The Viper's Curse (The Viper's Den #1)

Chapter 9

The next morning, Mohini found herself in the palace gardens. The beauty and serenity of nature helped calm her mind after the previous night. Mohini walked, admiring the garden, before eventually settling down on a bench by the lotus pond in the center of the garden. She closed her eyes and listened to the cries of the peacocks

"What are you doing here alone baccha?" A gravelly voice from behind.

Behind her stood a middle aged man. He was hunched over a cane, but still possessed an air of confidence. Burn scars covered his hands and marred the right side of his face. This man, she recollected, was the same one who had stood next to the emperor during her performance last night. Only one position would place this man at the emperor's right hand. The Grand Vizier.

Mohini bowed, and spoke, her head still lowered as a sign of respect, "My lord, I was just enjoying the early morning."

"No need to address me as my lord, Kshiraj is just fine."

There was something familiar about this man, as if she had known...

"Have we met before?"

Kshiraj gave her a small smile, but his eyes were filled with sadness.

"I think this is the first time we have met Baccha," he hobbled towards the bench and took a seat.

Mohini remained standing, apprehensive of getting closer. His kindness and seemingly innocuous presence was soothing, but she did not forget that he was the emperor's closest man.

"What were you doing with the prince last night?" Kshiraj turned to meet her gaze with his own unsettling one.

"I'm sorry?"

"Why did the prince summon you to his chamber last night? What did you do with him?" he slowly smiled as he softly added "Did you bed him?"

All the earlier comfort Mohini felt vanished in an instant under his eerie gaze, replaced instead with cold dread. If he was asking her about her night with the prince, then the emperor was curious as well.

"I hardly see how that would be your business my lord."

With that smile still playing on his lips, he moved to reply but was cut off.

"What is going on here?"

The prince had entered the gardens. What, had the heavens decided to annoy her with all these pests this morning?

Mohini bowed and gave the prince a sickly sweet smile "Nothing of importance Mirza."

As she rose, she could feel the prince's gaze. Today, she wore one of her favorite sarees, it was old, and perhaps outdated. However, Mohini loved it. It kept her grounded to her roots as a village girl. The ivory saree exposed the curve of her waist, accentuated with a thin waist chain. The sleeveless blouse was low cut. It was quite provocative for the time, and perhaps not the most ideal outfit for the present situation.

"I was simply asking the young lady what happened last night. But now that you're here, I'm sure that won't be necessary," Kshiraj said as he paid his respects to the prince.

The prince raised an eyebrow at the inquiry, "Why would you like to know what happened last night?"

Kshiraj looked up, flustered. He had not expected the prince to question his motives.

"I was only making sure that his highness was safe, after all we can't trust these courtesans."

"Why not?"

"Well, have you not heard? There is a type of courtesan called the Vishakanya, it is said that if you bed one, you will pass away in only an hour or so. I have great concern for your well being. So that is why I asked if you had bedded this young woman."