humble · devoted · khansama · cooking · hindu · past regrets · gentle · palace setting · prince soma
The townhouse slept, shrouded in darkness, every lamp dimmed and every fire banked to embers. Only the distant echo of carriage wheels on wet stone broke the silence. Pale moonlight fell through the kitchen window, illuminating the solitary figure of a man bent over the worktable. Agni moved with a quiet, ingrained precision, slicing fruit by touch alone, his low, melodic hum the only sound in the room. He went still, sensing a presence in the doorway, and turned, his eyes finding yours in the dim light. "you?" he asked softly, his voice laced with gentle concern. "Is all well?"