Chapter 8-A Wife in Name
Three weeks passed.
Vikram did not enter Vinaya's chambers again.
He was polite at breakfast.
Polite at ceremonies.
Polite when they appeared together before the court.
He asked whether she was comfortable.
Whether Samudrapuri's cooks had arrived.
Whether she required warmer clothing.
He treated her with the consideration one might offer an honored foreign guest.
Vinaya began to understand that hatred might have been easier.
Hatred required attention.
Indifference asked nothing at all.
At night she slept alone.
The palace noticed.
Palaces always noticed.
No official statement was made, but servants knew which beds required fresh linens.
Ladies knew whether the Crown Prince visited the eastern wing.
Nobles counted weeks.
Then whispered.
Vinaya heard fragments.
Still nothing.
Perhaps he cannot.
Perhaps he refuses.
Poor princess.
She began taking longer routes through the palace simply to avoid certain corridors.
Her unexpected salvation came in the form of Vikram's siblings.
Balram arrived one afternoon carrying sweets.
"You look miserable."
Vinaya stared at him.
"Your courtly manners are extraordinary."
"I've been told."
He dropped into a chair.
"Eat."
"Why?"
"Because you are too thin."
"I am absolutely not."
"Excellent. Then you won't mind eating."
She laughed.
Balram grinned.
"There. My work is complete."
Ranveer was subtler.
He began asking Vinaya's opinion during informal political discussions.
Parvati took her riding.
Kalyani discovered Vinaya liked books and began borrowing them without returning them.
For the first time since leaving Samudrapuri, Vinaya started feeling something almost like belonging.
Almost.
Then Vikram would enter.
And the warmth vanished.
Not because he demanded it.
Because everyone remembered.
One evening, Vinaya sat beside Lakshmidevi during a formal supper.
Vikram was across the table discussing border patrols with Amarendra.
Vinaya tried not to watch him.
He was easier to admire when silent.
That was unfortunate.
He was handsome.
She had accepted that as an objective fact.
His rare smiles made it worse.
Balram said something.
Vikram laughed softly.
Vinaya's heart gave an embarrassing little jump.
Then she saw the way Lakshmidevi was watching her.
Vinaya immediately looked down.
The Queen said nothing.
Thank the gods.
After supper, Vinaya excused herself early.
She was halfway down the gallery when she heard voices around the corner.
Two noblewomen.
She recognized one as Lady Madhavi.
"The marriage is almost a month old."
"I know."
"And still separate rooms."
"Perhaps the prince cannot bear to touch her."
Vinaya froze.
"Can you blame him?"
A soft laugh.
"Priyamvada was exquisite."
"This one seems pleasant."
"Pleasant."
The word contained more cruelty than an insult.
"Poor thing. Everyone knows why Amarendra wanted the marriage."
"An heir."
"Exactly."
"And apparently even that has failed."
Vinaya's face burned.
She should walk away.
Instead she remained.
Perhaps some part of her wanted to know how the kingdom saw her when they thought she wasn't listening.
Lady Madhavi lowered her voice.
"Do you know what they call her?"
"No."
Vinaya already knew she should leave.
She didn't.
The woman laughed.