Fuck you...Your Majesty!

5

Salil was irritated. He wanted to bang his head against the nearest wall, thinking of all the work he had to do in such a short time.

The night King Atharva had stayed in his chamber, he had requested Salil to handle the preparations for the Mahashivratri, the night of lord shiva, celebrations next week. Salil tried to deny the request but the king was adamant about making him agree. And now he was stuck with it.

"Madhur... Send invitations to the royal purohit and brahmins, requesting their presence for the rituals and rites. Call for the sculptors and florists...I want to discuss the decoration arrangements with them." said Salil, sipping his tea, trying to calm the incoming headache.

In his past life, the preparations for the festival were handled by concubine Mayuri since she was the acting queen and as far as he remembers, he wasn't even invited to it, not that he cared.

Since his rebirth, a lot of things have changed. He just hopes that he will successfully escape this palace. That the fates won't mess up this one plan of his.

                              *******

It was a day before the festival celebrations and Salil was finally done with all the preparations. Finally, he could take a breath of relief. The past six days had been a nightmare for him with all the commanding the maids, searching for perfect performers, decorations, food, and constant visits from concubine Mayuri, claiming that he should let her help him or the king won't like his arrangements. Salil was an inch away from yielding his sword and slashing the yapping lady open but he had to control his urge. He didn't want to cause a commotion.

But that didn't mean he kept his anger bottled up, the shadow guards and royal guards were the ones who faced the burn of his anger. Sparing their High king made them want to cry. The High King was merciless, fighting like it was his last.

Atharva on the other hand enjoyed watching his High king Salil, yield his sword like a warrior. He would smile looking at his husband fussing over some arrangements and flinch seeing him clench his fist in anger when concubine Mayuri would pester him. He knew all these preparations were taking a toll on his beloved, but it was important for his High king's safety. Keeping him indulged in the festivity while he quietly cleans the palace of traitors, was the plan. Though he had to pay for it by Salil neglecting him at night or just plain kicking him out of his bed pretending to be asleep while doing so, he didn't mind it. Just being in the same room as his love was enough for him.

Little did the king know of the storm that was approaching to snatch away his love from his hands...

                            *******

The religious chants echoed in the palace, and the king's subjects gathered on the palace grounds to witness the holy rituals. The grand sculpture of lord shiva, erected specially for this occasion had everyone entranced by its beauty. People played with colours, singing praises of the Almighty. The kingdom of Antharv was coloured in the colours of devotion, joy, and happiness.

"It's time, your Majesty. Call for His Highness." said the royal priest as he offered the flowers to the deity.

Atharva looked around for his wife, trying to spot him somewhere in the crowd but failed. The High King was nowhere to be found. While the said High king, Salil was trying to catch his breath after dry heaving for a while. All of his hectic schedule for last week was now taking a toll on him. The constant dizzy spells made him want to just sleep, leaving all the worries behind but he knew he couldn't. There was still so much to do. With a sigh, he cleaned himself and went to check on the food preparations for the festivity. The entire Kingdom would be having their food here in the palace. There wasn't a chance for a mistake.

On the other side, Atharva was frantically looking around for his High king. He needed his beloved for the ceremony and the said husband was nowhere to be seen. There was a mummer of opinions around the hall, the Noblemen like always recommend  Atharva to proceed with concubine Mayuri by his side, there was so much disrespect for his High king and Atharva had vowed to change it, starting from today.

"It is so unthoughtful of the Hight king to leave the ceremonies... I recommend you let Mayuri accompany you, your Majesty. She can act in place of the High-" Nobleman Anwar was interrupted by the king before he could complete his statement. Atharva wasn't about to let anyone disrespect his High king before his eyes.

"No. The place beside me is for my High king, my husband Salil, not a concubine and I expect you to respect my decision," said Atharva in a stern tone as he motioned the royal guards to search for his beloved husband. Whereas Mayuri gritted her teeth in anger. The way the king was now defending Salil now and then irked her.

"Hand me the nuts and rose petals, Madhur. The kheer is nearly done," said Salil as he stirred the large pot of sweet milky porridge. The delicious fragrance wafted in the air making everyone lick their lips in anticipation. With a gentle hand, Salil sprinkled the nuts and rose petals to the boiling desert and that's how the royal guards found their High king, humming a tune, stirring various giant pots, adding the spices and seasonings needed, commanding the cooks' side by side. High King looked like he was enjoying his time in the kitchen but they needed to interrupt him. He was needed for a religious ceremony going on.

                              *******

"I'm sorry for making everyone wait," said Salil with a smile as he entered the hall and walked towards his place, beside the king, in front of the holy bonfire.

And if the noblemen let it go without a question, it would be odd. So just like Salil had expected, one of the noblemen asked," What was so important than the ceremony that you had to go to yourself, High King? "

Salil smiled at the question and clapped his hands, indicating the royal guards to bring the things he had requested a few minutes ago. The large pot of sweet milky porridge, kheer he had been working on.

"The Prasad offering. The holy ceremony can't be finished without a prasad offering to the Gods. The prasad is always prepared by the king's companions. I had asked concubine Mayuri to help me with it but she denied my request saying, she did not know anything about cooking..." The entire hall looked towards the concubine sitting near the Queen Mother. Some gaze mocking her, some cursing her stupidity to let such a good chance to capture the king's heart go. While the king admired his husband for all his efforts.

"And thus I had to leave to prepare it.  But if my following the tradition had caused everyone discomfort, I apologise," said Salil but was stopped from bowing by the Queen Mother.

"There is no need to apologize High King. Your devotion to this celebration speaks for itself. Proceed with the rituals, royal priest. "

And with that, the celebrations continued.

                              *******

The day had finally come to an end. To say Salil was exhausted would be an option, he was drained. But seeing the satisfied smiles on the faces of his subjects as they devoured the food prepared by him was worth it. Everyone was surprised when they heard that it was their High king who had cooked them a feast today. No one had expected the warrior High King Salil to be so good in the kitchen but he surprised everyone. The Queen Mother even rewarded him for his remarkable arrangements as she called them with a wooden casket that he still has open. To conclude, the day was a success.

He was about to go to bed when he heard the horns blaring around the castle. The horns were usually blared to announce the arrival of a sudden uninvited guest, knocking at their door for war.

Salil was confused. He had known about his brother coming to bring him back home but he didn't know if he was bringing an army along with him. Did his brother not listen to his request and decided to attack Antharv?

He quickly slipped on his robes and left o find the king. Maybe there was a misunderstanding. He knew his brother won't be attacking Antharv without his knowledge. He wasn't about to let his brother punish the entire Kingdom for the mistakes of their foolish king.

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