Adamya

Covetous. Ruinous. Damning.

"One would think that a Royal party would keep you interested for at least two hours," Eklavya said with a grin, swaggering up to her,"And yet, here you stand, looking ready to murder someone."

Mihira gritted her teeth. "Oh, I will," she promised silently, twisting around so that Eklavya had a space beside her to lean against the wall. "What is the use of inviting me to the party if the prince himself is going to be too busy to meet me?"

Rukmaketu had personally visited her house with a charming smile and a basket of fruits, asking her to attend the party for his birth anniversary. He had even offered to let her bring Virat— only, the dog has grown too much and she was sure if she brought an attack dog in the party, no matter how domesticated and loved, she would surely garner questions and attention she did not want.

Now, Mihira, decked in her grey saree, with her swan earrings and grey bangles, was standing in the corner of the Hall, staring blankly ahead of her while the royal family interacted with other royals and vassals.

Eklavya snorted. "Hush, now, you spoiled brat. You're attending a Royal party. That alone is a dream for many. And you wish to have the attention of the man who is the centre of attention? Greedy."

Mihira rolled her eyes. "I do not care for the Royal party. I only care because I brought a gift for Ketu and I wish to give it to him before his bloody birth anniversary ends. Now I am starting to think I should have had the gift delivered by post. It would have been faster and he would have already opened it by now."

Eklavya laughed, loud and boistourous and wound his arm around her shoulders. "You do realise that rare are the people as privileged as you? Calling the princes with their nicknames and demanding attention and pouting when you do not get it from them?"

Mihira shrugged, not forceful enough to throw off his arm but made a face nonetheless. "They call me their sister," she said, petulant and unrepentant,"I deserve to demand their attention."

He began to lead them away from the wall, ignoring Mihira's grumbling about her wish to avoid stuck of lords and ladies who would only look down on them both for being dressed in cotton instead of silk.

"Now, that is a sight uncommon as the moon on a full moon night," she heard Rath's voice, practically hearing his mirth even before she looked in his direction,"Which is to say, not at all uncommon. Where is my brother's friend herding you to, sister? Do you need a saviour?"

Eklavya laughed before Mihira could reply. He leaned forward conspirationally and whispered to Rukmarath,"The day she needs a savior is the day the apocalypse will begin, your highness. This one is a storm packed in a small woman."

"Really, Eklavya? Body shaming me?" She asked in a bored tone, knowing that Eklavya knew if Saini got a wind of him making any such comments, she would have his hide.

His eyes widened and he shook his head vigourusly, going to comment something in return but he stopped himself as two men neared them.

The elder of the two seemed to be the father, with greying hair and beard telling away at his age while his pot belly and gold cuffs told his wealth. Ah. A vassal lord, then. The younger one carried himself with the arrogance of a man who had everything he wanted and could have everything he wanted. He had the same jaw as his father but his features were sharper— foreign. The father, already from a line of wealthy people, must have married a foreigner for her beauty and the son, with his father's wealth and mother's beauty, seemed to mark himself as someone worth more than anyone else.