For a moment, the noise around her faded as warmth spread through her.
Her mouth curved before she could stop it.
He didn't smile back. But in private, when she did something to make him laugh, his expression shifted, softening his face with a slight lift of his lips.
It had been a month since he had taken her to the frozen lake and the cabin. Since then, many things had changed.
Morning routine remained the same.
They had breakfast together every day. He ate with his usual precision and with his tablet next to his breakfast plate.
But what changed was that she now started drinking the pink-hued, salty noon chai and surprisingly enjoyed it.
Sheru was now a regular at the breakfast table. The kitten sometimes curled near her feet under the table and sometimes sat on the empty chair beside her as though he owned the palace entirely.
The staff looked horrified at first. But seeing their maharaja look unbothered, they didn’t do anything.
The palace staff had adjusted to the changes.
Especially Savita and the other maids who came into her room each morning, only to find the bed empty.
Yamini not only slept in Bharat’s bed each night, but some of her clothes also occupied his wardrobe now. Her shampoo and lotion were on his bathroom counter.
He had never said a word about any of it.
She had expected him to. She had almost wanted him to set a boundary, a rule, something she could push against.
But he didn’t.
With her smile widening, Yamini walked toward a group of factory women workers who gathered under a blossom-heavy tree.
“Maharani,” they greeted her, straightening.
“I’m not just a maharani. I’m also your photographer right now.”
They laughed.
She clicked a few pictures and then stepped away from them. She stood under a tree to check. The women looked happy and carefree as they laughed under the apple blossoms.
Yamini was smiling when a young engineer approached her. He had an eager smile. “Your Highness, I’ve seen the photos on your website. They are outstanding. The way you captured—”
He suddenly stopped. Yamini didn’t have to turn to know why. She sensed Bharat before he appeared at her side without a word.
He didn't interrupt or cut the engineer off. But his presence was enough. The engineer's posture adjusted immediately.
“Y-your Highness,” he greeted with a slight stammer and then stepped back.
Once they were alone, Yamini raised an eyebrow at him. “Intimidation tactic, maharaja?”
“Efficiency.”
She smiled. “By the way, I caught you staring at me.”
He didn’t look embarrassed or deny it.
“You're barefoot in a public orchard,” he said instead.
“So?”
