Rama took his time before answering, because the question deserved more than reflex, and because Ardhana had waited an entire audience to earn the right to hear something real.
"Both," he said finally. "I won't insult you by claiming otherwise, Your Majesty. I could be a danger to Swarnabhumi. I could be a danger to any kingdom I stood inside of, if circumstances turned me that direction. But I have no interest in that direction, and everything I did at Tirtayasa was spent protecting people who owed me nothing, at cost to myself I didn't have to accept."
"Words are inexpensive, traveler."
"They are. So judge me by what comes after them instead." Rama held the king's gaze steadily. "I'm not asking you to trust a claim. I'm asking you to let me prove it, the same way I proved it to a village that had every reason to fear me and chose gratitude instead."
