Mysteriously yours

Princess Aria

Maithili's pov

She wore a white top and black dress pant. Her dark black long hair cascading from her shoulders. She moved toward me while her heel made sound interacting with marbled floor.

"Miss Maithili Joshi?"

"Y-yes—your highness!" I stumbled on my words nervously.

She smiled a little like she was amused by something.

"I see why he likes you!" She whispered.

I glanced at her a little puzzled by her remark.

"Well..anyway I am sure Princess Rati had already given you —my intro if I am correct!"

"Umm.." I became speechless as I didn't know how to answer that.

"You don't have to say anything lady Maithili!" She smiled gently. "You seems like a noble person...would you like to have a tea perhaps?" She asked in a most gentle way possible.

Even though Princess Rati told me to stay away from her because she's not the best person to be around.

"I would love too." But I chose not to let others judgement guid me and accepted her invitation.

___

"So lady Maithili tell me about yourself?" She brought the cup closer to lips.

"Umm...well, I am a school teacher, my parents owns a small bakery..." I nervously answered her question.

"Do you like teaching?"

"Yes absolutely! I even want to open my own academy!"

"Oh great!"

"Yeah!"

Aria's pov

People avoid me like a plague but this girl she doesn't really care what others thinks of me.

"You can ask me anything you want lady Maithili!? Don't be shy!" I placed the cup in the tray.

"Earlier you said that you don't need an intro—what does that mean Princess?"

"Oh!" I chuckled. "Well you see I am kinda famous but not for good things!"

Her brown eyes glanced at me, patiently.

"I am a Princess or should I say the crown Princess and only heiress of Rajput family. So when you have such prestigious tittle there's a high possibility that you'll be bestowed upon with responsibilities. And sometimes to taking on your responsibility you will have to abolish your dreams and wishes." I took a deep breath and glanced back at her. As this was the first time when anyone has listened to me with so much patience.

"You must be thinking where I am going with this right...?" I said pointed at me previous statement.

"No, your highness. I am just simply listening."

"Oh—well..so I was saying..yeah sometimes it gets hard to stand on a pedestal—one wrong move and it will affect your image..something like that happened to me...I still remember that—when I was almost engaged to Prince Varun..he did something that made me uncomfortable—and immediately I broke up with him. That was one and only time when I broke up with someone since then I haven't seen anyone or met anyone. But like i said one wrong move and your image is gone...hence the snobby Princess tittle....and unwanted rumours! Which will probably wouldn't go away unless.." I paused looking at her.

"Unless?!"

"Unless I do something about it...lady Maithili....I have a favour to ask..."

"Your highness..."

"Let me sponsor you...let me be your guide!..after today's result they will ask all the ladies and Princesses that who's there guide?"

"A guide?!"

"Yes it's a person who helps them to complete all the tasks successfully!"

"But they didn't mention it—

"—I know but it's an unwritten rule...a very old rule." I said quickly. "Please say something."

"Why me?" She asked.

"Good question! Well today I saw how you jump to help your opponent and if you win my cousin will have a kind person by his side. Because as a royal and a person who grew up living with rich and royals—they'd never come to help an opponent like that!"

"Please lady Maithili..accept my proposal?"

"Your highness...i am sorry ..even though I would love to take on your proposal—I don't think I am gonna win..I am sorry but I am not a good cook!"

Maithili's pov

"So you have accepted me as your royal guide!?!!!!!" She jumped excitedly!

"Your highness I don't think you heard me well...I don't think I'll win this round!"

"Oh come on lady Maithili...A soon to be queen doesn't give up so quickly! Cheer up!!—

"Your highness, Mr. Rathore is here!" A maide entered the room.

"Let him in"

"Your highness, if you don't mind can I steal lady Maithili for awhile?"

Princess Aria glanced between us. "Sure Mr. Rathore."

"See you in the hall Maithili!" She said before leaving the room.

——

"Can I help you Mr. Rathore?!"

He didn't say a word and silently walked to me and knelt down. Slowly he touched my foot and placed it on his knee.

"Mr. Rathore...you don't have to—
He placed his finger on my lips. "Keep quite!"

"Hey! that's  mean!"

"Please lady Maithili..." he looked at me.

"Mr. Ra— I immediately closed my mouth. He gently massaged the balm on the sprained area and securely bandage it.

"Mr. Rathore...thank you so much— suddenly he grabbed my right hand.

"—Let me see your hand."

Raghav's pov

"Are you serious?! Why didn't you tell anyone about this?! This looks really painful."

"Mr.Rathore don't worry it's nothing!" She smiled softly. "You worry too much!" She softly touch my cheek.

"Maithili...you don't have to do this..."

"Do what?"

"Pretend...that it doesn't hurt..I saw when you tried to douse the fire with your bare hands...I saw you winced in pain but you didn't give up until you saved her."

I applied the ointment on her palms and wrapped up her wounds.
She stayed silent looking down at her palms. Suddenly a tear fell down on back of my hand.

"Maithili, are you crying?!—please don't cry..I didn't mean to..

She stood from her chair and walked out of the room immediately with out saying anything.

To be continued...