Chapter 205: Chapter 203: Forced By Princess... Smart Play By Vikarama Varma...

(A/N):

Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.

Guys I hope you put more comments and power stones... Which will encourage me...

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The festival continued peacefully over the next few days.

Although the royal army had tightened security throughout Mallikavana, the villagers slowly returned to their normal routines.

Merchants once again filled the streets with lively bargaining, children ran between the flower displays, and the aroma of freshly cooked food drifted through every corner of the village.

Near the center of the marketplace stood a modest food stall that had become popular among both travelers and soldiers.

At one of its wooden tables, Devara and Shakuni were quietly enjoying their midday meal.

The old vendor placed another serving of steaming rice before them.

"Here you go, young masters."

"The curry is fresh."

Shakuni’s eyes immediately lit up.

"This looks wonderful."

Without another word, he eagerly mixed the curry into the rice and began eating with complete concentration, looking like a man who had forgotten the existence of the outside world.

Devara couldn’t help smiling.

"For someone called the greatest statesman of our kingdom..."

"...your greatest weakness seems to be good food."

Shakuni swallowed before replying with complete seriousness.

"A wise minister must never ignore a well-cooked meal."

"It sharpens the mind."

Devara chuckled.

"Convenient philosophy."

"I created it just now. Since I copied it from someone besides me."

The two quietly laughed before returning to their meal.

Around them, the stall remained lively.

Travelers discussed the festival.

Farmers complained about the weather.

A group of soldiers sitting nearby argued over which village prepared the best sweets.

Everything felt surprisingly peaceful.

Then...

The conversations abruptly stopped.

One after another, the customers stood up.

Some folded their hands respectfully.

Others bowed their heads.

Even the old stall owner hurriedly wiped his hands on his cloth before lowering his head in greeting.

The sudden silence immediately caught Devara’s attention.

He slowly placed his cup on the table.

"What happened?"

Shakuni, however, remained focused on his food.

"Mmm..."

"This pickle is excellent."

Devara sighed.

"Damn man..."

Shakuni reluctantly looked up.

"...."

Only then did he notice everyone standing respectfully.

Curious, Devara turned around.

Standing only a few steps behind him...

Was Princess Indhumati.

She wore a simple yet elegant royal dress suitable for attending the festival, though several finely crafted ornaments rested upon her shoulders and wrists.

Behind her stood nearly a dozen royal guards.

Their expressions were calm, but their eyes constantly scanned the surroundings with practiced vigilance.

For a brief moment...

Devara genuinely looked surprised.

’The princess? Why is she here?’

Princess Indhumati looked directly at him.

Her expression remained composed, but her eyes carried something unusual.

Curiosity.

Almost as though she had been searching for an answer to a question that had refused to leave her mind.

The people inside the food stall quietly stepped aside, creating a respectful distance between them.

Neither of them spoke immediately.

Finally...

The princess broke the silence.

"Merchant Deva."

Devara folded his hands politely.

"Your Highness."

"I didn’t expect to see you here."

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"I could say the same."

Her gaze briefly wandered over the simple meal before him.

"So..."

"The famous merchant also enjoys roadside food."

Devara glanced at the plate in front of him.

"The taste of food depends more on the cook than the palace it is served in."

The old stall owner nearly fainted from hearing such praise.

Princess Indhumati smiled despite herself.

Then her expression became serious again.

"I need to speak with you."

Devara blinked.

"With me?"

"Yes."

"If you would kindly come with me."

For a brief second, Devara considered declining.

He still had no idea why the princess wished to meet him.

Moreover...

Meeting the royal family too often was exactly the sort of attention he preferred to avoid.

He politely folded his hands once more.

"Your Highness, I am honored."

"However..."

"I still have my business to attend to."

"I’m afraid I must respectfully decline."

The words had barely left his mouth.

The guards behind the princess exchanged glances.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Without waiting for another reply, two of them stepped forward simultaneously.

Their movements were perfectly disciplined.

Neither reached for a weapon.

Neither appeared threatening.

Yet their intentions were unmistakably clear.

They weren’t leaving without him.

Devara looked from the guards...

...to the princess...

...then back to the guards again.

A long sigh escaped his lips.

-Sigh!

"So..."

He said with a helpless smile.

"That wasn’t really a request, was it?"

Princess Indhumati coughed lightly into her hand, trying very hard to hide the tiny smile threatening to appear.

