The soft clinking of hooves echoed as Maharaja Kathirvelazhagan and Princess Tharini rode through the gates, returning from their diplomatic visit to her kingdom. The ceremonial banners fluttered in the breeze as courtiers stood at attention, watching the royal pair arrive. Maharaja dismounted first, offering a polite hand to Tharini, whose graceful movements did not go unnoticed by those present.
From a distance, Vidhura observed silently. She stood near the palace archway, her arms folded tightly across her chest, her jaw clenched. Her eyes, however, betrayed the turmoil raging within her. She had watched them leave together—Kathir and Tharini, side by side, riding off as if they were the perfect pair. The sight of it had been gnawing at her ever since.
Now, seeing them return, something in her heart twisted. She hated feeling this way—possessive, jealous, confused. None of these emotions aligned with her rational self, but every time she saw him with another woman, her mind quieted, and her heart took over.
"Your Highness," she greeted formally as Kathir approached her. She made sure her tone was devoid of the warmth he was used to hearing from her.
He stopped in his tracks, sensing the shift immediately. He studied her face, noticing the stiffness in her posture, the way she wouldn’t meet his gaze.
"You haven't spoken to me properly in days," he said quietly, his voice low enough that only she could hear. "And now you're addressing me as 'Your Highness'? What have I done to deserve such distance?"
She shrugged, avoiding his eyes. "I’m offering the respect that befits a king, Maharaja."
Kathir’s brow furrowed. She was being distant, too formal. It wasn’t like her at all, and it unnerved him.
"Vidhura," he said, his tone firmer now. "Stop this. I am not your king—I am Kathir to you. Always."
Her heart stuttered at the sound of her name on his lips. He had always called her that, as if she were someone special, someone different from everyone else. But now, with Tharini’s presence looming so heavily in her mind, it felt like a hollow comfort.
"As you wish, Maharaja," she responded, refusing to indulge him. She began to turn away, but he caught her arm, his grip gentle yet insistent.
"Come with me," he said, his voice carrying a quiet command.
She frowned, trying to pull away, but he held firm. "We need to talk," he continued, his gaze unwavering. "And not here."
Without another word, he led her away from the main courtyard, down a narrow corridor that few knew about. Vidhura followed reluctantly, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. Where was he taking her?
They descended deeper into the palace until they reached a secluded underground chamber. The stone walls were lined with ancient relics and the soft glow of torches flickered against the tapestries. It was a space known only to him and trusted few, a place where the king sought solace and reflection.
As they entered, the cool air hit her, and the sound of the palace above seemed to fade away.
He released her arm and turned to face her. "Vidhura," he began, his voice softer now. "Why are you doing this?"
She crossed her arms, avoiding his gaze. "I don’t know what you mean, Your Highness."
His jaw clenched at her continued use of his formal title. "Enough of that. Why have you been distant? And why won’t you look at me?"
She stayed silent for a moment, the weight of her emotions pressing down on her chest. She wanted to tell him, but how could she admit something she didn’t fully understand herself?
"I have duties," she said simply. "And I’m sure you have more important matters to attend to."
Kathir stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "You’ve never hidden behind your duties before. Why now?"
She swallowed, her heart pounding. "It’s different now. You have… Princess Tharini to consider. You two seem well-suited. Perhaps my presence here is unnecessary."
The words were bitter on her tongue, and she hated herself for saying them, but they were the only way she could shield herself from the truth.
Kathir’s eyes darkened with realization. "Is that what this is about? Tharini?"
Vidhura flinched, not expecting him to catch on so quickly. She turned away, her hands trembling. "She’s a princess, a diplomatic asset. It makes sense."
He stepped closer until he was standing right behind her, his breath warm against her ear. "And what about you?" he whispered. "What are you, Vidhura?"
Her breath hitched, and she turned to face him, her emotions bubbling to the surface. "I am no one," she said bitterly. "Just a visitor in your court. A woman from another time who has no place in your world."
His expression hardened, a mix of frustration and something deeper. "That’s not true, and you know it."
She shook her head, her eyes welling with tears she refused to let fall. "I saw you with her, Kathir. You were so… at ease. Like she belonged there. Like you two were meant to be."
He frowned, stepping even closer, his voice dropping to a low, intense murmur. "Do you think anyone could replace you in my life? Do you think Tharini, or anyone else, could ever mean to me what you do?"
Vidhura’s heart ached at his words, but she couldn’t let herself believe them. Not when everything around her felt so uncertain.
"I don’t know what I am to you," she whispered. "I don’t even know what I feel anymore. But seeing you with her… it hurt, Kathir. It hurt in a way I can’t explain."
Kathir’s face softened, and for the first time, he looked truly vulnerable. "You’ve always been more than just a guest here, Vidhura. You’ve always been more to me."
She looked up at him, her vision blurred with unshed tears. "Then why does it feel like I don’t belong?"
He cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing away a tear that escaped down her cheek. "Because you’re too afraid to admit what you already know."
Her breath hitched at his touch, and her walls finally crumbled. "I don’t understand these feelings," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don’t know when it happened, but I can’t stand the thought of losing you."
His gaze softened, and he pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her as if to shield her from the world. "You won’t lose me, Vidhura. You never will."
She collapsed into his embrace, her sobs finally breaking free. "I… I like you, Kathir," she admitted through her tears, the words slipping out before she could stop them. "I don’t know how or why, but I can’t stop it. And seeing you with her—"
He silenced her with a soft, reassuring murmur, holding her tighter as her sobs racked her body. "You never have to worry about Tharini," he whispered. "You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted."
She buried her face in his chest, the warmth of his body grounding her as her emotions slowly calmed. "I don’t know why I’m like this," she mumbled against him. "I didn’t mean to feel this way."
Kathir held her close, resting his chin on top of her head. "You don’t have to apologize for your feelings," he said softly. "You’ve always been my Vidhura. Always."
They stood there in the dim light of the chamber, wrapped in each other’s arms, the weight of unspoken words lingering between them. And for the first time in a long while, Vidhura allowed herself to feel it—the connection between them, the bond that had always been there, even if she hadn’t been ready to acknowledge it.
As the silence stretched on, she pulled away slightly, looking up at him with tear-streaked eyes. "Kathir," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I’m scared."
He smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You don’t have to be."
And with that, the tension between them finally gave way to something warmer, something deeper. In the quiet of the underground chamber, they found a fragile peace—a moment of understanding, even if the future still remained uncertain.
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