ENCHANTED - BY INNOCENCE (ongoing)

86

Hi lovelies, this chapter has 4000+ words and ends with a question, so make sure you read till the end ❤️

Also happy Navrathri ✨🙏

*** Devendra ***

"Greetings, Your Highness," Vinod, the head officer at the entrance of Paradise, stood up swiflty and greeted me as soon as I approached.

"Greetings, Officer," I replied with a smile.

"Is everything alright, Your Highness?" he asked, concerned.

"Yes, of course," I said. "Just wanted to visit Paradise."

"At this time?" he asked, surprised.

"Why? Is it not allowed?" I asked, pretending to be offended.

"No... no, Your Highness, nothing like that," he replied quickly, then turned back to his soldiers, signaling them to lower the bridge.

"Have a good time, Your Highness," he said, allowing me in.

"Tighten the security around Paradise," I heard him command as I walked past.

Of course, Vinod... tighten the security all you want. I do not intend to escape through the walls anyway. I intend to escape through the underground tunnel.

Your General might know the architecture of every other building, but Paradise... this was designed by me. And I included a secret tunnel unknown to anyone in the kingdom—including my late father and your beloved General.

I made my way to the room with the poisonous plants and locked it from inside. Carefully, I moved them, arranging them in a particular order. The weight distribution caused one of the tiles to protrude slightly. I pulled it out, found the hidden lever, and twisted it to open the tunnel.

And off I go again... a free man.

As planned, once I reached the other end of the tunnel—a couple of kilometers from the palace—one of King Parthan's soldiers was waiting for me. His expression shifted between confusion and concern as he watched me step out of a hollow tree trunk.

"King Parthan has sent this for you, Your Highness," he said, holding out a horse.

"Thank you, kind sir," I said, stroking its mane. "What's his name?"

"Arasan," the soldier replied.

"Nice to meet you, Arasan," I said warmly, patting the horse. "How trained is he, sir?" I asked.

"Battle-ready, Your Highness," he replied.

"That's great, thank you," I said with a smile, about to mount when he called after me.

"Your Highness..." he began hesitantly. "King Parthan asked me to find out the purpose behind requesting the horse."

"Tell him I wanted it as my dowry," I replied with a sly smile, mounting the horse.

"Let's go, Arasan," I said, beginning my journey.

Onto the streets—not as a King, but as a man. A man on a quest to fulfill his wife's wishes.

My kingdom looks beautiful at night, I thought as I reached the main road. But I stopped when I noticed a religious man, perhaps a sage, sitting under a tree, staring at the night sky with a calm smile.

Perhaps he is waiting for someone to take him home.

"Greetings, sir," I said, slowing my horse near him. "Do you need help reaching your destination?"

"No, sir, I'm fine, thank you," the sage said, rising slowly. "Do you need help reaching your destiny?"

I chuckled.