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THE ENEMY BESIDE THE THRONE

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Episode 4 — The Ring and The Rival

Aadhira stood in front of Kiran holding a small wooden box with a slightly proud expression.

"I know you like animals," she said lightly. "Especially birds."

Kiran raised a brow.

"But I cannot exactly bring you one from a zoo." She huffed a small laugh. "So I brought something else instead."

She opened the box.

A ring sat inside. Dark green stone set in simple dark metal. Clean and quiet and exactly the kind of thing that suited him without trying too hard.

"I thought it would suit you," she said.

Kiran looked at the ring. Then looked at her. Then looked at the ring again.

His mouth curved slowly.

"Are you trying to propose to me?"

Aadhira burst out laughing. "Do not be ridiculous."

She took his hand herself and slipped the ring onto his finger with complete ease.

"I do not see my friends that way and you know that." She stepped back and tilted her head. "It is dark green. Not exactly the same as a bird but it matches your taste. It suits you perfectly."

Kiran stared at his hand for a moment.

Then let out a low quiet chuckle.

"You have become quite bold while you were away."

"Maybe," she shrugged, completely unbothered. "Now. Let us get to the point."

She leaned forward slightly, eyes bright with curiosity.

"Do you remember what you said before I left?"

He looked at her.

"You said that when I came back from abroad you would tell me her name." Aadhira's voice went teasing. "The girl who stole your heart. So tell me now. Who is the lucky one?"

Silence.

Kiran did not answer right away.

He just looked at her for a long moment.

(Long gaze)

"I will tell you later," he said quietly. His voice was low. "I just feel like she does not like me anymore."

Aadhira's expression shifted immediately. "Why would she not like you?"

(Concerned)

"Look at you. You are practically perfect. What could she possibly have against you?"

"I do not know." He smiled faintly. "Maybe something about me was just not enough for her."

He tilted his head. "What about you? Did you find someone abroad?"

Aadhira hesitated.

Then a small smile appeared on her face that she could not quite hide.

(Shy)

"Not exactly. But I think I have a crush on someone."

Kiran's expression froze.

Just for one second.

(Shock, quickly hidden)

"I see." His voice came out perfectly calm. "Is he from a noble family?"

She shook her head slightly. "I do not know yet. I only know that he is a commander."

Silence.

The air in the room changed in a way that only Kiran noticed.

(Commander.)

dark

(Since when did her standard fall that low. She cannot even see what is right in front of her. But she chose a commander she barely even knows.)

He smiled.

But his eyes did not move with it.

"May I know his name?"

She told him.

"I see."

His voice dropped just slightly. Quiet. Controlled. The kind of tone that did not give anything away.

(Cold)

Aadhira clapped her hands lightly, breaking the stillness. "Anyway. Join us for lunch. My brother and sister in law would love to see you."

He smiled again. Softer this time.

"Of course." He fell into step beside her easily. "And you should come visit my home soon. My mother has been asking about you nonstop."

"Deal," she grinned. "Now come on."

Lunch was warm and full and loud in the way it always was when Kiran was at the table.

But afterward when the dishes were cleared and Meera had excused herself to rest, Rayan leaned back in his chair and looked at Kiran with an expression that was calm on the surface and not calm underneath it at all.

"So," Rayan began slowly. "I heard my sister has taken an interest in someone."

Kiran smiled politely. "Yes. She mentioned it to me as well."

Rayan's fingers tapped once against the table.

(Irritated)

"Should we just bring that man here and throw him into prison? I do not like this situation even slightly."

Kiran let out a quiet low chuckle. "Not yet, Your Majesty."

"If we move now the princess will be furious." He kept his voice calm and reasonable. "And Her Majesty has not even met the man yet. She will not approve of acting before she sees him herself."

Rayan clicked his tongue.

Tsk.

"Fine."

His gaze went dark and stayed there.

"But we will deal with him eventually."

Kiran nodded once.

(Of course we will.)

quiet, cold intent

That night Rayan called his sister to the corridor outside the main hall.

He stood with his arms loosely crossed and said in a completely casual tone, "I think you should go meet that commander again tomorrow."

Aadhira stopped walking and looked at him.

"I thought you disliked the British," she said slowly. "Why the sudden interest?"

(Narrowed eyes)

"Is this because you found out I have a crush on him?"

"No," Rayan said immediately.

Too immediately.

"I just thought. You said he is a good man. I want to see for myself what kind of person he is." He kept his expression perfectly even. "That is all."

Aadhira studied her brother's face for a long moment.

Sigh.

"You are acting very strange right now."

"Am I?" He smiled faintly.

Inside his head his thoughts were nowhere near as calm as his face.

(The man who dared to take my sister's heart.)

dark

(Let me see exactly what kind of person he is.)

(And if he is unworthy of her even slightly.)

(The punishment will not be light.)

"Fine," Aadhira said at last, turning away. "I will go tomorrow. You are really the strange one sometimes."

She walked back toward her room shaking her head slightly.