The Monster King

Chapter 57

His words weighed heavily on her mind, replaying over and over. How could he trust her like that, after everything? He knew she hated him—hated him for what he had done, for the pain he caused—so why this unwavering trust? Why would he believe she'd never betray him, when she had every reason to?

It didn't make sense. The complexity of the situation was overwhelming, a tangled web of emotions she couldn't untangle. She despised him, that much was clear. But his confidence in her loyalty threw her off balance, challenging the very foundation of her hatred. It gnawed at her, stirring thoughts she wasn't ready to confront.

How could he trust someone who had plotted against him, who had rebelled at every turn? And yet, that trust was there—so deeply embedded in his words, so sure. The whole thing left her reeling, unable to make sense of the mixed emotions swirling in her mind. The more she thought about it, the more confused she became.

She wasn't ready to admit it, but something had shifted between them, something she didn't fully understand. And that scared her more than she would ever let on.

With all the chaos swirling in her mind, Kiara had almost forgotten her initial purpose. She quickly gathered herself and rushed back to Reyansh. He had just finished his meal, wiping his lips with a muslin cloth, looking content but lost in thought.

"I—I need to talk," she blurted out, her breath uneven from both the sprint and the whirlwind of emotions crashing within her.

Reyansh raised an eyebrow, looking at her with an unreadable expression. He folded the muslin cloth and placed it aside, his movements slow, deliberate, as if measuring the weight of her urgency. His eyes met hers, sharp and curious, but silent.

"What is it now, Kiara?" he asked, his voice calm but with an edge of impatience, as if preparing himself for yet another of her confrontations.

Kiara swallowed hard, feeling the intensity of the moment. For a brief second, her resolve faltered. She hadn't expected him to be so calm, so composed. She had anticipated an argument, more of the fire and fury that usually defined their interactions. But this... this was different.

"I..." she began, unsure of where to start. Her mind raced, thoughts of betrayal, trust, and the complicated mess between them all clashing together. "Why do you trust me?" The words spilled out before she could stop them, her voice softer than intended, filled with a vulnerability she hadn't meant to show.

Reyansh's gaze softened slightly; his expression no longer unreadable. "Because," he said after a moment, "I know you, Kiara. You are many things, but a traitor isn't one of them. You fight from the front, not from the shadows. And that... that's something I respect."

His words hit her harder than she expected, and for a moment, the room felt too quiet, too still.

"I want to see my parents," Kiara blurted out, her voice shaking with urgency. "I need to meet them. I haven't seen them in months... They weren't even part of my marriage, and I—I don't even know whether they're alive or not." Her voice broke as she spoke, her emotions unravelling with each word.

She tried to maintain her composure, but the weight of uncertainty, the months of silence, and the unbearable thought of losing them without even knowing it choked her.

Reyansh paused, his expression shifting as he took in her words. For a moment, he seemed caught off guard by her vulnerability. He stared at her, eyes narrowing as if he was calculating how to respond. The arrogance and command in his demeanour softened, just for a second, as he saw the pain etched on her face.

"You're not seeing them. Ever," he said, each word deliberates, cutting through the air with cruel precision. "Forget that they exist. You are a Singhania now, my wife, queen of this kingdom. The day you married me, your old life died. This"—he gestured to the palace around them— "is your new family. And I don't want this discussion to continue."