"I accept your request, and I accept being with you." I gulped down my spit in my throat. "I accept to be your wife, " I whispered, my eyes cast down, not wanting to meet the man before me.

My body flinched as I felt his warm hands cup my face, and his fingers caress my jaw, causing goosebumps to rise all over my body; my eyes found his honey-like eyes shining as the sunlight poked through the walls shone on them.

"Not only as my wife but as my Queen," he whispered, his lips curving upward with what I thought was a genuine smile. My face stayed with no emotion as I looked back at them, trying to find hope and happiness, but in a situation like this, one has to try and find survival, not happiness.

"Would your mother and nation accept someone like me, a DIL, as their next queen?" I whispered and continued, "The one who has nothing to offer, no kingdom, no title, etc." His face softened at my words, unlike what I was hoping for.

"None that matters, as I am the King; my word would be the command and order." My eyebrow crunched as I took in his words. Why is he so into me?

"Why? You can have anyone; why me?" I finally asked the question I had wanted to ask for so long. But he chuckled as he combed my matted mess of hair away from my face and slowly planted his lips on my forehead. A small gasp left my throat; it was like my body was engulfed in a fire just by his tiny action. His lips left my forehead, causing me to wish they had stayed longer as I hit my mind for feeling this way.

"Because I want you, I need you, and you are mine" I shook my head. "This is not the answer," I whispered again, but he smirked.

"You will know when the time comes, but until then, be calm and know that no matter what, you have always been mine and will always be." And that's how it ended: I was transferred to what one would say is the most luxurious chamber I have ever known—it is even more luxurious than the one in Kuntala.

The walls are adorned with gold statues and designs that would make even the greatest architect of my time gasp at their glorious beauty. The chamber continued and opened to what I would call a path to heaven. Yes, both sides have a balcony to view sunrise and sunset.

The bed is the softest silk I have laid upon, and I have been appointed with two ladies who took care of me. I haven't asked for their names yet as I am still in shock and don't know how to escape it. Why am I doing this? I asked myself. Ah, yes, for Baahu and Deva, but would this cause their journey to defer? What if nothing goes as I planned?

 The helpers cleaned me, combed my matted hair, and applied scented oil while they decorated with gold and flowers. But before they could dress me up in to the clothes, I stopped them.

"Bring me my saree that I have in my bag." As I said, they looked at each other, causing me to scrunch my eyebrows.

"But the King specifically selected everything for you and orders us to have you wear them." Their words caused my heart to rise to my cheeks. I can't think of Bhalla as some love puppy who went in and selected these things. I can't even visualize him as a loving partner, but rather a demanding male who has too much ego than he can carry.

"Tell your King he can wear these if he wishes to, and I need my things back here." I didn't yell, but my tone made them immediately obey and get my things back.

I picked the saree Deva selected for me for her marriage, one among many, but I hadn't had the chance to wear it until now. Its rose gold colour complimented my skin tone, and a small golden border made me look royal. I also took out some of my simplest jewels, a small chain and earrings that Baahubali gave me as a gift of appreciation to show how he is to have me in his life.

I smiled as I viewed myself and was able to recognize and smile. I dismissed the helpers as I looked at the sunset that was to happen; the orange hue covered the skies as my eyes longingly tried to see if I could find Baahu and Deva's hiding place in this big palace.

But the silence and peace of the moment vanished as I heard the footsteps of the one I was hoping not to meet today. It seems one can only receive so many blessings they have asked for.

I struggled to meet the eyes of the person whose scent made my nostrils inhale the amazing smell, like sandalwood mixed with rose petals. I looked up to find Bhalla, whose face lit up as his eyes found mine. But quickly, his smile disappeared, leaving a look of questions as he took into my form.

"You are not wearing the jewels and the saree I sent for you," I gulped at his question. "Come on, Nandhu, you can't give away your fear," I whispered as I shook my head.

"I felt comfortable in my clothes", I whispered back. He nodded as he neared me, and I felt heat rise as the cold air of evening siped my hair as it blew.

Bhalla swiftly and smoothly pulled me against his chest as my covered breasts brushed against his bare chest. I could feel my cheeks heating up.

"But I want you to be adorned in the colours of Mahismati, the future Queen. You should take up your duty and not disobey your King," he whispered as his lips slowly kissed my ears. I bit my lips from gasping and also had to fight my hands from touching him.

"So you are ordering me?"  I questioned his motive. "If I don't agree, then you'll force me?" I narrowed my eyes at him, causing him to chuckle.

"Not an order but asking you," he whispered, placing his forehead against mine. I stood there, trying to catch my breath, which I had forgotten from all the thinking I was currently doing.

"May I," he asked, causing me to look into his eyes. I could see he desperately wanted to proceed further as his breath hit my face, and even I felt leaning in, but I had to pull myself together and come out of the daze.

"Have you spoken to your mother and father? Were they okay with you choosing me?" As I asked, Bhalla smiled, showing his perfect white teeth.

