The Crown Prince and His Love

Chapter 46|Pazhuvoor Ilayarani|

Adithan rushed to the Anthapuram almost tripping over multiple times on his way, it was Nandini, it really was her. He asked Kundavai multiple times to confirm it was really her standing there and was not one of his hallucinations. Kundavai just nodded and avoided his eyes, trying to hide something, but Karikalan was too excited to care, he just wanted to see her, talk to her, and ask for her forgiveness. But how could it be? He saw her hut burning in front of his very eyes. How is she alive?

Nandini's hands trembled as she picked up her dagger, she looked at it. She blinked away her tears and hid the dagger under her pallu. All her anger at him had resurfaced when she saw him. As did her love.

Karikalan's legs almost failed him when he saw Nandini again, adorned with red silk and golden ornaments, god, she look like a dancer who descended straight from Indra Devan's court. She really is alive, he took in a shaky breath and approached her. "N...Nandini?" He managed to breathe out.

"Here to see if I'm dead or alive, My lord?" She asked turning her face away from him.

"You're alive! You're really alive..." Adithan exclaimed happily, he hung back his head and sighed in relief.

"Are you disappointed that I am?" She said calmly, not allowing her voice to betray her. She moved toward the balcony in slow and careful steps.

Karikalan shook his head and followed her. "No, I--I thought you died in that hut, the fire and..."

"I did die," Nandini whispered.

"You don't know how happy I am right now to see you again," He said, trying to pull in Nandini for a hug, but she backed off. "Nandini?" He called out, arching his eyebrows in confusion.

"I cannot be seen with you alone, get out," She said, trying to sound indifferent. Karikalan furrowed his brows together in confusion.

Adithan stepped in closer. "Nandini, I love you--"

"I can't love you even if I wanted to now, My lord," She interrupted him and gently pulled out her thaali.

He froze in his steps, his smile fell flat as soon as he laid eyes on her thaali. "Wh...what is that?" He asked, he knew what it was but he didn't want to believe it. She's married? He shook his head and denied that thought. She was his. Only his.

"What does it look like?" She whispered, unable to bring herself to tell him. Her heart thumped against her chest as she waited for his reaction. He inhaled sharply and took a step back.

"No," Adithan shook his head and backed off, "No! please don't tell me you are..." He leaned onto a table for support, he was sure his limbs will fail him otherwise

Nandini's body jerked towards him when she saw that he might fall. She nodded her head slowly. "Indeed."

He held up his body and inhaled sharply, his chest felt like it was collapsing on itself. "How...You-- How could you just forget about me and marry someone?" He asked bitterly. His rage surfaced again, how could she? first, she betrayed him by falling in love with Veera Pandiyan, and now this. He fisted his hands and looked away, trying to hide his tears from her.

Nandini nodded and walked past him, the grip around her dagger tightened. "You may forget me now," She turned back to him, the look he gave terrified her, but she composed herself and broke the news to him. "I am the ninth and favored wife of Periya Pazhuvettarayar now." She announced, her heart trembling as she saw the murderous rage flashing through his eyes. Maybe in his rage, he would be kind enough to kill her before she had to kill him. Nandini could only hope.

He jolted his head toward her, and a look of terror washed over his face. "Periya Pazhuvettarayar?" He said venomously, arching his eyebrows. Did she marry an old man thrice her age Just to spite him!? he gritted his teeth and looked around, shaking his head in denial. "You married someone who is old enough to be your grandfather? just to spite me?" He laughed bitterly, hoping it would mask his sorrow.