The Crown Prince and His Love

Chapter 58|Golden Palace|

Kanchi

Parthibendran was so sick and tired of running behind Karikalan, Malayaman was pestering Pallavan to go find him as soon as possible. Apparently they had to lay out war plans for their conquest up north.

"All of my friends are such nuisances," Pallavan muttered, kicking the sand underneath him as he walked. Vallavarayan was day dreaming about the girl he met while Karikalan's having nightmares about his. Either of them do not seem to be doing any sort of work.

If he keeps ruing about his past how will he rule a kingdom this large. What's the use of thinking about this now? He cleared his thoughts and focused on the task at hand.

Pallavan eventually found Karikalan standing in front of a barren piece of land.

"Aditha!" Pallavan called out, walking up to him. "What are you doing here?"

Aditha looked down, feeling the sand in his fingers. "Don't you think I should build a palace like the one in Thanjai?" He asked. "Right here,"

"Why?" Pallavan asked, confused. The Kanchi palace was just a few minutes away from here.

Karikalan shrugged. "For my parents, I ought to do something for them in return," He said, throwing his arm over Pallavan's shoulder. "They deserve a palace made out of gold,"

Giving back to his parents was not Karikalan's only intention. It was to show Nandini what she could've had. She married that old man for wealth yes? He'll show her what wealth really is.

Pallavan raised a brow, a palace made out of gold? Where would he get their funding from?

"How will you fund that? Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer would never--"

Karikalan stopped him mid sentence. "I fill the coffers," He paused. "From now on the war earnings will only go to our soldiers and the palace here," He smirked, this would definitely rile up his thatha. A perfect payback, or so he thought.

Parthibendran nodded reluctantly before a thought struck him, he had almost forgotten why he had come here in the first place. "Malayaman wanted to meet you,"

Karikalan nodded and they set off towards their camp. Pallavan though couldn't scratch the itch just yet. He was doing to this get back at Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer wasn't he? Pallavan couldn't fathom Aditha sometimes, he acts like an immature brat sometimes. Pazhuvettaraiyer is the last person you would want on your bad side.

"Aditha, I'm going to ask you something, promise you won't be mad at me?" Pallavan started.

Karikalan laughed. "What do you want to know, Nanba?" He asked slapping his back.

"You're doing this to annoy Pazhuvettaraiyer right? For stealing her," Pallavan asked as usual the Prince pretended not to hear him. His silence was a well enough answer for Pallavan to draw a conclusion though.

"What happened to the spy we sent?" Karikalan asked, diverting the topic.

"Do you not trust your him? Just because he married Nandini doesn't invalidate the efforts he had put in to grow the empire," Parthibendran exasperated. "He has done a lot, you doubting him is just disrespectful Aditha,"

Karikalan stopped in his tracks and inhaled sharply. "Do you know more about my grandfather?" He whispered. "He raised me, Parthibha, it hurts for me to doubt him,"

"Then why--"

"When milk is touched by an envious serpent it becomes poisonous, Parthiba," Karikalan said regretfully. The snake he created has come back to haunt him. "I'm just looking out for my family and the empire," He finished, clearly not wanting to prolong the conversation.

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Pazhuvoor

Pazhuvettaraiyer was contemplating his decision to work against Adithan, Madhuranthakan shows a clear desire to rule the kingdom, to be fair he is the rightful heir. The throne was giving to Sundara Chozhan as a loan, but...Karikalan was his grandson. Wouldn't it also be treason to plot against the Crown Prince?

Sitting beside him was Nandini, observing Pazhuvettaraiyer's face, he was hesitant to go through with the plan. What now? She groaned mentally. "Arase? Is something bothering you?" She asked softly.

Pazhuvettaraiyer hummed, nodding. "I've spoken to Madhuranthakan, he wants to rule, some chieftains also seems to be in favour,"

"Then what? You have their support, wouldn't it be easy now to dethrone Karikalar?" Nandini said.

"It would," Pazhuvettaraiyer muttered, It pained for him to do so. He sighed, burying his face in his palms. "Nandini, is this the right thing to do? Going behind my grandson's back and plotting against him?" He said with shame.

"You're not going to kill him are you?" Nandini deadpanned, Pazhuvettaraiyer shot up, his eyes turning red.

"What did you say?" He asked furiously.

Nandini got up and placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. "Arase, you're not going to commit that sin, You are merely doing what is right for the kingdom, isn't that your job to do so?"

Pazhuvettaraiyer sighed he was also burdened with this task. Madhuranthakan can't even wield a sword but is calm and composed, while Karikalan being a great warrior he lacks a stable mind.

"Arase, Wisdom is better than strength, you know that," Nandini said.

Pazhuvettaraiyer was not yet convinced but his mind is telling him Madhuranthakan would be a better choice whole his gut says otherwise.

"I'll arrange a meeting at Kadambur and discuss this matter with the other chieftains, if they are truly in favour of Madhuranthakan being the Crown Prince I'll take the next step." Pazhuvettaraiyer concluded.

A small smile appeared on Nandini's face which disappeared quickly. "I know you'd take a wise decision, Arase,"

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A/N

Wassuuppp! Karikalan is in for a treat next chapter lmao.

How are y'all doing?