“Fine,” he said, and I looked back at him.“Your tribe will burn you once they find you alone. Didn’t you hear? To stay alive, we must pretend to be married.” His words brought back memories of the previous day, and I clenched my fists to calm my heart.
I couldn’t figure out what was going on in my life because every time I thought things couldn’t get worse, they did.
And then this. But it was only for the day. Once we entered the kingdom, he wouldn’t see me, and I wouldn’t see him.
I inhaled deeply, nodding in agreement.“Okay.” Then, quietly, followed him.
I glanced at his hand, tightly clutching the dagger he had used to take so many women’s lives.
What kind of man kills so many women yet saves me? He could’ve let me go; no one would’ve known who Suman was, but he saved me. He fought for me, earned scars, and married me to protect me. I shook my head to clear my thoughts.
He was a prince; saving me was nothing for him. There was nothing between us, and there never could’ve been. I needed to let it go.
After a short while, we reached the palanquin, and I noticed two soldiers mounted on their respective horses standing beside it. I sat in the carriage silently and heard him say,“Take her to Suryagarh, and don’t let anyone know about this, especially Bhai-sa6.”
As soon as he mentioned Ranaji7, a wave of fear washed over me.
He would surely kill me if he found out that his brother had married me to save me.
As the lifters elevated the palanquin, I swiftly closed my eyes to soothe my racing thoughts. We moved, and soon, we reached the borders of Suryagarh.
“You can come out now,” I heard Kunwar-sa’s voice before I lowered my feet to stand. I stole a glance when he scanned our surroundings for safety and muttered,“You’re safe from here. Go inside the palace and tell any story you like, but don’t mention th—”
“I know, I know. Don’t worry; I understand you don’t want your name associated with mine, and I don’t want my name linked to yours, either.” Meeting his intense gaze, I replied,“I’ve had enough of one.”
He shot a glare at me. I overspoke again.
“I’m sorry.”
It was all because of Nandani. Thanks to her kindness and my responsibility for managing hundreds of attendants, I had become very loose-tongued. I’d have to stay within my limits with him.
Once he walked away, I took a deep breath. My gaze fell upon the massive walls of the palace that had changed my life in every way. A smile lingered on my face.
Suryagarh.
While the kingdom itself had not changed my life exactly, the queen of this kingdom, Nandani, took in a lowlife like me and transformed me into the jewel she proudly called her best friend.
From the beginning, she had always supported me, particularly when my in-laws disowned me, and my parents refused to accept me back, leaving me feeling completely alone.
She had been my best friend and had changed my life more than I had ever imagined. From learning to read and write with her, to expressing my thoughts, to becoming the head maid of the Suryagarh—she entrusted me with so much.
She shared her secrets, and I shared my loyalty in exchange.
But this.
I couldn’t tell her this.
It would’ve complicated everything. It meant nothing. He did that only to protect me. In his eyes, I was merely an extra, like a king’s spoils of war. The only difference was that I’d never expect him to check on me.
Why would he even check on me? And why the hell am I thinking about all this?
I entered the palace and approached Queen Nandani’s chamber above the servants’quarters. The basement and first floor housed her attendants, maids, and servants, with designated rooms for each. Attendants accessed the chambers from the back rather than the front.
Upon entering her chamber, I found her resting alongside the attendants in her courtyard. Her eyes were closed, and she exhaled deeply, caressing her belly bump.
“How are you now, Nandani?” I asked, planting a broad smile on my face.
Her eyes snapped open, and worry creased her face.
