✔️Princess Ugly Duckling (Completed)

The Save

Naintara's POV

As I was exiting the palace, I came across a beautiful garden. It was a royal garden which belonged to the palace premises. Though my palace too had a beautiful garden back there, this was something different. It seemed to have a cooling and calming effect over me. The King wouldn't mind if I sit in the garden for sometime would he?

I was just contemplating whether to go to the garden or not when suddenly I heard a scream. Maybe a girl. I rushed towards the sound where the scream was coming from. Soon I discovered that there was a huge well in the extreme corner of the garden. Maybe it was dug to find the source of water for the plant. The screams were coming from inside the well. I could now spot a young girl trying to survive in the well full of water. Guess she didn't know how to swim.

What happened in next few minutes went into a blur. I took a rope nearby (that was used to throw the bucket inside the well and fetch the water) and tied it a thick tree and my waist. Then I acted as per my intuition and jumped into the well. I pulled her close to me and helped her to climb out using the rope. And then I came out of the well. It was basically like climbing a fort wall with ground full of water.

As soon as I came out, I heaved a sigh of relief. But to my horror, the young girl was now surrounded by loads of palace servants and other people who seemed like royals to me. They all were looking at me with admiration. The young girl hugged me and said "I am Sakhibhaip. The princess of this palace. You saved my life. I owe you my life." Just as she finished her sentence, I found the King standing behind the young girl, smiling at me kindly. As if he was impressed by me. I should have shouted for help and let someone else save the princess.

There goes my plan of convincing the King about cancelling marriage go down into the drain.
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After saving the princess, I was made to stay at her royal chambers. As it was an early winter morning and my whole clothes were drenched, the princess insisted that I should be given fresh set of clothes immediately. The princess was around 15 years old but she seemed to be cheerful and more mature than her age.

Sakhibhai told me "Ever since my mother passed away, you are the first Royal who has entered my room."

"Oh I am sorry I didn't know that your mother is no more" I felt bad for her.

She smiled and said "No it's not like that. She still is with me and I still feel her presence with me. Know what? You remind me of her. She died bravely. You too look very courageous. No doubt my father chose you for my brother "
I couldn't do anything but to sigh at her words. I had seen the painting of late Queen Yashodhara in the King's chambers and she was a beauty. With brains. I felt defeated. I had almost accepted my fate. Not that the King and the princess weren't good. They were very nice to me. They respected me. But I couldn't imagine the horror on the face of the prince once he sees me. Would he ever understand that my qualities could beat my looks?

I had used my sources to get the information about Prince Aditya. It was said that he was the most handsome prince and the most eligible bachelor. Princess and common women would die to get his one look. Why the hell he would look at me? Maybe I should meet him before going home. That way I could tell him my concern and clear the air.

"Sakhibai" I asked her.  "Can I meet the prince Aditya?"

She gave me a mischievous look. "Why do you want to meet my brother before marriage? I guess there is love in the air".

I had to shut up my mouth. She was too young to understand my concerns about the marriage. Maybe if I could ask any servant around here.

My thoughts were interrupted when Sakhibai declared "Brother is on a visit to a neighbouring kingdom. He would come a day before marriage."

My face fell. Now how would I contact him? Maybe I could send my messengers to him to the neighbouring kingdom. I was still hopeful.

But my hopes were crushed when the princess said "He has gone undercover, dressed up like a common man. You won't be able to search him. Don't worry he would come a day before your marriage. You can talk to him at that time".

This time princess sounded serious. Maybe she got the glimpse of my concerns. She kept a hand on my hand and said " Keep negative thoughts out of your head sister. Everything is gonna be fine". I couldn't do anything but to nod my head.