Don't forget to vote!!!!
.
.
.
.
Enjoy reading!!!!
________
After Aadrika’s private meeting with the grandmother, where the wise matriarch had subtly imparted advice on the weight of the crown and the lurking dangers of the court, Aadrika found herself contemplating her next steps. Her outward poise masked the constant churn of thoughts inside her head. She wasn’t just a new bride; she was a strategist, and her new life in Indraprastha was merely another battlefield.
“Shall we, Your Highness?” Diya asked, her voice soft but expectant.
Aadrika nodded, and together they made their way to the balcony that overlooked the court. This particular balcony was reserved for the women of the royal family, a place where they could observe proceedings without being directly involved. But Aadrika had no intention of merely watching. She would listen, analyze, and understand the inner workings of the court.
They arrived just as the court was about to begin. The grand hall stretched beneath them, filled with courtiers, ministers, and advisors. The air was thick with anticipation, as if something important was about to unfold. Aadrika leaned against the carved stone railing, her sharp eyes scanning the room, picking out faces, trying to gauge loyalties and tensions.
“Quite the setup,” Diya murmured beside her, her voice barely audible to anyone but Aadrika.
“Indeed,” Aadrika replied, her tone neutral but laced with hidden meaning. She was not here to be entertained. She was here to gather information.
The doors at the far end of the court opened with a creak, and the room stilled. All eyes turned toward the entrance as Abhiraj entered the room, flanked by his advisors. His tall figure, clad in royal armor, commanded attention. His cold, emotionless expression betrayed nothing, but Aadrika could sense the weight of his authority.
For a brief moment, as he crossed the floor to take his seat at the head of the court, his eyes flicked up to the balcony where Aadrika stood. It was only for a heartbeat, but she caught it. Their eyes met, and Aadrika felt the familiar tension coil in her chest. His gaze was sharp, unreadable, but she could feel the suspicion simmering behind those dark eyes.
Then, just as quickly, he looked away and settled into his throne-like chair at the head of the court, the business of ruling about to begin.
Diya, standing beside her, leaned in slightly. “Did you see that, Your Highness? He looked at you.”
Aadrika waved a hand, dismissing Diya’s observation. “He always looks. It means nothing.”
But inwardly, Aadrika wasn’t so sure. She could still feel the weight of his gaze, even though he had already shifted his attention to the courtiers below.
A case was brought before the court. It was a complicated one—a dispute between two powerful merchant families over a series of land deals gone wrong. The arguments were heated, the facts murky. Aadrika could feel the tension rising in the room as each side presented their claims.
Abhiraj listened to both sides with a cold, calculating demeanor, his fingers steepled as he considered the details. Every now and then, his eyes would scan the room, assessing the reactions of those present. And once again, Aadrika felt his gaze brush past her.
“Interesting,” she muttered, leaning slightly forward, her attention piqued.
“What is it, Your Highness?” Diya asked, sensing the shift in Aadrika’s mood.
Aadrika didn’t answer right away. Her eyes were fixed on Abhiraj, watching the way he handled the case with an air of quiet authority. He didn’t raise his voice, didn’t show any signs of emotion. But with every word, every decision, he demonstrated a sharp intellect and an understanding of the intricate power dynamics at play.
YOU ARE READING
AADRIKA : The writer of the story
Ficción históricaAADRIKA : " Everything has beauty, But not everyone sees it." Aadrika was a famous writer who never thought that one day she would be trapped in the very own story she wrote herself. After getting in an accident, when she opened her eye...
