Page 79 of The Royal Beast & His Queen

"Isha... Don't stop me from loving you... Please", he said softly cupping her cheeks... He knew she needed him as much as he needed her.

"In the bed of roses, the presence of even a single thorn is enough to take away all the softness the petals provided, I fear this 'Truth' is becoming that thorn in our relationship Rana sa", she said, a tear slipping from her eye...

"It's not necessary that every bed of roses will have a thorn", Abhyansh said trying to make her understand that their relationship would never take that turn, he wouldn't let it.

"However careful you decorate it, a thorn or two would remain in the lot, most of the people are lucky to not step on it but I know I am not one", Isha said getting up and walking out leavinghim in distress... He wanted to make things right between them, if telling her the truth is what it takes, he was ready but every time he thought about her reaction, he took a step back. He loved her too much to see her suffer, he needed to know what caused her panic attacks and get it cured, only then would he disclose the truth. He decided to talk to her on this soon and explain to her calmly. He understood her point of view and realized it was unfair to keep her in the dark, untill now, he avoided telling her not to hurt her, he was trying to prevent the damage it would cause her to know her father's real face but he realized the damage, hiding the truth would cause is much worse and he wasn't ready to face it.

She walked to the dining hall, had her dinner quickly, and walked to her room. The next whole day, she didn't talk much to him... She avoided him as much as possible and after lunch, even he didn't try to approach her.

She worked from the guest room, and after dinner, she sat with her brother talking about random things to pass the time as she didn't want to go to her room and face her husband, she knew he was working from his study in their chamber the whole day, neither he came out or he let anyone in, he only came out for his meals.

"Ishu... Wanna come with me to Rajput palace for a few days ? Maybe distance would help you both and Ranwat might tell you the truth ?", Ranveer said but Isha shook her head.

"I tried it once, Did he open his mouth? In the end, I had to break my resolve and come here because of Ma's accident... That stubborn head would never give up bhai... There is no use, in return, I would suffer more worrying about his health. It's better I stay here", Isha said and Ranveer nodded. "How is maasi ?", she asked

"She is fine but still a little shaken up", Ranveer said, well he used the term 'little' to calm his sister, but it's not just little, in fact a lot. Who wouldn't be scared seeing the BEAST growling, and more like threatening you with a gun on your head and pulling the trigger?

"Hm... She should have backed away bhai... Honestly, I didn't think Rana sa would ever be ready to listen to her... I know him very well, if he decided on something, it's hard to change it, and he decided not to hear maasi", Isha said

"You are taking your husband's side ?", Ranveer asked her genuinely, he wanted to know if she was saying that statement as a wife defending her husband's act or as a queen who is responsible for thinking in an unbiased manner.

"No, I am not... He should have controlled his anger... But sometimes, the loss you face in life won't let you do it, I won't judge if what he did was right or wrong but his behavior yesterday was just a reaction to his past wounds", Isha said, her heart went out to her husband, because only she saw the immense pain and suffering in his eyes, it's as if something is burning his whole existence.

Ranveer nodded and after a few more talks, he went to the guest chamber while Isha sighed before taking steps towards their chamber. She slowly opened her chamber door to make her presence as discreet as possible but a loud gasp escaped her throat as soon as the sight of their chamber came into view.

Every inch of the floor is covered with rose petals. She stepped in, the soft petals made her feet feel so much better. She walked towards the stairs which were filled with rose petals again, she took steps towards their room but on her way, she saw the other two bedrooms and study too were filled with rose petals. She took a deep breath and entered her room, the look surprised her, not just the floor, the rose petals were lying across all surfaces and their bed was decorated full of them.

When she reached the bed, she was rained on with roses, the softness of the petals touching her skin caused her goosebumps.

"Not just a bed, but the whole chamber is full of rose petals, but I promise you wouldn't step on a single thorn because there are none", Abhyansh said walking towards her... "You don't have to be the lucky one to not step on thorns, I would always be there to create a thorn-free path for you... I don't trust in your luck but I do trust in my love for you", he said cupping her face and she felt the roughness of his skin, she took his palms and the sight brought tears to her eyes... She felt the pricking of thorns on his palms, she kissed his palms sobbing at his love.

"Wh.. Why would you do it... Huh ?", she said slapping his chest...

"Sh... No tears... No... And all that pricking didn't pain me a bit... But the pricking because of these tears are causing too much ache, Just don't cry... I told you, I can handle anything except for these", he said wiping her tears...

"That's wrong... There are many things you can't handle... Not just my tears", she told him kissing his palms... He realized she was talking about his anger and how he behaved with her aunt.

"Are you still upset ?", he asked cupping her face...

"About what Rana sa ? About you pointing a gun and pulling the trigger, on my aunt, the only woman related to my mother I am left with ? Or keeping me in the dark regarding the truth involving my parents ? Or the injustice I was subjected to by not making me aware of why was I hated and tortured at the beginning of our marriage ? Or for suffering me for no fault of mine? Be specific about what you are asking", she asked him, and his eyes held fury for himself...

"I only showed how sorry I was for hurting you till now, but I have never verbally apologized to you, because a single apology wouldn't justify the pain you went through... I was scared even to ask an apology from you because there was no justification for what I did... I was cruel, brutal to you... You didn't deserve any of it... I wanted to go back and kill myself for all the pain I have given you Rani sa... There wasn't a single day that passed without this ache of regret and burn of rage for myself. I am extremely sorry Isha... I'm not saying this expecting forgiveness from you but because you deserve this apology...", he said. Shestood there emotionless... She didn't understand how to respond or react... He never asked 'Sorry' from her neither did he express how he felt about that whole fiasco. He always faced that pain alone, she knew it's because he thought he didn't even deserve the comfort she provided.

If she forgets about that horrible nightmare of torture in the beginning of her marriage, he was a great husband who cared about the smallest of things when it came to her, he would sacrifice his life and his everything in a blink for her, that's the amount of love he held for her but unfortunately, she couldn't forget the pain she was subjected to, but she could definitely try forgiving her husband but that would happen only when he gives her a reason for his behavior if not justification because nothing could justify his acts.

She knew forgiving him seemed far from reality for now, and he was okay with it, he decided to burn in regret for his whole life for what he had put her through but she wasn't okay with it. She loved him and she couldn't see him suffering.

"I want to end all this Abhyansh... I want to live in a future where I could see only love in your eyes for me, not regret, guilt, or pain...", she said

"This guilt would never end Isha...", he replied

"It will, when you find me happy, so happy that I don't even remember the past suffering, and all that happiness is because of you, then this guilt would end... And for my own sanity, I want toforgive you and move on from it... I want to be peaceful and see you peaceful", Isha said

"I know... That's why I have decided to tell you the truth...", he said and she was shocked to hear him... "But for now let's not talk about it... Tonight I want to concentrate on proving my Rani sa's 'Thorn theory' wrong...", he said drawing an amusing smile from her.

"I think you already did", she questioned pointing around the room but he shook his head.

"This is just a start... May I ?", he asked forwarding his hand and she nodded giving in... She knew things are gonna get hard for the both of them for the next few days but for now, she wanted to enjoy her time with him. Being with him always provided her happiness and she wanted to pamper herself with that bliss before they get ready for the battle.

---