.
"Certainly. I wanted to reshape this garden into something mesmerizing!" She spoke with a small smile occupying her lips as she saw him staring at the rose bushes.
"Umm.. mind taking a walk?" He turned and asked her like a gentleman.
"Ah! No! Come I'll show you around!"
"Yeah sure. After you!" He bowed a little and followed her as she walked through the colorful roses and making the garden even more beautiful with her sweet voice.
..
..
"We were clear about it Abhijeet!" Lord Satam spoke as he rolled the maps and scrolls away.
"Still sir! I want you to think about it again. We don't want to force -"
"We are not forced for anything young Lord, we are happy and grateful to make this relation work!" The Queen spoke with an assuring smile on her lips.
"We were hoping if you could talk to her about it! I mean if she is not ready then-" Tarika tried to speak but was cut again.
"Don't worry your highness! I know my sister more than she knows herself." Prince Rajat smiled as he continued, "I am certain that she likes him, my Lord!"
All smiled at this brother-sister bond before a maid walked inn to inform about the lunch. They all proceeded to the dining hall but chose to wait for Daya and Muskaan.
"Where's he?" Abhijeet asked one of his trusted man.
"His Grace's in the garden with Princess!" The man informed him and that sparked a smile to all the faces.
"Ah. I see." Abhijeet smirked a little bit, "Don't disturb them!" He winked at the man and all of them shared their lunch with some chit chats and jokes and laughs.
..
..
Daya grew a little uncomfortable when the thought hit him. He wanted to know about it and was waiting for a perfect moment with her. Alone!
"Umm.. I.. I wonder if you know why we are here!" He initiated in a bad way and did curse himself in his head.
"Yeah.. somehow I happen to.." She didn't look at him just continued walking around the fountain.
"No I meant apart from the trade and stuff!" He thought he made it clear though she already knew what he was hinting at.
"Hmm!" She didn't chose to speak this time. Just a little nod was all.
"Ohkay!" He rubbed his palms together showing his anxiety and nervousness. He was growing awkward talking about this and would've never done if it wasn't necessary.
"I wanted to let you know that.. ah.. I don't wanna force you into this." He stopped in search of some appropriate words to proceed, "I understand.. I mean.. I will understand if you have someone else in your life. You can.. trust me with that!"
Daya finished as he stared reading look on her face. She stopped by a small wooden log that was made for resting beneath the huge cherry tree.
She tried not to show the disturbance that arose in her heart by this. How could he just say that? Was he doubting their relation? Their bonding? Their childhood friendship? She knew he liked her since childhood and so did she but asking this felt a little insecure to her.
"Muskaan!" He called her softly as his patience was breaking bones inside him. He was scared for what she would reply. What would be her answer? Was that a mistake to hurt her by doubting her feelings? He was going more anxious by the time passing.
"That's.. sweet of you asking and..." She spoke with a hidden smirk. This question, that too by him, did offend her and countering it with a prank was all she could think at that time.
"And?" He could barely control himself now.
"Fortunately I do feel for someone!"
And a crash. His palms got clutched in a tight fist as he tried not to let dejection show off on his face. He looked here and there and tried to paste a fake smile onn.
"Mind telling for... whom?" He wasn't sure if he was loud enough to reach her ears. But he was least cared repeating the question.
"So that.. I can be at his funeral by tomorrow? Hmm?" She hid her smirk and masked it with the most innocent face.
"Will try not to!"
"Pardon? Did you just say something?" She could bet she heard the anger and annoyance in every word that he spoke but ignored it intentionally as how cute he looked in this situation.
"Ah. No nothing!" He bit his tongue and tried to dig more about it, "You.. ah.. didn't answer my question?"
"Okay so.. there was this silent, arrogant kid with me when I was staying at the Great Palace." She tried her best to not burst out. A smile was still present on her lips.
"G.. great palace?" He felt weird as he couldn't remember any of her friend when she used to stay with them. Especially with him, at their palace! It was when Lord Satam ruled all the Kingdoms and trained him and his brother.
"Yes. And I started feeling for him since he saved my life when I least expected him to!" She hid her smile and started walking away from him towards the exit.
"He also saved you? When? Wher-" He stopped abruptly.
Wait!
Wasn't that story familiar? Or say.. relatable? The silent-arrogant kid! Wasn't that him? And that life saving crap? Didn't he remember saving her from drowning in the sea, when they were young and she had lost her way home?
"It means-" His smile widened as he got what she actually explained, "That was hell of a hint idiot!" He slapped his own head in disappointment and left the garden embarassed at his own self.
A/N:- Next chapter's coming soon.
Have a great day!
+S+