Acceptance Is Treachery

Chapter 25

"King! We have a blockage at the dam that runs through both Uttarakhand and Faizabad!" A chubby man panted as he held onto a marble pillar for support.

"A blockage at the dam? Well, why don't we send one of our diplomats to Faizabad to come to terms with the accessibility of the dam. Both states do require an equal amount of water, anyways." Arnav ordered as he sat atop the golden throne that was foreign to him.

"I will do as told, King Arnav." The minister bowed before running off to satisfy the King's orders.

More ministers began running towards Arnav, voicing out their concerns and problems frantically. To Arnav, running a country seemed over-bearing. Truth be told, he had learnt how to run a country. However, he never once had run a country, single-handedly.

"KING ARNAV!"

"YOUR MAJESTY!"

Arnav wished for the screams and yells to stop. He felt his brain cracking into two.

Just then, Uttarakhand's only female minister-Gauri pushed her way amongst the sweaty men who were waving their scrolls in the air.

"King! We have another problem at hand." Gauri pointed out while she attempted to get Arnav's attention.

Arnav nodded while he asked for her to proceed.

"Princess Nazia of Faizabad is building a tomb for the late Sultan Azman. The space that she is using for the tomb is hindering the construction of our KrishnaTemple." Gauri rolled her eyes as she looked at the King.

"Our temple is more important than her tomb." A voice pierced through the crowd.

It was none other than Empress Sheila.

"We do not have to stop our construction for the sake of Nazia." Sheila seethed, receiving collective gasps from the court.

"But, mother, it is for sister-in-law. Can't we give in just for once?" Arnav attempted to reason out with his mother.

"Don't you dare address Nazia as 'sister-in-law'." Sheila snapped while she proceeded to stare at the King.

"But, she married Brother-" Arnav was cut off by Empress Sheila.

"Look, Ram is not my son. He is my step-son. I could not care less about him and who he has wed." Empress Sheila glared at Arnav.

"You have eyes don't you, Arnav? Ram murdered his own father-in-law. I sent him to exile because Uttarakhand does not need such a low, filthy leader. Neither do you need a scum as your step-brother." Sheila smirked.

The ministers stared in awe, as they found out various truths about their ex-king.

The King that they loved and cherished wholeheartedly.

"COURT DISMISSED!" Emperor Gaurav's voice boomed, causing the ministers to exit the court room in an orderly fashion.

Emperor Gaurav proceeded to walk closer to the Empress and the King of Uttarakhand.

"Look Arnav. You're the King of Uttarakhand now. That's all that matters. Don't mess this opportunity up." Empress Sheila whispered to her son while she placed an arm over Arnav's shoulder.

Arnav began thinking of incidents that occurred many years ago. When Arnav was three, Ram was nine.

It was Diwali, and well the two brothers had to get dressed. Arnav and Ram were given gold crowns to adorn on this auspicious day.

Arnav was given the plain gold crown whereas Ram was given a gold crown that was decorated with rubies and emeralds.

Arnav remembered vividly how he wanted to wear the bigger crown which looked much more appealing to his eyes.

His father, did not let him wear the bigger crown as 'Ram was the older child' and he would most likely be the 'King of Uttarakhand' in the future.

Arnav's childhood desire became reality, however before he could continue dwelling on the past, his father's voice shook him into reality.

"How is my son's reign?" Gaurav smiled while he embraced his son.

Arnav hugged his father back and smiled, "I miss Brother, father." Arnav replied, as a tear fell down his cheek.

"I miss him too, Arnav. But what can we do when he committed such a crime? I was with him when that incident that occurred. Ram was such a gem I really wonder what had gotten into him." Gaurav sighed as he and Arnav began to walk further away from the courtroom.

Sheila, allowed the two males to converse privately while she focused on running the country as well.

"Father, don't you think that Faizabad might start a war against us, due to Brother?" Arnav asked while he played with his silk uttariya.

Emperor Gaurav laughed in reply.

"Father, I'm talking about a serious issue, here and you're laughing?" Arnav questioned his father while he walked beside Gaurav.

"Sultan Azman never believes in warfare. Faizabad has and will never start a war with any state." Gaurav explained while he walked past the tiny prayer space that Ram had built for Nazia previously.

The once bright lime-green walls, were now peeling and had turned into a mouldy yellow shade.

Dust had collected in the stand that Nazia used to place her Qur'aan on.

"But, Princess Nazia knew warfare." Arnav mentioned as he stared at the empty space.

"Faizbad soldiers and royalty are extremely skilled in sword-fighting. They would never physically start a war but if they were to participate in one, I'm pretty sure that they would win in the first few minutes." Gaurav laughed.

Just then Arnav got reminded of a piece of news that was contributed during the congregation of the ministers previously.

"Father, just now, I heard one of the ministers mention something about Nazia seizing Jaunpur back. Since she's not married to Brother anymore, she has placed Jaunpur back under Faizabad. She's giving Fatehpur back as well." Arnav informed his Father while he looked at a portrait of Ram and Nazia that hung majestically on the wall.

Despite, it being covered with cobwebs, it still seemed divine.

"What? She's seizing Jaunpur without permission?!" Emperor Gaurav asked in utter shock and anger.

"This calls for war." Empress Sheila breathed heavily.

"For once, I agree with you Sheila. This is a violation in our rules and regulations. We have to commence war." Gaurav commented.

"I'm going to go get the necessary preparations done. Arnav, ask the scribe to prepare a notice and send it to Faizabad within the next seven days." Gaurav ordered before he proceeded to walk away.

"Father, wait but is fighting sister-in-law necessary? Especially when brother isn't around?" Arnav asked while he ran after his father.

"It pains me as well Arnav, but we have no choice. Nazia clearly told you that she didn't want to have any ties with Uttarakhand. Now, she is back to being our enemy. Furthermore, she's seizing our land with no valid reasons. Since she's violating our rules, we don't really have a choice." Gaurav sighed, while he walked off.

Sheila immediately ran to Arnav while she hit him on the head with her decorated forearm.

"What are you doing? Let this war happen, Arnav. Then only will you be the King of all the four kingdoms! Nazia has to die in this war." Empress Sheila smirked while she looked at her son.

Arnav remained quiet.

"But I don't know warfare." Arnav replied.

"You don't have to fight. Look, I have been waiting for this day to happen since the day you were born, so don't mess this up. You're going to be the King of all four kingdoms. Cheer up, and follow my lead." Sheila laughed while she walked down the halls of the palace.

Arnav just stared at his mother in complete awe.

He was speechless.