𝑰𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 (previously Vaidehi) ✎

[7]

This chapter is dedicated to AasritaMaaYa and gia9018 ♥️

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Maneka's POV

I was finally going to receive the news. The news I'd been waiting for since the day I first saw Raghavendra. Prince of Mewar. My first love. My only love.

When pitaji told me three days ago that he had decided to go and ask Yuvraj of Mewar's hand in marriage for me, to say I was elated would be an understatement. I had felt as if all my prayers had been answered. And they were.
Yes, it has been public knowledge that Raghavendra was betrothed to the princess of Saanchi from the last two years but my father had gotten the news from his insider sources that Radhika was in love with Saanchi's army general and her father had hence cancelled the wedding. Which meant Raghavendra was unclaimed again and a broken engagement is a shame to any royal family so it's obvious Mewar would be looking for a replacement quickly. Which meant I finally had a chance to fulfil my wishes.

Right now with a calculated smile my father sat in front of me. He had just returned from Mewar and the chances were high that he had brought good news. I mean afterall what reason was there for King of Mewar to reject my father's proposal. I belonged from a good kingdom, good family, it was a good alliance. Except in my dreamland I might have missed when my father said the words. The words that should have never been uttered.

"Unfortunately, Yuvraj's wedding has been fixed with the second princess of Saanchi. He sent his deepest regret on not being able to go through with our alliance. But what can we do. I guess our next good bet is accepting the Yuvraj of Talya's proposal. He will be just as good a match for you not to mention their-"

Second princess of Saanchi? When did saanchi get a second princess?
"Excuse me, pitaji. But what do you mean second princess? I thought the King of Saanchi only had one daughter."

My father nods. He takes a sip from the glass in his hand and sighs.
"It's his illegitimate child. Nobody knew of it. I have to give it to him he's hidden it too well."

The way my father says illegitimate child is as if he is discussing the weather. Monotonous. But the word is blasting in my eardrums repeatedly. Illegitimate child? Raghavendra's marriage is being fixed with an illegitimate child? What the hell does that even mean? How can a Yuvraj marry such a girl? She will never have honour in society, she could never be queen.

"But Pitaji how can a Yuvraj of such a great kingdom marry such a....such a girl? What will happen to their Kingdom's honour?" My voice is rising octaves. My hands are shaking with disbelief and my brain, my brain still cannot seem to comprehend such a news. This can't be real.

"What are you saying Maneka? It's not the first time a king is getting his illegitimate child wedded to a man of higher order. It has happened many a times. Your own maternal uncle recently got his illegitimate son wedded to that Princess right...what was her name...." He takes another sip

"Heera bai of Mesya." I complete for him. He nods.

"Yes her. Anyways what is surprising is that Pratap kept it hidden for so long only to bring her out so suddenly. It's like asking for a scandal. But he'll work it out. Its none of our business. Let's come back to the Yuvraj of Talya shall we, I will send him the invitation to join us here in Narwara next week and let's get the proposal finalised....."

I see his lips moving but none of his words register. The walls of my father's study room seem to be closing in on me as reality sets in. Raghavendra is gone for good. I'll never get to have him and some worth nothing illegitimate princess who is obviously not good enough for him will be his wife.

"I will not marry the Yuvraj of Talya." I announce. My voice is hoarse from holding back tears. My father raises his eyes holding me under his stare. I have been taught to never talk back to my elders and to keep my opinions and disagreements to myself, so it's very unlike me to say anything against my father. But today is different. Today it's not about me, it's about Raghavendra.

"What was that, Maneka?" He pours himself a new drink, the sound of liquid hitting the base of the glass echos in the room. His sharp tone makes me lower my voice but yet I repeat the words.
"I will not marry the Yuvraj of Talya."

Pitaji loudly bangs the glass on the table. "I don't remember asking you. I was just letting you know of my plans. No one said you have a say in it. Besides what do you even mean you don't want marry him, what else option do you have? Would you rather marry some servant or a prince of an unimportant kingdom which is going to be slurped by the Delhi sultanate any second? Or even better, marry one of those old and balding Kings who've had their eyes on since you were five. Because that's where your options end."

I scrunch my nose in disgust at such specific description by my father. He isn't wrong ofcourse. But there's only one person I want to marry. He's the only one I've wanted to be married to.
"Please, Pitaji, talk to King Shivraj once again. It won't be a surprise if his son marries two woman. So many Yuvraj do that to secure a heir in the future."

My father rolls his eyes at my pleading. "I am not going to beg at Shivraj's feet for accepting our alliance, Maneka. Have you lost it? Why are you so hell bent on marrying that boy, anyway. Yuvraj of Talya is just as good."

I shake my head. "Pitaji look.....it's Mewar. And our kingdom is in decline, Pitaji. We both know. Our harvest has been terrible for the last five-six years. Our people are dying. We need all the help we can get and there is nothing better than tying an alliance with Mewar in that respect."

My father ponders over my words and drops onto his easychair.
"It's not like I am not aware of the facts. But there's no way I am going to beg in front of Shivraj. I am sorry."

My heart drops. There's nothing more to say and my father doesn't leave any room for me to say anything either because he dismisses me to my room.
"I'll speak to the King of Talya today only and get this over with. You are going to marry Samay Pratap Rana of Talya whether you like it or not."

I bang the door of his study on my way out. This can not be happening to me. Please Ganapati bappa.

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A/n:
Heyyy sweetasses. Long time no see (I know I know I only have myself to blame for that but forgive me). Hope you enjoyed the update, lmk your thoughts on it.
I'll try to make the next update sooner i swear i want to be a good author and update regularly but the only thing you have to blame for my irregular updates is my college so please pray that my college starts going easy on me and leaves me enough free time so i can write, Yeah?