Calix

"You may both leave now." Father motions me and Carlos to see ourselves out, after sharing the recent concerns about Palatiana. The most troubling thing is that, as a result of the place being remote, with little to no inhabitants (except for a few, and other researchers and scientists of Syncitia), we do not have a stable connection with the fallen town. Even the network connection is unstable there. I had advised Father to not cut off ties with Palatiana completely, and ignore an entire town just because the population is scarce there. However, he and Carlos stayed indifferent and rooted to their decision, not giving any regard to my opinion. Well, they never did or do so, anyway.

To me, the thought of cutting ties off with a fallen town, just because the capital isn't going to receive any benefit from it, is utterly ridiculous. What about the few poor residents who are on the brink of survival because as far as I know, Nirvana doesn't provide for them.

I despise this particular discrimination amongst the people of the same country. If only I had been the Crown Prince, instead of Carlos, then I would have worked harder to overthrow the corrupted rules of our nation.

But I'm not. And I never will be.

"Your Royal Highness," Audrey's voice brings me out of my inner thoughts. She seems to hesitate for some reason.

"What is it?"

"Well, it's almost half-past six, and I...um..."

"Yes?"

"Never mind," Audrey sighs, "Let us revise through your schedule for tomorrow, Your Royal Highness—"

"Audrey," my calm voice stills my secretary as she becomes aware that I can sense something. I prompt her further, "You do know that you can say anything to me, freely. I have given you the right."

"Yes," Audrey exhales. It takes her some time to get the words out of her, but she does so eventually. "I have...plans, for this evening."

"And by plans you mean?" I do not miss the opportunity to tease Audrey, seeing the woman's flushed cheeks for the very first time.

If I'm not wrong, Audrey is presently thirty-three years old. She has been my personal secretary for the past seven years, and an elder sister, I never knew I needed. In these past seven years, I haven't once seen Audrey dating, being in a relationship, or thinking about her love life. I partly blame myself for that as she is required to stay beside me from five in the morning to ten at night. In fact, Audrey is supposed to arrive at the Royal Palace whenever I need her for work purposes. And all this time, she has been nothing but a diligent, hard-working lady, without slacking off, when on duty.

But now it is time that my secretary pays attention to her personal life, as well.

"I have a date," Audrey reveals finally before quickly adding, "But it doesn't matter. Your schedule is more important—"

"Go."

Audrey stares at me in astonishment. "What?"

"I said go," I shrug in nonchalance, "Enjoy the night when it's still young."

The woman frowns. "I do not mean to offend you, Your Royal Highness, but you have never really willingly let me off work, before my scheduled times."

"Well yes," I stutter, mentally cursing my past, overly-work-obsessed self. "People change."

"And there's a reason for every change."

Before I am able to comprehend Audrey's cheeky reply, she dashes off after muttering a quick thank you.

Almost, as if on cue, the image of Isha forms in my mind and I remember that she is still waiting. Probably in the library. I should've asked Audrey about Isha's whereabouts before letting her go.

Not wasting any more time, feeling utterly giddy for some unknown reason, I fasten my pace to the opposite direction. Remembering that my buff bodyguard is trailing behind me, I pause and turn around. "I have some personal matters to discuss with Miss Sen, so you can leave, Kev."

"Yes, Your Royal Highness." Fortunately, he obliges without any question, probably because we are inside the safe premises of Nirvana.

My initial elation returns as I begin to recite sentences that I should tell Isha. I have been tensing over this exact moment for the past five days, and undeniably missing her presence. Black magic, I'll say, but today, let's focus on her. Only.

These five days have been nothing but a torture. I do not want to admit but Isha and our miserable first date has been tormenting me. However, work pressure and me trying to collect my thoughts, didn't allow me to conduct a meeting with the woman.

