Page 10 of Sumanika

“Come on, let’s go. I’ve arranged a small palanquin for you and a few soldiers to escort you safely back to the Kingdom. I’ll come later, and remember, nothing happened between us. My marriage is important, and I can’t afford any mistakes,” he said.

I immediately looked away and protested.“I’m just a maid, Kunwarsa. There was no need to arrange a palanquin and soldiers for someone like me.”

He stepped closer, and I quickly stepped back with wide eyes.

"Humse behas mat karo... jitna kaha hai utna karo."“Don’t argue with me… just do what I say,” he ordered threateningly, and I immediately shook my head.

“No, I will not go with the palanquin and soldiers. People will notice something is wrong. Just show me the way to Suryagarh out of this forest, and I’ll manage on my own,” I said, stepping forward to walk past him, but he stopped me by saying.

“Fine,” I looked back at him. Your tribe will burn you once they find you alone. Didn’t you hear? To stay alive, we must pretend to be married.” His words brought back memories of yesterday, and I clenched my hand to calm my racing heart.

I didn’t understand what was wrong with my life because every time I felt like things couldn’t get any worse, I found myself in an even worse situation.

And now this. But it was only for today. Once we entered the kingdom, he wouldn’t see me, and I wouldn’t see him. I inhaled deeply, nodding in agreement.“Okay.” then quietly followed him. I glanced at his hand, tightly clutching the dagger he had used to take so many women’s lives.

What kind of man kills so many women yet saved me? He could have let me go; no one would have known who Suman was, but he saved me. He fought for me, earned scars, and married me to protect me. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. He was a prince; saving me was nothing for him. There was nothing between us, and there would be nothing. I just need to let it go.

After a while, we reached the palanquin, and I noticed two soldiers on horseback standing beside it. I sat in the carriage silently and heard him say,“Take her to Suryagarh, and don’t let anyone know about this, especially Bhaisa.”

As soon as he mentioned Ranaji, a wave of fear washed over me. He would surely kill me if he found out that his brother was married to save me.

As the lifters elevated the palanquin, I swiftly closed my eyes to soothe my racing thoughts. We progressed, and soon, we reached the borders of Suryagarh.

“You can come out now,” I heard Kunwarsa’s voice before I lowered my feet to stand. I stole a glance when he scanned our surroundings for safety, and he muttered,“You’re safe from here. Go inside the Kingdom and tell any story you like, but don’t mention th—”

“I know, I know. Don’t worry so much; I understand you don’t want your name associated with mine, and I don’t want my name linked to yours, either.” Meeting his intense gaze, I replied,“I’ve had enough of one.”

He shot me a glare. I overspoke again.“I’m sorry.”

It was all because of Nandani. Thanks to her kindness and my responsibility for managing hundreds of attendees, I had become loose with my tongue. I should stay within my limits with him.

He walked away, and I took a deep breath of peace. My gaze fell upon the massive walls of the Kingdom that had changed my life in every way. A smile lingered on my face.

Suryagarh.

While the Kingdom itself may not have changed my life exactly, the Queen of this Kingdom, Nandani, took a garbage like me and transformed me into the jewel she proudly calls her best friend.

From the start, she had always supported me, particularly when my in-laws disowned me and my parents refused to accept me again, leaving me feeling completely alone.

She had been my best friend and had changed my life more than I ever imagined. From learning to read and write with her to expressing my thoughts to becoming the head maid of the Suryagarh—she entrusted me with so much.

She shared her secrets, and I shared my loyalty in exchange.

But this.

I couldn’t tell her this.

It would complicate everything. It meant nothing. He only did that to protect me. In his eyes, I was merely an extra, like a king’s spoils of war. The only difference was that I would never expect him to check on me.

Why would he even check on me? And why the hell was I thinking about all this?

I entered the kingdom and approached Queen Nandani’s chamber above the servants’quarters. The basement and first floor housed her attendees, maids, and servants, with designated rooms for each. Attendees accessed the chambers from the back rather than the front.

Upon entering her chamber, I found her resting alongside the attendees. Her eyes were closed, and she exhaled deeply, caressing her baby belly.

“How are you now, Nandani?” I asked, planting a broad smile on my face.

She opened her eyes, her face tightening with concern.

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