"Tonight, I will introduce to you them as my future wife, my queen, and the one I chose," he whispered once again, trying to lean in.

I shook my head. "That not what I asked? Now did I?" I questioned again, causing him to sigh.

"I don't have to ask permission, my love," he whispered as he continued. "I have decided and will let them know of my decision." I stared at his eyes. I could see the difference between him and Baahu; grown up in the same household with a lovable mother sharing the blood of the same royals, yet there was so much difference, like day and night.

I nodded at him, pulled myself out of his touch, and stood as far as possible. I could feel the balcony railing stopping me from moving any further. My sudden movement caused Bhalla to look at me, and his eyes looked like they were longing for me, but I may have imagined things.

"Then I will meet as you have planned, my king," I whispered, causing him to nod as well. He took his leave, and I exhaled all the breath I had stored in. Okay, now I have to make myself mentally ready for tonight. God knows how painful it is going to be with Sivagami being there.

And it was a hell of painful just as Bhalla broke the news of our engagement. 'Well, if you call it that,' his parents looked at him dumbfounded, and more than his father, his mother's eyes were burning into my head. Lady, I didn't do anything to your ego-boosted son who doesn't under the word boundary,' I shouted but kept my face straight.

"What were you thinking, Bhalla? " his father shouted as he walked, or rather limped, to the spot where Bhalla and I were standing.

His eyes pierced through me. Other than their mentality, I couldn't see one drop of similarity between the father and son.

"A girl with no title and no kingdom to be a queen and wife of the King of Mahismati." He cackled, which hurt my ear, but I stayed put.

"Father, I know you would say this, but I have decided, and you know I won't choose someone just like that. So I ask you to believe me when I say Nandhini will be my Queen and wife." I snapped my eyes at Bhalla, who was standing too proudly and tall. A part of me liked this, and a small smile erupted at the corner of my lips.

I snapped out of it as the father-son duo argued, but the mother stayed in her seat, silently watching me like a hawk watching its prey.

"Sivagami, why are you silent? Please tell him he is wrong." I was so ready to hear her rejection, as she did with Deva, but surprisingly, she walked near me, took my face in her hand, and studied every inch of my face.

"If my son had chosen her, she must be worth it." My eyes snapped to her reply as she unclasped her long chain, forked her neck, and clasped it onto mine.

"Sivagami?" Bhalla's father started, but Sivagami's look made him quiet.

"A week from now, the big wedding of the King of Mahismati with his chosen girl as his wife and Queen of this nation will happen" " she replied and went away like the wind.

As the night rolled out, I was still shocked at how things turned out; I thought his mother might reject me and send me away. I was so sure that I hadn't opened my packed items.

But fate is cruel, as it has now been announced, and all the people in the nation would have known by now.

I fear facing Baahu and Deva. How would they have taken this news? Would Deva be angry at me? Will she think that I am a gold digger or a backstabber?

All the thoughts are killing me, but once again, I have been pulled out of my overthinking by a strong arm encircling my waist and flushing me to a rock-hard chest whose warmth I can recognize now as if I have known him for decades.

"What my Queen is thinking about?" I am still too flushed to reply. Why is he so clingy in the movies? He never seems like that, and they never show him as this.

His thumbs softly massaged my hips, and a soft gasp left my lips as the feeling was wonderful, and I was too ashamed to accept it.

He placed his face into the crook of my neck and inhaled. I struggled to find the way out, yet my body felt heavenly. What was wrong with me?

"Ah, nothing", I replied. Thankfully, his body was keeping me from falling.

His hands captured my jaw, and he smiled, his eyes sparkling with mischievousness. A gasp left my lips as his thumb traced my lower lip and parted from my upper.

"Will you allow me?" he whispered, causing my inner pool to swell in what one could call a girly giggle, which I am embarrassed to admit.

Well, to be fair, I have only kissed one guy, my ex-boyfriend. "Oh, don't remember him now," I scolded myself.

I am not sure whether the cold air or the warmth of his body caused my head not to think straight, but something pulled me in as I found myself leaning to meet his lips.

At that moment, I felt a surreal energy pass through my veins, like the Kiss we read in books that are said to capture the soul, body, and mind. His lips moulded perfectly into mine. It's not a kiss of innocence but of need and want mingling. I reached into his hair, my finger knotted between his silky hair. His right hand cupped my side jaw and angled me perfectly, letting him easily access my lips.

That kiss taught me one thing: I now have a better plan.

One can ask what my plan is. I plan to marry Bhalla but make amends with Baahubali and get him back here as a rightful king. I know I can do it. Since Bhalla seems too into me, maybe I should use it as my leverage to make him see the good in Baahu and let his ego go.

But a man like Bhalla would not be easy letting go of his power, the power he always wanted, and the power he just got, and he would agree to let go of it. But I can see he is losing his tough wall in front of me, and even with this small kiss, I had him melted against my body. So, my body and mind should be my weapon in this match, and I should use it well to do what I intended to do here.

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