Page 323 of A King's Oath

‘Right, yes.” He rolled out of bed and walked naked into his wardrobe. The door rattled again.

“I’m coming, I’m coming!” He emerged with his pyjama pants on, pulling a T-shirt over his head. He opened the door only a pinch, keeping her screened on their bed. Brahmi weaselled her way through the crack as he spoke to Hira ben.

“Mama…” she came running to her and folded like a little baby into her open arms. Avantika pulled the duvet over her and she curled tighter, laying her head over her chest. “Hi, baby, good morning.”

“Mmmm… morning,” her warm breath came out a little bummed.

“Did you sleep well with Dada Sarkar and Dadi Sarkar.”

“I missed you.”

She stroked her hair, combing her fingers through the strands. “I’m right here.”

Brahmi’s hands fisted in her top, her eyelashes fluttering over her skin.

“Hey,” Samarth came up beside her on the bed. “What’s wrong with you?”

“I miss home.”

“You don’t like it here?” He asked softly, his eyes meeting hers over Brahmi’s head.

No answer.

“Baby?” He shifted closer to them, pushing her hair behind her ear. “Did somebody say something to you?”

She shook her head.

“Then?”

“I miss Mama.”

“Not Papa?” He joked.

“In Loire I used to sleep with Mama.”

“Eh,” Avantika kissed her head. “You loved your room there.”

“Yaa but I could come to your room whenever I wanted.”

“You don’t like your room here?” Samarth sat up, his voice suddenly pitched playfully higher.

“I don’t have a room here,” Brahmi finally popped her head up from her chest to look at her father.

His mouth dropped open — “What is this then?” He waved at the space around them.

“This is my room?” The dejected little voice was slightly more hopeful.

“Come here,” he held his hand out. She crawled to him and he gathered in his arms, springing to his feet. He padded inside his walk-in with her on his hip, and the sounds of ‘ooohs’ and ‘wows’ clued Avantika to the sights her daughter had witnessed. Samarth had not only had her bag unpacked and set into one large wardrobe but also added a collection of new stuff in lavenders and whites and many other colours. The beginning of the princessization of her daughter.

Avantika glanced up when the duo emerged, this time Brahmi’s face grinning, her arms tight around Samarth’s neck.

“This is your room, see?” He came back on the bed and deposited her between them, pushing a pillow between theirs. “Yours,” he fluffed it. She squealed and thumped down on it, rolling in the space between them. He caught her and ran a tickle down her tummy, making her giggle.

“You are also Brahmi Kumari,” he informed her. “The princess of Nawanagar.”

“Dadi Sarkar told me you are a king.”

“I am.”

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