2 months later:~

The sky was just beginning to shift from inky blue to soft shades of gold. The palace grounds still slept, cloaked in silence, save for the distant rustle of leaves swaying gently in the early breeze.

Vaidehi stood barefoot on the damp stone of the training yard tucked far away from the palace-her hidden escape for years now. Her breath came in steady puffs as she twirled the sword in her grip with practiced ease.

There was a quiet kind of rhythm to her movements, a grace that came not from years of training, but from sheer will and stolen hours of persistence.

She thought no one knew.

With one swift turn, she raised the blade and-

Crunch.

Her heart stopped.

It was faint, but unmistakable. The soft crackle of gravel shifting under a boot.

She didn't move. Didn't breathe. Her hands froze mid-air, sword suspended mid-strike as her blood turned cold.

Slowly-very slowly-her wide eyes shifted toward the source of the sound.

AND THERE HE STOOD.

Still as stone. Arms folded across his chest. Cloaked in shadows.

Shaurya.

Her sword lowered, hand trembling ever so slightly, though she masked it quickly with a sharp breath.

His grey eyes were unreadable, half hidden beneath his furrowed brow, but the hint of a smirk tugged at his lips.

"You know," Shaurya's voice broke through the silence, rough and low, "for someone who sneaks out like a thief at dawn, you're rather loud with that sword."

Vaidehi nearly dropped it.

She quickly composed herself, clutching the hilt tighter. "I-I wasn't sneaking," she mumbled, avoiding his gaze. "Just... fresh air."

Shaurya raised a brow, stepping forward slowly, boots deliberately clicking against the stone.

"With a sword?" he drawled, circling her like a predator amused with its prey. "You go out for fresh air... armed?"

She swallowed thickly, taking a small step back without meaning to.

"I-I like holding it... for balance."

"You do know," he said casually, tone playful but laced with warning, "that training with a sword is forbidden for women in Devdhara."

Vaidehi stiffened. "I-I wasn't-"

Shaurya leaned in a little, smirk playing on his lips. "Should I tell someone? The council, perhaps? Or your ever-watchful maids? I imagine the palace would be in quite a stir if they learned their precious Rajkumari sneaks out to play warrior at dawn."

"You wouldn't-"
Her voice trembled, and she looked up at him with those wide, anxious blue eyes that made something shift in his chest.

Shaurya didn't say a word. He only tilted his head slightly, that unreadable smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

She hugged the sword tighter to her chest. "Please... don't tell anyone," she whispered, voice barely above a breath. "I swear I wasn't trying to disobey the rules. I just- I needed to practice. That's all."

Still no reply.

His silence was deafening. Heavy. Intimidating.

Vaidehi swallowed hard, flustered beyond repair now. Her heart pounded in her ears, and she took a hesitant step forward.

"I won't do it again," she added quickly. "Just-please don't say anything. If the council hears of it, I..."

Her words trailed off as she dared to look up again, searching his face for a hint of mercy.

But all she saw was that same infuriating smile playing on his lips, and a glint of something in his grey eyes-mischief, maybe... amusement... or something far too dangerous to name.

Little did She know he wasn't going to tell anyone, that he was silently memorising her expressions-the nervous fidgeting, the soft pleading in her voice, the sheer innocence in her panic.

He gave a slow, almost lazy shrug.

And then, just like that, turned and walked a few steps away, hands behind his back-still smiling to himself.

Vaidehi stood frozen for a moment, unsure whether to follow, apologize again, or run straight to the temple and beg the gods for mercy.

She didn't know what stunned her more-the fact that he hadn't promised to stay quiet...

Or the fact that he hadn't said anything at all.

Her heart raced as she hesitated for a moment, her feet moving before her mind could catch up. She couldn't just let it go. Not when he hadn't outright promised to keep her secret.

She hurried after him, her voice more desperate than she intended. "Please," she said, catching up to him. "I'll do anything. Just... don't tell anyone, okay?"

