Page 225 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

“Prince Abhinandan, I have also visited Mahabaleshgarh to invite your family. I will be delighted if you would join us as well,” he added, and Abhinandan managed to plaster a polite smile. Yet, I could sense something was off.

“Ji, Guruji,” Abhinandan replied courteously.

Guruji then turned his attention to Rudra and spoke,“Rudra, this week is very auspicious for the coronation of the new king and queen. You should consider performing the Yagna soon. The longer the delay, the more people might believe you invaded Suryagarh unjustly,”

Rudra nodded respectfully,“Ji, Guruji. I will definitely consider it. However, there are a few matters I must resolve first,”

Guruji smiled in understanding, and Rudra added,“You must rest now, Guruji. I will personally ensure everything you need isarranged,”

Guruji blessed us again, and we took our leave. As we stepped out of the chamber, Abhinandan suddenly said,“I have to go,”

I turned to him, surprised.“What? Why?”

He raked a hand through his hair and shook his head, clearly troubled.

“Something urgent,” he muttered before hastily leaving, not giving me the chance to ask anything more.

Rudra, too, disappeared somewhere, and I was left standing there alone, confused.

?? ? ? ?

Things had been going well, and everything was eventually falling into place, yet something was unsaid in the air.

Days passed, but we still had no news about Chandramukhi. Whenever I asked Rudra, he’d either smile or change the topic, pretending it wasn’t worth discussing..

Guruji left on the same day he arrived. Abhinandan had also been gone for three days now.

The memory of the look on his face, the burning in his eyes, haunted me. It was the same look Rudra once had... for me.

“Enjoying the stargazing?”

Rudra’s voice broke the silence, and I turned to see him, a smile playing on his lips.

“Ji, Ranaji,” I replied shyly, straightening up.

He walked toward me and sat down on the carpet. It had been days since we had relaxed in the courtyard like we had in the beginning, under the blanket of stars and the soft music of the winds.

I stared at him, shifting closer. He lay down and placed his head on my lap. He looked dangerously handsome, his face glowing in the moonlight.

A soft smile graced my lips as my fingers instinctively moved to his hair.

“What happened?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

He stared up at the stars and shook his head.“Does something need to happen for me to lie in my wife's lap?” he teased, making me chuckle.

“No,” I replied softly, biting my lower lip.

Silence stretched between us as I continued threading my fingersthrough his hair. He kept staring at the sky, and I couldn't help but stare at him.

“Rudra... can I ask you something?” I whispered, and he hummed.

“You once said it wouldn’t have mattered to you if I had married someone else,” I began hesitantly.

“It was a lie?” he answered instantly, not even a second of hesitation. My heart fluttered wildly at how simply he accepted it.

“Weren't you ever afraid of losing me?” I pressed.

He caught my hand from his head and brought it to his lips, placing a gentle kiss.“I was. I am. And I always will be,” he said.“This is the only fear I carry, not in a romantic way, because romance fades... but as a lover,”

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