Author's POV

The wind carried dust as the temple bells of Mehramgarh for the morning ritual. A lone rider appeared on the horizon, cloaked in white, face hidden beneath a cotton turban. The rider’s horse was whiter than the clothes with big black spot on its side profile.

After coming inside the palace gates the speed of the rider’s horse declined and entered in the stable. The rider climbed down from the horse and the stable boy fed the hay to him. As the unknown rider was caressing the horse, the anklet voice from behind kept increasing till the voice of a female could be heard.

“Maithili, Queen Mother is asking for you.” Niyati said,

The unknown rider took off the cloth hiding her face and the delicate feature could be seen now. She nodded the stable attendant and he took Keshi back into the stable room.

On the way to the room, Maithili and Niyati could only hear some non sensical voice until they went near the huge door, their feet stopped.

“Someone proposed marriage to you.” Niyati whispered beside her ear teasingly.

Maithili was still listening to their discussion when she felt a presence behind so she turned and jumped a little as it was her elder brother.

“Got scared.” He said teasingly

“Bhaisa!!!” She said while caressing her heart a little

“Bhot aasani se darr jati h app.”

“You get scared very easy.” He said while laughing when he cried a little in pain. He turned angrily but his eyes softened at the site, it was his son in his mother’s hand.

However, the site was funny for everyone around. Maithili came close to her nephew and grab him in her own arms and spoke

“See, my little prince is so filial, you were teasing me so he took my revenge.”

Everyone laughed.

Seen the commotion outside, people inside noticed and the door opened a maid came out and bowed “King has asked for all of you inside.”

They went inside and saw the King in middle of three queens as per the courtesy they greeted the elders.

“You are Maithili, come sit beside me.” Queen Mother said

Therefore, Maithili sat between the Queen Mother and King, while her three elder brother was sitting in their seats respectively.

There was a heavy silence in the room and everyone could feel it but no one voiced the obvious.

Crown Prince named Uttar Dev Singh was first to break silence “Maa - Bapusa is there anything that is bothering you to call us all so early in the morning.

After this sentence the thickness in the atmosphere hardened.

“Bapu sa, if there is anything I can do to solve your problem, then please tell me.” Maithili said softly

Her father looked at her fondly “Maithili, as a father it is very hard for me to say this but as the King it is my duty to do anything in my power so my people can live in peace. I am sure you already know this but currently our power has weakened with constant fights with our enemies. The soldiers are tired, ministers are scared and the wealth has declined in our kingdom.”

Everyone remained silent.

“Our ministry has constantly thought about this situation and have concluded to extend a friendly gesture toward Kaushalgarh kingdom.”

“What did they say?” second brother named Gaurav Dev Singh asked bitterly.

The King sucked the air around him and said “Today, they send their reply.” Glanced at the maid to forward the letter to his eldest son.

He read it and his body stiffened seeing his expression the third brother named Virendra Singh stood from his seat and took the letter from him. He read aloud and the face of everyone fell.

This time the first to break silence was second Queen “Maithili, don’t worry about it your father will deal with himself.”

“How could they can even say such suggestion; do they want my sister to follow the path of my aunt?” Gaurav fumed in anger.

“Gaurav, stay calm.” Uttar said

“How can I stay calm Bhaisa? They asked the hand of Maithili for their Crown Prince. Do you know how merciless he is? I saw. I saw him slitting the throat of our soldiers mercilessly.”

“You were in a war-.” Virendra was about to complete the sentence when Maithili stood up.

“Humari Haan Hain.”

“I am saying yes.” She said and everyone eyes widened instantly

“No, what are you talking about?” the Queen stood and grasped her hands tightly, slowly everyone stood up

Before they could say anything, Maithili spoke “You all have always prioritized my wishes above everything and this is what I want if marrying someone can be solution to Kingdom’s condition then I am ready to marry.”

She glanced at her father and hold his hands “Pitaji, you just send the letter to Kaushalgarh stating that you have agreed for this marriage.”

Her elder brother shook his head and spoke “You don’t have to sacrifice yourself for the Kingdom Maithili.”

“I am not sacrificing myself Bade Bhaisa, I agreed after consideration.”

“What did you consider?” her father finally spoke

“About what you said, about what everyone said, its true that our Kingdom’s condition is declining everywhere I glanced while riding Keshi were the injured soldiers from last war, some were injured to the point of death, some lost a part of their body. I have neither agreed for the Kingdom nor for the empty treasury but because of our people. Bapusa I am the Princess of Mehramgarh, even though fighting in the battlefield is not allowed for me but in this way, I can fight for these people, for our people.”

“If this marriage can help them even a little and can provide a little peace to them then I will be happy. I will feel that I have won a battle.”

No one knew if they feel proud of her or worry about her.

However, to honor her words they reluctantly agreed to this marriage.

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Author's Thoughts

P.S- What the hell, how can she just agree to this? This can only happen in fiction. If I was in her position then I would have just fled from this? ;p

Family tree of Mehramgarh family chart (Year 1359)

Thank you for reading. I will try to upload next chapter soon.

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