"Why?" She asked and walked towards him to make him look at her.
He again turned his face away to not show her his red cheeks and said "What 'Why?'? I have never seen her then how can I paint her in this painting? I don't know how she looks like."
"Really?" Ira said, acting sad "But I thought you must have someone you like."
He looked at her with one eyebrow raised "Why did you thought that?"
She looked at him and said, still acting sad "You don't look at any girl in kingdom. Your brother is married and became the king now and you have became the commander too. So I thought now it's your turn to get married and because of your nature, I thought many girl are ready to marry you and may be you have choosed your life partner."
Ahil nod silently and thought for a while. He glanced at Ira and again looked away, thinking deeply. Ira just stared at him for a while and asked "What happened?"
He looked at her and took a deep breath. "Actually.....I like someone."
Ira's eyes widened in shock. She just wanted to tease him but didn't expected to hear that he already have someone in his heart.
"What?!"
Ahil nod and gulped in nervousness. He quickly walked towards the door and closed it, not wanting anyone to hear their conversation.
"Who?" She asked again.
He walked towards the small tea table in the chamber and gestured her to come and sit.
She walked towards him and quickly sat down on the chair infront of him.
"First, promise me, you will not tell anyone." He demanded.
"Why? Isn't it good? You like someone and if others got to know about it, they will be happy too. It will be easy for you to get married to her! Oh dear! Finally I can get someone to accompany me! I will get a sister-in-law!" She said excitedly that only scared and made Ahil more nervous.
"Calm down, calm down. It's not that easy." He said, trying to calm Ira down because her excitement might fade away soon.
"Why?" She asked dramatically. "First of all, tell me who is she? Tell me from the beginning."
He sighed lazily and smiled weakly. "Fine. But, may be it's only one sided. And it's too complicated."
"Why? You are good-looking. You are a prince, a commander. You can get any girl you want. No one can reject you."
He chuckled and looked at her sadly "That's not true. Just because I am a prince, a good-looking commander, it's not possible for everyone to like me. Some people might hate me or some won't be bothered by it."
"The girl I like, I don't think she care about my title. And may be....she hate me now."
"What? Why?" She asked anxiously.
He looked down at the table with sad eyes and replied "Because I made her my slave."
"What?!" She suddenly exclaimed in disbelief.
He closed his eyes and nod, already expecting this reaction.
He took a deep breath and opened his eyes.
"But....making someone your slave is not good. Isn't it forbidden?" She asked worriedly.
He nod and looked at her. He quickly leaned forward on the table and tried to explain his situation so that at least his sister Ira will not hate him.
"I know it's forbidden but I didn't had any other option. I saved her father's life and in return, he was ready to serve me by becoming my slave. I wanted him to be my spy so I had to make him and his family my slaves. I didn't wanted to drag his family but his family got to know about me and his agreement. I couldn't take risk so I had to make them my slave so that they will not leak any information about us. I had to control them. I really didn't wanted to create any problems for them so I tried my best to stay away from them."
He looked down "Before making her my slave, she used to treat me different but after making her my slave, she is acting different."
"How?" Ira asked.
He looked at her "She used to talk to me freely and lovingly. She was thankful to me because i saved her father's life. She used to spend time with me and talk while looking in my eyes. But now....she don't even look at me. She always keeps her gaze low infront of me. She talks to me very formally now. She don't smile at me now. Her shine, glow....it fade away the day I bound master slave contract with her. May be.....because.....she didn't know that I am a prince, so she used to treat me like a commoner but she was still grateful to me. But may be, when she got to know that I am a prince, that too from Jwalana, she found a great difference between us and started distancing herself from me."
Ira looked at him with pitiful eyes and held his hand on table "Did you tried to talk to her?"
He shook his head and looked down "No, I didn't meet her after that. Her father sends me information every time and I didn't had to go there so I didn't meet her."
"She is your slave. It means you can control her. So....can't you....just....order her.....to..... Order her to love.....you?" She asked hesitantly, thinking it is a bit evil but it can help Ahil to get his love.
He chuckled on her suggestion and looked at her. "Yes, She is still under my control. But I don't want to force her to love me back. I want her to love me by herself, without any pressure. And who will love the man that want to make you his slave? She might think that I will treat her like a slave instead of my wife for rest of her life." He rested his head on table and complained "She hate me!"
She caressed his head to console him and asked "Does Raksheet know about it?"
"Only half of it." He replied.
"Which part?"
He looked at her and sat straight "He know I have made her my slave. But he don't know that I like her."
"Then you should tell him. He will help you." She said hopefully, thinking her husband will help Ahil to win his love.
Ahil's eyes widened in shock and he quickly shook his head "No! Never! You too, don't tell him! He will kill me!"
Ira looked at him confused "Why would he kill you? He will be happy to know that you love someone. He will help you clear the misunderstanding between you and that girl. And even if he gets angry, I will pursue him to help you."
He chuckled sarcastically on her words and replied "If you got to know where she is from, before brother, you will kill me."
Hearing his reply, she looked at him doubtfuly "Where is she from?" She asked in low voice.
He looked at her for a moment and then replied "Bayar."