But now I am ready. I have so many things to say, after all. Apologies for being rude, clearing the misunderstanding, perhaps resume our bet and dates, inform her about the upcoming ball in January, 2024—

My breath gets stuck in my throat when I witness the sight in front of me. Isha is running towards me with her eyes closed, and profuse sobs and tears accompanying her broken self. I walk faster, and before I know, embrace the crying girl warmly, my own heart clenching at the sight of her tears.

"Shh. It's alright. I am here." I try my best to provide Isha with the comfort she needs.

To think that a bold and confident woman like Isha Sen can also break down like this, makes me wonder how many painful stories she must hide beneath that gallant demeanour of hers.

My eyes flicker to both of her wrists, due to her keeping her fists on my chest. Red. Bruised. Swollen.

Isha has been hurt. Not by accident but deliberately by someone. And these tears are not out of pain of the bruises. It is because of the person.

A ball of rumble, laced with fury, unfurls in my chest. So much so that I can't recognise my own self. The thought of doing things to the assaulter, which are far from falling under the Royal Code of Conduct, blinds my submerged rage. Oh, how I wish I were a common citizen now. I wouldn't even have bothered before crushing them down, in the worst way possible. Swirls of vicious thoughts overcome me at the prospect that someone tried to physically assault Isha.

"I'm sorry, I spoilt your—" I stop the fumbling Isha softly, providing her with more warmth and pushing the dangerous thoughts to the back of my mind. For now.

"Isha. It's alright. Take a deep breath."

She follows my guidance and focuses on steadying herself. Isha is so shaken up that she is even having trouble catching her breaths, and this makes me even more furious.

A snarl rips out of my throat eventually, and I ask the unexpected question, while not recognizing my own voice. "Now tell me Isha."

Isha visibly widens her eyes at my next choice of words.

"Which fucker is the reason for your bruised wrists?"

She stiffens.

I do not blame her. One glance at Isha's wrist and her heart-clenching tears is enough to make me commit something that I shouldn't, as a prince. It's too late now though, for I will hunt down, if need be, and destroy that person's life.

I can and I will.

"It's nothing," Isha moves away from my arms, hiding her wrists behind herself.

It would be a lie to say I was surprised, seeing Isha crying hysterically and running through the empty corridors. One moment I was returning from having a short meeting with Father. The next moment I know, I am already plotting a vicious plan in my mind against the anonymous individual, for hurting Isha and causing her tears to fall.

Why? Why, I do not know. And I am frightened to search deeper for the hidden truth.

But what I do know is that I am in such a position, where Isha's misery is enough to give rise to my wrath, which has never threatened to come out all these years.

Isha moves further away from me, straightening her spine and wiping off the cascading tears hurriedly. I reach forward to give her a place of solace, however, she coils away more.

I do not prompt her any further. If she needs to be alone right now, I'll let her be.

"I am fine, stop worrying your royal ass for me," Isha forces a laugh to ease the atmosphere, and revert to her old wild and bold self. Or rather, pretend to do so.

Seeing no response from me, her smile falters, and she says with a saddened smile, "I am alright. I do not need sympathy right now, Your Royal Highness but...some time. Alone. And away from Nirvana."

I want to open my mouth and say to her that it isn't just sympathy that I am expressing. It is genuine concern.

Is it truly, though? You have never cared about anyone else other than yourself, the throne and your country. What changed within the brief span of one month? The devious voice pricks me like a sharp needle, making it harder for me to form my thoughts. Isha and I haven't even established a proper friendly relationship, yet. What right do I own to show her concern, then? Or, in my conflicting thoughts' language, sympathy?

I have no idea whether my reaction and ominous introspections were a result of sympathy or empathy. But, it is also not the time to entangle Isha in my antithetical notions, when she has already gone through a lot.

"Please treat your wrists at least before you leave, Isha." She remains hesitant, before agreeing eventually. Seeing Isha's trembling fists and paled lips, I know how scared she is at present.

With one call to my bodyguard Kev, he arrives before me.

