Unfortunately, this perseverance made the second queen believe that her husband would live forever. Moreover, after he supposedly 'let Vajradhaara die', the king was especially harsh towards the little prince. He was even unwilling to let him ascend to the role of Yuvaraja. Unfortunately, the courtiers pressured him to do so. But that didn't meant, it didn't give the woman who graced the Indra's bedchambers a ray of hope. She believed he would overlook her transgressions sooner rather than later and remove Vajrandandaka from the position, letting Hayagriva ascend instead. According to legend, Indra was also lusty and was easily swayed by passions. The second queen hoped that one of these days, her husband would also behave the same way.
Perhaps he was confused, perhaps he was actually in love with her, but the king never actually confronted the second queen regarding her role in the conspiracy. Without allegation, she automatically assumed she had been pardoned. Even as her allies fell one by one, she didn't feel any urgency to get the matter settled. The king had the prime minister publicly executed. The Rajaguru was 'encouraged' to take a trip to the desert in order to educate the barbarians. The grand prince and his family were silently assassinated at their home. They said that it was the little prince himself who slit their throats personally to avenge his eldest brother. The second queen brought him up personally, even hand feeding him rice balls when he was little. She didn't believe them when they gave her the news. Even if she did, she believed the Indra will shield her, at least until her son grows up. After her son grows up, she believed he would. Only now did she realise how complacent she was. For an instant, she saw devil in the child sitting calmly in front of her. He would surely take her life and the life of her son, maybe even her daughter at this very instant. If she didn't do something, he surely would. The second queen shuddered in realisation.
"You little motherless creature!" she cursed as she lost composure, "Your father's body is not even cold, yet you've already come for my life!"
Throwing a panicked glance towards the hallways where the commotion was getting louder, she yelled. "Leave my son alone, you devil! Are you really going to kill him? Your own brother?!"
The boy in front of her tilted his head, as though watching an amusing spectacle. The second queen saw that look in his face several times when he's looking at defendants plead their cases in court. That look usually comes just before the little devil orders an execution. She didn't think of it before, but he actually is amused by the antics of those people arguing their cases! Perhaps she really should've taught him better. Perhaps she should've taken her role of motherhood seriously. If she did, there was no way this sensitive child would think of killing her now. The second queen's belly was green with regret, but there was nothing she could do about it. It was already too late.
"Second mother, you talk too seriously. Why would I kill my own brother…I'm just going to duel with him," the boy king signaled his men to let the little prince in. Looking at the queen, he said deliberately. "You know I might even give him my position if he wins!"
Thirsting for a drop of water in the desert, the second queen fell for this deceptive mirage easily. "Ha! You'll never win! You were never good at martial arts and your body still carries residual wounds from a year ago." Since she always believed her son would grow up and protect her, the second queen naturally assumed his victory. "Hayagriva would definitely beat you to death in a duel!"
Seeing that the boy was silent, this beautiful woman twitched her neck and threw a glance at him secretly. She shuddered to see him smiling.
A man of around twenty-five to thirty silently appeared from the shadows and leaned over, whispering to Vajradandaka. This person was wearing black from head to toe, despite everyone else being in a mourning white. The second queen narrowed her eyes, instantly recognising this person as Sheesha, the assassin. Though he had been acting as a shadow guard for the prince and princesses these past few months, what this man from the Shadow clan was best known for was his silent assassination. They say that when Sheesha kills, even the dead don't know what happens. They say he has the ability to suck souls away from people just by looking at them.
Why is he here?
The commotion in the second queen's heart became greater when she looked at this dangerous looking man with ferocious eyes and lips that are set in a natural sneer.
Before she surfaced from the commotion in her heart, the boy in front of her leaned on the table and whispered in her ear. "Second mother, these past months many men who were loyal to my big brother did not submit to me. They only respected strength and I was too young to possess that strength. They even heard awful rumors about how I had no martial aptitude. So you know what I did to subdue them?"
"What?" The second queen glanced fearfully at the face of the devil that was inches close to hers.
"I dueled with them, of course…. And I killed every one of my opponents!"
"Impossible!"
The little boy grinned. "I know…But you do not know why they call Sheesha the silent assassin, do you?" he explained patiently, "It's not because he comes and goes silently without anyone knowing. It's because not even the dead will know that he killed them. Until the last moment, they'd believe they lost in a fair duel, poor things." The boy chuckled.
Stunned into silence, the second queen did not know what to say.
"Second mother, I don't want to kill second brother either. I will at most imprison him for the rest of his life or until I am satisfied by the amount of loyalty that he shows. But how will he do that unless he understands that that is your wish?" the boy pushed the bottle towards the woman once again. "Second mother, understand that I am doing this for your sake. You have until the end of the duel to decide. You know as well that I am physically weak. Second brother may turn tables very fast, so decide quickly. If I am to lose, he will certainly die."
A loud bang was heard, followed by a flurry of footsteps.
An immature voice shouted as it emerged in the pavilion. "You bastard! What are you doing to my mother? How dare you restrict me from seeing her!"
Vajradandaka immediately stood up, looking frantic. "Second brother, what are you saying?" he yelled in a childish voice. "I am only trying to talk second mother out of joining father in the funeral pyre!"
"What?!" The little prince looked at his mother in disbelief, only see her not meeting his eye. "Mother, tell me it's not true!"
"Second brother, calm down!" the boy king pleaded with an earnest look. "The two of them were so much in love…There's nothing we can do…!"