Page 235 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

She turned, grabbed a cloth, and moved the hot pan off the stove.“Devarsa, it’s ready,” she said sweetly, her anklet bells tinkling with each graceful step.

She walked deeper into the kitchen, grabbing a bowl to serve whatever she had cooked.

Seeing her in the red attire, adorned in heavy jewellery, and that radiant smile left me momentarily speechless. Despite the exhausting day, she looked breathtaking.

She lowered her gaze and gently started filling the bowl with the sweet dish she had made. And I glanced at Agastya, who waited patiently.

“Here it is,” she said, handing the bowl to him with a smile.

“Thank you so much, Bhabhisa,” Agastya took it with a grin, casting me a victorious look, and walked past me.

“Good night, Bhaisa,” he added, clearly teasing.

I couldn't help but smile, scratching my eyebrow a little.“Good night, Agastya,” I replied.

After watching him disappear down the corridor, I turned my gaze back to Nandani, who was quietly watching me.

I inhaled a deep breath and stepped closer. Her gaze dropped timidly to my kurta, and I couldn't resist asking,“Are you still angry with me, little bird?”

She didn't answer. Unable to hold back, I picked her up in my arms, and she gasped at the sudden move, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck.“Everyone saw you wearing this kurta today,” she hissed.

As I carried her back towards our chamber, I met her eyes.“It's good, isn't it?” I said with a smile.“Everyone knows now that I belong to you. That I'm your pet,”

She leaned her forehead against my chest and shook her head.“I didn't want that, Rudra. I didn't want to give such a message. A king shouldn't show weakness. There were rulers from nearly every northern kingdom today, and they saw you like this. It wasn't right. A king is the head, the leader, the lion of the kingdom... and you made them see your weakness,”

Sadness filled her voice, and I chuckled, climbing the steps toward our chamber.“You can only ever be my strength, Nandani,” I said.“They know that because of you, I conquered this kingdom. And now they know that, on your command, even a lion can tear his enemies apart,”

I entered our bedchamber, and my steps froze. Candles flickered in the chandeliers and candle stands. Flowers decorated every corner, filling the room with the fragrance of roses and lavender. And a wide smile broke across my face.

“You did this?” I asked, looking at her. She nodded.

“No matter how angry I was,” she said softly,“I couldn't let this special night go to waste,”

I gently set her down and let my eyes roam around, taking in every detail of the decorations. The bed looked as if it had been prepared for the grandest nights.

“Feels like a wedding night preparation,” I teased.

She chuckled.“That’s a one-time thing. And we both were too angry on our wedding night to even think about anything like this,”

Smiling, she stepped closer, and taking my hand, led me to the couch, pressing her palms against my chest, pushing me down.

I lost balance and fell with a thud, laughing under my breath. She knelt before me, her anklets chiming softly.

“What are y—”

“Shhhhh,” she hushed me with a finger against my lips.

I watched her pull out a black thread from her small bag, her kohl-lined eyes flickering with a mysterious glow. She gently lifted my sleeve and tied the thread around my wrist, her fingers moving slowly, carefully.

I couldn't tear my gaze away from her. She blushed so deeply that her cheeks turned a fiery red.

Once she tied the knot, she stood up gracefully. The jingling of her jewellery echoed in the quiet room.

With a soft smile, she clapped her hands twice, and two attendants entered—one carrying a burning ash pot, the other a plate.

I shook my head, smiling even wider.“There’s no ne—”

“Shhhh,” she hushed again.

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