𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧

Epilogue 03

Been so so long!

Author POV:

Gaurav dragged him the entire way.

Across stone.
Across dust.
Across blood.

The prince's body slammed into the centre grounds of Kshathriya like discarded trash before Gaurav finally dismounted and tied him brutally to the iron post planted in the middle of the square.

The crowd had already gathered.

Citizens. Soldiers. Shadows.

Women clutching their children.

Men with fists clenched.

Gasps rippled through the air when they saw the state of him, skin torn, clothes shredded, blood dripping onto sacred stone.

And then—

The rage surfaced.

Someone hurled a rock.

Then another.

Then ten.

Stones rained down as grief turned into fury, fury into wildfire. The unconscious prince groaned, body jerking as pain ripped him awake.

He screamed.

The brothers stood at the front.

Silent.

Deadly.

Eyes burning with the same promise.

Gaurav stepped forward.

His voice thundered across the grounds.

"People of Kshathriya."

The crowd stilled.

"You stand before a man who dared touch the one person this kingdom cherishes."

A pause.

His gaze dropped to the prince with lethal contempt.

"He laid hands on our queen."

A collective roar surged.

Gaurav lifted his hand.

"Tonight—every allied kingdom will be summoned."

His lips curled.

"Not to negotiate."

"Not to plead."

"Not to beg mercy."

He pointed at the bloodied figure.

"They will come to witness royal justice."

His voice dropped into something colder.

"They will come to watch what happens when someone mistakes Kshathriya's patience for weakness."

Silence.

Terrible.

Promising.

"King Viraj himself will pass the sentence."

The prince whimpered.

Gaurav leaned closer, eyes empty.

"And in this land, when our king speaks... even death waits for permission!"

***

Meanwhile,

Viraj didn't stop walking.

Not once.

Amaira stayed locked against him as he carried her through the palace corridors, servants flattening themselves against walls, eyes down, breaths held.

No one dared interrupt.