Ishvani’s PoV

The sunlight poured into the courtyard of our chamber in a soft, golden spread as the servants arranged the meal before us.

I sat beside Rudradaman, watching the palace settle into its quiet rhythm around us. There was a time when even moments like this felt uncertain to me, like I was always waiting for something to break.

Now nothing did. Nothing felt like it would.

A servant placed a dish in front of us, Rudradaman slide closer to me, and before I could touch plate, he grabbed a bite and held it in front of my mouth.

I looked at him in mild protest. “I can eat myself.”

“I know,” he said calmly.

“Open your mouth.”

I froze for a second, then narrowed my eyes. “We are sitting in the courtyard.”

His expression didn’t change. “And?”

A few servants passed nearby. Someone coughed awkwardly in the distance.

I lowered my voice. “Daman…”

His gaze softened slightly, but his hand didn’t move away. “You ate nothing properly since morning.”

I sighed under my breath, then finally leaned forward and took the bite from him.

His eyes stayed on me the entire time, as if confirming I had actually eaten.Only then did he eat himself.

I shook my head quietly. “You never listen.”

“I do,” he said.

I raised an eyebrow.He added after a pause, “Just not when you are wrong.”

That earned a small laugh from me. The meal continued in quiet rhythm after that.

At one point, I reached for the water jug, but Rudradaman had already taken it.

He poured water into my glass first. Then his own. Always putting my needs first. I noticed it this time more clearly than before.

“You never change,” I said softly.

He glanced at me. “Should I?”

I thought about it. Then shook my head slightly.

“No.”

A small silence settled between us — not heavy, not distant. Just full.

I reached for my plate again, but his hand lightly stopped mine for a moment, adjusting the edge of my dupatta that had slipped.

His touch lingered just long enough to feel like habit. Like belonging. Like it had always been there.

“You always do that,” I murmured.

“Do what?” he asked.

“Take care of me like I will disappear if you don’t.”

His eyes met mine properly then. And for a moment, even the noise of the courtyard felt far away.

“I don’t think you will disappear,” he said quietly.

I waited. His thumb brushed lightly over my knuckles before he continued.

“I just don’t like the idea of anything reaching you before I do.”

My chest tightened slightly at that honesty. Not possessive, Not fearful, Just certain.

I lowered my gaze, hiding the small smile that formed without permission.

After a moment, he picked up another bite and held it out again. This time, I didn’t argue.

I leaned forward and ate from his hand. And he smiled. Not loudly, Not proudly, Just softly.

Like this was exactly where we were always meant to be.

We ate together like that slowly, quietly, without distance.

Not as king and queen, Not as titles carved into a kingdom. Just as two people who had finally learned that love was not something that arrived once and stayed unchanged.

But something that lived in small, repeated acts. A hand offering food, A glass filled first. A space never left empty between them.

And as the sunlight shifted over us, I realised something simple and certain.

I was no longer learning how to belong to him.

I had always belonged to him. It just took a lot of time for me to realise it.

Hey guys, thank you for reading my little story. This story ends today but Rudradaman and Ishvani will always be closer to my heart. They came to me when I was struggling through life, when nothing was going right, writing this story gave me a hope. I really hope you all like it. Thanks for your support ❤️