𝑰𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 (previously Vaidehi) ✎

[18]

That evening we are all called upon to the royal hall for a family dinner. It would be my first time having a collective dinner with the whole family and the important ministers.

The Puja was a long but successful event. The Panditji also made some minor predictions about our future together and now more than ever I feel content.
At least in the near future my life seems perfect.
And currently I am getting changed for the dinner.

"Do I look fine? Do you think I should-" I am harshly cut off by Aditi who is tired of my nerves.

"Vaidehi! You look perfect. You don't have to do anything more now okay? So please stop stressing and just go with flow and dazzle them, yeah?"

I chew on my lip nervously and nod. She is right. I need to get it together.
There  is a sudden knock on the door and Aditi answers it. A maiden stands there, her hands clasped together. 
"The queen has requested for Rajkumari's presence at the table, miss."

Aditi nods excitedly and tells her I will be down in a minute before the maiden leaves.
"Alright now it's time!" She grabs my hands and pulls me with her. We practically float down the stairs with how fast she is making me walk.

The hallway gates are wide open, my presence is announced and I am pushed in by Aditi. Everyone stands to acknowledge me and I am directed to take a seat beside Raghavendra, who is smiling gently.

"You look gorgeous." He whispers in my ear. I bite my lip , thanking him.

"He is right, you look beautiful, Vaidehi." The queen adds. My cheeks grow hot when I realise she heard him, Raghavendra chuckles and his mother smiles.
"Thank you, Maa."
After I complete the sentence, the king clears his throat, drawing attention to himself. 
He is sitting at the head of the table, on his right side the seat is occupied by the queen and on the left side it's Raghavendra, followed by me and other important ministers on the side. On the queen's side however, the rest of the seats are occupied by relatives.

"Lets all make a toast to the new addition in our family. The daughter in law of Mewar, and our future queen someday. To Vaidehi!" Raghavendra's father announces, raising his glass. The others follow, singing a chorus of "Here here".

After that everyone starts digging into the food. There are low murmurs of conversation even as we eat, the queen herself looks busy chatting up a distant female relative.
"So my beautiful wife....how was your day today?" Raghavendra asks, drawing my attention to him.

"Its not like you have any time for me at all. So I have to keep busy doing mundane things...huh...." I sigh dramatically. Raghavendra chuckles.

"About that...I have a surprise for you..." he starts.

"Surprise?" I ask.

"Tommorrow we will be going to visit the kuldevi temple just a few hours away. So we will leave early morning and and we'll be spending one night there."

"Ohh! Oh my god! So I have to pack and all that and-" Raghavendra silences me.
"All of that has been taken care of. Your maidens were informed earlier today, your highness."

I roll my eyes at his addresal of me but a smile makes its way somehow.

_______________

We reach the kuldevi temple in afternoon. The darshan is an elaborate process and probably takes us over one hour to get done with the entire thing and then we are invited to sit with the other common people during lunch.

Me and Raghavendra are the last to arrive at the food hall, where too many people to count, are seated on the floor with a copper plates in front of them. Two empty bowls waiting to be filled rest on the plate as well.
The panditji announces are presence and everyone's surprised smile takes over their faces. They start to rise up but just then Raghavendra urges them to be seated.