ENCHANTED - BY INNOCENCE (ongoing)

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Hi lovelies, this chapter has 5500+ words and ends with a question so make sure you read till the end. Also the first chapter of Enchanted by Chaos is published. You can check it on my profile to bring you out of the heavy emotions of this chapter.

The second chapter will be published by Monday and this book has one more chapter to go as well as one bonus chapter :)

Target for next chaper - 1200 votes and 750 comments

*** Devendra ***

After the promise, I continued to stay back at the General's residence, as per my punishment, in the same room that had been allocated to me. For the first two days, it was just me, Dheera, and Vishnu. Dheera didn't allow anyone else in—not even the helpers or cleaners. Even Yashoda Bhabhisa and Meenakshi were asked to continue their stay at Vishnu Sir's place for a couple of days.

Food was brought from the royal kitchen every day, and I was barely allowed out of the room. I didn't mind. I just stayed in, drawing pictures of Indraani and crying in my own guilt. From day two, Dheera said that royal work was piling up and brought me the necessary books and documents to resume my duties as the King. The work offered a little distraction, but not enough to make me forget what I'd done. At least four times a day, Indraani would come by, pleading to have just a glance at me, and every time I rushed to the door, I'd be harshly pulled back by the General.

On the third day, he warned Indu that if she came again, he would extend my punishment—and since then, she never came. That evening, the General brought Yashoda Bhabhisa, Meenakshi, and his father-in-law home. Apparently, he restricted his father-in-law from leaving because he "knew too much"... or perhaps it was just to keep Yashoda Bhabhisa distracted. I don't know. But I do know that uncle wasn't happy with the decision.

Once Yashoda Bhabhisa arrived, things got a little better. Dheera seemed happier. Bhabhisa would cook good food, check on my well-being all the time, and try to have proper conversations with me—something Dheera had stopped doing altogether. Now he spoke only as a General, not as a friend. However, despite her kindness, I wasn't able to hold conversations with Bhabhisa the way I used to. The guilt made me tear up. I'd look away or tell her I was busy. And whenever she insisted on knowing what happened, Dheera would come and quietly take her away.

By the fifth day, he had grown tired of doing that and asked her to choose between me and him. Naturally, she chose him—and since then, he forbade her from talking to me or even being around me. Sometimes Meenakshi would wander near my door, but she was too afraid of "the King." She would run away the moment our eyes met. Vishnu was the only one I spoke to. He would motivate me, tell me to forget the past, to try to be a better King and a better husband. He said that would compensate. But I disagree—nothing could compensate.

After a week, my injuries had healed, and I finally met Indu. She came running towards me, tears streaming down her cheeks, and hugged me tightly. All I could think of was, I don't deserve her love. Yet I hugged her back—not because I deserve her love, but because she deserves my love, loyalty, and devotion.

A couple of months later, things slowly started returning to normal. King Parthan merged Taravalli into the Five Kingdoms, making it the Six Kingdoms, and decided to stay at the Crown's home—to keep an eye on me. True to his word, he kept track of all my schedules, meetings, and even appointed a dedicated security team to stop me if I ever tried to sneak out again. Why would I, after all that had happened?

One day, Dheera came and hugged me, his face glowing with joy. He told me that Yashoda Bhabhisa was pregnant and that it was thanks to the herbs I'd brought earlier. Since then, our friendship slowly began to heal. He would often talk about his plans to catch Avanthika—how he wished to find everyone behind her, everyone responsible for what happened to Indraani. How he would avenge her. It was as if all his anger about the situation had been redirected towards Avanthika—because he didn't want to hurt his King. And every time he spoke about it, guilt would cloud my mind.