[ PROLOGUE ]
HAVERI EMPRIRE, EMPEROR'S PRIVATE CHAMBER
The smell of alcohol filled the room as a man around 30 sat on the ground gulping down the red liquid continuously. Finishing his wine he threw the glass on the floor causing an irritating sound while some of the red liquid splashed around. The personal guard standing behind him couldn't watch the scene anymore and decided to speak.
"Your majesty, drinking too much will increase your problem of bad stomach" Ishank, the royal guard said. He was worried. His master always had the bad stomach when he drinks too much. When the mistress was around, his mastar never touched a drop of alcohol for her. It has been two months since she died and his master is already at such state. He fears if his master could survive another month if this continues.
"Master it has been three days you haven't even attended the court. The matters of the court delayed for several days already" he said again trying to divert the attention of his master.
Manik laughed out, "Ishank what's the point? For whom should I work hard? Who will share this life with me? It's all meaningless" he took another glass and poured wine to drink again.
Ishank sighed and knew his master wouldn't listen to him. He turned his head to the side where a huge portrait of the Empress placed on the wall. His master only listens to her. If the mistress was alive then his master would have been stable.
Manik drank and leaned on the table. The alcohol took its effect, his eyes were blurry and the image of his wife flashed in his eyes. A small smile curved on his lips. Before closing his eyes a word escaped his mouth, "Nhu...."
•••••••••••••••••
PRINCESS'S CHAMBER..... WEST WINGS
A woman coughed hard. She clutched her chest which was aching painfully. She looked around the room and frowned.
"What's happening? I'm not dead?" She frowned at her own question. She quickly got up from bed and sat infront of the mirror. She almost fell from the chair when she saw her face.
"I....." She was speechless for a moment. She couldn't believe what she saw. This face wasn't her. She was forced to die....she was.... She gulped down. Is she reborn? A kind of hope appeared in her heart.
"I'm reborn" she exclaimed in surprise and touched her cheek. Gasping she smiled and started to check her body. She pulled down her sleeves of right shoulder and was surprised to see the tattooed flower on it. It was the flower her husband himself painted on her. She can't get how the tattoo appeared on her shoulder. "Could it appeared with me?" The design was of course an exception.
"Husband" she gasped as her eyes widened instantly. Her husband! She got up abruptly and rushed out of the room. She took turn on the rout and went towards the secret way. There's not a place in the palace she is not aware of even including all the secret paths. She moved towards the Emperor's palace and sneaked into the private chamber. Her body froze on the spot when she saw the alcohol jar on the floor and a man was sleeping on bed. The smell of alcohol was too strong. She covered her nose moving towards the bed before staring at her husband with teary eyes. Seeing his condition her heart ached painfully.
It's all because of those evil doers. Suddenly her face hardened and her fist clenched tightly. She would never forgive them for hurting her husband.
"Nhu..." Manik groaned in his sleep like he is in pain. "Don't leave me, please" he pleaded becoming restless.
Nandini without thinking get on the bed and pulled his head on her lap stroking lightly, "shhh....I'm here" she whispered leaning down planting a kiss on his head.
"Nhu.." Manik whispered and nuzzled in her belly. His arm came automatically grabbing her waist tightly. Nandini kept stroking his hair lovingly. At this moment she could only think of helping her husband to sleep well.
At dawn she woke up abruptly. She looked down to see her husband still sleeping on her lap. She has to leave before he gets up. She couldn't let him see her yet. She grabbed a pillow and slowly tugged it under his head before getting out of the bed. She looked at his figure one more time before leaving.
Manik woke up after sometime and frowned slightly. Every night he used to drink until he loses all his sanity to help him sleep without feeling the pain and wake up with heavy headache but today he felt good. At night he didn't feel alone. He looked at his hand and felt like he hold his wife again. This was the first time he felt different after her death.
"Nhu" he whispered looking at his hand, "did you really came?"
••••••••••••••••
SOUTHERN PALACE ...
"Mother you have to help me marry Chaitrangi. She was the one I like. But father forced me to marry that ugly bitch" Amey threw the glass angrily making Mayurakshi frown.
"You are a prince, you should know how to control your temper infront of others" Mayurakshi chided slowly, "besides things couldn't be rushed at this time. The empress just died and she was your aunt. You can't get a decree of marriage for the time being"
"What her death has to do with me?" Amey retorted. "I couldn't stand that woman living in the palace as my wife"
"You should be patient enough to calculate things. It has been two years your uncle ascended the throne yet become so powerful. If you couldn't improve yourself in the court how will you get the throne?"
"Will he give up the throne?" Amey snorted.
Mayurakshi smiled, "since his wife is dead, he wouldn't last long. The source of his strength has gone, how long he can keep up? Manik treasured his wife and her death would pull him towards the end slowly. This days his mental condition is unstable and drowning himself in alcohol. It's just a matter of time we will get powers in hand. As for your wife I have a way to deal with her"
Amey suddenly found something that interested him, "how are you going to do that?"
"I will sent her to the emperor to take care of him"
"But uncle won't look at other women let alone letting her take care of him. Even his palace is void of any maids" Amey frowned.
"She is a fool and will definitely make mistakes. Manik only tolerates his wife with patience. So when she makes a fool of herself and get killed by his anger, at that time no one will blame you for abandoning her"
"Great" Amey nodded.
"I will talk to her soon" Mayurakshi smiled. The emperor will definitely die soon and if that fool dies along then it will be double benefit for her. She was satisfied with her own planning.
••••••••••••••••••
EMPEROR'S CHAMBER...
Manik walked inside the room after the morning court. Ishank was following behind him. He looked at his master's tired face then sighed inwardly. Before his master would have been energetic all the time and the Empress would always greet him after the court session with his favourite sweet.
"Master, today's session took more time than usual. It's already lunch time. Shall I order food for you?" Ishank asked. Even though he knows his master only eat food made by the Empress. It was rarely seen him eating food made in the royal kitchen. He thought his suggestion would be declined but Manik who was aimlessly looking out of the window nodded slightly.
Ishank hide his surprise then smiled. At least he agreed to eat something. "Then master let's move towards the dining area"
Manik turned around without a word and walked towards the dining room. As soon as he stepped inside the room a sweet smell hit him. Manik looked up to see the table was already set with meal. Ishank who followed in halted abruptly and looked at the table in shock.
I haven't even ordered yet. He thought.
Manik's face twisted. He clenched his fist and walk towards the table. The food look delicious and mouthwatering. He suddenly felt hungry. His heart was bearing fast and he don't know why but he felt everything was familiar. He sat down and served himself. He don't like maids touching his things. The only woman who was closed to him was his wife except his mother. With the first bite of the food his heart almost stopped. The familiar smell and taste that he hadn't eaten since she left him. It was her flavour and except her no one can make it. Not even his mother.
Manik got up abruptly causing the chair he was sitting fell on the ground, "investigate, who made these food"
Ishank was startled but quickly nodded his head.
"It wasn't a dream" Manik uttered with a clenched fist. "If you are really here, then you can't hide from me. I won't let you"
••••••••••••••••••
HOW'S THE PROLOGUE?
It started with kind of mystery isn't it? 😏
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