"I did ask politely."

"The guards are simply... enthusiastic."

Devara looked at the two soldiers.

Neither of them showed the slightest reaction.

"...Very enthusiastic."

Realizing resistance would only attract unnecessary attention, he slowly rose from his seat.

"As you wish, Your Highness."

Princess Indhumati gave a satisfied nod.

"Thank you."

As Devara prepared to leave, he turned toward Shakuni.

The minister hadn’t moved.

He was calmly eating as though none of this concerned him in the slightest.

"Shakuni...."

Shakuni raised a finger without looking up.

"Go."

"I’ll watch the stall."

Devara stared at him.

"I’m being escorted away by the royal guards."

"I noticed."

"And you’re not concerned?"

Shakuni scooped another mouthful of rice.

"Not particularly."

He pointed at the food.

"This curry will become cold if I leave."

Devara stood speechless for a moment.

Then he slowly shook his head.

"I truly chose the wrong person to travel with."

Without lifting his head from the plate, Shakuni replied,

"I’ve been told that before."

Princess Indhumati couldn’t stop the soft laugh that escaped her lips.

Even several guards struggled to keep straight faces.

With one last helpless glance at the minister who had chosen lunch over rescuing his king, Devara resigned himself to his fate and followed the princess out of the food stall.

Behind him, Shakuni calmly called out,

"If you’re delayed..."

"Order dessert will arrive soon."

Devara didn’t even bother turning around.

"...I expected nothing less."

Princess Indhumati led Devara through the heavily guarded royal encampment.

Compared to a few days ago, security had become even stricter.

Soldiers stood at every intersection, while patrols constantly moved between the rows of tents. Every guard who saw the princess immediately saluted before returning to their duties.

Devara quietly observed everything.

’The entire camp has become a fortress. Even a bird would struggle to enter unnoticed now.’

As they walked deeper into the encampment, a familiar voice suddenly rang out.

"Merchant Deva!"

Before Devara could react, Kumara Varma came rushing toward him with an expression that looked as though he had finally found a long-lost student.

"There you are!"

He grabbed Devara’s shoulders dramatically.

"I’ve been searching for you everywhere!"

Devara forced a polite smile.

"...Have you?"

"Of course!"

Kumara Varma nodded vigorously.

"Do you know how disappointed I am?"

"You’ve skipped every single training session!"

He placed both hands on his waist and shook his head like an elderly teacher scolding an irresponsible disciple.

"This is precisely why people fail to become great warriors."

"You lack dedication."

"You must learn discipline."

"Look at me."

"I have never missed a day of training."

He proudly puffed out his chest.

"A true warrior must practice every single day."

Without waiting for a reply, he continued rambling.

"You cannot simply swing a sword once and expect miracles."

"It takes years. Years of sweat. Years of effort."

"Years of learning from a master."

He proudly pointed at himself.

"A master... such as me."

Devara silently stared at him.

"...."

His expression remained perfectly calm, but inwardly he was wondering how someone could speak so much without stopping to breathe.

Beside them, Princess Indhumati quietly folded her arms.

A tiny smirk slowly appeared on her face.

She had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing.

’Serves him right,’

She thought.

’After accusing me of stealing his pouch... He can endure Uncle Kumara’s lectures for a while.’

Kumara Varma continued enthusiastically.

"Tomorrow we’ll begin with sword drills."

"After that, spear techniques."

"Then wrestling."

"And perhaps horse riding."

Devara’s eye twitched almost imperceptibly.

’Absolutely not.’

Seeing that Kumara Varma showed no signs of stopping, Princess Indhumati finally decided she had enjoyed enough of the spectacle.

She cleared her throat.

"Uncle."

Kumara Varma immediately turned.

"Yes?"

"Merchant Deva isn’t here for training."

"He has been summoned by the Queen."

He blinked.

"My sister?"

Princess Indhumati nodded.

"Mother wishes to speak with him personally."

The moment he heard those words, Kumara Varma’s confident expression faltered.

He suddenly remembered something.

Earlier that morning...

The Queen had scolded him rather severely for creating unnecessary commotion among the guards.

He had quietly slipped away afterward before she could continue.

"...Right."

He coughed awkwardly.

-Cough!

"I... actually have something important to do."

Princess Indhumati raised an eyebrow.

"You do?"

"Very important. Extremely important."

"National importance."

He began taking slow steps backward.

