Page 310 of A King's Oath

“Harsh.”

She shrugged.

“You are already spreading your spy network in my palace, Raje?”

“Come to the point. Your daughter will wake up.”

“Why is she sleeping here?”

“Because Aniket got into her head that after we are married she won’t be able to sleep in our room. Mummy-Daddy room is separate and children’s room is separate.”

“But she has had her room for years, right?”

“Yeah, but now she is feeling a little left out if my attention is divided between you two.”

“Listen, I don’t care about that separate room shit. She will sleep with us.”

“No adult time then.”

“We’ll find a way. At least in the initial few months, let her get used to the palace…”

“The palace?”

Samarth sighed.

“Don’t think I have already made the decision or anything. It just slipped out. So, today in court…”

“Rajmata twisted your arm to stay back and declared Brahmi as her heir,” Avantika summarised. “I know. I don’t like that Brahmi was pulled into this without my consent but what a woman! Your father couldn't get to you and she did.”

A part of Avantika was proud of Rajmata and a little in awe of her. She was also happy to finally believe that the one family member she had always considered Samarth’s enemy had actually turned out to be his greatest ally.

“Yes, that happened and frankly I did not like it either. I went ballistic on her.”

“You?” Her eyebrows shot up. “Ballistic?”

He looked sheepish. “I was out of my mind with rage. I have never been so angry. She came to my court and basically dismantled my weapon and gave it back in my hand without making it known to anybody.” He laughed. “If I wasn’t on the receiving end of it I would have cheered her on.”

“So, now what?”

“She said something last night…”

“That you are paying debts you think you owe to the world? You are.”

He gaped at her.

“I knew it but could never put words to it. But, Samarth, you have been pleasing people and being good all your life not just because youaregoodbut because you think they will leave you if you don’t. You have been going around sacrificing all of yourself because you have been led to believe, by actions of your mother, or twists of fate, or time, or circumstance maybe that… you areresponsible for the people around you. For everything you ever touch. You are not. Let it go now. Let it flow.”

His mouth opened, then closed. He rolled his eyes — “Why am I surprised? You know me in and out. Of course you were going to repeat what my parents lectured me this afternoon.”

“Glad to know I am now wise and great.”

His head dropped back, eyes smiling at her — “You are. The greatest.”

She shrugged, always ready to take a compliment.

“That,” he took her hand in his, “brings me to my question to you.”

Avantika glanced up at him, her half-bare bum chilling on the cold of the floor. A shiver ran up her tingly skin.

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