Page 109 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

He straightened himself, and I palmed my face, trying to get a grip on myself. Getting off the bed, he slowly muttered,“Stand up.” Obeying him, I stood up and adjusted my dress.

Picking up my overcoat, he handed it to me and said,“Get dressed.” As I slipped my arms into it, he helped me tie the strings at my front and turned me around. Carefully, he parted my hair and began braiding it.

I gulped, playing with the strings of my coat as he tied the end of my braid with a lace. After he was done, he hugged me from behind and gently kissed the side of my head.

“Be my strength, Nandani, or we both are going to regret it,” he whispered slowly. I could understand what he was trying to say, and I also knew that I had to control myself for him. I had to contribute to this cause, supporting him.“You are surely the death of me,” he mumbled, and I turned to look at him.

Tracing my face with his gaze, he lifted my chin and observed my neck.“You will need a huge necklace tomorrow,” He said, and I immediately touched my neck.

Pacing towards the mirror, I noticed fresh red bruises on my neck.“Noooo,” I whined.“Rudra,”

He bit his lower lip, controlling his smile, and said,“You made me do this.”

He immediately lifted me in his arms when I sulked back to him.“Time to go to the carpet, little queen,” I burst into laughter. He took me to the courtyard and put me down.

“Wait for me,” He said and went back again. Returning with the mattress and comforter, he laid them on the floor.

“Come,” I settled beside him, and he hugged me from behind. Kissing my hair softly, he said,“Wish me luck, Nandani. Tomorrow is an important day.”

I peered sideways and asked,“What's important?”

He inhaled a deep breath and replied,“Tomorrow we will know whether our neighbouring states are with me. It will decide my future as a king. And if the majority favours me, new peace treaties will be signed, and perhaps the Yagna will occur sooner, which would mean the endof my celibacy.”

?? ? ? ?

? Rudra ?

As she turned her head sideways, her beautiful eyes twinkled like stars in the moonlight, and her thick lashes fluttered darkly, resembling a forest of mysteries. Her skin glowed like the moon itself in the night.

Everything about her was flawless, from the way she talked and carried herself to the way she looked at me. It felt as if she knew the effect she had on me, gazing into my eyes with those innocent yet tempting eyes.

I didn’t know if it was something she learned from her seduction lessons, but she was indeed aware of how to make me stare at her face, how to make me attracted enough that I could not suppress my urges around her. Everything about her was so pleasing. It felt calm and peaceful just to stare at her a little longer.

I took a deep breath and replied,“Tomorrow we’ll know whether the neighbouring states are with me. This will decide my future as a king. And, if the majority favours my ruling, new peace treaties will be signed, and maybe the Yagna will be held sooner. Which means the end of my celibacy,”

“Hard work and dedication always pay off,” she said. I gulped, as her words reminded me of all the times—when I was a kid and when I became an adult—the work that I had done: the hard work, the workouts, the education, and the sacrifices. It evoked memories of all the times I cried in pain, of both visible and invisible injuries.

“I hope so,” I mumbled, lost in thought.

Closing my eyes, I drew her closer and rested my chin on her head. I couldn’t decipher why, but being with her made me feel so complete. There were times when I wondered why, even after going through numerous difficulties and struggling so much inlife, I didn’t embrace—part of me wasn't content with any of it.

For me, failures were lessons, and everything I had endured was a path that led me to where I was.

Our hardships refine us, and no life is free from struggles and failures.

My Guruji taught me that our mind and body are shaped this way: we need something to keep us engaged. We can’t sit idly for too long because our brains never stop processing. They always seek.

And I enjoyed my life that way, for I loved challenges, tackling problems. It was fruitful, but never peaceful. I only realised that after marrying her.

My thoughts conflicted between what I wanted and what I was bound to do. Did I want this peace—or was I supposed to keep striving for the kingdom? What did I really want? I had a list of goals I hoped to achieve in thirty years, believing that attaining them would bring me happiness. But now, I wasn't so sure.

Having everything and not her—the thought alone chilled me to the bone. Like, how would I survive even a day without seeing her, hearing her voice, touching her, and feeling her?

She completed me.

I felt her body relax, telling me she had fallen asleep. She must’ve been tired from our little make-out session. I kissed her forehead and closed my eyes, too.

Waking up earlier the following day, I quietly observed her, still in a deep sleep. I gently caressed her cheek, waking her slowly,“Get up, little wife,”

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