Cittaja || Indian Historical Romance

29.

The one things about Shakra that strikes out is his ability to stick out from the whole lot of people who gather around. An important part of being a King is the ability to be recognized as one whether he wears the crown or not. Giving the air of being the Lord.

Shakra knew exactly how to show off.

His battle elephant, Vijaya, was decorated brilliantly. Decorations that didn't irritate the elephant. No mahout sat over the elephant. He was the only one who sat on it. The control that he has over the elephant was unmatched. It knew how to understand the command of the owner sitting over the top of him.

When Kalika Empire's cavalry reached the palace of Krishneri, everyone in the fort was waiting at the gate to have one look at the Prince. It was needless to say that Shakra's face wasn't matched by his violent tendency. He looked really pretty for someone who could kill in a heartbeat. It takes a single signal from Shatrujit and he will start bloodshed within the room without a sweat.

Shatrujit has made a list of ministers or officials who had betrayed the motto of the Kingdom to never hurt innocent people of the Empire, he brought them all into a room, he sat in the room with Shakra and Manas among them.

When he deemed the moment to be right, Shatrujit signalled Shakra with a single finger. Once Shakra unsheathed the knife, it unleashed death around the place. Shatrujit just sat on his throne without a word and unflinching with the bloodspill. The walls and the floor were splashed with blood. The room resounded with screams. Shatrujit exited the room in pristine form without a single wrinkle in his outfit. Behind him, Shakra and Manas exited covered in blood making seven or eight servants faint with fear.

The Palace of Krishneri welcome Shakra grandly.

Kalika Empire specialized with textiles and ornaments. Hence, the royal family wore brilliant fashion. The painted muslin cloth was embroidered exquisitely. Shakra's blue dhoti was a colour made from Neeli. His favourite colour.

Past the royal palace's gates, at the entrance of the palace, the royal family of Krishneri stood to welcome him. Shakra couldn't tell if it was a pure coincidence or it was meaningful but Mayurakshi stood in a similar blue outfit. Regardless, he loved it. She was quite beautiful in the colour. It glistened over her dark skin. Her eyes captivated him completely. The raw camphor used to made decorating designs over her eyes.

The welcome rituals were finished by Yuvika and her mother. Mayurakshi stood in background. She didn't even dare to look into his eyes. She either kept looking away or kept talking to her maids. Standing next to her was Jaivanta.

"I hope that you find Krishneri to be a wonderful trip." Gokula said.

Shakra chuckled, "I am sure that it will be, Maharaj." That earned a look from Mayurakshi. If there was a woman who can decode his meanings, she had to be her.

She turned around and walked inside with Jaivanta and Madhav Rao. Shakra was led inside soon.

"Accept my congratulations on your wedding, Rajkumar Adhiman." Shakra greeted Adhiman.

He grinned, "I suppose that it is time for you to get married too then." Yuvika giggled and blushed.

"Of course, the day I have my bride, I will definitely running towards the altar." Shakra laughed.

"Since, you are here, I have decided a brilliant party for you tonight. Rest up a bit and have some refreshment." Adhiman's grin was enough to tell Shakra what party was set up.

"All of us women will be participating in Henna ceremony." Yuvika informed him. Shakra nodded curteously. He couldn't care much about the other women.

When the evening fell into the night, Shakra arrived at the room where party had began. Karma followed behind him. "Umm, are you sure you want her around the whole time?" Adhiman asked with a suggestive grin. Shakra grinned back.

"Of course, a man doesn't always be careful about his safety. So, she always stays around me for my safety."

"Isn't Manas the one who makes sure of your safety?"

Shakra laughed, "They're all mostly employed to keep me out of legal trouble at the court later when I end up killing someone. If I'm attacked, they need to start hiring people to safeguard them because I will hunt them down and kill them."

The laughter wiped the grin off Adhiman's face. Shakra sat down at the seat set for him. Every other Prince in the hall stood up in respect for him. Most of them were either vassals of Kalika Empire or allies. Some enemies were there but they were always vary of him.

Adhiman clicked his fingers and the party began.

Rekha entered the room with her dance routine. Behind her four dancers followed. Rekha was a beautiful without a doubt. She passed him a flirty smile and Shakra responded with a brilliant smile. Although Rekha was aware of his love for Mayurakshi, she maintained the act of playing coy with him. She couldn't risk seeming familiar with him.

Adhiman, thinking that he was owner of Rekha's attention tried to make sure her attention was focused on him.

Shakra noticed Jaivanta in the room. He was speaking to some Princes. Shakra approached Jaivanta while Adhiman was busy with Rekha.

"Greetings Prince." Shakra greeted him. Jaivanta respectfully greeted him back. He was young boy freshly out of his Gurukul. He hadn't even properly began growing a beard but had a few battle scars here and there. The way Jaivanta carried himself, Shakra knew that the boy was a brilliant soldier. His spine was up-straight and he gave out the braveness of a wolf. The Beta of the pack but not quite the aggresive alpha.

"Greetings, Yuvraj. I hope Krishneri is treating you well." He smiled.

Shakra smiled back, "Oh, it seems to be going well."

It was impossible that Jaivanta hadn't heard of Shakra's interest in Mayurakshi before. He couldn't so uninformed but his lack of questioning in that matter pointed Shakra into questions. Jaivanta gave out the aura of the protective little brother unlike what Adhiman behaved liked. Not even once did Jaivanta's eyes fall on the women around. He stood like soldier on work who couldn't be distracted.

"But I feel like I'm still waiting for something more..." Shakra decided to bait Jaivanta.

"Something more? I suppose that Rekha isn't as enticing to you." Shakra chuckled at the response.

"Well, my attention is not at the woman that your brother is philandering with before his wedding. It is caught by a certain Princess."

Jaivanta didn't take the bait. Shakra would give a point for control. "I am not surprised. Princesses are a respectable choice for marriage. Rajkumari Valli is surely a lovely bride." Jaivanta answered.

He couldn't help the grin on his face. Mayurakshi trained the boy for any conversation he could have with the Prince of Kalika Empire. The confidence of the answer that he threw with that tiny little cockiness was a sign of it.

"If you've heard the rumours about Valli, you must have heard the rumours about Mayurakshi."

Jaivanta just smiled, "I know them to be baseless rumours so I don't care much for it. I hear for a fact that Yuvraj Aadhitya reaching out to my Uncle the day he arrived."

Shakra almost appreciated the training he received from the Princess of Krishneri. She knew exactly what answer will get him off or ward off the attention to the next person.

Shakra looked straight into Jaivanta and played his cards out on the table, "Aadhitya can try all he wants to I will take Mayurakshi back with me to Ambikapuram. I will have her as my wife."

Jaivanta looked at him, slightly doubtful but not provoked.

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