XIX

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Just outside the courtroom, the four of them stepped into an empty chamber to get a moment alone to grasp what had just happened. For a few moments, there was a deafening silence between them broken only by heavy sighs.

"Shit." Prem finally mouthed closing his eyes and throwing his head back.

Noor eyed the floor as Prince Udam placed his hand on Prem's shoulder. "Relax." He told his best friend in an attempt to ease his tension.

"What did I do..." The frustration was audible in Prem's regretful voice. "But I had no choice."

"Prem..." Prince Udam demanded. Sighing, Prem looked at him. "We will take care of this."

"Yeah." Prem nodded looking down.

Knowing he needed it at this moment, the Prince took a step forward and hugged Prem. Placing his arms around his best friend, Prem let out yet another sigh. "I'm here for you." Prince Udam told him.

"I know." Prem couldn't help but close his eyes for a brief moment on his friend's shoulder at the reassurance.

When they withdrew, both of them immediately shifted their attention to Noor. She was still staring at the floor lost in thought. "Noor..." The Prince placed a hand on her shoulder almost startling her out of her trance. She looked up at him. "Are you okay?" He asked softly.

Noor eyed him for a second and then looked at Prem next to him. Without a word, she simply turned towards him and placed her arms around him in a hug. When he reciprocated the hug by also circling his arms around her, Noor found her eyes filling up with unforeseen tears. She suddenly felt a flood of emotions wash over her and couldn't help but sniffle away her pain in her brother's hold.

"Noor..." Prince Udam gently caressed the back of her head as Gulab rubbed her shoulder to comfort her. Seeing her state, Prem too felt tears building up in his eyes. He stared at the ground to veil and abate them. "It's going to be okay. I promise." The Prince told her still in the hug. Noor let her tears pour out in silent sniffles for a few more moments before ultimately withdrawing. Prince Udam wiped her cheeks before a teary eyed Gulab took her in a hug.

Noor unleashed a few tears on her shoulder as well. "I'm sorry, Gulab." She managed. "We ruined the most special day of your life. I'm so sorry."

"Noor, please!" Gulab pleaded in between her tears. "We all saw how everything unfolded. It should not have happened but none of it is your fault."

"I'm sorry." Noor simply repeated.

"You just calm down." Gulab continued to caress her upper back.

When they withdrew, "let's give them a moment, Gulab." Prince Udam told his wife when he noticed Prem staring at the floor knowing exactly what he was trying to hide. He led Gulab out of the chambers as Noor stared at the man of her life and breath, faced down, making an attempt to wipe his face clean of any emotion.

She slowly made her way to him and gently placed one of her hands in his, interlocking their fingers. She angled her face upwards and planted a soft kiss on his cheek before whispering "are you okay?"

Prem managed a subtle nod before closing his eyes to allow the sense of her proximity to drown him. Noor placed her other arm around his neck and simply stood holding him with her forehead touching his cheek. He too placed his other arm around her back. They stood in that position, not moving, not talking, simply in each other's hold until they were calm again. Until the chaos that has just taken place took a back seat in their minds and the present moment of just being with one another engrossed them.

"I lost my temper." Prem finally whispered. "I could no longer hold back."

"You did the right thing." Noor told him caressing the hair on the back on his head. She nuzzled his jawline as she said the next sentence. "I'm perfectly okay with the title of your whore for the rest of my life, Your Majesty. In fact, it would be an honor. But I think Basher prefers their Chief be the wife."

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