The Village Girl

Chapter Twenty Two - [Aaryan]

Hey everyone!!

This is Update 3/3 for today!

This is the last update in Part Three! Part Four will start next week! Hope everyone is excited!

As always, don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT to let me know what you think!

Thank you!!

- Luckycharms <3

---

I felt as if my blood had drained out of my body... I felt cold. As I stood outside the throne room doors, my hand still on the hilt of my sword, my heart was beating but it felt like there was nothing passing through it. It hurt. What I originally thought was calmness did not feel as much anymore. It felt more like coldness.

And numbness.

Everything felt numb.

I released a breath as the guard opened the giant door for me, and when he did, my eyes fell first on my father.

He was in his usual spot, straight across from the entrance, high up on the dias, sitting in his throne made of gold. The frown on his face matched mine, though his eyes had always been more kinder looking than mine. His frown was never as intimidating as mine could be.

Next to him, stood my mother, who looked remarkably pleased. I suppose she had something to be pleased about, since her least favorite son was about to be replaced by her most favourite son. That was certainly something a mother would find pleasurable.

The thought made my empty stomach burn a little.

And next to her was, of course, Aarun. He stood there looking smug... arrogant. The smirk on his face made me want to punch him, and it made my head ache even more. Over the year, he had gotten quite used to being handless, going as far as to make himself a fake hand made of solid gold. He would fasten it to that stub of his and walk around looking more obnoxious than he was before. He tried to wear it like a badge of honor, and though I usually did not let it bother me, it annoyed me now.

I noted also, that my other brothers were not present.

Strange.

As I walked up to the base of the dias, I saw that nearly every noble family was present, their heads, all men, sitting in a line along the walkway towards the dias, watching me as I passed them. Behind each man stood his family... sons, daughters, wives, brothers... Lakshmanan and I expected this supposed confidential meeting to be crowded with the families of the nobles who despise me. Of course they would want to watch the deposition of the Crown Prince.

Something like this does not happen often.

Some families, important ones, were missing. Those families seemed to be the ones who supported me, as Aayu had suggested. They chose not to take part because they did not approve of this decision, and I was pleased to see that most of the few that chose to stay out of this were the old families. Old families who had long supported mine. Families who had promised their loyalty to mine centuries ago.

It seemed the newer ones, the ones who were of my grandfather's time... the ones who my great-grandfather had given power in order to help with his own selfish desires... those were the ones who came against me... fearing the loss of whatever miniscule amount of luxury they had.

They would regret this.

"My son," the Maharajah called as I reached the base of the dias.

For some reason, the word felt poisonous. It felt like an insult. Like he was using this word to hurt me.