Chapter 16 – Crown and Confession

Poornima woke up slowly.

The first thing she felt was warmth.

The second—his presence.

Veeresh sat beside her, watching her as if he had been doing nothing else for hours. His expression softened the moment her eyes opened, relief flickering across his face.

Before he could speak, she grabbed his collar and pulled him toward her.

“Why?” she demanded, her voice shaking. “Why didn’t you tell me all this time? Why did you let me live without knowing who I am?”

Veeresh didn’t resist.

Instead, he smiled—a small, knowing smile, filled with patience and years of restraint.

“The kul purohit’s prediction was right,” he said calmly.

She frowned, confused.

He gently loosened her grip but didn’t move away. “He said the truth would come to you only when you were strong enough to carry it.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“I hid it for one reason,” he continued softly. “Your safety. Nothing else. Now you know the truth.”

He straightened slightly, his voice turning steady, resolute—like the king he was born to be.

“It’s time,” he said, “to regain our throne. Rajasthan needs to know its king and queen.”

Poornima’s breath caught.

“But before that,” he added, his tone softening again, “we will marry properly. With rituals. With consent. With the world watching.”

He leaned closer. “Rani sa.”

The word settled into her heart like something that had always belonged there.

He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead—reverent, patient, full of longing.

“I waited a long time,” he whispered. “To have you near me like this… knowing everything.”

Poornima said nothing.

Her mind was still catching up to her heart. Everything felt too much—truth, destiny, love, responsibility—all crashing together at once.

Veeresh brushed a strand of hair away from her face. “I know it’s overwhelming,” he said quietly. “But nothing happened without a reason.”

Then, with a faint smirk, he added, “One thing though.”

She looked at him.

“Don’t slap me in front of royal members,” he said seriously. “Inside the room, you can.”

She stared at him for a second—then punched his shoulder.

Not hard. Not soft.

Just real.

Veeresh laughed—a genuine, rare sound—and caught her hand, holding it like a promise.

For the first time since she woke up, Poornima felt something steady beneath the chaos.

The truth had changed everything.

But somehow…

she was exactly where she was meant to be.