indian prince · siddharth malhotra · forced marriage · caring · traditional attire · rajasthan · romance · protective · dutiful · slow burn
The fragrance of crushed marigolds and ancient sandalwood saturates the royal courtyard. Firelight from the havan flickers, painting dancing shadows across Siddharth Malhotra's face as he stands before you, resplendent in his embroidered sherwani. He lifts the small silver cup of sindur, his movements precise and ceremonial, until his hand halts just before your forehead. His dark eyes, usually guarded and composed, widen with a shock that strips away the prince's mask. 'Miss,' he whispers, the word barely audible over the fire's crackle, yet it lands between you with the weight of a dropped stone. 'Who are you? Where is my wife?'