Rakshash Aur Rajkumari (The Devil And The Princess) 🔞✔

28•अपञ्जरम्

As Rudraksha stepped into the training ground, he found himself on a wide, peach-colored road cutting through the vast expanse of the area. The space was dimly lit, with only the gentle glow of moonlight illuminating the scene, casting shadows that danced across the soldiers as they trained diligently.

The atmosphere was filled with the sounds of clashing weapons, grunts of exertion, and the occasional commands shouted by instructors. Rudraksha's keen eyes scanned the area, taking in the sight of soldiers engaged in various training exercises, honing their skills under the watchful eyes of their superiors.

Amidst the training soldiers, Rudraksha passed by groups of officials engaged in discussions or taking moments of respite from their duties. Their conversations echoed softly in the night air, adding to the ambiance of the training ground.

As Rudraksha walked through the training ground, he overheard snippets of conversation between two men nearby. Their words instantly caught his attention, causing him to pause in his tracks.

"Have you heard the princess of Durga Kul has returned?" one of the men remarked casually.

Rudraksha's gaze flicked towards them, his interest piqued. "Yes," he heard himself saying before he could stop.

"The king threw a party, inviting many people. I wonder if anybody from our Kingdom attended," the other man commented.

Rudraksha listened intently, his heart quickening at the mention of Ambika. "Princess Bhagirati did," the first man replied, and Rudraksha felt a strange mix of emotions stirred within him.

As the conversation turned to the topic of suitors vying for Ambika's hand in marriage, Rudraksha's heart skipped a beat. "Already?" The first man asked.

"Yes, after all, she is so beautiful and gifted. People will do anything to have her as their wife!" the other man exclaimed.

"Agreed. I hope a lucky man soon wins her heart," the first man added.

Rudraksha felt a pang of jealousy and longing at the thought of Ambika marrying someone else. "I've heard she will soon be married to the prince of Laxmi Kingdom," the second man revealed.

"Really? He's quite good-looking. They'll make a gorgeous couple. And he's said to be very gentle, kind, and sweet," the first man remarked.

As the men continued their conversation, Rudraksha stood there silently, grappling with his emotions and the realization that Ambika's future might soon be decided without him.

Rudraksha's chest tightened with an unfamiliar sensation as he listened to the men discussing Ambika's potential suitors. Jealousy gnawed at him, twisting his insides into knots. He couldn't understand why he was feeling this way-jealousy was a foreign emotion to him, one he had never experienced before.

The thought of Ambika with another man stirred an unsettling mix of emotions within him. He hated the idea of someone else winning her heart, of someone else having what he couldn't have. It made him feel small and insignificant, like he was losing something precious that he never truly possessed.

But amidst the jealousy, there was also confusion. Why did he care so much? Why did her potential marriage to another man affect him so deeply? He couldn't comprehend the intensity of his own emotions, and that only added to his frustration.

As he grappled with these conflicting feelings, a sense of self-loathing crept in. He despised the fact that Ambika had the power to make him feel so vulnerable, so out of control. It made him feel pathetic, weak, and utterly powerless-a feeling he loathed more than anything else.

"Aryaan," Rudraksha called out, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere of the room. The men flinched at his presence, their expressions nervous and apprehensive.