chapter 17 #2
?He quickly escorted Ashnoor and Shyama toward the waiting palanquin.
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?Several soldiers formed a protective circle around them.
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?As Ashnoor stepped inside the palanquin, something glimmered beneath the embroidered cushion.
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?Her brows knitted together.
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?Carefully lifting the fabric, she found a beautifully crafted cylindrical metal scroll container.
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?It was decorated with intricate carvings of serpents and blooming lotuses.
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?Tiny emeralds and rubies shimmered across its surface.
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?The lid was tightly sealed with an unusual locking mechanism.
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?"It must belong to someone..." she murmured.
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?Before she could think further-
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?"Rajkumari, we must leave immediately!" Shyama called.
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?Ashnoor quickly wrapped the mysterious object inside her shawl and hid it beneath her belongings.
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?The palanquin bearers lifted the palki.
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?Their journey back began.
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?---
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?Abhimaan's POV
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?The moment she collided with me...
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?...time stopped.
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?Everything seemed to freeze.
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?The sounds of the temple bells, the chanting of the priests, the endless crowd around us-
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?Everything faded into silence.
?The crowd disappeared.
?The noise disappeared.
?time itself seemed to pause .
?Only she remained.
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?My hand had instinctively wrapped around her slender waist to stop her from falling, pulling her more securely against me.
?when i looked down .
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?Because of that pull or the sudden gust of wind swept through the temple courtyard, I don't know but the edge of her veil slipped.
?Revealing her face .
?For a heartbeat...
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?It pounded violently against my chest, each heartbeat louder than the last.
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?What is this...?
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?I had faced battlefields soaked in blood.
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?I had stared death in the eye without fear.
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?Yet one accidental collision with a stranger had left me completely defenseless.
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?She was unlike anyone I had ever seen.
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?Her milky-white skin glowed beneath the golden rays of the morning sun, carrying the faintest blush across her cheeks. Long, silky light-brown hair framed her delicate face like flowing silk.
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?But it wasn't her beauty that stole my breath.
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?It was...
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?Her eyes.
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?Those mesmerizing hazel-green eyes held an innocence so pure that, for one impossible moment, I forgot who I was.
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?Forgot where I was.
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?Forgot why I had come here.
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?I had never believed perfection could exist...
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?Until now.
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?A soft. delicate fragrance of fresh roses surrounded her, so delicate that it lingered in the air between us, light yet intoxicating.
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?Without realizing it, I found myself breathing it in.
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?My pulse thundered in my ears.
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?I had seen countless noblewomen, princesses, queens, and foreign dignitaries throughout my life. Beauty had never managed to distract me.
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?Until today.
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?She was...
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?Beyond beautiful.
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?Long lashes trembled over the most mesmerizing hazel-green eyes I had ever seen.
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?Those eyes...
?my grip tightened unconsciously.
?not enough to hurt .
?Enough to make sure she did'nt disappear.
?those eyes. why those eyes feel familiar? ....
?I had never believed the heavens could create someone so breathtaking.
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?Who... is she?
?A strange ache pierced his chest
?for a split second ....
?i wasn't standing in a crowded temple .
?i saw flashes.
?A different life.
?a blur face girl ,
?A promise.
?A separation.
?Pain.
?The vision vanished immediately as it was just my imagination.. May be it's my imagination.
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??Her wide eyes slowly opened.
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?She had probably expected to fall onto the hard stone floor.
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?Instead...
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?She found herself pressed against my chest.
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?Her brows knitted together in confusion before she slowly lifted her face.
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?The instant our eyes met...
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?She froze.
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?Her breathing hitched.
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?The color drained from her face as if she had seen a ghost.
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?She stared directly into my eyes.
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?Not with fear.
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?Not with anger.
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?But with complete disbelief.
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?For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
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?Her gaze searched mine as though she already knew me...
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?As though she had seen these very eyes before.
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?Suddenly, a strong gust of wind swept through the temple courtyard.
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?The cloth covering the lower half of my face slipped away.
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?Her eyes widened even more.
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?She looked utterly stunned.
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?I could almost hear her silent question.
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?It's him...
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?She looked at me as though I had stepped out of one of her dreams.
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?Strange...
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?Why did it feel as though I had known her for much longer than this single moment?
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?My fingers still rested around her waist.
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?Neither of us moved.
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?Neither of us wanted to.
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?The entire world disappeared around us.
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?Only when someone accidentally bumped into my shoulder did reality come crashing back.
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?The mission.
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?The traitor.
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?The stolen state documents.
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?I reluctantly loosened my hold on her.
?i ask her gently is she okay?
?she simply blinked saying she is fine.
?her voice felt strangely pleasant to me .
?For reasons I couldn't explain, every instinct within me wanted to keep her close... to ask her name... to make sure she was safe.
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?But I was the Crown Prince.
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?My kingdom came before my heart.
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?Always.
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?I stepped back, though my eyes refused to leave hers.
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?I'll find you.
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?No matter who you are...
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?No matter where you've come from...
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?I will find you again.
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?That silent promise echoed within me before duty finally took control.
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?From the corner of my eye, I noticed a hooded man slipping through the crowd, constantly glancing behind him.
?My gaze returned to her again for a brief second
?" You should go home its not safe here " I muttered.
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?Without another thought, I rushed after him.
?Abhimaan's jaw clenched as he caught sight of a hooded man slipping between the market stalls.
?"There!"
?Without wasting another second, he sprinted after him.
?His soldiers immediately understood.
?"Protect Yuvraj!"
?"No."
?Abhimaan's voice was cold.
?"Alive."
?The chase exploded through the crowded fair.
?Vendors jumped aside.
?Clay pots shattered beneath rushing feet.
?Children cried.
?Women hurriedly moved out of the way.
?The hooded man overturned fruit carts behind him.
?Abhimaan leaped over them effortlessly
?"There!"
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?The traitor realized he had been discovered.
?and shoved people aside and disappeared between rows of shops.
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?"After him!" Abhimaan commanded.
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?His soldiers immediately split into groups.
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?The frightened crowd scattered in every direction.
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?The traitor overturned fruit carts, clay pots and wooden stalls to block their path.and sprinted toward the narrow streets behind the temple.
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??Abhimaan vaulted over the fallen cart in one swift motion.
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?The traitor glanced back.
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?Fear flashed across his face.
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?He knew escape was becoming impossible.
?"Stop him!" Suraj shouted.
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?The disguised soldiers immediately surrounded the exits.
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?The chase began.
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?The traitor leaped over carts, pushed through the marketplace, and disappeared into winding alleys, but he had underestimated the warriors of Rajgarh.
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?Within minutes, Abhimaan caught up.
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?The traitor reached for the sword hidden beneath his robes.
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?Too late.
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?Abhimaan blocked the attack with his forearm before delivering a powerful strike that sent the weapon clattering across the stone path.
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?The man tried to flee again.
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?Abhimaan had finally cornered the traitor near the temple pond.
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?the man again drew out a small dagger .
?Abhimaan sidestepped effortlessly before striking the weapon from his hand.
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?The dagger spun across the stone steps.
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?The traitor attempted to flee again.
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?But before he could take another step.
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?Abhimaan grabbed him by the collar and with a punch threw him violently onto the ground.
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?The impact knocked the air from his lungs.
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?His soldiers surrounded the man from every side.and quickly restrained him.
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?Still struggling, the traitor spat at the Crown Prince's feet.
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?"You'll never find them."
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?Abhimaan's expression remained unreadable.
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?"Take him."
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Thank you so much to everyone who's been reading and supporting my story. If you've read the updated chapter, I'd love to know your thoughts!??