"Good morning, my sweet lady!" Aarti sang, yanking the curtains wide and flooding the room with warm sunlight. 

With a wide grin, she pushed the balcony window open, letting the morning breeze sweep in. "Look, milady, even the mighty sun's been waiting for your grand arrival."

A soft groan rose from the bed. Beneath the sheets, Aarohi curled tighter into her cocoon. 

"Hmm... five more minutes, Aarti, please," Aarohi mumbled, her voice thick with sleep as she rubbed her eyes with tiny fists.

Aarti planted her hands on her hips. "Five minutes? My lady, it's already half past eleven!"

Aarohi yanked the blanket higher, burying her face in it. "Just a little longer, Aarti," she mumbled, almost childlike. "Please, the bed's too comfy."

With a sigh, Aarti marched forward and tugged the blanket down in one swift motion.

"Twenty-two and still acting like a child, huh? Honestly, milady, if anyone ever saw you like this, what would they think?" 

"Mhmm... Let them think what they want," Aarohi muttered softly, nuzzling deeper into the pillow. 

Just then, Aarti's gaze snapped at the corner of a leather-bound book peeking out from beneath the pillow. Clicking her tongue, she snatched it up and held it accusingly.

"Aha! So once again this is the real culprit that kept milady up all night," Aarti exclaimed, flicking the book open and skimming it in a heartbeat. "Hmph, can't believe this Khral Prince has stolen all your attention and sleep."

Aarohi burst into a short laugh. "It's The Cruel Prince, Aarti! The CRUEL PRINCE!"

"Yeah yeah, whatever!" Aarti waved a hand dismissively, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips. 

"Still, milady... I know you love staying up for books, but shouldn't you take better care of your health? You already have a weak body, get sick easily, and this habit—believe me—it's only going to make it worse."

Aarohi peeked at her with guilty eyes, lips twitching into a sheepish smile. "It was only a few more pages..."

Yeah. Just a few more pages... 

Aarohi's heart still hadn't recovered from the whirlwind of yesterday's plot twists—the kiss, the scribbled name, the sudden rush of everything. Oh, Cardan... who would have thought?! 

Haha... I wish I could make you understand, Aarti. If only I could share it with you. The thrill, the anticipation, the way we cry over these fictional characters. The way they feel more alive than us. But...

With a groan, Aarohi clutched the pillow tightly, as if she could bury herself deep enough to escape her own restless heart. 

Aarti sighed and placed the book on her bedside table. "Milady! I'm telling you, keep this up and you're going to miss out on everything happening outside these books."

"But the outside world isn't half as interesting as the ones inside these pages," Aarohi said with a sleepy grin, stifling a yawn. 

Aarti let out a small laugh as she smoothed the coverlets, brushing them off with quick hands. "Says the girl who has never set foot outside this haveli, always cooped up in her room—sick one day, and lost in books the next."

Aarohi dragged herself up, squatting at the head of the bed, her soft pillow clutched tightly to her chest. "...Aarti, you don't know the beauty of what lies inside these pages."

Aarti smiled softly, gathering the coverlets and folding them neatly at the foot of her bed. "My sweet lady, you don't know the beauty of what lies outside these pages."

"Ah... well... that's only half true, but still..." Aarohi curled up her legs, resting her chin on top of her pillow. A long silky strand of hair slipped across her eye as she tilted her head.

"...How can you be so sure the outside world is more beautiful than the one inside these pages? You know... There's magic in here—unicorns that dance beneath moonlight, fairies that play with magic, and..." she paused, glancing away shyly. "...there's beautiful men too."

Aarti burst out laughing. "Beautiful men?"

Aarohi's ears turned red. She buried herself in the pillow, her voice muffled and strutting. "I-I... I mean, there's... love too."

Aarti chuckled softly, walking over to her bedside table. "And who says there's no love in the real world?" She struck a match and kindled a small diya, perched on her bedside table. The flame bloomed, casting a warm golden halo. Aarti's gaze lingered on it as she spoke, her voice soft and tender.

"There's love in the way your baba looks at you when you're sick. In the way your little sister sneaks those books to you. The way I tuck you in at night. Boa ji saving you an extra gulab jamun. Even in the fond smiles of the servants. It's all around you, milady... And none of it needs unicorns... Or beautiful men."

Aarohi's eyes softened as she clutched her pillow tightly. "Hehe... yeah. You've always taken care of me... loved me..." Her voice grew faint, carrying a quiet ache. "...especially after Mom's death. I don't think I could ever repay that." 

"You don't need to, milady. It's our joy— and it always will be!" Aarti smiled softly as she sat beside her on the bed, the morning sunlight catching the playful sparkle in her eyes. "Let me tell you a secret, okay? Do you know why you can't see any fairies in the real world?"

Aarohi chuckled softly, a hint of knowing in her smile. "Why?"

"Because..." Aarti grinned, "we already have one sitting right here, hiding behind her pillow."

Aarohi giggled softly. "Me?... Haha, no. I'm no fairy, Aarti." 

If I had been a fairy... I-I could have saved Mom. I could have protected her instead of watching her protect me. 

Clutching the pillow close, Aarohi's gaze drifted towards her wardrobe mirror, lingering as if its reflection showed her truer than the world ever did. 

Haha, I'm no fairy. I'm... I'm just a fragile girl. Caged. Sickly. Carrying the weight of a love I never deserved... With this weak body that falls sick at the smallest things... I've done nothing but trouble everyone. And yet... why? Why do you all still love me this much? 

Aarti smiled, noticing her quiet pause. She didn't need words; just a glance was enough to know what Aarohi was thinking. It'd been eleven years, after all, since she'd come to live with them. And though she was only a year older, she often felt she understood Aarohi's heart more than her own. 

"Milady..." Aarti called out softly. 

"Ah, yeah?" Aarohi blinked, stirring from her thoughts. 

Aarti sighed. "Looks like I'm really terrible at cracking jokes, right?"

"No— no, it's not like that, Aarti," Aarohi waved her hands, flustered. "Please... believe me."

Aarti chuckled, shaking her head. "Don't worry. I was only teasing." 

"You!" Aarohi puffed her cheeks and turned away with a pout. "Hmph, I'm not talking to you for a whole day!"

Aarti laughed softly. With a fond smile, she reached over and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Aarohi's ear. 

"No fairy, huh? Try telling that to the guests waiting downstairs. They've been buzzing about how pretty and smart you are. And your grandma? As always, she couldn't even stop herself from bragging about you." Aarti paused, her lips curving into a teasing smirk. "...As for your little sister... well..."

At the mention of her sister, Aarohi stirred, her wide eyes seeking Aarti's. "Wait—don't tell me—Ananya's here?! Back already?"

Aarti only grinned wider, clearly enjoying Aarohi's reaction. "Hehe, yup! Back and fuming!"