Ira heard muffled voices as she approached her chambers. Her antaḥṛpā, Rohini, was standing outside along with the others, whispering up a storm.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgMNWQqpKW
“What is the meaning of this gathering you have made?” Ira tried her best to hide the smile threatening to climb onto her face. “Did it not occur to you to send word to me as well?”
Rohini jumped and began apologizing profusely for her behaviour, insisting she deserved to be thrown into the dungeons for such insolence.
Ira laughed, "Don't be ridiculous. I simply say so in jest, you should know this by now.” Rohini gave her a weak smile as she blushed a deeper red than the roses of her mother’s garden. Ira laughed again as the other two antaḥṛpās bowed behind Rohini.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66Fxhq2XCR
When they were alone in her chambers she and her antaḥṛpās would gossip and talk all evening long of the matters of the palace. Matters only antaḥṛpās would have the knowledge of.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumjZcP2idL
Matters of the cook fighting with his wife, who suspected him of straying—though Rohini insisted he spent his nights gambling instead.
Matters of the new stable boy, a charmer who had already broken two maids’ hearts.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwW04vGcTHh
Rohini had been there through her worst years.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhJmiZwGOv
When her mother passed away. She was incredibly patient to all of Ira’s tantrums, all her illogical actions of throwing around her plates and refusing to eat for weeks. Ira had only been eight, she was so small she remembered finding it difficult to climb into bed. She remembered being terrified, alone in her chambers. So she had always kept at least three of the brightest burning lamps in her room, lit throughout the night.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMAq9nl7X9
Rohini had stood by her side despite all this, and patiently fed her every morsel of her favourite dishes. Telling her she had it made especially for her. That the late Maharani would want her to have at least three spoons of this. Other than the boy she occasionally met near the palace walls, her antaḥṛpās were her only ‘friends’ so to say. At times, she had even asked Rohini to leave her service along with the other antaḥṛpās that had come of age, after all Rohini was only three years elder to her.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQARYpzICU
But they had all refused.
They said they would happily serve the Rajkumari instead. That they wished to see her grow and live happily while standing beside her.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUZuCneLah
Ira was forever grateful, of course she was.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsf6WSgMlk
She just found it difficult to understand.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljDWCwXwv3
Rohini, joined by Malini and Savitri, were the only people who kept her sane within the palace walls now.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU9LCQ9wGV
Malini raised her head first, giggling she said, "There's a present for you inside, Rajkumari-” she yelped and jumped away from Savitri. “Pay her no mind, Your Majesty. She's simply had too much time on her hands lately, she began to forget the palace etiquettes.”
Malini grumbled something and Savitri glared at her in response. Both of them always bickered as such, and Ira never paid much mind to it.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKPP5JTfTQ
“What is happening inside? Why is everyone gathered here?”
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrtOQ4TGKZ
Rohini raised her head and glanced unsurely at the hall leading to Ira’s chambers, “The new royal guard is inside, Rajkumari.”
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOVi2OTEb1
Oh.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2mQrhegC2
“I expected him to freshen up and then enter my chambers, did he get a tour of the palace?”124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bkCTSWtuL
“No Rajkumari, he wished to serve you before he received a tour. He said he did not require one, as he would simply need to remain by your side to fulfill his duty.”
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6hS3N9VxW
“He freshened up Rajkumari. We made sure of it.” Malini spoke up again, the suggestiveness in her tone was not missed by Ira.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5jKV1PGnV
Just what on earth were these girls up to while she was gone.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVSuyw9aZP
“Do not scare him away just yet. Father has asked me to be kind to him. We must wait for at least a month or two before we make it so that he tucks his tail between his legs and never enters the Aryavartha palace grounds.”
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOvLXgHYu2
“Ji Rajkumari. Would you like us to prepare a bath for you?”
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dRS36AP6m
“That would be lovely.” She unbuckled the belt on which her swords were sheathed and handed it to Rohini. “Tell the head chef I will be skipping dinner tonight.”
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdpYPgP8du
“But Rajkumari you must-”
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDcfhFWf7s
“I know.” She didn't look at Rohini as she said this. Instead, she pretended to struggle with removing her sand-streaked leather vest.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQNFkoT87X
“I am busy, Rohini. I have some affairs to set in order.” Malini and Savitri came to her side to help her pull the vest off, leaving only the cotton cloth that bound her chest and fell over her shoulder.
