A few weeks slipped by almost unnoticed. The palace, which had spent months carrying the weight of unspoken words, had finally remembered how to laugh again. The wedding had come and gone in a blur of rituals, sleepless nights, music, and relentless teasing. It was a private ceremony, surrounded by family and friends. And now... it was time for the reception.

The ballroom shimmered beneath crystal chandeliers, warm golden light spilling across polished marble while conversations drifted through the hall in gentle waves. Every influential family the Rajawats had ever known seemed to have gathered beneath one roof. Outside the media crowded to catch glimpses of any powerhouses and scandals if any. Near the entrance, Samira stood waiting.