Village at the base of Nildiri Hills
"I want some information about General Dushyant. In return, you will get fifty gold coins, which are probably ten times more than your entire life earnings. Don't worry, I have no intentions to ask you about anything related to the army's secrets nor am I going to look for you again. This is a one-time event. I just want to know about his personal life. You have two minutes to make up your mind," Princess Anara made her proposal known to him boldly.
In fact, she was gambling blindly on the fact that this guy's clothes and shoes were far inferior to that of his colleague who had climbed down the hill alongside.
Princess Anara was not reconciled with the way things had ended up earlier. She was used to being not just the centre of attraction but also the most treasured person in the entire kingdom.
Who didn't know that both the emperor and the empress doted on her!
Ruthless rejection from a lowly general was hugely unpalatable but under the circumstances, she couldn't order him to be hanged to death. By the time she had calmed herself down after the confrontation, they were already on their way back to the village.
But Princess Anara couldn't and wouldn't swallow this humiliation.
Death was not enough punishment for him!
The guy needed to be taught a lesson for life. Unfortunately, she didn't have many options to work with, at the moment and hence she took a wager with this soldier.
Worse, if it didn't work out, she would go back and think of another way!
The lieutenant standing next to her swallowed nervously and cracked his fingers. It was true that he was committed to the Northern army. But, firstly, he served a different general, which meant that he didn't owe any personal loyalty to General Dushyant. His leader was General Agastya, who was going to be the next commander of the Northern army. General Dushyant, in comparison, was simply a maverick leader who had a tightly knit unit of his own. His people, just like himself, were arrogant and supercilious.
Secondly, and more importantly, his own family circumstances were really poor and the large household was solely dependent upon his military earnings. This is why he had joined the army at a very young age.
"I… I will cooperate with you but I am not much aware of the general's…"
His words were cut off by Princess Anara's raised hand.
"Go back to the camp with your lieutenant. Find out as much as you can about Dushyant in the next few hours. I don't care how you do it but there should be enough information for you to earn those coins. Meet me at the outskirts of this village tomorrow at the beginning of the first prahar," with that, she stepped away, creating a distance between them.
End of flashback
Princess Anara looked up at the cold, blue sky and emitted a ruthless smile.
'I am looking forward to your visit to Dima city, General Slayer! I have prepared a gift for you.'
Emperor's royal chambers
Dressed in a royal blue kurta and beige colored silk dhoti underneath a matching dark blue robe, Raja Indraneel gestured to the attendant on the side.
With a bow, the attendant went out and brought in the old man who had been waiting outside.
"Greetings, your highness! This subject was honoured to receive your summons," said the man and bowed with his hands folded.
This old man was ex-minister Kirtidev who had been asked to come in this morning upon receiving the emperor's orders. Kirtidev looked at the man in front of him through his lowered lashes. A few female attendants were helping Raja Indraneel take off the heavy gold crown which had the engraving of full moon encircled with expensive stones.
Raka Indraneel looked at Kirtidev and waved his hand, asking him to be at ease.
Even though Kirtidev was fairly astute, he hadn't been able to see through this monarch's thoughts despite working so closely with him over the years.
Raja Indraneel waited for the attendants to finish their task of removing the crown, and the accessories along with the heavy royal robe. By the time his lambskin shoes had been removed and his feet were soaked in the jasmine scented warm water, more than a quarter of an hour had passed already.
But Kirtidev stood on the side as unobtrusively as ever, minimising his presence in the room. He was aware that being called to this informal chamber was a benevolence of the monarch, a favour which not many received. But still his heart felt a bit uneasy at the unexpected summons.
Usually whenever the emperor had beckoned him post his retirement from the royal court, it was in a formal setting with a few other confidantes of the emperor to discuss some challenging national issues.
This was Kirtidev's first time in this chamber and he couldn't figure out the reason behind the emperor's action.
"We have made you wait," said Raja Indraneel with a slightly apologetic tone.
Kirtidev bowed again and replied. "It is the privilege of this old man to still be able to see the emperor in such close proximity. I have missed this the most after retiring from my duties."
"Take a seat, Minister. Someone come, brew the tea sent by the Southern kingdom. If We remember correctly, you were quite partial to it, Minister, that is, unless your tastes have changed now," Raja Indraneel said with a faint smile.
Kirtidev's back went cold as soon as he heard the emperor's words.
"This old man is overwhelmed with the emperor's benevolence. Begging you to forgive if this lowly one has committed any sin. This man is old and not wise enough," he bent his knees and dropped to the cold floor.
His gaze was fixed at the lion carvings on the foot of the tall marble stools which stood on either side of the small embroidered chair in the center of the room. He dared not raise his eyes any higher.
"Haha…" Raja Indraneel's laughter echoed in the chambers, causing goosebumps to erupt on the bodies of everyone present.