Chapter 3: The Morning Game Blades and Bare Skin

The first light of dawn spilled across the palace balcony in strokes of gold and red.

Princess Vaidehi rose early, her bridal bangles cold against her wrist as she fastened the last hook of her blouse. Her eyes, however, were not on her reflection—they were on the empty bed behind her.

He hadn’t slept beside her.

Not even a touch. No words after the wedding night.

Only silence. And that same unreadable stare that had followed her like a shadow through every ritual.

She ran her fingers down the silk folds of her sari, adjusted her earrings, and inhaled deeply.

> Today, I begin.

The plan was simple: get close to him. Win his attention. Make him trust her enough to let his guard down. Find the gem—the one whispered about in Rajyagarh’s war council. The Serpent’s Heart. Hidden somewhere in the palace vaults.

And if she had to seduce the prince to get it? So be it.

She found him in the courtyard. Sword in hand. Shirtless.

The blade moved like it was part of him, slicing air with controlled grace. Prince Aaryan’s body was a map of scars and muscle—earned, not inherited. She watched him in silence, admiring the balance of power and elegance.He didn’t notice her watching at first—or maybe he did and just didn’t care.

From the shadowed archway, Vaidehi’s breath caught as Prince Aaryan lifted his sword again, his bare back flexing beneath the sun. His skin shimmered with sweat, gliding over muscle carved like stone. Each movement was precise, brutal, and utterly graceful.

She had faced kings, killers, generals.

But none of them moved like him—like war was stitched into his blood.

She had come to the training court that morning to speak, to seduce with smiles and false warmth.

But now she could barely breathe.

> Get a grip, Vaidehi, she scolded herself. He’s the mark. Nothing more.

Yet her eyes betrayed her. They traced the curve of his spine, the narrow taper of his waist, the way his fingers gripped the hilt of his blade like he’d done it in battle and in blood.

And worst of all… he knew.

He finished the form with a sharp exhale, sword slicing the air with a clean whistle. Then he turned to face her, still shirtless, chest rising with controlled breaths.

> “Are you going to stand there all morning?” he asked, voice calm. “Or have you come to judge my form?”

She blinked, swallowed the dryness in her throat, and stepped into the light with her best royal smile.

> “I’ve seen worse,” she said, teasing.

Vaidehi’s pulse stuttered. There was something almost cruel in the way he moved—deliberate, slow, like he was letting her look… and daring her to stop.

She couldn’t.

> “You’re surprisingly humble, Your Highness,” she said, trying to steady her voice.

> “You’re surprisingly bold,” he replied, eyes locking onto hers. “Most brides don’t stalk their husbands around the palace.”

> “Maybe I’m not like most brides.”

He stepped closer. One more step, and he’d be able to touch her waist without even lifting his hand.

> “So I’ve noticed.”

She should have stepped back.

But she didn’t.

The air between them was thick with heat—not from the sun, but from everything unspoken. She could smell him now—earth, steel, and something deeper. Masculine. Dangerous.

> “You’re staring again,” he murmured.

> “You’re not exactly subtle,” she replied.

He leaned in just slightly, brushing a damp strand of her hair off her cheek with the back of his knuckle.

> “Neither are you.”

Her breath hitched. Every part of her was alert—this close, she could see the fine scar just under his jaw. She wanted to trace it. She wanted—

No.

She stepped back, clearing her throat.

> “I should go,” she said.

> “Yes,” he replied. “Before you forget why you came.”

She turned away, heart pounding in her chest like war drums.

 

But as she left, his voice followed—soft, deadly, seductive.

> “Careful, Princess. You’re trying to play me…”

> “…but you might end up playing yourself.”

.....................

Episodes
1 Introduction
2 Chapter 1 : Crimson Dust
3 Chapter 2 : The Bride in Red
4 Chapter 3: The Morning Game Blades and Bare Skin
5 Chapter 4: Between Shadows and Silk
6 Chapter 5: Wine and War
7 Chapter 6: The Silent Witness
8 Chapter 7: The Distance Between Us
9 Chapter 8:His Letter, Her Undoing
10 Chapter 9: The Heart Beneath Stone
11 Chapter 10: The Price of Choosing Him
12 Chapter 11: A kiss before the war
13 Chapter 12: Bound by Fire
14 Chapter 13: Smoke After Fire
15 Chapter 14: The Blood in the Courtyard
16 Chapter 15: Ashvak’s Eyes
17 Chapter 16: The Dancer’s Game
18 Chapter 17: The Silent War Begins
19 Chapter 18: The Other Woman's Smile
20 Chapter 19: Velvet and Venom
21 Chapter 20: Scars Beneath Silk
22 Chapter 21: The Sweetest Trap
23 Chapter 22: The Poison in the Garden
24 Chapter 23: The Perfume of Poison
25 Chapter 24: What Remains of Loyalty
26 Chapter 25: What He Knows and What He Won’t Say
27 Chapter 26: The Monster Beneath the Crown
28 Chapter 27– A Night with No Escape
29 Chapter 28 – Whispers Behind Doors
30 Chapter 29 – The Poison in the Veil
31 Chapter 30: Fire Beneath the Silks
32 Chapter 31: Embers and Envy
33 Chapter 32: The Gift Before the Storm
34 Chapter 33 – The Serpent's Truth
35 Chapter 34: The Shattering
36 Chapter 35: Burn the Truth
37 Chapter 36: A War Without Mercy
38 Chapter 37 – The Snake Beneath the Ashes
39 Chapter 38: Threads of War and Whispers of Truth
Episodes

Updated 39 Episodes

1
Introduction
2
Chapter 1 : Crimson Dust
3
Chapter 2 : The Bride in Red
4
Chapter 3: The Morning Game Blades and Bare Skin
5
Chapter 4: Between Shadows and Silk
6
Chapter 5: Wine and War
7
Chapter 6: The Silent Witness
8
Chapter 7: The Distance Between Us
9
Chapter 8:His Letter, Her Undoing
10
Chapter 9: The Heart Beneath Stone
11
Chapter 10: The Price of Choosing Him
12
Chapter 11: A kiss before the war
13
Chapter 12: Bound by Fire
14
Chapter 13: Smoke After Fire
15
Chapter 14: The Blood in the Courtyard
16
Chapter 15: Ashvak’s Eyes
17
Chapter 16: The Dancer’s Game
18
Chapter 17: The Silent War Begins
19
Chapter 18: The Other Woman's Smile
20
Chapter 19: Velvet and Venom
21
Chapter 20: Scars Beneath Silk
22
Chapter 21: The Sweetest Trap
23
Chapter 22: The Poison in the Garden
24
Chapter 23: The Perfume of Poison
25
Chapter 24: What Remains of Loyalty
26
Chapter 25: What He Knows and What He Won’t Say
27
Chapter 26: The Monster Beneath the Crown
28
Chapter 27– A Night with No Escape
29
Chapter 28 – Whispers Behind Doors
30
Chapter 29 – The Poison in the Veil
31
Chapter 30: Fire Beneath the Silks
32
Chapter 31: Embers and Envy
33
Chapter 32: The Gift Before the Storm
34
Chapter 33 – The Serpent's Truth
35
Chapter 34: The Shattering
36
Chapter 35: Burn the Truth
37
Chapter 36: A War Without Mercy
38
Chapter 37 – The Snake Beneath the Ashes
39
Chapter 38: Threads of War and Whispers of Truth

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