My Harem Will Help Me Get My Revenge-Chapter 49: [ - - 46.1] - The Tragedy of Maharaja Pratap Singh

Chapter 49: [Chapter - 46.1] - The Tragedy of Maharaja Pratap Singh

Chapter - 46.1

"What the hell...?" she whispered, clutching the blanket to her chest, her voice trembling now. Panic bubbled up. Her heart started racing.

Lucius’s shirt, casually draped over the chair. Bloodstained.

She sat up in bed, heart beating fast. Her mind felt heavy, still she tried hard to remember and soon pieces of last night were coming back.

The club...

That guy in the skull cap...

The fight...

Lucius carrying her...

She remembered being drunk, teasing him, acting flirty...

Then...

Her eyes widened even more, "What happened after we came here?" she whispered to herself and touched her lips without thinking. And suddenly a flash of memory hit her.

She had kissed him.

Not only that— she had taken off all her clothes. In front of him.

"What the fuck? Did I really...?" she gasped, "Did I really strip naked in front of him?"

She covered her face with both hands, "No, no, no. What was I thinking?" she said to herself, "How could I be so stupid?"

She dropped back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, hiding under the blanket. Her cheeks were burning with shame.

"Did we... do something?" she whispered, her voice shaky.

She took a slow breath, trying to feel if her body hurt anywhere. But there was no pain. Nothing felt different.

She opened her eyes slowly, "Wait... there’s no pain. So... he didn’t touch me," she realised. A long sigh left her lips.

A little relief spread in her chest.

But the embarrassment was still strong. She kicked her legs into the air and groaned, "Ughh! What must he be thinking about me now? That I’m cheap? Drunk and shameless?"

She sat up slowly, holding her face in her hands, "Shit, I really messed up. That was so stupid," she muttered, shaking her head, "Why did I drink so much?"

And then the image of Lucius and Cassey on the same bed, lying naked beside each other. After a few minutes of silence, she let out a deep breath and spoke quietly.

"Well... what’s done is done. I can’t undo it now."

She got out of bed, wrapped herself in a towel, and walked to the bathroom. Cold water hit her skin as she tried to calm her thoughts.

After bathing, she got dressed in a fresh outfit. Her hair was still damp, but she sat down on the sofa with her laptop, trying to focus.

"Okay, enough drama," she told herself, "Time to get to work."

She opened the screen, trying to build the strategy for the business deal. But part of her mind still replayed Lucius’s face, and her own actions from the night before.

She shook her head hard, "No. Focus. Don’t think about him. I need to avoid Lucius. Just... act normal and don’t let him see you panic."

With a deep breath, Iris sat straighter, fingers on the keyboard, ready to push the night out of her mind—at least for now.

Her mind drifted back— to the conversation she had with the man.

**FLASHBACK**

Iris walked into the coffee shop in the Palace she was earlier in the morning to meet Mr Singh. But this time it was someone else she was here to meet.

An old man, nearly in his 80s, was already sitting there, calm and thoughtful. He looked up when he saw her and stood politely.

"Miss Iris?" he asked.

She gave a small nod, "Yes, that’s me."

They shook hands firmly.

"Namaste, I am Shatrughan Rawat," he introduced himself with a polite smile.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Rawat," Iris replied warmly. She sat down across from him and got straight to business. "So, what information do you have for me?"

"You are a good businesswoman, miss Iris, but there are certain aspects you need to work on," Shatrughan looked at Iris with kind eyes then let out a slow breath, like he was pulling memories from deep inside.

"This place is not just breaks and walls for Mr. Singh, Miss Iris," he said quietly.

Iris tilted her head slightly, curious, "I know that. Tell me something more important, Mr Rawat."

"A bit too impatient," He gave her a gentle, understanding look, "I have served Mr. Pratap Singh and his family for so many years that I can’t even remember. I have seen him grow— from a young boy to a lively man and then into the quiet soul you see today."

