Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 234: Last Date at capital

Purana Qila, royal dining room, night of April 23, 1557.

Under the soft glow of chandeliers and the flickering torchlights that illuminated the private dining chamber, the table was filled with South Indian cuisines.

The air was infused with the rich aroma of spices, creating an atmosphere that was both inviting and serene.

The room was elegantly furnished, with a long, ornate table placed at the center which was surrounded by plush chairs.

As Aditya entered the room wearing his usual red kurta and white dhoti, he was greeted by the alluring sight: Princess Meenakshi stood at the door, dressed in a majestic blue saree with beautiful golden embroidery that matched her shining jewellery and glowing complexion.

Aditya was charmed by her appearance. Just the sight of her seemed to wash away the day’s tensions. His gaze lingered momentarily on her smooth navel and slender waist on the gaps of her tucked saree, the temptation was too strong.. but he quickly reined himself by reminding ’Dont look there’ he forced to lock his eyes on her, ’She’s just a friend who happens to align with my tastes. Lets not repeat the same mistake.’

With a knowing smile, he greeted the princess with a teasing tone, his hands raised in namaste. "Am I in the right place, or is this some sort of divine realm where I happen to stumble upon a beauty who looks no less than a deity?"

Meenakshi giggled and returned the greeting with a polite namaste. "Please don’t embarrass me, Prince. I’m not sure if this is a divine realm or not, but I can assure you, this maiden is just a normal mortal like any other."

Aditya laughed it off. "A mere mortal and a maiden—what a combination."

Meenakshi smiled and motioned for him to sit. "Please, take your seat. I would like to show you my specialty today."

The table was filled with a minimum of nine to ten dishes, all in a big one golden plate. Aditya recognized five or six at a glance, as a Mumbaikar in his past life, these dishes were also common in his time.

In the center of the table lay a mound of rice, flanked by creamy dal and rich curries of fish and mutton, alongside a variety of vegetable dishes. To the right, there were dosas and sambhar, their crispy edges and aromatic fragrance inviting him to sample them. Further along, he noticed other rice-based dishes that seemed to have a touch of sweetness, giving the impression of a dessert.

He was not surprised by the number of dishes; he had his share of experience dining with royalty before, and he was certain he needed to address it so as not to make it an overwhelming affair.

"I appreciate your hard work, Meenakshi, but I don’t think I can have all of this to myself alone."

Meenakshi smiled, her eyes shining with affection. "Don’t worry, Aditya. Taste as much as you like, and the rest you can leave. I simply wanted you to try my dishes. You had me taste your chicken, now it’s my turn to return the favor."

Aditya felt relieved that he wasn’t burdened with the expectation to finish it all. He suddenly had an idea. "Have you finished your dinner?"

Meenakshi shook her head. "Don’t worry about me, I have enough saved for myself."

Aditya suggested, "Then how about we share the meal? You can pass on the rest to the other maidens."

Meenakshi looked troubled for a moment before adding, "Fine, but I will take from your plate. In our culture, once food is placed on the plate, it is considered bad omen to transfer it to another plate."

Aditya blinked, momentarily perplexed. ’What kind of culture is this?’ he thought but quickly masked his confusion with a small chuckle.

Meenakshi then took the lead and decided to introduce all the dishes as she sat beside him comfortably.

As Aditya settled into his seat, Meenakshi gestured toward the table with a warm smile, her eyes sparkling with pride as she began to describe the dishes.

"At the center, we have pongal, made from rice and lentils, lightly spiced with black pepper and cumin. This reddish soup is rasam, a spicy and tangy dish prepared with dal, dried mango, and tamarind. This one here is poriyal, a vegetable curry made with beans, mustard seeds, and coconut. And this," she hesitated briefly, then continued with a soft smile, "is chana masala. I made it because you once shared it with me, though I wasn’t sure of your preferences for vegetables."

Aditya waved dismissively, his tone light. "It’s fine. As long as it’s tasty, every vegetable is the same to me. Now, what’s in the meat? It smells heavenly."

A satisfied smile spread across Meenakshi’s lips, basking in the compliment to her efforts. "This is mutton korma, a goat meat curry famous in our region. And this," she gestured proudly, "is meen kulambu, a pomfret fish curry with a rich blend of coconut milk and coriander. I’m sure you’ll find it finger-licking good."

Aditya chuckled, his curiosity piqued. "Well, I’m already salivating. What about those over there?" he pointed to the left side of the table.

Meenakshi’s voice softened as she explained, These are appam, accompanied by a rich coconut stew. And this sweet delight is payasam, made with milk pudding, cardamom, and saffron. To the right, we have masala dosa and it is made of.."

Aditya raised a hand, chuckling again. "Alright, alright, stop. I think I’ve got enough of an introduction. Let’s dive in and discover the flavors ourselves."

Meenakshi nodded with a smile, but just as Aditya reached for his spoon, a playful slap landed on his wrist, catching him by surprise.