"I shouldn’t keep everyone waiting."

Without giving anyone a chance to stop him, Kumara Varma turned around and disappeared almost at a run.

Only after he vanished did Devara quietly exhale.

Princess Indhumati couldn’t hold it in any longer.

A soft laugh escaped her lips.

"It seems my uncle finally found someone willing to listen to his lectures."

Devara smiled helplessly.

"I wasn’t given much choice. While princess threatening with her gaurds..."

Together, they continued toward the Queen’s pavilion.

The royal guards stationed outside respectfully stepped aside as the princess approached.

Just as Indhumati was about to enter...

The entrance curtain was pushed aside from within.

Mahamantri Vikrama Varman stepped out.

The moment he saw the princess, a warm smile appeared on his face.

"My Princess."

He inclined his head politely.

His gaze briefly shifted toward Devara.

"The merchant."

"I see my sister in law has summoned you again."

Devara respectfully folded his hands.

"Mahamantri."

For a brief moment, their eyes met.

Both smiled politely.

Neither revealed the thoughts hidden behind those smiles.

As they prepared to pass one another...

Suddenly—

"My Lord!"

A royal guard came running toward the pavilion at full speed.

His face was filled with urgency.

Perhaps because he was in too much of a hurry...

Perhaps because he wasn’t watching where he was going...

He stumbled.

"Ah!"

Unable to stop himself, the guard crashed directly into Vikrama.

The Mahamantri lost his balance and staggered backward.

Princess Indhumati had been standing immediately behind him.

Before she could react...

Vikrama’s shoulder struck hers.

She stumbled backward as well.

Her footing slipped.

Just as she was about to fall—

A firm pair of hands caught her.

Devara instinctively stepped forward.

One arm supported her back while the other steadied her before she could hit the ground.

For a brief moment...

The princess found herself leaning against him.

"...."

"...."

Their eyes met. Both froze.

Neither spoke.

The surrounding guards looked away out of courtesy.

Princess Indhumati quickly regained her balance and stepped back, a faint blush appearing across her cheeks.

"...Thank you."

"It was nothing, Your Highness."

Neither of them noticed something else that had happened during the brief collision.

Vikrama wore a large ring upon his right hand.

Mounted upon it was a beautifully polished crimson gemstone with unusually sharp edges.

As he had stumbled into the princess...

One of those sharp edges had lightly grazed the back of her hand.

A thin red line appeared.

Then...

A single drop of blood slowly rolled down her fair skin.

The Queen’s attendants immediately gasped.

"Princess!"

Vikrama looked genuinely alarmed.

"My goodness."

"I am terribly sorry."

He quickly took out a spotless white handkerchief from within his robes.

Allowing no one else to react first, he gently held Princess Indhumati’s injured hand.

"I never intended this."

Using the cloth, he carefully wiped away the blood before inspecting the tiny cut.

"It appears to be only a scratch."

"I deeply apologize."

Princess Indhumati smiled reassuringly.

"It isn’t serious, Uncle."

"It was merely an accident."

Vikrama sighed with visible relief.

Then he turned sharply toward the guard responsible.

"What were you thinking?"

His usually calm voice carried unmistakable authority.

"This is the royal pavilion."

"Running carelessly through the camp?"

The guard immediately dropped to one knee.

"My deepest apologies, Mahamantri!"

"I received an urgent report... I wasn’t paying attention."

Vikrama let out a long sigh.

"See that such carelessness never happens again."

"Yes, Mahamantri!"

The guard bowed repeatedly.

With one final apologetic glance toward the princess, Vikrama tucked the now bloodstained handkerchief into the sleeve of his robe.

"I must attend to the matter that summoned me."

He folded his hands respectfully.

"Please excuse me."

Without waiting for another reply, he turned and walked away alongside the guard.

His pace remained calm.

His face remained gentle.

"...."

To anyone watching...

He looked like a concerned uncle leaving after an unfortunate accident.

But the moment he was beyond everyone’s sight...

The warmth vanished from his face.

A faint, cold smile slowly appeared.

Hidden safely within his sleeve...

His fingers lightly brushed the folded handkerchief.

The tiny crimson stain upon the white cloth was exactly what he had wanted.

His eyes narrowed with quiet satisfaction.

’At last... The ritual has its offering.’

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(Author note:)

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Guys I have a new fic which named: Karuppan: King of Openings.