Rags To Royals (Royal #1: Book 1) | ✔

12

-• a princess •-

I can only stand back and watch as he lets out an obnoxious scoff directed at me before walking past us, towards the ride waiting for him. He gets inside the buggy car parked under the thick shade of a tree and drives off.

"This is bad," I hear Tarun say. My nose scrunches in confusion.

"What?"

He shakes his head. "This is gonna take a turn for worse," he looks at me in fear.

"What do you mean?"

"He saw us!" Tarun exclaims disbelievingly.

"So? We weren't doing anything scandalous." I shrug incredulously.

"But didn't you see how he looked at us? What if he goes and tells your father? Or worse! The Crown Prince!"

"He'll not! And even if tells them, what is he going to say? I saw Taranya at the riverside with Tarun? Doing what? We were just having fun!"

"You don't understand," Tarun looks up tiredly at the sky.

"Then make me understand!"

"Tara!" He looks down at me. "People like you, don't hang out with people like me!" He points at himself aggressively. "We're from two different worlds. And yours is powerful."

"Don't panic!" I grab his shoulders. "Take a deep breath," I say softly.

"God, Tara!" He brushes off my hands.

I step closer and hold his arms once again. "Nothing will happen. Trust me. And if anything does happen, I'll take the fall for it, okay?"

"And what's changing?" He meets my eyes. "You'll be excused. I'll be the one held responsible. God, I should have known." He looks away from me.

"Tarun," I call for him desperately. "Please, don't panic."

"My future is on the line!" He widens his eyes at me in disbelief. "What do you mean don't panic? It's not a news that Prince Agastya doesn't like you. He'll use this for his advantage. I won't it put it past that man. He's petty."

"Look, when we sneaked out, we knew it's a possibility someone would see us-"

"But not him!"

I exhale loudly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

He steps away and rakes a hand through his dark hair. "Tara, do me a favor and let's stop this. I can't be your friend. I'm sorry."

I look at him with tearful eyes. "You just said you're glad that I'm your first friend." I whisper in a weak voice.

"Yeah, I know. And I still am. But I can't throw my life away for something as stupid as friendship. My mother has worked hard to get this job. I can't do this to her. Not for a friend I met three days ago." He waves his hands around.

"Right," I nod, swallowing the heavy pill of being cast aside without a second thought. Then again, he's worried for his mother. I should have known. "It's my fault. You're right. Let's stop this. I'll treat you like you're used to. Let's go back," I say and start walking.

He sighs and falls in the step beside me. We reach the main gates in five minutes. I scan the card and the metal doors open with a thick grunt. I walk inside, halting when I find Tarun walking along with me.

"What?"

"Aren't you supposed to walk one step behind me?" I ask him bitterly.

His face flushes red in embarassment. "Right. I apologise, Princess Taranya," he steps back and bows his head in respect.