The Barbaric Proposition {Royal Engagement Series 1}

54. His Unexpected Behaviour

Nandini's steps halt instantly when she looked at the man sitting so comfortably in the chair yet his expression was hard and cold. No one could tell what was running in his mind and his expression adding to the fact doesn't reveal a single thing. Behind her Purna and Isha also stopped looking at the scene.

"Samrat?" Nandini called out.

"You are back" Manik got up from the chair and walked towards her. His eyes travelled down from her head trailing towards her neck then lowering more. Scanning her body,  his eyes stopped on the certain area which were bleeding. Nandini followed his eye line and looked at her arm which was bleeding slightly. She instantly raised her hand and covered the wound with her palm.

"You're wounded" he said slowly dropping the words one by one.

"It's just a little scratch Samrat" she replied awkwardly. Behind her Purna and Isha also felt awkward. 

Manik seemed to not care about it as he reached out holding her hand and then pulled her with him. They walked towards the chair and sat down. Manik started to examine her arm. Nandini turned her head and about to ask Purna to arrange bath for her when Manik spoke.

"Bath is ready, you don't have to worry about that"

Nandini looked at him surprisingly. How did he knew about what I wanted to say? She thought in her mind.

Manik looked at her sensing her gaze. "What?"

Nandini waved her hand and her sevikas left immediately leaving only them in the room.

"Samrat how did you know what I wanted to say?" She couldn't help but ask. Manik raised his hand and flicked her forehead which made her face twist in pain.

"Since you got a brain use it when it's needed" he replied.

Nandini rubbed her forehead looking at him with a glare. What's wrong with this man? She complaint in her mind yet she couldn't voice it out.

"What do you mean by that?" She asked.

"Your expression..." He said pausing for a bit.

"What happened to my expression?"

"Is easy to read" Manik replied then looked at her arm again. Even though the injury was not severe and only ended with a light scratch but the more he see it, he couldn't help but feel irritation. It's not like he has never seen any injury, rather he was more experienced about wounds and treatments. It was like a daily scenery for him.

On the other hand Nandini was unaware about his thought and tried to pull her arm, "Samrat,I need to take a bath. Would you please leave and let my sevikas in so that they can assist me?"

Manik frowned looking at her, "why do you need your sevikas for that?"

Nandini couldn't understand his meaning, "I need their help"

Manik eyed her from head to toe. She was wearing a dark red dress which fitted well on her body. Her curves were beautifully shown which made him frown a little. He remembered when he first met her. She was also wearing the similar outfit. If one look carefully she has a vibrant famine figure which could lure any man she wants. And this thoughts are poking in his chest with sharp tip.

"You don't need them" he replied as got up from the chair. Nandini looked at his action frowning a little. He looked at her before leaning down lowering himself to her level, "you just need me. I am enough to help you with everything you need dear wife"

Nandini's jaw almost dropped on the floor. Before she could voice out the protest he scooped her up in his arms and started to walk towards the another adjacent  room.