ENCHANTED - BY INNOCENCE (ongoing)

93

*** Three years later ***

*** Randheera ***

"How is the King?" I asked as Vishnu weakly climbed down the stairs, unable to hide his tears.

"How else would a man who lost his wife be?" he replied sadly. "Devastated, lifeless, soulless."

I looked away, trying to hide my own tears upon hearing those words.

"I think you should go try to console him," Vishnu suggested gently.

I shook my head and took a deep breath.

"I don't have the courage to see him in that state," I replied.

"I understand," Vishnu said, patting my shoulder. 

We both looked at the Queen's body in the distance, covered in flowers.

"She doesn't deserve this," I whispered as tears rolled down my cheeks.

"We searched everywhere for a treatment," Vishnu said softly. "The King spent every second of his life trying to keep her alive... but..." His voice broke, and he inhaled shakily to compose himself. "All we can hope is that she's in a better place now."

I nodded slowly.

"May her soul rest in peace," I whispered—just as we noticed Parthan Sir wiping his tears and standing up.

He made his way toward the stairs and began climbing. The moment he did, Vishnu stiffened.

"We need to stop him," he whispered urgently.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"The King is in danger. We need to stop him," he emphasized, already running upstairs.

I still didn't fully understand, but I followed him anyway and overtook him on our way to the King's room. As we neared the King's room, I heard Parthan Sir's voice.

"Do you still wish to honour the promise of dying when I say, how I say?" he asked, and only then did I understand what Vishnu meant.

The moment those words reached me, I ran faster.

"Would you like to take your vengeance, or do you want me to do it myself?" I heard the King reply. I pushed the door open with a loud bang just in time to see Deva extending his sword, and Parthan Sir reaching to take it.

"Look, your saviour is here," Parthan Sir said sarcastically when he saw me.

"Dheera, please stay out of this," Deva said quietly.

"No, Your Highness... this is not—" I started.

"Kneel," Parthan ordered, staring at Deva. I fell silent.

"Kneel and apologize, so I can tell you how unforgivable your crime is... and then behead you."

"I'm not going to let you kill him," I replied immediately.

"Dheera, I deserve it," Deva said, tears spilling from his eyes.

"No, you—" I began, but Vishnu rushed in, breathless.

Thank God. Just in time. Please use your intellect to convince them...

"King Parthan, I understand that you—" Vishnu began, but Parthan cut him off sharply.

"Why are all of you trying to save a cheater when he himself is willing to die?" he snapped.

"Step aside, Dheera," Deva said, gently pushing me away. He was about to kneel—but then suddenly froze.

No one else understood why... but I did. Because I heard it too.

Little footsteps.

"What happened?" Parthan asked, confused.