Kingmakers

Chapter 2

"What the hell is going on?" Emperor Kalidas thundered in his private chambers. He was present along with his two wives, Prince Yash, Prince Prabha, Princess Devayani, his trusted prime minister Basavaih, and Chiranjeevi, the former King of Amala.

"Father, I am going to marry him." Devayani said firmly.

"Are you mad?" Prabha asked.

"You are not going to marry him, Devayani." The emperor was furious now.

"I chose him. I will marry him."

Queen Revati had tears in her eyes. "Why did you do this Deva?"

"We don't have to listen to all this, Chiran. We'll leave now." Devayani pulled Chiranjeevi's hand.

"How do you even know this loser?" Prabha asked.

"We met two years ago. And don't call him a loser."

Revati looked like she was about to faint. Queen Padma didn't speak a word. She looked like she was stunned by what was happening.

"No way will I let you marry him." Prince Yash said quietly.

"What is wrong with him? I love him. And who are you to stop me? I chose my husband, and there is nothing you can do about it." Devayani had anticipated their reaction, but that didn't make it hurt less.

"What is this all about, King Chiranjeevi?" the emperor finally asked the banished king.

"It's simple, my lord. Your daughter loves me very much. I will take good care of her."

"Are you saying that you courted her?"

"Yes, I did."

"Why?" Prabha asked. There was pure rage in his eyes.

"Because she is the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on. And also, our marriage will result in great relations between our two kingdoms and will benefit both of us."

Emperor Kalidas said, "You do realize that if I cut your head now, nobody from your pathetic kingdom would be able to do anything about it, don't you?"

"You greatly underestimate my niece, your highness. She is one feisty little brat."

"Father, do I have your permission?" Prabha unsheathed his sword.

"Brother, NO." Devayani cried.

"Go ahead." It wasn't the emperor, but Queen Revati who uttered those words. "I will not sacrifice my daughter to a disgusting insect to form relations with a puny kingdom."

Prabha swung his sword, ready to behead the old man, who stood calmly, as if he had expected everything. "Brother no, stop it!"

When Prabha's sword was about to cut his head, Devayani screamed, "I'M PREGANT, STOP IT!"

The movement of the sword stopped abruptly. It was illegal to kill the father of an unborn child. Queen Revati gasped. "What are you saying?"

"I am three months pregnant, mother."

Her father put his hands on his head. Nothing made any sense. Everything was going to go down the drain now. All of the reputation and respect he had earned over the years; nothing would be enough to save him from this. What are people going to say? How could a princess get pregnant before she's married?

"Son of a b*tch." Prabha looked at the man standing before him with anger and disgust. Prince Yash punched Chiranjeevi's nose.

"Just because I can't kill you doesn't mean I can't hurt you."

Queen Padma checked Devayani's pulse. "Yes, she is pregnant."

"What are we going to do now?" Queen Revati wailed on the floor.

"We have to get them married." The emperor finally spoke. "There is nothing we can do about it. They need to get married before the news of her pregnancy leaks out."

None of them could say anything against that. The emperor's word was the final. Also, what he said made sense. If news of an unwed Princess's affair became public, the people would question the morality of the ones in charge. There were already multiple rebel groups waiting to collect dirt against the royal family and this would add more fuel to the fire.

"We will leave for Amala at dawn. Everyone, be prepared for the journey." Emperor Kalidas ordered. "And Devayani," he said. "You are no longer my daughter."