The Crown Prince and His Love

Chapter 47 |Conspiracy brews|

Karikalan's eyes turned red in rage as he reached out for his sword. "Another word I won't hesitate to--" He paused, the bitter memories flashed through his eyes.

No, He was not going to commit the same mistake again.

He forced his words back to where they came from, the grip around his sword tightened. "Stay away from my family, I warn you," He warned her, his voice full of pain and anger. He pushed back his sword back to its place reluctantly.

Life has disappointed Nandini again. "I thought you said you'd do anything for me." Nandini smirked. "Well, you just went back on a word you gave me seconds ago."

"Nandini, ask me literally anything else, I'll even carve my heart out and give it to you, but please don't ask me to hurt my family," He pleaded holding her hands to his heart. His anger now turned into desperation and despair.

Nandhini's breathing staggered, her hands grazing the fabric that separated his skin from hers. She swallowed down her sadness. "That is my wish. Fulfill it and you may marry me. Shall I ask you again, Lord? I fear you may not be able to resist my words."

He dropped her hands and looked away clenching his jaw, his nerves fighting against his skin. What had he done? What had he turned her into?

"No," He managed to speak out.

"Then leave." Nandini said Coldly.

"Nandini, Please listen to me," He begged, looking at Nandini's eyes longingly. "I--I'm sorry, please come with me, I'll give you a life better than this,"

Nandini looked away, unable to see him like this.

"Nandini, Please, I'm begging you," He cried out. "I can't live without you, Why can't you understand!"

"I do not love you!" She forced out, near hysterics, "I never did!"

Karikalan felt his heart shatter into a million pieces. How could she say that? Adithan began questioning himself whether he was being delusional, making himself think that she still loves him or if she was speaking the truth. What if she did love him for the throne, but wasn't his love for her pure?

Karikalan shook his head unable to digest her words. "Nandini please...I love you, I know you do too..."

"I do not! Veera Pandiyar and Pazhuvettaraiyer loved me as well!"

"Do not compare my love with their lust!" He yelled, his voice thundering around the room.

"Such love you abandoned me with the man you slayed as I lay there weeping." Nandini laughed, harshly. "Where was your supposed 'love' when I was dragged out of my home and humiliated? Or where was your love while I begged for you to spare the life of the man I loved?"

Karikalan looked down, unable to give an answer to her accusations.

"It's better if you leave now. My husband will be here any moment."

Karikalan's heart pained at Nandini calling someone else her husband. It pained even more to think that man is his grandfather.

"Right, my grandfather." Karikalan laughed bitterly. "Does he treat you well?"

Nandini nodded.

"I can see that," He said eyeing her up and down. "He lavished you with all this gold. Looks like he fulfilled his end of the deal. You paid him back well, I suppose?"

"Wh-what do you mean?"

Karikalan shrugged. "You married him for all that wealth. He married you for..." He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Nandini's heart despaired. "No. He married me out of love. I did too."

Karikalan smirked. "Keep lying to yourself, Nandini. But hey! Atleast you got what you wanted, Riches and a throne to sit on,"

Nandini turned away from him and nodded.

Karikalan peered over her shoulders to she her reaction. Nandini quietly wiped away her tears and turned back to him, her chin held high.

"I'm not going to leave him, no matter what. I'm bound to him." Nandini forced out and walked past him.

Karikalan fisted his hands. "So that is your decision?" He asked.

Nandini nodded firmly.

"So be it." He whispered and left, knocking out a vase in anger.

Nandini collapsed into the dhiwan and started weeping. He hated her now, surely.

Pazhuvettaraiyer entered a few moments later after Karikalan had stormed out. Nandini straightened herself and put on a smile for him.

"Did the ilavarasar come to visit you?" He asked, removing his vest. Nandini merely nodded. "What business does he have with you?"

"Nothing, he just wanted to visit his grandfather's wife...I suppose."

Pazhuvettaraiyer nodded, not entirely convinced. "Why was he so mad?"

Nandini smiled softly at him. "He was mad because we didn't invite him to our wedding."

Pazhuvettaraiyer nodded again, enchanted by her smile. "You looked pretty today,"

Nandini was disgusted. "Thank you, Arase...." She hesitated.

"Do you have something to tell me, Nandini?"

She looked down, biting her lip. "I shouldn't speak of such matters but..."

"Speak of what matters?"

"Matters of the court." Nandini said, eyeing her reaction.

Pazhuvettaraiyer furrowed his brows. "Well...it's just me and you, speak your mind out."

"The chieftains do not look so happy about Karikalar being crowned the Crown Prince."

"So I've heard." Pazhuvettaraiyer said, the emperor didn't consult the council before arranging for the coronation, they were informed. But the women of the palace were consulted, Kundavai and Sembiyan Madavi. This had left a bitter taste in the chieftains mouths.

"Didn't the throne belong to Gandaradityar's son?" Nandini asked curiously. She had seen him fighting with his mother before the coronation about his unfair treatment.

"How do you know about that?"

"I've heard things." She said.

"What else have you heard?"

"That Karikalar's insane." She said carefully, not to offend him. But Pazhuvettaraiyer didn't seem to talk in favour of his grandson. "Do you think the kingdom will be safe in the hands of a madman?"

Pazhuvettaraiyer thought about it for a moment. "Well...Madhuranthakar can't even wield a sword..."

"Atleast he wouldn't take hasty decision and endanger the kingdom." She said, rather bitterly. "He would've been a better choice, Arase. Plus he has more right to the throne than any body here."

Nandini was right, in a way. The throne was given as a loan the Sundara Chozhan.

"Nothing can be done now, all is said and done." Pazhuvettaraiyer said.

"You can use your power." She said placing her hand on his chest. "You can gather the chieftains--"

"And plot against my grandson?" He asked, angrily.

"No, Arase...that's not what I meant," She whispered.

He raised his hand to stop her. "Enough." He grunted. "If Madhuranthakar wants to rule, we will help him to gain his share. But it doesn't seem like it, his mother strongly objects it."

Nandini sighed and nodded, not wanting to anger her husband more. She would have to talk to Madhuranthakar then, and convince him to break out of the barrier Sembiyan Madavi put him in.