Iris leaned in a little, her expression serious.

"This big estate," Shatrughan continued, looking around the room slowly, "This has been in his family for generations. It is not just a property. It is a symbol of their legacy, their history, and their strength. But... even all that could not protect him from life’s cruelty."

Iris frowned slightly, "What happened?" she asked softly.

Shatrughan’s voice dropped, becoming softer, almost like he was telling a secret, "Life gave him everything... and then took it away. Mr. Singh was the only son of his family. He had just lost his parents when he met her, the love of his life, Caroline."

"And the smart, intelligent and calculative Mr Singh did not waste time. Soon after they met, he married her right here in this very palace," He paused, as if gathering his words, "I could still remember the smile on his face. He was smiling ear to ear like a fool." Shatrughan smiled remembering that day.

"They were so happy. Two years later, they had twins— a boy and a girl. Their house was full of laughter, joy, and dreams. Mr. Singh lived for them."

Iris listened silently, she could sense the happiness in the old man’s voice and could feel it herself as well..

"But fate had a different plan," Shatrughan shook her head with disappointment, "Caroline fell sick. We soon found that it was a brain tumor. Even though he tried everything— every treatment, every prayer— she passed away within a year."

Iris lowered her eyes in sadness, ’Is that how love ends?’

"But Mr Singh does not give up. He still had another reason to keep going, his children," Shatrughan told Iris, "They were his life now."

"But just when he was trying to live again, for the sake of his children..." Shatrughan paused, his throat tightening, "... Another tragedy struck."

"What happened?" Iris asked, totally involved with Mr Singh’s past.

Shatrughan inhaled deeply, steadying himself.

"One rainy afternoon, His kids were coming home from school. The roads were slippery. And on a turn, the car lost control... and crashed. Both children— and their driver— died on the spot."

"Their bodies burnt to the point that they couldn’t even be recognised."

Iris gasped softly, covering her mouth.

"In just a few moments," Shatrughan said heavily, "Even the last hope he was hanging on to was taken from him."

A long silence filled the room. The air felt heavy with sorrow.

"From that day, he was never the same," Shatrughan said, voice low, "One evening, he told me, ’The world gave me more than I deserved, but God took it all away. But there are people out there who have never had anything at all. If I can give them a little piece of the life I had... maybe that’s enough.’"

Iris’s heart ached at the quiet sadness in his words. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

"After that, he changed his life completely," Shatrughan continued, "He stopped paying attention to his business. Spent almost all the money he could to build homes for widows, schools for orphans, hospitals for the poor, shelters for the homeless. He gave everything he had to them."

He looked around the large, beautiful hall.

"Now, this palace is all he has left that is still making some profit. But even then, Mr. Singh wants to sell this place— not for himself, but to use the money for charity one last time."

Iris stayed quiet, letting everything sink in.

After a moment, she asked, "Then... Why didn’t he accept any of the offers people made? Surely many buyers approached him?"

Shatrughan stood up slowly and looked at her kindly.

"Because though he wants money, he doesn’t want this place to change," he said simply, "Every wall, every tree, every stone holds memories of his parents, his wife and children. He wants the resort to stay exactly as it is. That’s why he refused every deal that involved tearing it down or turning it into something else."

Iris nodded slowly, understanding now.

Mr. Pratap Singh wasn’t just trying to sell a piece of land.

He was trying to protect the last living piece of his heart.

"I hope this helps you, Miss Iris," The old man, Shatrughan, turned to look at Iris as he spoke, "Then I will take my leave." And with that, Shatrughan walked past her to leave.

"Wait!" As he walked past her, Iris stopped him.

"What else can I help you with, Miss?" Shatrughan asked politely.

"Did you tell this to anyone else?" Iris asked.

"I do whatever is best for my master, Miss Iris."

** ** ** ** **

[Author’s Note:

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2. Don’t forget to check out the Auxiliary Chapters to know more about the story.]