Elsa's POV

As my feet touched the cool tile floor, I couldn't help but smile. Despite everything, I felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted from my chest. Today, however, was a new day. A fresh start.

Alice was already awake, sitting cross-legged at the small table by the window, sipping tea and scrolling through her phone. She looked up as I stretched again, her eyes glinting with amusement.

"Morning, Sleeping Beauty," she teased. "Finally! I thought you were going to sleep the whole day away."

I yawned and stretched. "I needed it after yesterday. So, what's the plan for-" She continued her blabbering.

"I was beginning to think I'd have to eat breakfast without you."

I rolled my eyes, heading towards the bathroom. "Give me five minutes. I'll be ready. Don't you dare touch that food. But what are we having today?"

"I was thinking we should have a real, authentic Udaipur breakfast," Alice said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "And then maybe check out one of the palaces nearby. What do you think?" 

My stomach growled in response. "Authentic breakfast sounds perfect," I said while entering the bathroom.

We dressed quickly and headed down to the small café attached to our hotel. The smell of freshly prepared food made my mouth water as soon as we stepped in. I glanced around at the colourful display of local dishes.

As the server placed the food in front of us, my mouth watered. For breakfast, we ordered poha — a light and savoury flattened rice dish mixed with spices, onions, and crunchy peanuts. It was topped with fresh coriander and a squeeze of lime, the kind of dish that made your taste buds sing. We also tried dal baati churma, a traditional Rajasthani dish with round wheat flour balls baked until crispy and served with lentils and a side of sweet, crumbly churma. Alongside it was a tall glass of lassi, thick and creamy, with a hint of saffron.

"Wow, this looks amazing," Alice said, eyeing the food.

"Dig in!" I grinned, already reaching for a piece of kachori.

As we ate, savouring every bite, I felt a sense of contentment. There was something about the simplicity of the moment — the food, the warmth of the sun, and the gentle clatter of cutlery around us — that made me feel grounded and present.

"What's the plan for today?" Alice asked between bites of poha.

"I was thinking we could visit that old palace near here. I read about it last night; apparently, it's over 400 years old. The architecture is supposed to be stunning, and it's got a lot of history."

Alice nodded enthusiastically. "I'm in! Let's explore it."

By mid-morning, we found ourselves standing in front of the palace, one that was tucked away amidst the ancient streets, its grandeur taking my breath away. The stone structure rose high above us, its intricate carvings and archways showcasing a blend of Mughal and Rajput styles. Our guide, an elderly man with a soft, weathered voice, led us through narrow alleys lined with old, crumbling stone houses until we reached the palace entrance and began to share the palace's story.

"This palace," he began, gesturing to the ornate columns, "was built in the late 16th century by Maharana Udai Singh II. It was meant to be a fortress, but over time, it became a residence for the royal family. The architecture reflects the fusion of two great dynasties — the Mughals and the Rajputs. You can see the fine details in the marble work here..."

As the guide continued his explanation, I found myself drawn into the history, imagining what life might have been like within these walls centuries ago. The courtyards, once filled with the laughter of royal children and the murmur of political conversations, now stood quiet, echoing only with the footsteps of tourists like us.

Alice and I listened intently as we wandered through the halls. The guide pointed out murals that adorned the walls, depicting scenes of battles, royal processions, and vibrant celebrations. As I walked through the corridors, I couldn't help but imagine the lives that once filled these spaces — kings, queens, and courtiers moving through their day-to-day lives, unaware that centuries later, people like me would stand here, marvelling at their world.

We wandered through rooms adorned with faded tapestries, past courtyards with intricately designed fountains, and up narrow staircases that led to terraces overlooking the city. The view was stunning — Udaipur stretched out before us, with its glittering lakes and hilly terrain. It was easy to lose myself in the beauty and the history of the place.

The palace tour took longer than I expected. By the time we finished, it was nearly afternoon, and the sun hung heavily in the sky. We decided to head to the market for some shopping and exploring. There was still so much of Udaipur left to discover.

As we walked through the bustling marketplace, the air was thick with the scent of spices, incense, and fresh flowers. Vendors shouted out their wares, hoping to draw tourists into their stalls, and the streets were alive with the energy of people moving about. I couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed.

"I still can't believe we're here," Alice mused again for the nth time as she looked around, her eyes wide with fascination.

"Neither can I," I admitted. "It feels... surreal."

As we wandered through the crowds, I found myself occasionally glancing over my shoulder, an odd sensation creeping up on me. It wasn't the first time I felt this, a strange feeling like someone was watching me. But every time I turned, I saw nothing out of the ordinary, just the usual throng of people going about their day. I shook it off, trying to focus on the present, but it was persistent, like an itch I couldn't scratch.

"Elsa, you alright?" Alice asked, glancing at me after noticing me distracted.

I nodded, not wanting to worry her, but the words tumbled out before I could stop them. "It's just... I feel like someone's been watching me."

Alice raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious? Maybe it's that royal paranoia kicking in."

I laughed, but the feeling lingered. It wasn't just paranoia — it was a subtle, nagging awareness that I couldn't shake. "No, I mean, it's probably nothing, but it's just weird."

Alice leaned closer, her voice dropping into a playful whisper. "Maybe it's some secret admirer who's been following you around since yesterday."

I rolled my eyes, but her words made me feel a little lighter. "You're ridiculous."

