The palace had grown quiet. The grand celebrations were over, and only family members remained. Tonight was not just another night- it was Ruhi and Vedant’s first night together.

Surbhi’s eyes lingered with jealousy. She did not want Ruhi to sit on the throne beside Vedant, nor did she want Vedant to lose himself in Ruhi’s love. But she said nothing, for the night belonged to the new royal couple.

Avni, with a mischievous smile, escorted Ruhi and Vedant towards their chamber. The golden doors of the royal suite were closed, guarded by Avni’s playful demand.

“Hukum,” she teased, “if you give me your black card, only then shall I allow you to enter.”

Everyone laughed softly. Ruhi, under her veil, lowered her gaze shyly, while Vedant frowned with royal impatience.

“Avni, it is midnight. Why must you trouble me when I already have Ruhi by my side?”

“Because, Hukum, you always place limits on me whenever we quarrel. Just for tonight, let me win. Give me your card only for one day. Tomorrow, you maybe have it back,if...I want ,” Avni pleaded with folded hands.

Vedant turned his gaze towards Ruhi. Beneath her veil, her lips parted, and in the sweetest, trembling voice, she whispered,

“Give it to her, Hukum…”

Vedant’s heart softened instantly. Without hesitation, he placed the card in Avni’s hands. Avni beamed with victory and pushed the heavy doors open.

“Best of luck for your first night, Ruhi bhabhi,” she said with a wink, before shutting the door from outside.

Ruhi blushed furiously, her cheeks glowing like a rose.

---

Inside, the room was bathed in soft golden light. Lamps flickered gently, casting shadows on the walls carved with peacocks and lotus patterns. Fragrance of roses filled the air, petals scattered on the silken bed. Candles burned low, as if bowing in respect to their queen.

Ruhi, still under her veil, offered Vedant the glass of milk. He took it without a word, drinking deeply while his eyes never left her. Slowly, he placed the glass aside and with a gentle yet commanding hand, lifted her veil.

For the first time, her face glowed before him in the candlelight.

“Ruhi…” his voice softened, almost a whisper. “You are more radiant than the moon itself. Do you know how impossible it is for me to resist when I look at your lips?”

Ruhi’s heart raced. She lowered her eyes. “Hukum…”

“No, not Hukum,” Vedant interrupted tenderly. “Tonight, I am not a king. Tonight, I am only your Vedant. Call me that, Rani-sa.”

Her lips trembled. “Vedant… ji.”

Vedant smiled, pulling her closer until his breath brushed against her ear. “Perfect. Now sit, I have something for you.”

But before Ruhi could step forward, she gasped and cried out in fear.

“Vedant ji! T-Tigers! On the bed!”

Vedant turned quickly—only to see two majestic royal tigers, Arson and Aris, seated proudly atop the embroidered sheets, their golden eyes watching them calmly.

---

Ruhi trembled. Vedant wrapped an arm around her shoulders, his voice calm and reassuring.

“Do not fear, Rani-sa. Meet my companions, Arson and Aris. They are not just tigers; they are my family.”

At the sound of their names, the tigers growled softly but soon padded towards Ruhi. To her surprise, instead of harm, they licked her hands with gentle affection.

“They… they love me?” Ruhi whispered, astonished.

Vedant chuckled, eyes full of pride. “Of course. They live in my chamber, but I was away for many days. Perhaps they missed me.” He looked into the tigers’ eyes. “Did you miss your daddy, my children?”

The beasts nuzzled him in response, making Ruhi laugh softly. She bent to hug them, stroking their fur lovingly.

Vedant’s eyes darkened with a hint of jealousy. “Babies? Huh? And what am I, Ruhi? Not yours?”

Ruhi smirked teasingly, her fingers tangled in the tigers’ coats. “Look, Arson and Aris… your daddy is jealous of you now.”

The tigers growled lightly, as though laughing at their king.

Vedant’s voice dropped lower, filled with possessive heat. “So, you wish to tease me, Rani-sa? Very well… let me show you what a king can do.”

At his command, Arson and Aris obediently left the chamber after nuzzling Ruhi one last time. Vedant locked the heavy golden doors.

He turned back, his eyes never leaving Ruhi. Step by step, he walked towards her, the silence of the palace echoing his every move.

Her heart thundered as the king whispered in a voice meant only for hi

s queen,

“Tonight, Rani-sa… you are mine.”

Ruhi's back hit the cold marble wall as Vedant's tall figure loomed closer. The golden light of the palace lamps danced across his sharp features, making his eyes gleam with an unreadable intensity.

"Ve-Vedant ji... w-what are you doing?" Ruhi stammered, her voice trembling like the strings of a sitar.

A smirk curved his lips. "You don't know what I'm doing, Rani-sa?" His tone was teasing, yet there was a dark fire hidden beneath.

Ruhi swallowed hard, her anklets chiming faintly as she stepped back. "Vedant... I... I don't want it now."

Vedant tilted his head, his eyes narrowing with amusement. "What exactly don't you want, Rani-sa? This closeness? This pull you feel towards me?"

Her cheeks burned. "Don't think I am that innocent and don't know anything...Vedant ji..." she whispered.

For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words. Then Vedant grabbed her hand, placing it firmly on his chest, his heartbeat loud beneath her touch.

"Exactly," he murmured, "an empress ad a Wattpad reader is never innocent. She holds the power to conquer a king without lifting a sword."

Before she could protest, his fingers trailed from her wrist to her waist, pulling her against him. Ruhi gasped, her heart racing.

"Vedant ji... were you stalking me?" she asked, half-playful, half-curious.

He chuckled darkly. "Not stalking... studying. A king must know his queen's every secret. After all, Rani-sa, you belong to me."

---

Vedant guided her to the bed, his hand never leaving her waist. Ruhi collapsed on the silk sheets, her pallu slipping slightly from her shoulders. She tried to distract herself by scrolling through her phone, but then she felt something cold brush against her ankle.

She froze. Looking down, she saw Vedant kneeling at her feet, his strong fingers sliding a delicate silver anklet around her skin. The tiny bells jingled softly, echoing in the chamber."Shadi Mubarak ho rani sa.."He said.

"Vedant ji..." she whispered breathlessly. "They're... so beautiful."

His gaze pierced hers. "Not more than you. Do you like them?"

Ruhi's lips curved into a shy smile. She nodded, her eyes soft.

---

Then she reached for a small velvet box lying nearby. Handing it to him with trembling fingers, she said, "Here's your wedding gift, Hukum sa."

Vedant opened it. Inside was a crystal bottle of rare perfume, its fragrance strong, earthy, and intoxicating. He inhaled deeply, his hard expression softening just for a second.

"It's... perfect," he whispered.

Ruhi lowered her gaze, her voice like honey. "Mention not, Vedant ji."

Their eyes locked, and in that silence, their hearts spoke louder than words. He leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face, his breath grazing her skin. The air grew heavy, laced with desire, unspoken promises, and the weight of something greater.

For the first time that night, Ruhi felt she was not just his queen, but his world.

---

The palace outside lay quiet, as though holding its breath. The couple finally lay down, their hands entwined, whispering soft words until exhaustion pulled them into sleep.

But as the candles burned low, the silence was broken.

From the shadows beyond the golden doors, a faint sound echoed-footsteps, dragging slowly across the marble floor. A whisper slithered through the corridor like poison carried by the wind.

"Rani-sa... beware."

Ruhi stirred slightly in her sleep, unaware that their love story was about to be tested by secrets hidden within the palace walls.

---

✨ To be continued... ✨

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