❝all is not fair in love and war❞
To ensure the survival of the Mughal Empire, Princess Afsana must form a political marriage in Europe. Amongst her potential suitors stands Louis, Count of Champagne, a man driven by dangerous ambitions that destroy...
Count Blois was not used to being talked back to, especially not for a valid reason.
Yet here stood a foreign princess with her chin raised defiantly as she echoes his words from earlier that afternoon. He'd meant what he said, but wished he'd phrased himself differently.
"Don't worry, I've picked up signs now." Afsana said.
Louis sighed. "I've offended you and I'm sorry. But believe me that was not my intention."
She didn't look convinced, so he continued.
"I just wanted to make the case that I don't enjoy having someone's affections forced upon me, least of all from a stranger." He said.
When she didn't speak, Louis thought that maybe he was just making things worse. And given that she'd done it before, he wouldn't put it past her to snitch to cousin Antoine again. He wished he hadn't brought up the subject at all.
"Do you think this is easy for me?" Afsana asked.
Louis raised a brow in question. Her tone had changed, and she slowly turned her body towards him, the light of the fire shining brightly in the gap between them.
"Your people threatened to invade a part of my father's kingdom, and the next thing I know is that I'm being shipped half way across the globe to choose a husband." She said, her voice going shaky with every word. "I am far from my family and the chances of ever seeing them again are almost non existent, I am stranded on foreign land with people that hate me."
Each confession stabbed the count with guilt and he attempted to say something, but could not think of anything comforting.
"They all judge me, laugh at me and no matter what I do, i'll never be good enough." She continued, clutching her fist to her chest. "And I know that this is how it's going to be for the rest of my time here, even after I marry."
Having been too drowned in his own annoyance of being forced into a marriage, Louis had somewhat forgotten that the girl hadn't exactly been given a choice in any of this either.
When she let out a sniff he felt ashamed.
The rajkumari turned her face away from him, probably not wanting him to see her now glassy eyes.
Louis stood, brushing dust off his bottoms he stepped towards her. He raised a hand, motioning to touch her shoulder but then realised the princess wouldn't appreciate that. He cleared his throat, but she didn't turn.
Just as well, he was never any good with crying women, but he still needed to make up for his harsh words.
"Princess Afsana, I'm s-" His apology was cut short by the sound of trumpets.
The page boy had been ordered to blow the trumpet when the castle was finally clear of all enemies. This meant that they were in the clear now.
"What is happening?" Afsana said, wiping her cheeks.
"We're safe. Or at least the castle is." Louis said.
As soon as the noise stopped, it was like something hit Afsana and she ran up the stairs, nearly tripping over her feet, leaving Louis in the dark wine cellar.
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She ran as fast as her feet would allow, which wasn't much given how tired she was, but nonetheless she bore through the pain and continued.
On the way, she spotted Francis's nurse and stopped to ask after his wellbeing. Mercifully, the prince had slept through the entire seize and the enemies had never found his chambers.
Nobles and servants alike were pouring out of the throne room into the corridor, where they'd all been evacuated in, with relief as they clutched on to the crucifixes and made their way to their chambers. Walking on her tip toes, Afsana tried to spot her friends, in particular Lubna.
When she did not see the lady-in-waiting amonst the crowd, she began to fear the worst.
Awful images of Lubna, her body battered and bruised laying on the stone surface shivering passed her mind. The princess tried to shake them off, but that only brought her images of the malicious guards, their meaty hands and disgusting behaviour.
She arrived at the entrance of the throne room.
Dead bodies were layed on the right end, wives, husbands and children crying over their beloved. The scene panicked her even more, for any of those bodies could've been Lubna, or Zia.
Holding onto the hope that they were still alive, Afsana looked across the room, looking for familiarity in all the faces, until her almond eyes rested on one particular figure.
Nadim was hunched by a pillar, his vest ripped and bloody from the wound he'd aquired whilst fighting off one of the intruders. At first he seemed to be drowning in his own misery but then the rajkumari noticed how his other arm was curved over the shoulder of another.
"Lubna!" Afsana said, a bit too loudly, But she didn't care, her friend was safe.
Nadim dropped his arm and the lady-in-waiting rushed towards her monarch and the two of the wrapped their arms around each other, glad to be engulfed in each other's similar scent of rose water. Afsana pulled back soon, holding the girl at arm's length to inspect her.
"I'm fine. They didn't- I'm fine, rajkumari." Lubna reassured her.
Her nightgown had a few holes and stains, but for the most part she really did seem fine.
"How did you get away from them?" Afsana asked.
"Nadim and a few of the French guards came to check the corridors, when they heard my screams and well, rescued me." Lubna said.
For the first time since their reunion, the princess looked towards the wounded guard. Nadim had dropped his head back against the pillar, but kept his eyes open as he watched the girls.
"Nadim..." She trailed off.
It was the first time since she'd met the boy that she was genuinely greatful for something he did, but given the hostility she'd always used towards him it was rather weird to have to thank him for something for once.
Luckily, the boy got the message himself.
"Don't worry, rajkumari." Nadim said, lips parting into a smile. "I know I'm a hero. May I get a reward now?"
Afsana scoffed at his egotistic response and the three of them had a little laugh together, but the laughter came more from the rush of feelings from the night's events rather than actual humor. The girls then helped Nadim on his feet and Lubna even went the extra mile by brushing the dust off his lower backside, to which he simply winked.
"Where is Zia?" Afsana said, ignoring their borderline sinful behaviour.
The other two shrugged and looked around amongst the remaining people in the room, Zia's long black hair nowhere in sight.
A busty woman in a ocre dress half covered by a white apron entered the room, her hands and front covered in smears of blood. Afsana recognised her attire to be the one of a typical French nurse.
"Anyone in need of medical assistance?" The nurse said.
The princess walked to the woman, who mistook her as someone in need to help. "Which part did you injure my dear?"
"No, I'm fine, thank you." Afsana said. "I'm wondering if one of my guards may be in the medical chambers? His name is Zia."
"Oh you're the princess from Asia, forgive me your majesty for not recognising you!" The nurse said, realisation hitting her. "As a matter of fact yes, there is a lad down with Doctor Rouge, he's got long hair, is that the one?"
Her heart skipped a beat when the nurse mentioned the small detail. She willed it not to be Zia, but deep inside she had a feeling it was him.
"Is he alright?" She said.
"He's been stabbed in the stomach and he's been unconscious since we found him, your majesty."
