Page 24 of Sumanika

After returning to Mehrangarh, I tried explaining to everyone that I had visited a temple and was late. I felt sorry, but they shot me a hundred different glares. Rashmika’s father was especially unhappy.

After meeting Rashmika one more time, I left Mehrangarh. I returned to Suryagarh, leaving Eklavya as Rashmika’s bodyguard.

When I arrived, it was past midnight. I went straight into my chamber without making too much noise.

"Welcome back, Kunwarsa," an attendant greeted me, and I nodded.

"Thank you," I replied, undoing my overcoat and shoes and finally breathing.

Home is home.

Sitting on the couch, I closed my eyes. My mind and heart still couldn’t accept what I had witnessed.

Everything was at stake, not just one kingdom but all the northern Indira. I exhaled deeply and heard the attendant ask, "Shall we bring your dinner?" I nodded, and she left.

I quickly took a bath and changed into a loose, long loincloth. I needed to devise a plan, so I searched the library for the latest map we had for Indira. After clearing the table of everything, I spread out the map.

I needed to think. I had to act. My eyes searched for the locations that would be the least populated in the coming months. My mind raced to determine where Mehrangarh could conceal it—and what, exactly?

Suddenly, I heard someone clear her throat. I glanced at her momentarily as she stood at the library’s door, her fingers nervously intertwined.

She wore dark green attire and adupattaon her head, either end falling on the sides and tucked on the side of her waist. Her braid forward, snaking along her curves.

I gulped, unable to let aside the moment she fisted her hands on my chest, pulling me closer like she owned me. Her every breath remained imprinted on my mind. I had never heard anyone’s heartbeats so clearly before.

“Your dinner.” She pulled me out of my thoughts, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Not in the mood today,” I replied, and she frowned in confusion.

“But you asked for dinner,” she said innocently, and I looked at her, nodding.“Yes, I asked for dinner, notdinner.” My gaze could not stop watching her tip-to-toe.

She inhaled deeply, shrinking, and I could see the tension and confusion on her face. The library’s lighting was dim, casting a soft glow from the fire torches and oil lamp onto her face. She was beautiful, but her gaze was confused as she blinked at me, standing silently.

I broke the eye contact, mentally shaking my head to stop soaking in her face.

"Your dinner—notdinner—is waiting outside," she said. A smirk lingered on my face.

Wild.

She had never talked to me like that before. We had been around each other but never conversed like this. There was a palpable tension between us.

For example, I was half naked, and she wasn’t moving her gaze away.

I walked around the table, leaning against it and crossing my arms.

"Have you been fired from your position as a head maid by Bhabhisa?" I asked, her gaze shifting to confusion. I was aware of her nervousness.

Shaking her head, she replied, "No, why?"

I lowered my gaze and stepped closer. Slowly.

"Why are you awake this late? You should be resting. You shouldn’t be here," I pointed, and she tilted her head slightly to meet my eyes as I stood before her.

“I understand. However, I must handle all of Nandani’s responsibilities as the Queen. Since she is busy being pregnant, I need to manage everything. You’re her family, and as your sister-in-law and queen, she should look after your meals, but she is pregnant. Fortunately,” she blabbered, and I nodded, absorbing her words.

"But you could have sent someone else with the dinner," I reminded her.

She lowered her gaze, and her beetroot pink lips fell silent.

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