AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Did you sleep well?” His voice was a whisper, and she nodded as her breath was coming fast. “Looks like the patch is working to treat your sea sickness. Let me check if it is still intact.” With those words, he used the hand on her cheek to tilt her face to look behind her ear.
Reality hit her hard when she realized that was what he intended to do before she threw her lips at his.What the heck did she do?
“Yeah, it’s working well, I guess.” She tried to sound chirpy when all she could think of was the ocean opening up and swallowing her to spare the embarrassment. Like she couldn’t let it go, she looked around and laughed. “No one is here. I thought there were people, and that’s why I kissed you.”
He smiled, his eyes holding an unreadable expression. “That’s quite all right. I didn’t mind it.”
“Oh, good. Me neither,” she said and bit her tongue.
Shut up, Sanjana. Don’t say anything. Stop trying to act too cool.
As if she had forgotten something in the room below, she mumbled an excuse and bolted from the deck, her heart pounding in her ears. Stay away from him, she told herself. The guy was capable of taking everything she had with just that smile of his.
Despite of all the chaos in her mind, she still could not help but wonder how it would be to be kissed for real when the fake one was so earth-shattering?
Chapter 7
After a week of island hopping and meeting many people, she was glad to be back at the Devaraya Palace, her new home. The people they met were folks who were from the same region as them but migrated for jobs or businesses in other countries. It was early in the morning when they arrived at the palace, and after all the travel, all she could think about was to sleep, and without another word to the man she had grown accustomed to being around, she crashed on the bed.
It was hours later when she woke to the sound of running water, something that had been a cue for her to wake up and get dressed through their trip. She was annoyed that he would not tell her what time they had to leave every day and when she asked for the plan, he shrugged and said, “No, plan. We head out when you are ready to.”
Sanjana didn’t mind his subtle way of telling her it was about time to leave when he went into the shower each day. And she preferred that, too, to be able to wake up alone and have some space to gather herself and be properly awake.
It was weird sleeping in the same bed with him the first night of their honeymoon, but she wasn’t as jittery as she was earlier. She got through one week of the year without a hitch, with only fifty-one weeks to go. Then she could travel the world with her dream job as a pilot.
With that thought, she sat up, slowly lowering her feet to the soft rug under the massive canopy bed in one of the largest bedrooms she had ever seen, not even in those fancy magazines.
Although her upbringing was in a comfortable setting, it felt way too humble compared to how the entire palace was laid out. An entire section seemed to be dedicated to the two of them, with many rooms and space for hosting and entertaining their guests. She made a note to explore the space and, eventually, the rest of the palace.
Sanjana was only half awake as she sat wondering what she was supposed to do all day. A week of exploring new places was amazing, but she didn’t know what she was supposed to do for the rest of her time as the prince’s wife.
Look pretty, smile, and be bored out of her mind?
She had to find something to keep her busy and her mind occupied between the social and public appearances she might have to make with the prince and the rest of the family.
Oh, the family! How could she forget that she had to keep up the image of a good daughter-in-law, a temporary one? Was the prince not worried about a divorce, or would the separation be kept under the radar?
It was too far out to think about everything. With that, she slid off the bed and walked toward the open patio doors at the far end of the suite. She picked up the smell of coffee as she made her way through what seemed to be a private multi-level suite.
There were multiple rooms on the top level with various seating areas, and from what she could see by peeking through the open loft space on the upper level, there was an open layout on the lower level. The space had the bare bones of the design relying on traditional style but was layered with a contemporary touch. Modern sculptures co-existed with traditional wall art. She was in awe of the place, and the space was only for two people.
Was she supposed to host parties in the space? She had no enthusiasm or experience hosting any parties, let alone the fancy royal ones, and was wondering if she could get professional help when she heard footsteps behind her. She pulled on her sleep shirt slightly on impulse as if she could pull it closer like a robe.
“Good morning,” he said casually, and she turned to find him rubbing a towel in his hair. He was casually dressed in a t-shirt and a pair of shorts. “Whenever you are ready, we should go eat.” He stepped into the balcony under the sun, a few feet from her.
She nodded, mulling over her new set of questions and when to ask him. “I’ll need fifteen minutes, and… I… I need to know what I’m supposed to be doing in the palace for the next twelve months.”
He looked at her for a long moment. “You are free to do whatever you please. This isyourhome too.” With those words, he left her standing by herself on the balcony.
A palace? Nope, not her home.
She was lost in thought when she heard her name being called from a distance. She looked around and finally saw it was Aish calling her from under a large gazebo. She could see the rest of the family was enjoying the cool weather.
Sanjana waved back and held up her ten fingers when Aish gestured for her to join them. She smiled as she walked to the bathroom, happy to know there was someone excited for her to be there, unlike the snobbish older brother.
Although the royal couple was polite and warm, the man she was married to seemed to be made of stone, and his older brother looked at her like she was dirt. It was his sister who made her feel welcome and comfortable despite she was a few years older than her.
Sanjana was excited to see Aish again and hoped she would make her stay at the palace and her time with the family go by fast. If only she knew what the stone man of a husband was expecting her to do. Pushing away her concerns, she quickly showered and picked one of the long dresses she didn’t get to wear on her honeymoon. It was a dress that seemed too simple to wear to meet the people they were meeting day after day, but it was perfect for that morning. It felt more like a meet and greet for everyone who was from the Devaraya region and had moved to other countries. She had no idea why people wanted her and the prince at their homes.
