The Royal Silence

55. Yugant Apologies

I placed the color palette on the table and walked towards the mirror.

Holding the pendant between my fingers, I looked at it. It was shaped like a half moon... delicate, yet strong. Tiny diamonds lined its curve, catching the light with every slight movement, making it shimmer softly against my skin.

For a moment, I just... stared.

It felt different, not like jewellery. Like something that was made for me.

I traced it lightly with my thumb, the cool metal slowly warming against my touch.

I couldn't take my eyes off it.

Yugant walked towards me and wrapped his hand around my waist from behind, pulling me back against his chest.

His cold hand touched my bare skin, and my eyes shut for a second.

My heart-God, it was beating like it just got startled.

Why does his touch suddenly feel so new? As if we were never this close before... Why is it sending goosebumps across my skin like I'm feeling him for the first time?

I felt his fingers brush my neck. My eyes opened instantly as he pushed my hair aside and leaned in, pressing his nose against my shoulder. His eyes closed, and he inhaled slowly... deeply... like he was trying to memorize my scent.

A shiver ran through me when his lips touched my shoulder, warm and soft, while his thumb traced slow circles near my navel.

My body slowly relaxed into him. I closed my eyes again and leaned back, resting my head against his shoulder.

It all feels new... like whatever we had before was something else entirely, and this-this is different. Softer. Deeper.

I don't even know why it's happening, but the way he's touching me... it's driving me a little insane.

So patient... so careful... like a man who wants to feel every part of me without rushing a single moment.

We stayed like that for a few minutes, just feeling each other... without a single word. As if we were both trying to believe that we're finally here, together... in each other's arms.

I opened my eyes slowly, and through the mirror, I found him again.

Why is he so handsome? So... distracting? And how am I even allowed to admire someone like this?

"Mr. Raizaada," I called softly. It felt like the right moment to sort things between us.

No response.

"Mr. Raizaada..." I tried again. His eyes were still closed.

Is he seriously ignoring me?

"Yugant..." I called, this time a little annoyed.

"Yes, wifey?" he replied instantly, opening his eyes like he was just waiting for that name.

Something flipped in my stomach hearing that word.

Wifey.

Never thought it would do this to me.

I turned towards him slowly. I thought he would let go... but instead, his hold tightened around my waist, pulling me closer against his chest.

"Why didn't you answer the first two times?" I raised my brows.

"Because I was waiting to hear my name from your lips... not the one the world uses for me," he said, his gaze steady on mine.

The corner of my mouth twitched. I wanted to smile, but I held it back.

My hands moved to his chest, then slowly wrapped around his neck. He didn't resist. Instead, he leaned down, burying his face in my neck, his lips brushing my skin before he captured it softly.

What is it about him that makes me lose myself like this every time he comes close?

It feels like I'm intoxicated... like I don't even belong to myself anymore when I'm in his arms.

"Yu... Yugant... can we talk first?" I managed to say somehow.

"Hmm... about what?" he murmured near my ear.

I cupped his face and gently pushed him back, creating a little distance between us. He pulled me closer again, but this time stayed still.

"About us. About what happened these past few days. About our life... and about this..." I pointed at the nuptial chain resting against my neck.

His gaze dropped to it. "You didn't like it?"

"I love it... but I want to know why you removed the first one."

He sighed. "You're still stuck there?"

"Why shouldn't I be? You were about to marry someone else... and I'm not even allowed to feel anything about that?"

"God, Dhwani... you're still thinking about her when you're the one standing here as my wife... wearing something I made for you?"

"And you're talking like I just appeared here," I snapped, my eyes burning. "It was me who had the courage to do that. Otherwise today Olivia would be standing here... and you'd be giving this to her."

"It was because of you... and your brother," he said, his tone turning harsh.

I pulled my hands back, trying to step away. This needed a real conversation now, especially after he dragged bhai into it.

But before I could move, he caught my hands again, placing them back around his neck. One hand held them there because he knew I'll pull them back again,, the other lifted my chin.

"We're talking, aren't we? You don't get to walk away like this."

"We can talk from a distance too," I argued.

"I don't like distance when it comes to you."

"You don't like distance?" I let out a hollow laugh. "Then why didn't you pull me closer when I confessed? Why couldn't you even say you love me once?"

"Dhwani..."

"What Dhwani, Yugant?" my voice cracked, but I didn't let it break.

"Was my late realization such a big crime?

I didn't confess because I didn't understand my feelings.

But when I did, you didn't accept me. I was the one who didn't give up...

I was the one who married you despite everything. Did I commit a crime loving you?"

"Yes," he said. Something inside me shattered.

"You committed a crime and you'll have to bear the punishment for a lifetime."

