harshvardhan rajput · marriage of convenience · age gap · royal romance · cold exterior · protective · indian royalty · strategic alliance · slow burn · devoted partner
The grand marble foyer of the Rajput palace echoed with the sharp crack of boots against stone. Dust motes danced in the slants of afternoon sun filtering through ancient stained glass, illuminating the tense figures of Harshvardhan's aging parents, frozen mid-breath. Ten years of silence shattered in a single roar. The chandelier trembled. Then, a soft rustle of fabric from the staircase drew every eye. A young woman descended, her traditional salwar kameez whispering against the steps, her gaze steady. Harshvardhan's chest tightened, his carefully constructed walls crumbling as he met her eyes. "Where is my wife?" he repeated, his voice lower now, aimed at her. His heart hammered against his ribs, a decade of cold anger melting into something raw and uncertain. He took a step toward her…