Chapter 13 #2
“Is she involved?” I asked right away, and he nodded slightly.
“Maybe,”
I hastened off his lap, feeling like a mountain had struck me.
Who can we trust these days? Yet, the thought of her being a threat to him made my heart leap to my throat.
“What will you do now?” I asked, looking straight into his eyes.
“Taste you directly from my tongue,” he replied.
I rolled my eyes immediately and stood up from the bed, unable to believe him. But he quickly held my hand.
I turned and saw him drawing my fingers closer to his lips.
He licked my fingers again and shook his head slightly, biting his lower lip.
“You are so sweet. I’m already addicted. What do you eat?” he asked, and I furrowed my brows.
“How many women have you tasted?” I couldn’t help but ask, and he looked at me, raising his brows.
“One.”
“You’re lying,”
He shook his head. “I’ve saved a few things only for my wife,”
I pulled my hand back. “You should stop calling me that.”
He furrowed his brow wickedly. “Why so?”
I sighed heavily. “Because...” I started, but couldn’t find the words.
He waited a few moments before replying. “I think you need time to figure out the ‘because’,”
I lowered my gaze and shook my head. “Because no one knows who we are to each other,”
He stayed silent, not leaving my hand.
“It's okay,” I said. “You don’t have to answer. I know it’s complicated,”
“I’m clear about it. You need to battle your mind,” he said at once, kissing my fingers.
I yanked my hand back from his hold and smiled weakly at him.
“Don’t starve yourself. I brought you dinner, and it’d be good if I didn’t walk out empty-handed at this late hour from your chamber,” I said, and he stood up with a smirk.
“Someone’s getting good at sneaking out,” he said, walking us toward the couch. “Let’s eat together.”
I immediately shook my head, feeling the heat in my cheeks at the sight of him half-naked and tempting before me on the couch.
“You know, I cannot do it.”
He chuckled softly. “You’ve already done a lot more,” he said, reminding me of our heated encounter. As I sat beside him, he asked, “How was your day?”
I watched him tear a bite, shoving it into his mouth. “Um… it was good, and you should wash your hands before eating,”
“Have you ever seen a lion wash his hands before having his meal?” he countered.
I took a deep breath and gaped at him. “But isn’t there a difference between an animal and a human?”
He quickly lifted his gaze to meet mine, and I felt as though I had spoken out of turn and muttered, “Sorry.”
“Good,” he said, pushing the plate closer to me. “Do you want to eat?” he asked, and I looked at him in disbelief.
“From your plate?” I asked, and he nodded. “I don't think I should.”
He paused for a moment, then said, “I think you should. Both my brothers share their plates with their wives.”
I bit my lip, feeling a flutter in my stomach at his words. “But they are their wives,”
He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Did I say anything different?”
I clenched my hand on my skirt. “I had my dinner.” I came up with an excuse.
He chuckled and insisted again, “The fuel is spent; you need more.”
A smile curved my lips, and I looked at my hand. “I should clean... it,”
He shook his head. “I already licked it clean. But yes, unless you want to get rid of my sal...”
I licked the tip of my finger before he could finish, and a broad smile appeared on his face.
“Okay, you don’t want to,” he mumbled, turning red.
I reached out to take a bite, reminding him, “Just a bite.”
He nodded and continued eating.
“Um… you know, an attendant tried to seduce me,” he blurted.
“What???” I asked, shocked.
“Yes,” he chuckled, chewing his food.
“Who?” I asked, frowning, already cursing her in my mind.
“The one who saw us together,” he added.
“Yesterday afternoon?” I asked, and he nodded. “How?” I added.
“She collapsed in front of me, thinking I would help her up,” he said, and I grimaced, unable to believe such things were happening in the palace.
“Should I talk to her?” I asked carefully. After all, I had the authority to scold them. He shook his head.
“So, you liked it?” I asked, confused.
Right after we had a heated encounter on his bed, he told me someone was trying to hit on him, and he seemed okay with that.
“No, I didn’t say that,” he replied softly.
“But seems like it,” I retorted.
“Wait, wait, wait…” he turned to look at me. “Are you jealous, half-wife?” he asked, grinning in surprise.
I recoiled slightly, taken aback by his words, and shook my head.
“No… Why would I be?” I exclaimed, defensively.
“Well, it’s pretty evident on your face,”
I hurriedly cupped my face and shook my head. “No.”
He moved closer to me. “Yes.”
I shook my head again, leaning on the armrest. “No.”
He hovered over me, and I quickly placed my hand on his chest.
“Yes,” he said.