I looked down, blinking as a tear slipped and fell, while I forced the rest to stay back.

He lifted my chin again, his touch gentler this time. His thumb wiped the tear from my cheek as he leaned closer.

"I'll make sure this crime becomes the most beautiful thing that ever happened to you," he said quietly, his voice no longer harsh... just steady. "And this punishment... will feel like a lifetime you'd never want to escape from... because it'll be spent with me."

Urghh... this man.

I huffed and started hitting his chest. "You're bipolar. You always make me cry. I hate you, Mr. Raizaada. I hate you."

He caught my wrists mid-air and pulled both my hands behind my back, holding them there easily. "Aren't you getting a little too wild after becoming my wife?"

"You deserve this," I shot back, trying to move but failing.

"I deserve a lot more than this," his gaze dropped, roaming over me without shame before coming back to my face, darker now. "Things I've been controlling myself from taking since morning."

My breath hitched, but I didn't back down. "You don't deserve anything... not until you confess."

"Confess what?"

"That you were wrong."

"And what you did was right?" he asked.

"I never said that."

"You never accepted it either."

"Because I realized it too late," my voice cracked but I held his gaze. "And if this is about an apology... then I'm ready. I'll sit at your feet and accept my mistakes, my feelings... but only if when I bend, you don't feel proud. You feel... loved, cherished."

His grip on my wrists loosened. Something changed in his eyes.

"And you think I would ever want the woman I love at my feet?

" he asked, one hand coming up to cup my face, forcing me to look at him.

"I never wanted that. I will never want that.

The only place I want you is here..." he pulled me forward, pressing me against his chest, "...

against my heart. Even if I have to bend for that. "

I placed my head on his chest and relaxed instantly.

God... this man.

One of the biggest reasons I fell for him is because he has no ego. No false pride.

Breathing him a few times, I pulled my head away from his chest and looked up.

"Does that mean you're accepting you were wrong?" I asked, my voice softer now.

"Yes," he said without hesitation. "I was wrong. I dragged you into something that was never yours to suffer for... mine and Samarth's mess and I'm sorry for that."

His thumb brushed my cheek as his gaze held mine."But trust me on this... I would have never married Olivia. Not after your confession. Your brother knows that too."

I didn't say anything because I don't trust him in this and I want to keep using this topic as a weapon in our further arguments. So letting it slide right now is better.

"Okay then why did you take off the previous nuptial chain?" I asked because... this still mattered. I wasn't able to let it slide from my mind.

"It was because that wasn't meant for you," his jaw tightened slightly. "It was for Olivia and I could not stand the idea of you wearing something that was never yours."

His fingers moved to the chain around my neck, brushing it lightly.

"I wanted to give you something that belongs only to you," his voice deepened, more intense now. "Something that, when you look at it, reminds you of me... of us... not of anyone else."

His hand slid from the chain to my jaw, tilting my face up.

"You're mine, Dhwani," his gaze locked with mine, unshaken, consuming. "And everything that comes to you... should be yours alone. Whether it's a piece of jewellery..." his fingers tightened slightly, pulling me closer, "...or me."

I felt like screaming in happiness, like grabbing his face and kissing him hard... but I controlled myself.

He made me cry for three whole days before this wedding.

Now it's my turn.

I held his hand that was cupping my face and gently removed it. "Okay... now that you've accepted, it's fine."

I turned away and walked towards my canvas, picking up my palette and brush, biting my inner cheek to control my smile.

I could feel his gaze on my back.

So, just to make it worse for him, I pulled my hair to one side-giving him a clear, uninterrupted view of my bare back.

"Are you still mad?" he asked, stepping closer, standing beside me while I focused on my painting.

"Mad? No," I replied calmly. "Everything is sorted between us now."

My face stayed straight as I moved the brush across the canvas.

He looked at the painting, then at me. "Then why did you suddenly go silent?"

"I'm focusing on my painting. It's important."

He hummed slowly. "Okay. You finish it... till then I'll take a shower."

I gave a slight nod without looking at him.

He walked into the bathroom.

The moment the door shut, I couldn't hold it anymore. A small giggle escaped me.

God... he looked so innocent just now.

I shook my head and focused back on my painting.

I shook my head and focused back on my painting because it mattered. I had been offered a huge amount for it, and I had to complete it within a weeks.

I didn't even know who wanted it. Someone just approached me on Instagram and said they were ready to pay anything for this piece... and I agreed.

After all, who doesn't want money? And... I hadn't given Yugant any wedding gift.

I wanted to get him something good. Something worthy of him. Even though I already have money, it still felt nothing in front of what he deserves. Because he holds my entire world.

