ENCHANTED - BY INNOCENCE (ongoing)

82

This chapter has 4000+ words and ends with a question, make sure you read till the end ❤️

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*** Devendra ***

I stepped into the room and looked around. Floral designs adorned the walls, and in the middle hung a white curtain, followed by a sheer one that added a touch of elegance. At the center was a chair and a table on my side, and judging by the shadows, a similar setup stood on the other side.

Through the veil, I could see the silhouette of Princess Indrani. She immediately stood when she noticed me.

"Greetings, sir," she said politely.

"Greetings, Princess," I replied.

"Please, sit down," she offered, and I lowered myself into the chair. Her shadow mirrored my movement as she sat as well.

"I..." she began.

"Before you say anything, Princess," I interrupted gently, "you should know this for your own awareness: for security reasons, my general is waiting outside. He has enhanced hearing, so everything you say here will be heard."

"Noted," she nodded after a moment of silence that showed that she is not pleased with it.

"Also," I added, leaning slightly forward, "I find it extremely confusing and suspicious that a moment ago you stood on one side of the door accusing me of lying, and the next moment you were out the same door asking me to marry you, not to mention warning me that I would regret refusing you. All this while refusing to reveal your face, despite having had the privilege of seeing mine. That is, admittedly, quite unfair."

"How..." she hesitated. "How did you know I saw you?"

"I overheard your maids whispering on my way," I replied. "Enhanced hearing, remember?"

"So you could hear the whispers of me, my father, my maids, and everyone else in my kingdom without us hearing you back and that's called 'enhanced hearing' she reasoned. "But when I managed to look at you without you seeing me back, it's 'admittedly quite unfair'?"

I remained silent.

"Would it help, sir," she continued with a touch of wit, "if I gave it an elegant name like 'enhanced vision' instead?"

I involuntarily chuckled.

"Mahadev has truly blessed you with the gift of words, Princess," I said.

"Is that your elegant way of admitting I've won the argument?" she teased.

"Yes," I smiled. "That is my elegant way of saying you've won."

She chuckled softly.

"You are a very humble man, sir," she remarked.

"There are many outside this room who would disagree," I replied dryly. "Either way, the confusion remains—how do you reconcile offending me while simultaneously wishing to marry me?"

"The reason for both is the same," she said firmly. "I care for my people, my family, and myself."

"A little elaboration would be helpful," I prompted.

"When you proposed diplomacy, I feared it might involve false promises. That's why I made my comments, without realizing you could hear me, if I may add, and accidentally offended you in the process. But the way you responded made me want to marry you."

I stayed quiet, waiting for her to continue.

"My father always says, a bad marriage destroys the peace of three generations—the girl, her parents, and her children. Perhaps..." she paused, taking a shaky breath, "perhaps he spoke from experience and...perhaps...perhaps my sister knew it too. That is why she...she killed herself, to protect our peace and escape her abusive husband."