Empire of India: Rise of the Ruthless Prince

Hampi, Vijayanagara Empire.

Chandra was ecstatic about yesterday's result against Bhairava. He had finally managed to take an advantageous position against Bhairava for the first time.

But despite knowing it was his sister's prowess that accomplished the ambush, He was happy seeing the dejected face of Bhairava. He could feel the frustrations settling in his archnemesis.

The man said to be a bigger genius than him would be bowing down to him soon.

'Finally!! Bhairava, you will bow down to me!!'

Lakshmi entered the tent where Chandra was having a grand feast. She looked at him and slightly clicked her tongue.

Chandra quickly greeted his sister.

"Sister? Sit down, have some food!!" He ordered the maids to serve some food to Lakshmi.

"I merely came to have a chat with you!!" She said.

"Yes? What did you want to talk about?"

"Stop restricting Nakul's movements. Use him properly!"

"Sister, He is just a lowly man with no battle experience. Why should I take his advice?"

Lakshmi stayed silent and glared at him in disgust.

Chandra looked at the serious expression and coughed slightly.

"Well, I have to admit. He did well yesterday."

"You never learn! I told you to stop underestimating others!"

"Sister, I didn't underestimate him!"

Lakshmi scoffed.

"I will be taking over this mess. If only you listened to Nakul. The battle would have ended yesterday."

Chandra was visibly angry. But he had no power to talk back to Lakshmi.

He had looked down on Lakshmi as his dumb elder sister. Now she was even stronger than him and had more influence over the Empire. His army commanders mostly were men from his sister's side.

Many elite soldiers from his sister's army were also added to his army. If he tries to pull something funny at his sister right now. He would definitely see his own army fall apart.

"Sister, I have to win to prove myself. If you take over, then what's the use of being my kingmaker?" He said, in a sharp voice.

"If you want to win. Then shut up and do as I say." Lakshmi responded in a commanding voice.

"Ok…." He muttered back in a low voice.

Lakshmi clicked her tongue, and as she left the tent, she spoke for the last time.

"Let go of your ego and look at yourself. This is my final advice to you."

Chandra silently nodded and watched her leave.

'I will take care of you later, Sister.' He thought.

"What do you mean I underestimate? Why should I have to listen to these lowly people?" He grabbed a vase and threw it on the ground in frustration.

"I will get back at you, low lives. Especially Nakul and Bhairava for looking down at me," he muttered.

Chandra always felt inferior and jealous in front of Bhairava. His younger brother being more talented didn't help this attitude much as he grew to hate Bhairava more. Every time he meets the gaze of Bhairava. He fumed as it seemed to him like Bhairava was looking down at him.

'That damn Bastard dares to look at me like that!!'

He felt the same gaze from Nakul.

'I will kill all of you!' He flipped the table in anger.

'Damn it!! Just you wait! Bastards!! LOW LIVES!'

Meanwhile, Lakshmi met up with Nakul on her way back to the palace.

"Master!! The preparations are done. If only —"

"I have talked to him. You can take control of the army from tomorrow. That incompetent fool doesn't know anything. He still thinks Bhairava is the real threat."

Nakul sighed deeply.

"Because of Prince Chandra. It will take time to win the battle."

"How much time do you need?" Lakshmi asked with a tinge of curiosity.

"3 days at least. If everything goes smoothly, we can defeat Bhairava in three more days."

Lakshmi walked ahead thinking and turned back to face Nakul.

"Be careful though. The real threat is Harsha."

"Yes, Master."

"At least we have some information on Bhairava. But we have none on Harsha's current location."

"Our Scouts are getting killed. That means he should be nearby, biding his time. I have put some more men to scout the area. Hopefully we can find his location soon," responded Nakul with a slight bow.

Lakshmi didn't respond and left towards the palace.

"I will do my best for you, Master." He muttered with a tinge of sadness.

Nakul didn't want anyone to harm his master. He was under her wing for a long time, experiencing her struggles and hard work to build this influence. She shined the brightest in his eyes.

An existence that could achieve the impossible. He respected her a lot.

Nakul didn't like the fact that his master was now going to battle Harsha head-on. He was still curious to know why she hadn't killed him when she had the chance.

He wanted to protect his Savior. The person who had lifted him from the depths of hell to the person he had become now.

Nakul was a lifeless child before he met Lakshmi. She was his sunshine, the existence to which he longed. The person who lit up his dark life.

He received a sense of purpose from helping Lakshmi achieve her goals. Nakul kept his feelings under wraps. He knew his position and his feelings would just hinder her.

The memory of when he had successfully completed his first mission under her guidance flooded into his mind.

It was that day when he finally felt that he could do something worthwhile and help her.

He looked up at the sky with dejected expression.

This was not going to be a happy journey, and Nakul knew it.

But his instincts screamed of danger to his master.

This was the first time he had felt something so ominous. He could also see the expression of Lakshmi. Her usual confidence was nowhere to be found. It was like she knew something he couldn't understand.

Her eyes longed for something.

Nakul didn't know what she wanted.

He didn't want to know either.

Only one thought lingered in his mind at that moment.

'I will protect her! Even if I have to disappoint her.'