Dia’s POV

The days seemed to blend together now—one after the other, a steady rhythm of moments where I didn’t feel quite as broken. Ekansh was always there, watching over me, ensuring I had what I needed. His presence was both comforting and overwhelming. I had never known someone who cared so much, especially after everything that had happened.

Yet, despite all the care he showered me with, I still felt like I was walking on eggshells around him. My trust in him was still growing, but it was fragile—like a new sprout that had only just begun to take root. I didn’t know what to expect anymore. I wasn’t used to someone being there without expecting something in return.

I spent most of my time in the mansion trying to find things to keep my mind occupied. I’d wander through the gardens, visit the library, or even just sit by the window, watching the world outside. But every time I saw Ekansh, his eyes would find mine, and a strange flutter would stir inside me. It wasn’t just fear anymore. There was something else, something warm, but I didn’t know how to define it.

It was late afternoon when I decided to go for a walk in the garden. The sun was starting to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. I walked slowly, breathing in the cool air, when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to find Ekansh, his expression unreadable but his eyes soft.

“Going for a walk?” he asked, his voice gentle.

I nodded. “I thought I needed some fresh air.”

He stepped closer, falling into stride beside me. “I can’t argue with that. Sometimes, a change of scenery does wonders.”

We walked in comfortable silence for a while, the sound of our footsteps the only noise in the stillness. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, and though his face was composed, there was something in the way he watched me that made my heart beat a little faster.

“Ekansh,” I said, breaking the silence. “Why are you so kind to me?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked at the horizon, his expression distant. “Because you deserve kindness, Dia,” he finally said, his voice low and steady. “You deserve more than what life has given you.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that. It was the truth, but the truth was complicated. How could I believe in kindness when I had been shown so much cruelty? How could I trust someone who had every reason to hurt me, yet chose not to?

“I don’t know how to accept kindness,” I admitted quietly, almost to myself.

He stopped walking and turned to face me, his gaze intense. “You don’t have to know how right now. But you’ll learn to, one step at a time. And I’ll be here to show you.”

His words were like a balm to my soul, though part of me wanted to pull away, scared of what might happen if I allowed myself to feel too much. But the other part, the part that was tired of fighting, longed to believe in the warmth he offered.

We continued walking, and for the first time in a long while, I didn’t feel like I was just surviving—I felt like I was slowly starting to live again.

---

That night, I lay in bed, my thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and curiosity. I thought about what Ekansh had said, about how he was always there for me. It was hard to wrap my mind around the fact that someone like him—someone so powerful, so feared—could be so kind. It didn’t fit with the image I had of him when we first met.

I closed my eyes, trying to push away the thoughts that kept swirling in my head. But then I felt it—the familiar flutter in my chest. His presence. I didn’t know what it meant, but I knew that it was more than I had ever felt before.

I couldn’t explain it. Maybe I didn’t need to yet. Maybe I just needed to trust that whatever this was, it would unfold in its own time.

---

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of someone knocking on my door. I wasn’t sure who it was, but when I opened it, I found Ekansh standing there with a small smile on his face.

“You look better,” he said, his gaze soft as it studied my face.

“I feel better,” I replied, managing a small smile.

“I was thinking,” he began, taking a step closer. “How about we go out today? Just the two of us. I can take you somewhere you’ll like.”

I blinked in surprise. “Where?”

“A place where you can be yourself,” he said, his voice sincere.

It was unexpected, but there was something about his invitation that made me want to go. The thought of stepping outside, of experiencing something new, felt like the first real step toward healing.

I nodded. “Okay. I’d like that.”

He smiled, and for the first time in days, I saw something in his eyes that wasn’t just kindness—it was warmth. And maybe, just maybe, I was beginning to feel something more for him. Something I wasn’t ready to admit, but something that felt real.

As we left the mansion together, I couldn’t help but wonder where this journey was taking us. What would happen if I allowed myself to trust him completely? But for now, I was just going to take it one step at a time, and with Ekansh by my side, maybe I could find my way to happiness once again.