Page 119 of Sumanika

His chuckle met my ears as he placed a soft kiss below my ear.

"You’re not with me?”

As I spoke, my lashes grew heavy with his tender murmurs and feathery kisses.

“Not yet. The world doesn’t know we’re together," I replied slowly as he leaned in again.

"I've never grasped the need for societal validation. Why does the world need to know when two people share a connection? Their empty blessings don’t matter,” he said, and I paused to inhale deeply.

“It's not about validation; it's about claiming your territory and being responsible for one another,” I attempted to explain, receiving another gentle kiss from him.

“What do you mean?" he asked while I gazed at the stunning scenery around us.

“It means asserting that this person is yours, that no one else is allowed to harbor romantic feelings for him. It’s also about accountability. Animals do the same; they mark their territory and claim their mates,” I described, and he inhaled sharply at my ear.

"But, people will not support you. Even if you try to announce it, you’ll face challenges at every step,” he responded with furrowed brows. I looked confused. "What do you mean?”

“I witnessed my parents declare their illicit relationship to the world, trying to be seen as a legitimate marriage. But no one accepted it. After they passed, we weren’t allowed to live in the Kingdom; no one cared for us. We were always labeled as the Kingdom’s illegitimate children,” he related, and I took a sharp breath, listening intently.

"I didn’t know that," I confessed, blinking nervously. "I mean, not to this extent.”

“It’s irrelevant whether the world is aware. What counts is that you know. Relationships accepted by society can still involve betrayal and separations. The person unafraid of societal judgments doesn’t care what others think. They live their life on their own terms, filled with pride because they know judgments fade with time,” he stated, prompting me to bite my lower lip.

“That’s a way of advocating for fearlessness. But people of royal blood, like you, leave a legacy. Their actions are remembered and shape the future, setting an example for others. That’s the purpose of monarchy: to uphold righteousness," I articulated, watching a slight smile cross his face as I glanced over his shoulder.

“Wow, that’s impressive. You know a lot about politics," he remarked, catching me off guard.

“Umm, it’s merely my opinion. I mean..." I stumbled to find the right words.

“How much have you studied?" he asked, my gaze dropping in embarrassment.

“Um, I didn’t study much in my childhood. Just household chores, how to respect others, and such. But after my husband left and my parents abandoned me, one of my sisters urged me to seek work in Mahabaleshgarh. I passed all their tests and became one of Nandani's maids. We became close friends, and I shared everything with her while she studied. I began to take an interest in academics, and she welcomed that. I became her study partner, although she was always sharper than me. Learning the basics took time, but once I mastered reading and writing, we would read together and discuss. Nandani adored history, politics, and war, leading to passionate debates. She also cared for the common folk, often asking me to venture into the village for insights about the realities that didn’t reach the King. That’s how I learned,” I shared, and he held me tighter, stating,

“You know, very few truly grasp what royalty is meant to be. Most kings view it as power over people, but few understand that royals are meant to serve the people."

I nodded.

"Well, that's true, but I’m glad that Ranaji understands this well. In Mahabaleshgarh, Maharani Abhishree introduced many changes that had never happened before. And, you know, when King Ranvardhan was alive, the two of them would engage in very heated arguments about the people and the children. At that time, no one could have guessed how much they loved each other," I said, and he nodded.

"I really miss King Rajvardhan. I first met him on Holi," he said, and I chuckled.

"Yes, I sort of remember that," I replied.

"Yes, it was Bhabhisa and Bhaisa’s first Holi. Bhabhisa went to visit him, and that’s where I met him first. He was the first king I had seen who was down-to-earth, friendly, and understanding," he said, and I nodded.

"Yes, he was. He fought for me too. When my in-laws came to court demanding me back, he outright denied it," I said, and he looked at me in surprise.

"He did?"

I nodded widely and smiled.

"Yes, Nandani asked him to do that. He loved both of his children very much but adored Nandani a little more. Everyone knew he adored Nandani more than King Abhinandan. He could yell and argue with him, but he never raised his voice at her," I said, and he chuckled.

"That’s why she sometimes acts like a spoiled princess," he said, and I laughed.

"She’s actually sweet," I mentioned, and he kissed my cheek.

"But I didn’t like it when she raised her hand to you," he said, and I shook my head.

---