Meanwhile...
Inside the royal chambers assigned to the Queen of Swarnartha.
The room was illuminated only by a few oil lamps. Moonlight slipped through the half-open window, bathing the chamber in a gentle silver glow.
Lavyaa sat before a bronze mirror.
Her long hair flowed freely over her shoulders to down to her waist as she slowly brushed it with a wooden comb.
The room was silent.
Only the soft rhythm of the comb passing through her hair could be heard.
A gentle knock echoed at the door.
Without looking back, she answered,
"Come in."
The door opened quietly.
Kshiraj stepped inside.
Neither of them spoke.
He walked toward her without hesitation.
Reaching her side, he gently took the comb from her hand.
She looked at him through the reflection in the mirror.
Without a word...
He began brushing her hair with slow, careful strokes.
Lavyaa smiled faintly.
"I like sleeping with my hair untied." And loose if tied.
"It feels uncomfortable when it's tied."
"I know."
He answered softly.
"You are still awake."
She looked at him through the mirror.
"I was about to sleep."
She stood up and slowly walked toward the bed.
Kshiraj quietly placed the comb back on the dressing table before following her.
Something about her seemed different tonight.
Her smile...
Wasn't reaching her eyes.
He wanted to ask.
He wanted to know what troubled her.
Yet...
The words refused to leave his lips.
Perhaps...
The warrior who could face an army still feared asking the simplest question. Maybe it was the only cowardnace he had was feelings.
She quietly lie down at her side on the bed
Then, after lying down, she frowned slightly.
"The pillows are too high."
She complained in a soft voice... As if she will cry at that very instant.
He knew she looked sad somehow.Without saying another word, he stretched out his arm.
"Here."
She looked at him for a moment.
Then quietly rested her head upon his arm.
He looked up at the ceiling.
She looked only at him.
Silence filled the room.
Comfortable.
Gentle.
Peaceful.
After a while she whispered,
"I want to hear a story before sleeping."
Kshiraj smiled helplessly.
"I cannot think of one right now."
She laughed quietly.
"I heard you have trouble sleeping."
"So..."
"May I tell you one instead?"
"As you wish..."My queen
She with serious eyes on him.
"Don't tease me."
"It's only a fantasy."
"Hmm..."
She started.
"There once was a little ray of light...who got seperate d"
"Her name was Roshni."
"She cried every single day."
"No one paid any attention to her."
"One day..."
"A voice asked her..."
'Why are you crying?'
"Roshni replied..."
'Everyone smiles when they need me.'
'They seek me when they want hope... happiness... warmth... enlightenment.'
'But once they find what they were searching for...'
'They leave me behind.'
'I even heard someone say...'
"You are too bright."
"You hurt my eyes."
"So I realized..."
"People loved what I gave them..."
"But not me."
"They slept peacefully only after I had gone."
"They found enlightenment..."
"And forgot the one who had guided them there."
Lavyaa smiled faintly.
"Then..."
"The mysterious voice laughed."
"A loud laugh."
"Roshni became annoyed."
'Why are you laughing?'
"The voice replied..."
'At least you witness people laughing.'
'Growing.'
'Succeeding.'
'You become a part of their happiest memories.'
"But me..."
'Everyone fears me.'
'Even the bravest heart hides a little fear of me.'
'I witness people perish.'
'I watch loneliness.'
'Abandonment.'
'Tears.'
'The ugliest side of the world.'
'And whenever nothing terrible happens...'
'People simply ignore me.'
Lavyaa paused.
Then continued softly.
"Roshni asked..."
'Then how do you keep going?'
"The voice answered..."
'I sleep.'
'Always.'
She smiled.
"Roshni tilted her head."
'Then why do people ignore you?'
"The voice replied..."
'They don't always ignore me.'
'I simply step into the background whenever you arrive.'
'That is my nature.'
'But eventually...'
'Everyone comes searching for me.'
'When they become tired.'
'When they are frightened.'
'When they wish to rest.'
'I am always the last destination.'
'Because people fear facing their deepest darkness.'
Lavyaa looked toward Hrituraj.
"Roshni then asked..."
'Who are you?'
The voice smiled.
'Me?'
'I am...'
'Andhera.'
She laughed softly.
'But...'
'I am not afraid of you.'
The darkness replied gently,
'Because...'
'You were never created to fear me.'
"They met every day."
"They talked."
"They laughed."
"They became friends."
"Then one day..."
"Roshni said..."
'I will help you discover who you truly are.'
"So she scattered herself across the night sky..."
"Becoming countless stars."
"Stardust."
"Moonlight."
"So that even after the sun disappeared..."
"She could remain beside him."
"The darkness asked..."
'Why would you do that?'
"She smiled."
'Perhaps...'
'I simply wanted to spend a little more time with you.'
'Or perhaps...'
'I like the peace you give me.'
"So..."
"Even on the night of Amavasya..."
"When even the moon disappears..."
"I can still remain beside you..."
"For eternity."
Her voice gradually became slower.
Sleep was beginning to claim her.
After finishing the story, sleep slowly overtook Lavyaa.
Then, almost with closed eyes, she murmured,
"I know your name."
Kshiraj smiled.
"Do you?"
"Of course."
"I know my husband's name."
"I even knew the names of all the princes who were once considered my future husband."
He chuckled.
"Then tell me..."
"Do you know my name?"
She opened one eye.
"My King..."
He looked embarrassed.
"I... I am sorry."....she cutted him
My name is Lavyaa!//
"Wish me good night."
He laughed softly.
"Good night."
"Sweet dreams."My queen.
"No."
"Say it properly." Good night Lavyaa!!
He leaned a little closer. (He was also getting sleepy)
"Good night..."
"Lavyaa."
"My Queen."
"May you have the sweetest dreams." Lavyaa- My Queen.... In a low voicefading with every word.
She giggled softly before turning to the other side.
After a moment he asked sleepily,
"How do you always come up with such strange stories?"
Lavyaa smiled.
"I was wondering the same about yours."
She let out a sleepy yawn.
"Oh..." Why are you always so quiet, not telling anyone anything before , or asking for help.
"You were watching that banyan tree for almost half an hour before." Kshiraj asked her
"Why?"
She pull the quilt and covered her to shoulders and replied in a sleepy voice
"I'll tell you..." Yawwwwn..
"Next time."
"Hmm..."
Within moments, her breathing became slow and steady.
She had fallen asleep.
Kshiraj looked at her sleeping face while him being sleepy 🥱 as well
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Carefully...
So gently that she wouldn't wake...
He brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.
Outside, the wind carried the scent of the coming dawn.
Tomorrow...
The storm would begin.
But tonight...
For the first time...
He was sleeping with content knowing not a Princess of Kingdom, not a queen, just Lavyaa his wife...