I slowly opened my eyes, feeling a dull, persistent ache all over my body. The room around me was unfamiliar, but the warmth of the bed beneath me was comforting. As I blinked, trying to gather my thoughts, a wave of confusion washed over me. Am I back again ? The room-his chamber. I couldn't deny it; I was back in Rudraksha Veeraditya's chamber . But how? Had I time-traveled again?

The pain from my wounds reminded me of everything that happened before I passed out. The whip marks, the blood, the royal court, the soldiers, and the dungeon. I felt my stomach churn as the memories rushed back, but I couldn't move much because of the pain.

Suddenly, I felt warmth enveloping me as I tried to sit up. My vision was blurry, but I could make out a strong pair of arms around me. I froze. No, it can't be.

I looked up, and there he was-Rudraksha Veeraditya, the Maharaja. His gaze met mine, his expression unreadable. He helped me sit up, adjusting the pillow behind me, and for a brief moment, our faces were too close. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it made me nervous. Why was he being so gentle?

I instinctively pulled back a little, my heart racing. Was he truly the same man or the man I had heard of in history? The ruthless, merciless ruler? I couldn't help but feel a pang of fear. What if he was like the stories described or like those soldiers ?

His eyes softened as he looked at me, and I noticed a flicker of guilt in them. But neither of us spoke. The silence was heavy, and I felt like I was drowning in it.

A soft knock on the door broke the tension, and a maid entered, carrying a tray of food. She set it on the table beside the bed, then quickly left without saying a word. My stomach growled in response to the sight of the food, and I felt a wave of hunger wash over me. I hadn't eaten since I was thrown into the dungeon or should I say since coming here .

Rudraksha gestured for me to eat, and at first, I hesitated. But my body couldn't resist the need for nourishment. I took a small bite, but to my surprise, he started feeding me. I tried to protest, telling him curtly that I didn't need help, but he ignored me. His hands were gentle as he spooned the food into my mouth, and I couldn't bring myself to refuse him.

When I finished, I let out a deep breath. The food had made me feel a little stronger, but I still had so many questions. I looked at him, my voice trembling slightly as I spoke.

"How did I end up here, Maharaja?" I asked, my eyes flicking to the bandages covering my wounds. "The last thing I remember was being in the royal court."

Rudraksha's face tightened, his jaw clenching as he looked down at his hands. "I carried you here," he said quietly, almost as if he were ashamed of something.

I didn't know what to say to that. His words were laced with an emotion I couldn't quite place. Was it guilt? Regret? But why?

I looked around the room, trying to make sense of everything. "I came the day before yesterday," I said slowly. "I wasn't doing anything wrong. I saw some soldiers bullying an old woman and her children, and I interfered. That's when they threw me in the dungeon and... did this to me." I gestured toward my bandaged body.

Rudraksha's fists clenched at his sides, and I could see the anger building in his eyes. His gaze darkened, and I quickly added, "It's not your fault, Maharaja. If you're thinking that."

He didn't respond immediately, his gaze still fixed on my wounds. I saw a flicker of guilt pass through his eyes, but he remained silent.

"I'll be honest," I continued, my voice softer now. "When I was in the dungeon, I thought maybe you would be like them too. But how you treated me... it proved me wrong." I looked at him, unsure if he understood the weight of my words.

His eyes softened, but he didn't speak. We sat in silence for a moment, and I wondered if I had said too much.

"Don't stop," he said suddenly, his voice low and intense. "Please, keep talking."

I blinked, surprised by his request. "What?"

"I've been dying to hear your voice again," he confessed, his gaze locking with mine.

I blushed at his words, my heart racing. I quickly looked away, trying to hide the heat that spread across my cheeks. He chuckled softly, but I didn't look back at him.

"Aranya," he said, his voice soft yet insistent. "I'm so happy you came back. But how did you do it? Was it like last time, sudden?"

I shook my head. "No, I found out how to activate the mirror from my side. I used my blood . "

Rudraksha's brows furrowed. "Your blood?"

I nodded. "Yes. I had to use my blood to keep it working."

His eyes widened in realization. "So you wanted to come back?"

I hesitated before answering. "Yes," I said quietly. "The last time I was here, I couldn't see anything because of the loop. That's why I wanted to come back."

He seemed to be waiting for more, his gaze fixed on me as if hoping I would say something more. I cleared my throat, unsure of how to proceed.

"I wanted to show my best friend that it wasn't a dream," I continued. "So I took her to the place where the temple was, but when we got there, it had vanished. And when I got back home, the mirror was in my room. It was kind of creepy, to be honest."

Rudraksha looked confused. "Creepy?"

"Scary," I clarified. "It was like the mirror was calling me back, but I didn't know how to stop it."

He seemed lost in thought, and I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking.

"Did the loop break that day?" I asked, my voice hesitant.

He nodded slowly. "Yes, two years ago."

I blinked in shock. "Two years?"

He smiled slightly, his gaze softening. "I thought you would never come back."

I didn't know what to say to that. I felt a strange mixture of emotions-relief, confusion, and something else I couldn't name.

"Maharaja," I said after a pause, "can I stay here for the time being? I noticed that there are still missing pieces of the mirror, and we need to make it whole again to get through as this time there's no loop to help me ."

He smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You're not in a hurry to go back this time?"

I shook my head. "No, not yet."

He nodded, his expression turning serious again. "You can stay here as long as you want. You'll be staying in the palace, of course. But first, you need to recover."

I agreed, though I was still uncertain about the arrangements.

I tried to bow as everyone here did, but he stopped me, his hand gently lifting my chin. "Never do that," he said softly. "You don't have to do that."

I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me at his words.

"You'll be staying in my room until you recover," he added, his voice firm.

I quickly protested, "Maharaja, there will be rumors if I stay in your room." I knew how easily rumuors spread in that times !

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "I will make sure there are no rumors. You'll be staying in my room, and that's final."

I nodded, though I was still unsure about everything.he called the maids. He ordered ."Take care of her. Make sure she rests."

The maids nodded and moved to help me, and I felt a strange sense of security wash over me as I leaned back against the pillows. Rudraksha turned to leave but paused at the door.

"Rest well," he said, his voice gentle. "I'll make sure you're taken care of."

I watched him leave, feeling a mixture of gratitude and confusion. What was happening between us? I wasn't sure, but one thing was clear-this time, things were different.