The horses galloped through the night, their rhythmic strides steady against the earth. The air carried the scent of rain-soaked soil and distant embers. Yet, despite the cool breeze, warmth pressed against him—small, steady, undeniably present.

  Sanjana.

  She had been restless at first, fingers tightening and loosening around the reins, shifting every so often. He had sensed her inner turmoil, though he neither knew nor cared to know what troubled her. Until she went still.

  The sudden change had him glancing down, only to be met with an unexpected sight.

  She was asleep.

  Adhitya’s hold on the reins faltered for the briefest second.

  She had fallen asleep. Here. Now. In his presence.

  His immediate thought was logical—How could she sleep in this situation? A midnight ride, with a stranger, on an unknown path? Either she was far too trusting, or she was so exhausted that even logic had abandoned her.

  His second thought was far less reasonable.

  Wait… did I lose my charm?

  Most women—no, all women—who ever stood near him either avoided his gaze entirely or turned into a flustered mess.

  Yet here she was, nestled in his arms, snoring softly.

  Is she… treating me like an elder brother or something?

  A strange sense of crisis crept up his spine. He frowned, stealing another glance at her.

  Her face was serene, completely at peace.

  That didn’t help his predicament.

  A small part of him was pleased—a very small part. She wasn’t guarded against him. That meant, at some level, she trusted him.

  But another part of him? Utterly offended.

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  Was he aging? Was he becoming one of those ‘safe’ older men women saw as non-threatening? He hadn’t even reached his prime yet!

  His lips parted, half-tempted to wake her up and demand an explanation.

  Then, her head shifted slightly, her forehead grazing his chest.

  He inhaled sharply.

  No.

  It was better if she didn’t wake up right now.

  The logical part of his brain finally caught up. This isn’t safe. A lone woman, sleeping defenselessly in the presence of a man she barely knew? What if he were someone else? Someone with bad intentions?

  His brows furrowed as he studied her again. He had seen exhaustion before. This wasn’t just ordinary fatigue. Her breathing was deep, her muscles relaxed like someone who had burned through every ounce of their energy.

  The place had finally come. The horses couldn’t go any further—they had to walk from here.

  Adhitya, still reluctant, took a slow breath before gently shaking her by the shoulders.

  Her eyelashes fluttered open, delicate and slow. Would this be how the first blossom of a flower looked? he wondered, momentarily dazed.

  Her eyes were different now—nothing like the sharp, piercing gaze she had while treating patients. Those eyes had already managed to shake his composure before. But these eyes? Oh, my goodness… They were unruly, lazy, as if she hadn’t yet returned fully to reality. And worst of all, they didn’t stay still.

  First, they locked onto his eyes—direct, unapologetic.

  Then, slowly, they traveled downward.

  Adhitya stiffened. What… was this?

  No woman had ever dared to look at him like this before. His presence alone either made them nervous or cautious. Even the fiercest of warrior women and high-ranking officials barely met his gaze. But she? She was openly… admiring him? Like he was some kind of masterpiece?

  A flicker of anger sparked. But then, just as quickly, every single one of his previous worries about his charm disappeared into thin air.

  I was worried I’d lost my appeal? What a joke.

  If anything, he now had irrefutable proof that his presence still held power. A strange sense of satisfaction settled in his chest.

  But just as he started feeling smug, reality hit him like a hammer.

  Hang on. Shouldn’t I be the one making her flustered? Shouldn’t I be the one looking at her like this, forcing her gaze away in embarrassment? Why is this happening in reverse?!

  And just when he thought this couldn't get any worse—

  “So beautiful…”

  She said it.

  She actually said it.

  Out loud.

  And not in a whisper. No. It was loud enough for the people around them to hear.

  Adhitya froze. His entire body screamed to facepalm, but the laughter around him only fueled his horror. Heads turned. Including Soori’s.

  I am never hearing the end of this.

  But instead of feeling humiliated, something strange happened. The embarrassment morphed into a twisted sense of achievement.

  By the time she fully woke up and realized what had happened, he had somehow managed to even out his voice, asking, “Are you tired? The horses can’t go any further. We have to walk from here.”

  Her reaction, however, nearly sent him over the edge again.

  “No, no, no, no!” she blurted out too quickly before stammering, “I mean—I can walk. I’m perfectly fine.”

  Adhitya, still desperate to salvage his shattered masculinity, planned to demount first and gracefully assist her down—like a true hero, retrieving his lost pride.

  But then—that damned Soori brought a ladder.

  His mood took an instant nosedive.

  That meddling brat had interrupted again.

  Without thinking, he snapped, “Take the horses. Find water. Feed them properly. I want them well-rested.”

  It was only when Sanjana’s grateful gaze toward Soori finally shifted to him that he realized—

  Oh. That was too loud.

  But it was too late now.

  And then—what in the heavens was that gaze?!

  Shock. Amazement. Something else he could not identify.

  She wasn’t even looking at his face anymore.

  Why is she staring at my arms?

  And did she just gulp?!

  Panic shot through his veins.

  Shit. Shit. Shit.

  He turned sharply and strode ahead.

  But even with his back turned, he could feel her gaze lingering.

  He swallowed hard.

  No.

  No way.

  This wasn’t happening.

  His jaw tightened, and his steps quickened, but the realization refused to leave him.

  Am I…

  Am I… SHY?!

  ---

  Who is more embarrassed? (Hahaha)