"Please escort Miss Sen safely to the Palace Nursing Home. And make sure to not let her meet anyone alone, unless she gives you permission to. Keep an eye on the other person from a distance and protect her from any potential harm, at all costs." I whisper the last part to Kev, making sure Isha doesn't hear anything.

She seems too distracted and broken to pay attention to others' conversation. Her usual self would have pulled a taunting remark saying how it was rude to whisper in front of others and that I, being a prince should know that, but today is different. For she stays quiet till Kev leads her to her destination.

As for me, I have something to do. I would have accompanied Isha but seeing how she wanted to stay in silence for a while and be alone, I cancel the plan. In fact, as I've said, I have an important matter to take care of.

My suspicions take a clear route when my feet halt a few metres away from the library. I swiftly slide behind the gap between a pillar and alley-turn, as soon as I notice an approaching figure.

His hunched figure proves that he has been harmed (most probably as means of self-defence, if my assumptions are going in the right direction). The young man, with whom I had bumped the other day and is amongst the employees of the newly hired at Nirvana, releases strings of painful curses. His genitals seem to be in pain too.

A proud grin takes over my lips thinking how Isha did not yield and fought for her defence. Every ounce of pain that this man is going through is nothing but something he deserves, very rightfully so.

What was his name again? Kal-Kyl-Killian. Right, Killian Winora.

I decide to stride towards him and make small talk, in the hopes of also finding a way to prove my hunches correct. Although I am ninety-nine point nine percent sure, I am correct.

Killian notices my casual presence and immediately does the formal neck bow, "Your Royal Highness, good evening."

"Good evening, Mr Winora. What is the reason behind your unfortunate condition?"

He doesn't reveal Isha's name. But what he says next only pours fuel over my burning anger. "Nothing serious, Your Royal Highness. Just came across a trifling lady from my past."

My smile twitches and glare intensifies. As if on cue, another memory unlocks. A memory from the night of our kiss, particularly. Now that I remember, Isha did slur a specific name over and over again.

Killian.

Rage dances inside my thoughts as I finish connecting the dots. Everything makes sense. Every single thing.

This asshole here is the reason behind Isha's misery and the reason for the bruises on her skin, after all.

I motion one of the guards towards me and murmur something to him, far incomprehensible to Killian. He stands there in awkwardness only.

"Mr Winora," my eyes glint with devilish hatred, masked by politeness, "The Royal Palace's guards will drop you out of Nirvana."

"Oh there is no need, Your Royal Highness. I can simply get treatment from here and then resume my work. Dropping me off at an outside hospital won't be necessary. Thank you for your conce—"

Killian stops speaking at the uncanny fits of laughter produced by me. He is naive enough to think I am showing him concern.

"Your Royal Highness—"

"You fool," laughter rumbles off my chest seeing how pathetic and stupefied Killian looks, "In simple words, Mr Winora,

I am kicking you out."

"What..." Before Killian can fathom what is happening, guards drag him out of Nirvana's building. "At least tell me what I have done wrong!"

I instruct the guards to halt but they do not let go of his arms. I walk towards him, the polite smile long gone now.

"Mr Killian Winora, you attempted to physically assault an individual within the premises of Nirvana. Not to mention, you attempted to physically harm my girlfriend."

Killian's eyes widen in fear, giving me much satisfaction. "You do not have any evidence."

"I do, actually. There was one flaw in your devious plan, Mr Winora. You seem to have forgotten that there are high-tech CCTV Surveillance Cameras installed everywhere, even in the desolate library."

Killian's lips tremble in anger and trepidation equally, but he stays quiet.

"Take him out." With my command, the guards pull Killian away with him. However, I do not forget to mention one more thing in order to add more misery to his life.

"Mr Winora, you are now blacklisted from applying to every company of Syncitia. Also, you have been stripped off from the privilege of being able to acquire a proper, stable career, while you are in this country."