She hesitates for a beat, then nods, lifting her chin slightly, brushing her hair over one shoulder. My fingers skim her skin as I clasp the necklace around her neck, the faint warmth of her nape searing into my palms. She smells faintly of flowers and something else—something soft, like pages of an old book.
“There.” I step back, though every nerve in me wants to stay close. The pendant rests just above her collarbone, catching the light like a secret meant to be kept.
“It’s beautiful,” she says quietly, her fingers grazing the charm. “Thank you.”
Her voice is soft, but it ripples through me, unsettling in ways I don’t want to name. I force a nod, my throat tight, and for a moment, the silence stretches—thick, charged, almost alive.
And in that silence, one truth becomes clearer than ever: this was never just an alliance, and I am not going to treat it like one.
CHAPTER 10
Just Poorvi
POORVI
The night air is cool against my skin as we step out of the grand dining hall. I still taste the faint spice of dinner lingering on my tongue, but it’s nothing compared to the awkward quiet stretching between us since we left the table. The palace garden looks like something out of a dream under the night sky. Soft yellow lamps line the stone pathways, and the fountain in the center glimmers like liquid glass. It’s quiet except for the distant sound of crickets and the rhythmic crunch of gravel beneath our steps. Dinner ended a few minutes ago, and when Vihaan asked if I wanted to go for a small walk, I surprised myself by saying yes without hesitation. Maybe because a part of me wants to know him beyond the royal title and the perfect smiles he flashes for cameras. Or maybe because I don’t want to go back to that vast, silent room just yet.
We walk side by side, not too close, not too far. The kind of distance that still allows the night breeze to slip between us. My dupatta sways lightly with every step, and I keep adjusting it nervously, even though it’s perfectly pinned. It’s strange how silence can feel both heavy and comforting at the same time.
“So…” I finally break it, glancing at him from the corner of my eye. “Tell me about yourself.”
He looks at me with a raised eyebrow, almost amused. “About myself?”
“Yes,” I insist, turning to face him more fully. “I don’t know anything about you.”
He hums thoughtfully and rubs the back of his neck, like this is a bigger question than I realize. “Let me think…”
I wait, eyes fixed on him, curious.
“I love eating and reading,” he finally says, lips curling into a small smile.
I blink in surprise, my interest instantly piqued. “Reading?” The word escapes me louder than I intend, almost bouncing on my toes as excitement fills me.
His smile grows as he catches my reaction. “Yes. Reading.”
“What kind of books do you read?” I ask, leaning toward him like his answer might change the course of this night.
He chuckles softly. “I mostly read non-fiction.”
I stop dead in my tracks, staring at him like he just confessed a crime. “Non-fiction?”
“Yes,” he says slowly, watching my expression with evident amusement.
“I…” I frown dramatically, shaking my head. “I totally believe everyone has their own preferences but…” I sigh. “It still disappoints me.”
His brows shoot up, and he turns to face me fully, his lips twitching with suppressed laughter. “You seem… displeased.”
“I am,” I admit without shame, folding my arms across my chest.
He bursts out laughing, the sound warm and rich, echoing in the quiet night. “Alright then, tell me—what do you read, Your Highness?”
I narrow my eyes playfully at the teasing tone. “Mostly literary fiction, classics, thrillers… and sometimes romance.”
He nods in understanding, eyes gleaming like he’s filing away the information. “Give me recommendations. I’ll try something.”
I gasp dramatically, clutching my chest. “Will you?”
Before he can even respond, words tumble out of me. “Do you want to buddy-read a book with me?”
