Page 28 of Sumanika

“Do not call me that.” Yet, I stood firm on my ground. He couldn’t call me that.

His eyes softened, and his gaze followed the tear rolling down my cheek. He lowered his knife from my neck and said slowly, shaking his head,“Please… leave.” His words chilled me as if the ocean wave had hit me hard. Freezing me.

I stepped back with a promise to myself and turned my head away from him.I’m never going to see him again.

I left his chamber, wiping the tear from my cheek. Why did I go to him? I should have seen it coming. He was the prince, and I was just the maid. I was becoming a problem in his marriage. What was wrong with me? I ran to my room and wrapped myself in comforters.

4

This couldn’t happen.

The past she had suffered and survived couldn’t become her future.

Putting the knife back in the sheath, I stared blankly at the cold food. She knew so much about me.

Her words told me a different story, but her gaze…it wasn’t lying.

And whenever I find her staring at me with wide, innocent, and heavy eyes, I feel burdened by the layers of responsibility—that now were becoming more than just protection.

A part of me felt responsible for her happiness as well. At one moment, I sensed her eyes searching for a man more than a savior in me, but at another, she seamlessly reminded me of my sins.

I sat, holding my face in my palms. I shouldn’t have put the knife on her neck either way. My anger heightened her fear.

But I couldn’t stop myself when she clearly wanted to stay with me, hear me, and watch me, and then brought up how I’m cheating on my fiancée.

No.

This shouldn’t happen, and this won’t happen.

I had to stay away from her. Otherwise, I wouldn’t do anything to my enemies or maintain my promises to myself.

Stay Away From Women.

It had been three days since we last talked, and things had heated. I couldn’t shake off the flashes of her face. The tearful gaze, the shaky breaths, the sound of her heartbeats—it all added up to my growing insanity.

And the more I tried to avoid her, the closer I was drawn to her.

“Ji, Bhaisa, you called for me?” I asked, standing before Rudra Bhaisa. He lifted his gaze from a list.

I immediately plastered a smile on my face. I needed to forget about caring, worrying, and thinking about her.

“Yes, Agastya, I spoke with Badi Maasa, Daadisa, and Ranima, and they suggested we have the baby shower. Even the royal priest believes holding it in two days is ideal. So, I want you to take care of the responsibilities. I’ll send out the invitations, and you can handle the decorations, menu, and hosting preparations,” he explained, and a broad smile spread across my face.

“Celebration?” I asked, kneeling before him, and he nodded.

“Celebration!”

I loved celebrations, so I immediately jumped over him for a hug. He leaned back and patted my back.

“By the way, what happened in Mehrangarh?” he asked, nuzzling me away.

I gulped, shaking my head.“Nothing. It seems…normal,” I lied, sitting beside him as I grabbed grapes from the basket.

“Strange. Are you sure?” he asked, and I nodded, meeting his gaze.

“Also, Mehrangarh seems pretty foolish.” I chuckled, and he slapped my back.“You’re a prince now. Act accordingly, both in front of others and behind the scenes,” he scolded, only making me smile wider.

I loved Rudra and Ranvijay Bhaisa’s care for me.

---