"But let's keep an eye out, okay? If you really think something's up, we'll deal with it. Don't worry." She said with a nod.

Her words brought me some comfort, and I nodded in agreement. As we continued walking, I felt a sudden, firm brush against my shoulder. I stumbled slightly, regaining my balance just as the man who had bumped into me kept walking, not even bothering to acknowledge the collision. My irritation flared, and before I could stop myself, I reached out and grabbed his arm.

"Excuse me!" I blurted, glaring at his back. "My goodness! Who do you think you are? No. Firstly, WHO ARE YOU? No, sorry, whatsoever?

The man turned slowly, and as he did, a slow, cocky smile spread across his face. He was tall, with an easy swagger that made my blood boil even more. Then he said, "Your future HUSBAND, WIFEY." making me shocked at this statement of his. 

Still ignoring I said, "I'm saying a sorry would have been better but no instead you're trying to flirt?" getting irritated with him.

"Sorry?" he drawled, his voice deep and teasing. "Why would I apologize to my future wife?"

I blinked, completely taken aback by his words, AGAIN! For a second, I thought I had misheard him. "What did you just say?"

His grin widened. "You heard me. Wifey."

Heat crept up my neck, a mixture of disbelief and fury. "Wifey? Who do you think you are?"

"Your future husband, of course," he replied, his voice rich with amusement. "I mean, destiny clearly brought us together."

I opened my mouth to retort, but I was too stunned to come up with a response. This guy was seriously flirting with me — in the middle of the market, after brushing past me like I didn't even exist! Before I could gather my thoughts, Alice stepped in grabbed my arm and pulled me away, her face a mixture of amusement and sensing that this could go on forever.

"Okay, okay, Romeo," she said, grabbing my arm and steering me away. "Let's go before this turns into a full-blown rom-com scene." while stifling a laugh as we moved quickly through the crowd.

The guy chuckled as we walked away, his laughter following us through the crowd. I fumed silently, trying to process what had just happened.

I was too flustered to protest, but once we were far enough away, Alice glanced at me, her eyes twinkling with suppressed laughter. "So, 'wifey,' care to explain what just happened back there?"

I groaned, my face still hot with embarrassment. "Don't you dare start."

"Too late." She giggled. "That was priceless. I've never seen you so flustered before."

I crossed my arms, trying to regain some semblance of composure. "It's just... I didn't even get a good look at his face. The lighting was weird. But I swear if I see him again—"

"You'll teach him a lesson?" Alice finished, barely containing her laughter. "Come on, Elsa. Admit it. He got under your skin."

"Only because he was so... ugh!" I threw my hands up in frustration. "Who does that? Calling me 'wifey' out of nowhere. And that smirk! I swear—"

"You've talked about him more than you've talked about why we came to Udaipur in the first place," Alice teased, nudging me.

I stopped mid-rant, realizing she was right. My cheeks burned even more, but I quickly shrugged it off. "Okay, fine. He was annoying. But that doesn't mean—"

Alice grinned mischievously. "You're right. He was annoying. Annoyingly cute, you mean."

I nearly choked on my drink at her comment. "Excuse me?"

Before I could retort, a disgusting voice from behind interrupted us. "Hey, beautiful, how about you leave your little friend here and come spend some time with us instead?"

Alice and I turned around in unison, our expressions shifting from surprise to utter disdain. A group of men stood there, leering at us with smug looks on their faces. One of them grinned wickedly and muttered something crude under his breath, making the others snicker. My fists clenched at my sides as I locked eyes with the one who had spoken.

My blood boiled instantly, and I could see Alice bristling beside me. The audacity of these men to make such disgusting comments in broad daylight...

"You can do this Elsa," I said to myself before looking at those disgusting men.

"Did you just say something?" I asked, my voice dangerously low.

The man chuckled, clearly enjoying the reaction. "I said, why don't you ditch her and—"

"I heard you the first time," I cut him off sharply. "I just wanted to make sure you realized how pathetic you sound."

Alice chimed in, her voice equally cutting. "Seriously, we didn't come all this way to be harassed by idiots like you. Get a life."

The man's face darkened, not expecting us to bite back so fiercely but before he could respond, I leaned in slightly, my voice calm but ice-cold. "Do yourself a favour and walk away. You're not worth our time."

For a second, he looked like he might retaliate, but something in my tone — or perhaps the fact that we were drawing the attention of other people in the market — made him think twice. One of them muttered something under his breath again, but the warning in their eyes was enough to send a chill down my spine. There was something about the way they looked at us, something dark and unsettling.

As they walked away, one of them turned back, his eyes lingering on us for a moment longer than necessary. "You'd better watch yourselves," he warned, his voice filled with malice. "This isn't over."

A shiver ran down my spine at his words, but I refused to show any fear. I straightened up, meeting his gaze head-on. "It was over the moment you opened your mouth."

But we didn't linger. Alice and I walked away, leaving the tension of the encounter behind us. But as we made our way back to the hotel through the marketplace, I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that settled in the pit of my stomach — that something was wrong — that the events of today were only the beginning of something much bigger. Despite our confident words, there was something about the encounter that left me feeling vulnerable. But I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the sounds of the market and the feeling of Alice's presence beside me. We would be fine. I had to believe that

Nearing the hotel when I thought we were safe but that feeling of being watched? It was back, stronger than ever.

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Until next time!