“Ashok.”
The prince and princess looked up. At the door, the King, Queen, and the three other princes stood, watching them. Dhara, cheeks flushed and eyes still partly closed, looked as though she and Ashok were engaged in some private, intimate moment. They all felt an awkward pang of guilt at witnessing it.
Faced with so many onlookers, Dhara’s blush deepened. The color on her dress traced the outline of Ashok’s hands along her body, even across her chest. She looked down, mortified.
Unbothered by their proximity, Ashok addressed his family calmly. “What a pleasant surprise, Mother. Please, come in.”
“We’re here too, brother,” the youngest, Ayae, said cheerfully.
As the fourth child, his antics often went unnoticed by Ashok, who cherished his younger brothers despite their teasing.