I kept working, focused on the strokes, when after a few minutes the bathroom door opened.

"Is it done?" Yugant's voice reached me.

I turned to look at him and froze.

He was just in lowers, a white towel hanging around his neck as he wiped his hair, droplets of water sliding down his chest... over his abs...

My brain stopped working.

"Dhwani, is it done?" he waved his hand in front of my face.

"Huh-no... not yet," I said, but my eyes were still stuck on him.

God...Why does he look like this?

"Do you need anything? Coffee? Tea?" he asked casually, like he wasn't distracting my entire existence.

"Yes, you," I blurted out.

"What?"

"I-I mean no. I don't need anything. I need to focus. Yes. Focus," I turned back immediately to my canvas.

Control yourself, Dhwani.

"Alright. I need to discuss something with Ishaan. Do your work by then," he said, picking up his phone and walking towards the balcony.

My eyes kept drifting back to him as he stood there, talking on the call completely ruining my concentration and my sanity.

I tried to focus again, but my foot started hurting from standing too long, and honestly... my mind was nowhere near the painting anymore.

I sighed, giving up.

I cleaned my brushes, packed everything properly, before washing my hands.

No point pretending to work when my attention was stuck on a six-foot distraction in my balcony.

I sat down on the couch, waiting for him to come back but his call kept going and my eyes started getting heavy.

I looked down at myself... still in the saree. If I stood up now, I'd probably fall flat on my face.

So I leaned back slowly, resting my head against the couch...and closed my eyes.

I was on call with Ishaan when my eyes drifted towards the glass door... and landed over Dhwani.

She was sleeping on the couch, her head resting against the headrest.

I glanced at my phone. Almost twelve.

Exhaling slowly, I realized I had been on the call for way too long.

"Ishaan... we'll discuss it tomorrow in the office."

"Alright, sir. Good night."

The call disconnected.

I switched off the balcony lights and stepped back inside, sliding the door shut behind me.

As I walked closer to her, my steps slowed on their own.

Her face looks...so calm, so peaceful. As if the storm she carries inside her had finally gone quiet.

She looked exhausted and still... beautiful in a way that made it hard to look away.

I shook my head lightly.

This girl...didn't even bother to change out of that saree before sleeping. But then again, logic doesn't exist once sleep takes over her.

I knelt beside her, gently brushing her hair aside. My fingers moved to her earrings, removing one carefully... then the other.

Her ears were slightly red, probably from the heavy earrings.

She never liked all this. Jewellery, heavy clothes... none of it defined her. For her, being a woman was never about how she looked. It was about how she felt.

Comfort mattered more than appearance and yet today... She carried everything. The weight, the discomfort... without a word.

But why? I don't even know.

I moved towards her feet, pushing the fabric aside to check and there it was. Swelling.

Of course.

"She never listens..." I muttered under my breath and if I show care it becomes control.

Sighing, I stood up and grabbed the cream and crepe bandage from the first aid kit.

Sitting beside her again, I lifted her foot gently and placed it on my lap.

My hands slowed as I applied the cream, rubbing it carefully, making sure not to hurt her. I picked up the bandage, about to wrap it then suddenly- Knock knock.

At this hour?

"Come in," I said, keeping my voice low.

The door opened and Samarth entered.

The last person I expected.

His eyes moved from me... to Dhwani... then to her foot. He stayed silent for a second.

"Is she fine?" he asked, stepping closer.

"Just sleeping," I replied.

He nodded, then frowned slightly looking at the bandage. "Why again?"

"It swelled up. She was standing for too long... painting something."

I kept my voice steady not because she'd wake up from mine-but I didn't trust his. And I definitely didn't want him here longer than necessary.

He walked towards her canvas, looking at the incomplete painting for a few seconds... then came back.

"You here? At this time?" I finally asked.

"Yeah... actually..." he paused.

Yeah didn't want to say it. Of course. He came for his sister. Not me. We don't share anything anymore except this forced connection.

What we were...and what we became.

"I think Dhwani didn't take her medicine," he said finally, pulling out a strip of tablets and placing it on the table. "It's her night dose. She skipped it yesterday too. It's important. Wake her up and give it to her."

My eyes stayed on the tablets.

Medicine? Again?

I picked it up slowly. What is this? Why does she need it?

I looked at him. "What are these for?"

He exhaled. "Meet me tomorrow after breakfast. We need to talk... there's a lot to sort."

About the medicine? Or about us? I wanted to ask but didn't.

He turned to leave, then paused at the door. "Give it to her now. She shouldn't skip it."

I nodded once and he walked away.

At least he knows when to walk away.

I looked down at the medicine again... then at Dhwani.

Something isn't right and this time, I'm not going to ignore it.