Chapter 4: Between Shadows and Silk

The map was crude, drawn in charcoal on old temple parchment, hidden beneath a layer of prayer scrolls in Vaidehi’s chamber.

By now, she had learned the basics of the palace: the changing of the guards, the blind spots in the western corridors, the gate that creaked at midnight. But the vault—the one rumored to hold the Serpent’s Heart—was different.

It lay beneath the temple floor, guarded by rituals, bloodlines, and silence.

And it answered only to him.

> I need his key. Or his trust. Or both.

Vaidehi circled her finger around the vault’s location on the map. She had memorized the priest’s chants. Studied the jewel patterns. The only thing missing was how to get close enough without suspicion.

She closed her eyes.

> Get closer. Make him choose you. Break his walls. Then strike.

But her heart thudded, too fast.

Because the more she watched him, the more she wasn’t sure who was breaking who.

 

That evening, she followed the path behind the lotus courtyard—a hidden stone corridor that opened into the outer bath chamber. A place reserved only for the prince.

She had overheard a maid say he bathed there before every full moon ceremony.

And tonight… the moon was full.

She told herself it was just to study his schedule.

But she was lying.

She crouched near the carved lattice window—just wide enough to see inside.

The steam curled like breath on her skin as she peeked through.

And there he was.

Aaryan.

Naked from the waist up, waist-deep in dark water, shadows rippling across his chest. His wet hair slicked back, neck arched as he poured cool water down his shoulders.

He looked like a painting come to life. Brutal. Beautiful. Untouchable.

Vaidehi’s throat tightened.

Aaryan.

Naked from the waist up, waist-deep in dark water, shadows rippling across his chest. His wet hair slicked back, neck arched as he poured cool water down his shoulders.

He looked like a painting come to life. Brutal. Beautiful. Untouchable.

Vaidehi’s throat tightened.

She had prepared for poison. Daggers. Seduction.

She hadn’t prepared for this ache.

She leaned closer.

And the wooden screen creaked.

Loud enough to make him freeze.

His hand stilled in the water. His head turned—slowly. Not startled. Just… alert.

> “Who’s there?” he said calmly.

Panic gripped her.

She stepped back quickly, ready to flee—

But his voice followed her again, deeper this time:

> “Is it the palace rats… or my wife?”

She stopped.

Silence.

> “If you wanted to see me, Vaidehi,” he said, “you only had to ask.”

She didn’t answer. Couldn’t.

> “But spying suits you,” he continued, standing up fully in the water—unbothered, unashamed.

Her breath hitched. She turned and ran before she could see more—before she could want more.

 

Back in her chambers, she slammed the door shut, chest heaving.

She wasn’t blushing. She couldn’t afford to.

> He knew I was there. He let me look. He wanted me to.

And worst of all…

She wanted him to.

 

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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