Shaurya's pace didn't falter, but the amusement in his eyes flickered as he glanced at her over his shoulder. She was trailing behind him like a lost kitten, her face flushed with embarrassment. It was almost too easy to tease her.

"And why shouldn't I, hmm?" he drawled, voice low and smooth, as he kept walking, not breaking stride. "What would I get out of keeping this little secret of yours?"

Vaidehi felt a nervous knot twist in her stomach. She didn't know how to answer that-she hadn't thought that far ahead. "I-what do you want?" she asked, her voice quieter now, more uncertain.

Shaurya stopped in his tracks, turning to face her with a slow, calculating smile. His grey eyes gleamed with amusement as he took in her flustered expression.

"But, I'm feeling generous today. What do you think I should ask for in exchange?" He said, voice low and teasing,

Vaidehi's breath caught. She wasn't sure if he was serious or just playing with her, but the teasing tone in his voice was making her uneasy. Her hands clenched the sword a little too tightly, her nerves getting the better of her.

"Please," she whispered again, her eyes downcast, too embarrassed to meet his gaze. "I'll do anything. Just-please don't tell anyone."

She was beginning to feel vulnerable, exposed under his unwavering gaze. But, instead of feeling the sting of ridicule, Shaurya only found it more amusing.

"Anything, you say?" he asked, his grin widening. "Now, that's an interesting offer. But I think I'll just hold on to this secret of yours... for now. I wouldn't want to ruin the fun just yet."

Vaidehi didn't know if she should feel relieved or more anxious. But his words left her more confused than ever. She wanted to protest, to beg, but something in the way he was looking at her made her realize that it wasn't just a simple threat. He wasn't going to ruin her. Not yet.

With a soft sigh, she nodded, still not daring to look him in the eye. "Thank you," she said quietly, even though she wasn't sure if she really meant it or if she was just trying to avoid the worst-case scenario.

Shaurya didn't reply immediately. Instead, he watched her for a long moment, as if savoring her discomfort. And then, with a casual nod, he turned and started walking again.

________________________

The soft light of morning poured into Vaidehi's chamber as she sat on the chair, carefully adding strokes of deep brown to the horse she was painting. Her brows were furrowed, lips pressed together in focus. The room was quiet, peaceful-except for the faint sound of her brush moving over the canvas.

Shaurya stood by the far wall, arms crossed, watching her quietly like he always did. He hadn't said a word since he stepped in. He rarely did. But his eyes followed every move she made, sharp and unreadable.

Suddenly, the door flung open with a loud bang.

Vaidehi flinched, her hand jerking, and a smear of paint went across the horse's leg.

"Vaidehi," the voice rang out-sharp and cold.

Her stepmother, RajMata Saudamini Devvrat, stood at the door in rich red silk, her expression already filled with displeasure.

Vaidehi quickly got up, bowing her head slightly. "Raj Mata," she said softly, brushing her paint-stained fingers on her dupatta.

Raj Mata walked in, eyes sweeping over the room and then narrowing on the canvas. "Where were you this morning? Aishwarya needed your help. You were nowhere to be found."

Vaidehi opened her mouth, but Raj Mata cut her off.

"Instead of being where you're needed, you're here wasting time on these silly things."

She walked closer, glancing at the painting with a disapproving look. "You sit here painting animals while the rest of the palace takes on real responsibilities. Seems like you have too much free time."

Vaidehi lowered her gaze. "I... I didn't know Aishwarya needed me. I'll speak to her now."

Raj Mata gave her a tight-lipped smile, one that didn't reach her eyes. "You should try being useful for once. It might suit you."

"And wipe that expression off your face, Vaidehi. You look as if someone wronged you."

Vaidehi stayed silent, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.

"I've said this before and I'll say it again-you may live in this palace, but don't mistake yourself for royalty. You were never meant to wear the crown, nor walk with the dignity it demands." Her voice was laced with venom now, each word aimed to wound. "You were brought up here out of duty, not love."

