They didn't move for a while.
The world outside the palace continued as always—
voices, footsteps, distant echoes of life—
but here—
everything felt still.
Mira's head rested lightly against his shoulder.
Aditya stood there, unmoving.
Not because he didn't know what to do—
but because for once—
he didn't feel the need to do anything.
"…you're quiet," she murmured.
"…so are you."
A faint breath of a laugh escaped her.
"…this is different."
He didn't ask what she meant.
Because he felt it too.
Not like the battlefield.
Not like the silence before something broke.
This was… steady.
"…I don't want this to disappear," she said softly.
The words came without hesitation this time.
Aditya's gaze lowered slightly.
"…it won't."
"…you don't know that."
"…I know I don't want it to."
That—
was enough for now.
Mira shifted slightly.
Just enough to look up at him.
"…that's better."
"…what is?"
"…you answering honestly."
A small pause.
"…you should do that more."
He almost smiled again.
"…I'll try."
She pulled back slowly.
Not far.
Just enough to look at him properly.
"…so what now?"
The question wasn't about the moment.
It was about everything.
Aditya thought for a second.
"…now…"
He looked past her.
Through the open hall.
Through the world beyond.
"…I stay."
Her expression didn't change immediately.
Then—
a small, quiet relief passed through it.
"…good."
A pause.
"…for how long?"
He didn't answer right away.
Because that part—
he didn't know.
"…long enough."
Mira studied him for a moment.
"…I'll take that."
The tension between them eased slightly.
Not gone—
but softer.
Real.
She stepped away fully this time.
"…come on."
"…where?"
"…you said you'd stay."
She turned, walking ahead.
"…so act like it."
Aditya followed.
The palace corridors felt different now.
Not heavy.
Not watching.
Just… part of the world again.
As they stepped outside—
the evening had deepened.
Lamps lit across the streets.
Warm light replacing the fading sun.
People still noticed them.
But this time—
no one moved away.
A few even nodded.
Some smiled.
Not out of obligation.
Out of recognition.
Mira noticed.
"…see?"
Aditya looked around.
"…yeah."
"…you're part of it now."
He didn't respond immediately.
Because the words—
carried weight.
"…I think I always was."
Mira glanced at him.
"…you just didn't let yourself be."
They walked side by side.
Not holding hands this time.
Not needing to.
Because the distance between them—
was already gone.
"…Aditya."
"…what?"
"…when you remember everything…"
A small pause.
"…will you still be like this?"
He slowed slightly.
Not stopping.
Just… thinking.
"…I don't know."
Honest.
Mira nodded.
"…then don't rush it."
She looked ahead.
"…some things don't need to be remembered all at once."
A pause.
"…some things are better built slowly."
He looked at her.
"…like this?"
She smiled faintly.
"…exactly like this."
The night settled around them.
Soft.
Uncertain.
But no longer empty.
And somewhere deep within him—
the past still waited.
Still called.
But now—
it had something to compete with.
Something real.
Something present.
Something he wasn't ready to lose.