The Cursed Princess of Suryagarh: Book 1

35. Lifeless

He scoffed lightly and abandoned her hair, smoothly recanting his fingers away from the entanglement without hurting her. "Him... the love of my life." He was on his feet again. "These days... I see how freely, albeit with slight prejudice, people accept love as it should be. Irrespective of gender or... or anything else." Clicking his tongue, he resumed pacing around in a languid fashion. "But it was considered a crime in Suryagarh five hundred years ago. A crime punishable by brutal death." He shut his eyes and shuddered. "My sister came across this secret of mine that I had been harbouring for a couple of years by then. I was in love with a man. Oh, the shame!" He scoffed again. "She managed to defame me in front of the entire court full of ministers, the king, the queen, everyone. And," he suspired, "an edict was issued. I was spared from the death sentence because royal blood flew through my veins. Instead, I was banished to a small kingdom on the outskirts of Suryagarh."

She wiped her mouth with the back of her bloodied palms. "Is that the reason why you have become such a monster? Killing people? Innocent people?"

"Innocent?" he snapped. "People of Suryagarh are anything but innocent. The very ancestors of all these people," his arms went up to gesticulate towards the rest of the fort to his right, "stoned him. Stoned him to death."

Her eyes widened all over again. "The man you loved?"

His fists clenched. "Punishable offence, as I said. I was let go. I was banished. He..."

Unbeknownst to her, a drop of tear escaped her eyes too. "I am so sorry."

He chuckled. "I used to be the favourite prince once upon a time, you know? People loved me for my humility, wisdom, compassion. Within the span of an evening, all thanks to my dearest sister, I lost everything close to me. The unwavering affection of the citizens, my father's trust, my mother's love, and... him." He tugged at the base of his hair and raked his hands behind his neck. "I lost everything, Miss Awasthy. And they called me the beast! I was tagged as the monster!"

Silence ensued between them, and even the faint wailing of the sirens of police cars was no longer audible.

When moments passed and he didn't utter a word, she peered at his broad back, discerning how his form shook, convulsing and shuddering. "I understand that you were met with injustice, but why cast such a ghastly curse on the princesses?" she whispered.

He stiffened. Then he slowly spun at his spot. An expression of pure loathing and incredulity marred his otherwise handsome features. His bloodshot eyes brimming with tears stared at her. "Did you not listen to what I said?" he hollered. "It was my sister who ruined me. Snatched everything dear to me. My kingdom, my family, my..." He gulped. "I was in a fit of rage that evening when I came to know of the brutality he was on the receiving end of. Stoned to death and chopped to pieces."

She gasped, and her palms were over her mouth as shock rattled her senses.

"Fed to wild animals." He trembled with fury, and bestial wrath took over him as he conjured a sharp sword out of thin air and forcefully stabbed the hard ground very close to her feet, a mighty roar escaping his throat.

She shrieked due to the action, drawing her feet nearer to her body, and muffled her cries when she comprehended that he willingly evaded wounding her.

But then his shoulders were slumped, and he was shedding silent tears with his head bowed down, on his knees, his firm grip on the hilt loosening, his eyes shut tight.

A wave of pity and sympathy pervaded her senses, and her quavering fingers hung in the air, very close to the fabric of his shirt, until her resolve overpowered her dread. Her warm palm pressed onto his shoulders.