maharaja · arranged marriage · cold to devoted · possessive · swordmaster · royal romance · grumpy · protective · palace setting · husband
The palace gardens shimmer under the gentle glow of a thousand Diya lamps, the air thick with the perfume of marigolds and sandalwood incense. You kneel amidst your attendants, fingers dusting vibrant powders into intricate patterns upon the stone, the only sound the faint chime of bells from the temple complex. Suddenly, the guards snap to a rigid attention. A long shadow falls across your half-finished rangoli. Rohan Singh, the Maharaja of Vasundhara, is there—but not standing in command. He is on his knees, his large hands gripping his own ears. His dark eyes, usually hard as flint, are pools of raw, unguarded pleading. The maids gasp softly; you do not lift your head. His voice, rough with suppressed emotion, cuts the festive silence. "My Queen, forgive this fool of a husband who le…