A few objected,“Marry her now. We don’t trust you. Or leave her here; let us finish our ritual.”
I looked at him, snivelling. The bloody sword was still in his hand. Rage filled his eyes as he turned to look at me. I hid my face, unable to meet his gaze. I knew nothing.
Let me die. Don’t do this.
“You should not do this. Your bride will not like it. Please,” I protested, crying.
“I will,” he decided, and I was stunned, hearing the sizzling sound of him piercing his thumb with his sword.
I nuzzled my face even more into him and shook my head terribly.
“No, no, you are a prince, and I’m just a maid. You cannot do this,” I argued, but he clamped my nape tightly and made me look into his eyes.
Tears streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably as I felt his thumb touch my forehead, filling the parting of my hair with his thick, warm blood.
I burst into tears and immediately tried to wipe his blood off, but he grasped my wrist and pulled me closer.
I sobbed.
“She is mine now!” he shouted.“Touch her, and you all will burn alive on your pyres!”
As he wrapped his hand around me, I was reminded of when he accidentally threw colour at me during Holi3. The thought of his family finding out paralysed me.
What just happened?
He picked me up and stood tall.“She is dead to you all now. Never try to look for her,” he stated, stepping back and mounting me onto his horse. He quickly settled behind me, and I turned to see the soldiers following him as we rode off. The din of the crowd diminished as the horse galloped faster.
I looked at my white clothes stained with his blood and his finger adorned with the engagement ring. It was only six months until his wedding, and I had ruined everything for him.
A strange tension lurked between us, as I didn’t know where he was taking me.
As his chest kept bumping my back as we bounced on the horse, I tried to maintain distance,
But he tugged the horse’s reins with one hand and wrapped his other hand around me to keep me from falling.
I sat in silence, stunned.
Once we reached a spot far from the horror, he dismounted and helped me down. He glanced away momentarily, checking if anyone was following.
I wiped the tears off my cheeks and looked at a small river winding through the woods. The sun was setting, casting an orange and red glow across the sky.
“Come with me,” he ordered, walking into the forest while holding his horse’s reins, leading him along.
My feet froze. Being alone with a prince felt too heavy on my shoulders, especially since he was to be married in six months. I couldn’t tarnish his image. My gaze scanned the surroundings, considering all the possibilities I might face alone with him.
But I didn’t have any choice. Clenching my trembling fingers, I followed him quietly. The scent of mud was strong after the rain. The trees were a different shade of green, reminding me of his eyes.
I shook my head.
“Suno,”“Listen!” he called out, and I looked at him. He stood a few steps from the river, and I stopped a foot from him.“You should clean yourself. No one can know about this or what happened today,” he exclaimed, and I understood.
“Ji,”
“I’ll get you clothes. Just wait here for me,” he added, striding away. I grabbed his wrist and looked at him with tear-filled eyes, and shook my head. He held my wrist back, pulling his hand away.“It’s okay; nothing will happen. Just stay here,”
My voice cracked as I tried to speak through cries,“No, please, don’t leave me alone.”
He inhaled deeply.“Fine, I’m here,”
