Page 93 of Rudra Nandani: The Saga of Control And Seduction

“But, Rudra, try to understand it from a girl's perspective. She was merely twenty, and your father was in his forties when they were promised. She had no clue about it.” He closed his eyes and took deep breaths.

The silence lingering in the air was deafening, creating a thick, invisible fog of tension between us.

Breaking the silence, he spoke in a suppressed tone to contain his fury,“And that’s exactly where everything went wrong. A political alliance is a promise that you have to keep. Once it's made, it’s made. Such promises cannot be broken. No matter the age,”

I was truly agitated by how he tried to justify the whole situation on the grounds of his principles.

Inhaling sharply, I questioned him in a low tone,“So why didn't you let me marry your uncle? That alliance, too, was a promise I had to keep. I wanted to sign a peace treaty with Suryagarh through our marriage.” As soon as I finished, he angrily clamped my nape and pulled me closer to him.

Keeping my head high, I looked into his eyes and added,“You’ve done exactly what my father did to save my mother. If you believe your actions can be justified, then I'm sorry to break it to you that what my father did was right too,”

He had his eyes shut, his jaw set firmly, and even though he was fuming, he made every effort to refrain from lashing out.

“I loved you,” He seethed, glaring daggers into my eyes, and I replied instantly,“My father loves my mother too. And let’s not overlook the fact that your father already had fifteen wives. He just wanted one more to warm his bed.”

His grip tightened around my neck.“Hold your tongue, Nandani,” He warned me in a dangerously low tone.“They all too were perhaps political marriages,” He said, earning a chuckle from me.

“Your father must be a skilled player of politics. Why don't you, too, marry a hundred women in the name of politics like your father,” I snarled at him, and his clasp turned painfully tight on my nape.

“Don't you dare say another word, Nandani?”

I lowered my eyes at his threatening tone.“I’m sorry, but what's wrong is wrong,” I muttered,“Your father treated women as objects, saw them as symbols of royalty and a source of pleasure. I pity you because your beliefs fluctuate so easily. Every time it comes to me and my family, you become so inconsiderate and cruel, but when it’s about your father, you turn so reflective and sensitive,” I confronted him. He pulled exceptionally close, his breath fanning my face. I struggled to breathe in his hold, yet he stared at me blankly.

“Why don't you understand? You’re special to me, Nandani,” he said, placing his forehead on mine. A lone tear slipped down my cheek.

“Every woman is special, Rudra.” My voice wavered with intense emotion.

He moved back, and I looked at his stoic face. He stared deeply into my eyes, yet his silence revealed the anger that was burning inside him.

With the intention of talking, I was about to speak,“Rudra, your fath—”

“Enough!” but he cut me off mid-sentence. He lifted me off his lap, got to his feet, and darted out of the room. I stood there, staring at his back, watching him walk away once more.

My heart throbbed quickly in my chest, urging me to call out for him, but my mind contradicted me.

It was an internal clash between my heart and my mind. Therational part of me felt distressed, angry, and justified. My heart, however, wanted to be kind to him, understand him, and, most importantly, stand by his side.

I was overwhelmed by a wave of emotions, struggling against its turmoil, and it felt extremely turbulent. Blinking back my tears, I swallowed the hard lump of sadness and looked at myself in the mirror.

Why was everything so complicated? Could it get worse? When would he realize that he was trusting the wrong people?

Sighing tiredly, I braided my hair and adorned myself with some jewelry. Once done, I went to the guest chamber and called for Suman and Reva.

All the attendants gathered at my call, and I asked,“Have the preparations for the guests’lunch started?”

Reva curtly bobbed her head.“Ji, Ranisa,”

“And are all the guests’chambers cleaned?” She nodded again.“Ji, Ranisa,”

“Good,” I muttered and directed my focus to Suman.“Suman, notify Ranaji that drafts of amendments are kept in the library for him to review. Kindly tell him he must review those documents for finalization once he’s wrapped up his work. And don’t forget to inquire if there’s any news from our secret agent,”

Listening to my every instruction, she nodded, and I added,“And yes, let Prince Agastya know I want to meet him when he’s free.” Once I had briefed her on all the details, she took her leave.

Later in the morning, I took a walk around the palace, and while exploring, I considered visiting the town on the outskirts of the palace.

Specific standards were established for commoners joining the royal army and palace staff. Until they met the criteria, their stay was subsidized by the royal treasury.

But I was aghast to find no soul wandering around the town, not a single person in sight. Let alone people, the land was so barren that no trees or birds flew around. It felt as though the town had been abandoned for decades.

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