“Thank you,” she muttered. “You look beautiful too. I mean, you look handsome. Men look handsome, not beautiful… although some men can look beautiful too.”
Her face heated as she realized she was blabbering.
His gaze remained on her.
“You are nervous.”
She inhaled a deep breath. “Yes,” she murmured.
There seemed little point pretending otherwise.
His expression remained calm.
“Don’t be.”
The low command made her laugh, dissipating some of her nervousness.
“You can’t just command me not to be nervous, Your Highness,” she said. “Of course, I will be nervous. Once the formal announcement is made, there is no turning back. I’m going to be written into history as your wife, the Jogra maharani, however brief our marriage lasts. Aren’t you nervous or annoyed about that fact?”
He looked at her. “No.”
The answer came without hesitation.
His answer shocked her, because he sounded sure. Too sure.
Before she could say something more, his hand settled lightly against the small of her back.
Yamini almost forgot how to breathe.
He had never touched her publicly before.
Not during their wedding. Or the valley announcement.
It was a light touch. Anyone watching would read it as courtesy or affection.
She felt it like a current.
“Come,” he said.
She didn’t argue. Her feet moved automatically to his soft command.
Together, they walked toward the grand staircase leading into the courtyard.
Conversations gradually quieted as guests noticed them.
Yamini felt hundreds of eyes turn in their direction. Ordinarily, that much attention would have made her nervous. But she found herself focusing on the steady warmth of Bharat's hand at her back.
The crowd parted as they approached the center of the courtyard.
Rani Suchitra stepped forward.
The conversations ceased almost immediately. Even the musicians fell silent.
And then, Rani Suchitra spoke. Her voice carried naturally through the courtyard.
“Distinguished guests,” she began. “Thank you for joining us this evening.”
Her gaze moved across the assembled crowd.