Vaidehi blinked, her throat tightening. She tried to hold her composure, but the air around her felt heavier now, pressing into her ribs.

Raj Mata stepped forward again, her voice lowering just enough to sound cruelly intimate. "At least the palace maids earn their place by working. You, on the other hand, just float around like some fragile little shadow-painting horses and daydreaming like a child."

She scoffed. "Sometimes I wonder if your mother would have done the same-wasted time with paint and nonsense-while responsibilities rotted."

That was too far, and both women knew it.

Vaidehi's breath caught.

Shaurya's jaw clenched from where he stood behind them, silent but observant. His fingers flexed at his side, but he didn't move.

"I expect you to be with Aishwarya for her embroidery lesson this evening. If she lifts a finger, it better be because you failed to help her," Raj Mata added with a final, withering look. "Understand?"

Vaidehi nodded quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, Raj Mata."

With that, Raj Mata swept out, her perfume lingering like poison in the air.

Silence settled again.

Only the brush lay fallen on the floor, paint soaking into the rug.

As the heavy silence returned to the chamber, Shaurya didn't move. His gaze stayed fixed on her-on the way she quietly picked up the fallen brush, dabbed the spilled paint with trembling fingers, and sat back down as though nothing had happened.

Like it was routine.

She even hummed softly, a broken little tune, pretending to focus on the half-finished sketch in front of her. But her eyes were glassy. Her strokes clumsy.

He didn't speak for a while. Just watched.

Then, finally, in a voice low and unreadable, he said,
"Why do you let her speak to you like that?"

Vaidehi froze for a second, then slowly looked up at him, startled.

"I don't-" she started, the smile on her lips too soft, too forced. "It's not-she didn't mean it that way. Raj Mata just-she worries about the kingdom's responsibilities, that's all."

Shaurya didn't blink. "That wasn't worry. That was hate."

Vaidehi quickly looked away, pretending to fix a smudge on her canvas. "You're mistaken. She's just... strict."

He walked forward then, slowly, and she could feel the weight of his presence behind her.

"No one speaks to someone they care for like that," he said. "You know it. You're just too kind to admit it."

Her hands stilled on the canvas.

But she said nothing.

Just kept pretending.

And Shaurya couldn't look away from her-this girl with stars in her heart and storms behind her smile.

Vaidehi's silence stretched for a moment too long, and when she finally spoke, her voice was quiet-almost too soft to hear.

"They're my family," she whispered, eyes fixed on the half-finished lotus blooming under her brush. "You don't turn your back on the people who raised you."

Shaurya's jaw clenched. Raised you? Or caged you?

He walked around to face her, crouching beside the stool she sat on, his grey eyes locking with hers. "Is that what you call it? Being raised? "

She looked away, guilt swimming in her eyes. "They're not bad people. Raj Mata... she just expects more from me."

"More?" His voice hardened. "She treats you like a servant. Like an outsider."

Vaidehi shook her head quickly. "She's the queen. She has a right to be strict."

Shaurya stared at her in disbelief. "Do you even hear yourself, Rajkumari?"

"I'm not-" she started to argue, then stopped. Her shoulders sagged.

"I'm just trying to keep the peace," she said softly. "I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me."

Shaurya stood up slowly, taking a breath like he was holding something back.

He wanted to yell. To shake her. To drag her out of this palace and away from the people who dimmed her light. But all he did was look at her for a moment longer, that quiet fire simmering in his stormy gaze.

She wasn't meant for this. Not for cruel words or cold palaces. Not for people who saw her warmth as something to control or crush.

She was... too good. Too innocent for a world as cruel as theirs.

And somehow, without meaning to, without even realizing when-it had started to get under his skin.

Why do I care? I'm here for the relic, that's it. Nothing else should matter to me.

So he thought but his heart said otherwise.

It had been two months.

Two long months of guarding her, watching her every day-always from a distance, always with a wall built high around himself. That was the plan. That was the mission. Come here, do what needed to be done, and leave with nothing to lose.

But Vaidehi... she was something else entirely.