Ira pulled the free cloth hanging on her back to tuck it into the waist of her pleated antarīya in the front.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkk5N3KrBjU
The once-white cloth now dulled with dust and mud.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sRBK93nUJ
She began walking down the hall that led to her chambers followed by her antaḥṛpās. Ira owned an entire wing of the main palace. Separate guards stood watch over all who entered or left. Her wing was the most peaceful part of the palace. The only people who would occasionally enter would be her Ācārya and her father. Not even her step mother bothered to set foot into this place.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriq5U3Nhtj
“Did Ācārya come here asking for my attendance?”
Rohini said he had not, that she would send out someone to go enquire where he was. Ira waved a hand at her, “It isn't needed. What I need is that bath. I will come down to the baths myself once I have finished speaking to him.”
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrm9aterFJj
“Shall I call for a royal guard, Rajkumari?”
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicxYAP7ScT
Ira laughed, “Whatever would you do that for?”
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡComQfsfIOm
“They say he's from Thamravansh, that he is a slave.” Ira smiled, nothing could be kept secret for too long in the palace. The walls had ears in this place, the floors whispered secrets. She was sure she heard Malini whisper and excited ‘he's a fine slave for sure’ before Savitri found a way to shut her mouth.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVQGdqHc0Q
“I will speak to him alone. Should he try to harm me, it will make it all the more easier to kick him out. Freeing me from this new shackle Father has placed upon me.”
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeO5TDPQmPE
“Then I shall ask the royal guards to be placed outside your chambers. I shall go to prepare your bath.”
Ira hummed in response, and all her antaḥṛpās bid her farewell formally before they turned around and shuffled out of the hallway.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9dVk3dlSF
Ira walked a little further till she reached the doors to her chambers. The royal guards would take at least five minutes to take their station in front of her chambers. She should wait for.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7bHwk3XwN
That would be sensible.
Safer.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9oxO0KO0c
She had the memory of seeing him, the slave, for the first time in the royal court flash in her mind. How his head had been slightly ducked, avoiding the eye of everyone, even the messenger that brought him. How he had been dressed from head to toe in black, Thamravansh’s common color, save for the golden collar that had glinted in the torches lit nearby. The chain that ran from the collar to the cuffs he had been bound in.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwY2xIyq9eG
The boy hadn't seemed any older than she was, Ira remembered. She remembered how he seemed used to all the curses unbecoming language her kingdom’s courtiers had thrown at the boy this afternoon.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlr0DT3Vhn
How he hadn't even flinched at any decision made upon his life. Like it didn't matter to him at all. Like his life wasn't even his own.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWVCcUZI97
A faint shudder ran through her.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRUL9BsZwq
She would give him that much respect, she decided. She would be kind to him while he served her.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDCkbG7Ib2
Her father wished for that much anyway.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCP8HwDz5h
She opened the doors to her chambers and entered, taking long and what she hoped looked like powerful strides inside.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dACGmAkjt
“Rajkumari—Sūryasya anugrahaḥ tvayi bhavatu.”
May the Lord Surya’s blessing be upon you.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN75xqPzTJR
A royal guard was already inside her chambers. Ira felt a little foolish waiting out deliberating whether walking inside was the right move. She nodded at the guard as a tell to make him raise his head. He stood in attention, his left leg landing with a loud thump on the carpeted floor, before he resumed his report.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3mcqh0JcJ
“He refuses to remove the cloth covering his face, Rajkumari, we had to restrain him to remove it while he washed. But he is ready to serve you, Rajkumari.” behind the royal guard that stood in attention, wearing the royal seal on his attire, kneeled her new guard.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXB9QX7dXF
Her Aṅgarakṣaka.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZ1MdowJGm
He was dressed in a deep maroon, the shade of dye extracted from the royal day-flowers. The cloth that sat as a hood around his head, was bordered with a golden pattern, a similar deep maroon scarf covered the lower half of his face, leaving only his eyes, and his thick brows for view.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSQDiUZhCg
He kneeled on one knee, bowing deep before her.
How respectful for a slave from the enemy kingdom.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOY3LtfaFc
“Leave us.” she ordered.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dhjB4KBqZ
She would need to be alone to exchange what she must with him.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7Ya6dKnGG
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I2k5oI3Kv
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDd0zUEc5p
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogSPxyeWMi
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4wvRXE8gV
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ywYnGOIpG
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5ZkRXAFHT
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkRaaS709B
-
Antaḥṛpā- The Rajkumari’s personal maids.
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFG7KNwaZg
124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJ6hzcV5Ko
and then Add to home screen.