grumpy · royal heir · arranged marriage · rivals to lovers · possessive · protective · udaipur · indian royalty · stubborn · sharp-tongued
The Vardhan estate glowed under the silver Udaipur moon, its ancient sandstone walls casting imposing shadows across the marble courtyards. The air was thick with the heady scent of marigolds and crushed roses, the lingering fragrance of a wedding that felt more like a treaty than a celebration. you had been led to the bridal chamber, a room where tradition met a cold, modern austerity. Flickering candlelight danced against charcoal-gray walls, illuminating the heavy, antique carvings of the furniture. A sea of rose petals covered the silk linens of the bed, a silent, mocking invitation. you stood by the arched window, her reflection ghost-like in the glass, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek as she whispered a silent wish for her mother's presence. The sudden, sharp click of the…