She wasn't meant for this world. Not for the cold halls of the palace, not for the cruel words masked as discipline, and definitely not for people like him.

She was too soft. Too kind. Too trusting.

She smiled at people who didn't deserve it. Bowed to the ones who barely acknowledged her. Took every harsh word with lowered eyes and a gentle nod, like it didn't bother her. But he saw it. He noticed the way her fingers trembled sometimes when she was hurt, or how she blinked a little too quickly when someone walked away after spitting venom at her.

She thought no one noticed.

But he did. Every single time.

And now, as she sat quietly painting again, pretending like her stepmother hadn't just walked in and torn her apart with words, something twisted in his chest.

She acted like it was normal. Like she deserved it. Like she was used to it.

Shaurya stared, jaw tight.

He should've walked away.

He should've turned and left the moment the queen left the chamber.

But he couldn't.

His legs refused to move. Something in him-something he hated to admit even existed-kept him rooted there. Watching her. Trying to understand why someone so gentle hadn't broken yet.

He took a breath, tried again to move.

Just leave.

But he didn't.

Because no matter how much he reminded himself that she was not a part of his plan, she kept making her way into the cracks of his silence. Into the parts of him he didn't even know existed.

And walking away from her? It was beginning to feel harder than he ever expected.

Vaidehi didn't look up from her painting right away, but she felt his presence-unmoving, quiet, watching.

After a pause, she set her brush down, her fingers stained with colour. "You've been standing there a while," she said softly. "You should rest."

Her voice wasn't commanding, just... tired. Honest.

Shaurya didn't respond. He rarely did when she spoke like that-gentle, without expectation.

She finally turned to him, eyes lingering for a moment on the faint crease in his brow. "Don't worry," she added, her gaze dropping again. "I won't sneak out anymore."

There was something heavy in those words. Not guilt-just a quiet resignation. Like she wasn't used to being heard, but still felt the need to explain herself.

"I didn't mean to cause trouble," she murmured. "It won't happen again."

And just like that, she went back to cleaning her brushes-like the conversation had ended.

"I was joking," he said, his voice quieter than before but no less firm.

Vaidehi didn't react. She sat still, her gaze fixed on the flickering lamp in front of her, the shadows dancing in her tired eyes.

Shaurya stepped closer, the space between them heavy with unsaid things. "About telling someone," he clarified. "I won't."

"You can keep practicing," he added, a bit more gently than he'd meant to. "Just... don't get caught by someone who isn't me."

She gave a faint shake of her head. "It doesn't matter anymore," she murmured. "I won't be sneaking out again."

That tug in his chest returned-sharp and uninvited.

"You don't have to stop."

"I'm not stopping," she replied softly. "Just... not going anymore. That's all."

There was no spark in her voice this time. No flustered stammer, no nervous glances. Just calm surrender. Like she'd finally given in-not to him, but to the weight of everything.

Shaurya studied her face, and for a moment, it felt like something inside him cracked.

He stepped closer, voice low but sure. "Rajkumari ... you don't have to stop."

She didn't meet his eyes. "It doesn't matter. I won't sneak out again."

"It matters," he said quietly. "And you should keep going."

Her brows furrowed slightly. "Why are you saying this?"

He paused, then said, "Because it means something to you. And anything that makes your eyes shine like that... shouldn't be hidden away."

She blinked, unsure if she'd heard him right. "But what if someone finds out?"

"They won't," he said without hesitation. "I'll make sure of it."

Her fingers tightened around the edge of her dupatta, her expression unreadable. "It's forbidden," she whispered. "If word gets out..."

"It won't," he interrupted, his tone carrying the weight of certainty. "I've been guarding you for two months, Rajkumari. Do you really think I'd let anyone near enough to whisper, let alone speak?"

She looked at him then, properly, something unspoken passing between them. "You'd really do that... for me?"

He didn't answer right away-just gave the faintest tilt of his head. "Let's say I'm not particularly fond of this kingdom's rules."