“Agastya,” a deep voice suddenly rang throughout the chamber, and I turned to see the head commander of our army part the curtains and look at us.
His face turned bright red, and he fumbled.
“Oh... umm, sorry, I should... uh, come back later.”
I turned to see Kunwar-sa scowling.
“You already spoiled it, Eklavya,”
He sat back, and I immediately stood up, placing the dupatta over my head. I watched him walk in and bow, smiling.
“Pranaam, Sum... um… I mean, Bhabhi-sa,” his words made my cheeks flush, and I rushed past him back to my room. My heart raced that night.
Everything that happened clouded my mind the whole evening. The image of him, the memory of me on his lap, swaying my hips against him, feeling his intense warmth—it was overwhelming. I couldn’t sleep properly because I felt hot all night.
?????
The next morning, I returned to work, trying to act like nothing had happened the night before.
“How are you?” Nandani asked as I walked into her chamber. She was rocking the baby in her arms.
“I should be the one asking you that,” I said, motioning for the attendants to clean her chamber as I approached her. “How is the little princess doing now?”
I looked at the baby sleeping peacefully in her mother’s arms, and I couldn't help but smile widely at her.
“She’s having a hard time adjusting to her father’s rough hands; it probably feels like a brick to her compared to her mother's,” Nandani said, making me laugh.
“Who has brick hands?”
I saw Ranaji enter the chamber, striding toward her, and instinctively took a step back.
“She said you do,” Nandani replied, slowly handing the baby to him. I watched the smile on Ranaji’s face as he cradled her in his arms. I bet, for him, everything paled compared to that feeling.
“Suman, I need to take a bath,” she said, catching my attention, and I nodded.
“I’ll get your water prepared,” I said, about to leave, but she suddenly pulled me aside.
My eyes widened in shock as I looked at her, confused.
“Did you see Rashmika?” she asked, and I shook my head.
“Why?” I asked.
She exhaled. “I don’t know…” she said, clicking her tongue. “Something feels off about her. You weren’t there when Aishwarya and I met her. She seemed so disoriented to us. I mean, what kind of princess doesn’t want to know about her husband's family and the kingdom?”
I furrowed my brows.
“What? Really?” I tried to pretend, but it was an excellent opportunity to tease her about Rashmika potentially not being a good person.
“Yeah, I don’t know, maybe it was her first time. And what kind of princess visits her in-laws before the wedding? It’s not in our culture,” she said, and I shook my head.
“I don’t know what to make of it,” I replied. “But I can keep an eye on her if you want me to.”
She nodded immediately. “That’d be perfect. You know, I couldn’t even tell Aishwarya about this.”
“But why?”
“She…” She looked like she was trying to find the right word, animating with her hands. “She doesn’t seem very perceptive when reading faces.”
“And you think I am?” I asked back.
“Huh… of course,” she said after a beat. “You understand me and my mind,”
I chuckled.
“I get you. I’ll keep an eye on her,” I confirmed, assured that Rashmika was up to something. Because while Kunwar Agastya could be mistaken, Nandani could never.
She was clever. She even brought Rana Rudra Dev Singh to his knees; she didn’t need an introduction.
“Okay,” she said, and I walked past her to prepare her bath.
After that, I went to see Daadi-sa to help her with her meals. She reminded me of the marriage, and I had no choice but to smile.
When I returned to the kitchen, I saw Kunwar Agastya walking with a beautiful woman. It was perhaps Princess Rashmika. I watched them talking about something, and I didn’t know why, but I felt a flame ignite in my heart as I observed them.
Suddenly, his gaze shifted to mine, and I froze, staring back at him.
My breath hitched, and right before Princess Rashmika could follow his gaze, I turned and sprinted away.
I didn’t want to mess it up. I had to find out what sort of poison she was.
The day concluded, and I returned to my room.
?????
The following day, I woke up early because, at last, it was the big day—the princess’s naming ceremony.
I wore a simple pale red outfit. As the widow of my late husband, I wasn’t supposed to wear vibrant colours, but this newborn princess meant so much more to me than his lifeless form. Besides, I had a new husband.
After drying my hair, I braided it and walked out of the room to see the preparations. The entire palace resembled a bride, adorned with flowers and multicoloured curtains, evoking the spirit of holi.
I went to Nandani’s chamber and found her already awake. The event was to begin late morning, and chaos unfolded in the palace because, after the naming ceremony, the doors were to open to the villagers for the feast and donations.
I watched Nandani prepare for the princess’s naming ceremony. She sighed in frustration and glanced at me, and I couldn’t help but smile.
She had gained weight during her pregnancy and struggled to tie the waistband.