"Now what?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Don’t use spoons while eating with me. Use your hands instead; that way, it will be more comfortable," Meenakshi said, her tone teasing.

"Why? What’s wrong with the spoon?"

"You use your own hand for eating, but if you use a spoon, who knows how many mouths it might have traveled through before ending up in yours," she replied with a mischievous grin.

Aditya paused, processing her reasoning. Eating with hands was a cultural norm he respected, but this particular logic was baffling. He often alternated between hands and spoons, but her explanation made him question everything.

Determined not to relent, he countered, "Then don’t drink from a glass directly. The same principle applies there."

Meenakshi giggled, enjoying his annoyance. Aditya rolled his eyes and stood up, only for her to call out, "Wait, wait, I was joking. You can use your spoon if you want."

Aditya replied lightly, "Now, this is a first, I guess. Anyway, I’m not leaving; I’m just going to wash my hands. I’ll be back soon."

Before he could step away, Meenakshi quickly grabbed his hand and withdrew it just as fast. "I apologize, but it’s considered a bad omen to leave while being served."

Aditya sighed, settling back in his seat. "So, you don’t want me to leave, nor do you want me to use the spoon. Then how should I eat?"

Meenakshi’s smile softened. "It’s alright, Aditya. No need to take my joke so seriously. You can use the spoon."

He smirked. "No, thanks to a certain genius, I’m now hesitant to use the spoon."

An awkward silence followed before Meenakshi spoke up, her expression thoughtful. "I think it’s time I returned the favor," she said with a warm smile. "You once fed me, so it’s only fair."

Aditya chuckled. "Amazing. And how will our princess eat, then?"

She paused before answering. "You can feed me with the spoon. That would be a unique experience. Besides, it was my fault for making you uneasy, so it’s only right I accept this ’punishment.’"

Aditya raised an eyebrow, amused. "How righteous. Well then, come and face your judgment."

What followed was a meal unlike any other. What should have been a brief dinner stretched into hours as they shared laughter and playful moments. Meenakshi clasped the spoon with her teeth at one point, while Aditya playfully licked her fingers in mock retaliation. They smeared bits of food on each other’s cheeks, punctuated by light-hearted jabs, playful bites, and moments that brought them closer with every interaction.

When the meal was finally over and they had cleaned themselves up, Aditya offered, "How about a walk to the temple?"

Without hesitation, Meenakshi agreed, "Alright."

As they strolled under the moonlit sky, Aditya’s thoughts lingered on the moments they had just shared. The playful exchanges, the unspoken understanding. her sweet voice—he got a sudden realisation. They all seemed to answer the question that had been troubling him since the beginning. Yet, he hesitated. One wrong word could jeopardize the delicate balance of their empires’ relationship. The matter was serious, but finding the right words proved difficult. Instead, he opted for formal conversation, starting with her well-being as a guest and the status of their consignment.

"So, the equipment is all set—only the Pinaka delivery remains?," Aditya said in a serious tone.

"It’s alright, Aditya. I think only a dozen are left. They’ll be all set within a few days," Meenakshi replied, her gaze cast downward. Despite their earlier rapport, there was a recognizable sadness in her demeanor, making Aditya even more suspicious.

After a moment of thought, Aditya suggested, "Then how about departing to the south with us? Our people can have extra security while our destination is the same toward the south."

Meenakshi looked at him, her tone tinged with frustration. "So, it’s just about mutual security and nothing else?"

Aditya shrugged nonchalantly. "Yes. Am I missing something?"

Meenakshi sighed, exasperated. She was done with this idiot. She had hoped that, at least during this final meeting, he would confess his feelings. Instead, it had been nothing but formalities, as if she were the only one falling for him. Despite her hints, he seemed oblivious—or uninterested. Perhaps she wasn’t beautiful enough of his attention. Still, the offer made sense, and refusing it would be foolish given the size of their consignment.

As they reached the temple’s perimeter, she replied, "It would be our honor, Prince. We will depart together, then."

Aditya nodded, his suspicion deepening. Teasing, he said, "Now, suddenly we have this wall of etiquette? Are we not friends anymore?"

Meenakshi met his gaze thoughtfully. "There are times when one must respect boundaries. I am truly privileged to be treated as an honored guest, but since I’m relying on you, it’s only right I show you the respect you deserve. As for friendship, " she smiled warmly, " we are indeed good friends forever..."

They climbed the temple stairs, where the stones glistened under the dim moonlight. Aditya gestured for them to sit.

As they settled, Aditya broke the silence. "Meenakshi, we’ve spent a lot of time together. Soon, we’ll be miles apart. Can I ask you a question I’ve been curious about?"

Meenakshi smiled. "Of course. What is it?"

For a moment, there was an awkward pause before Aditya asked directly, "Did you receive any threats during your stay?"

Meenakshi blinked in surprise. Shaking her head, she replied, "No. Why would anyone target me?"

"I received intel suggesting you were threatened to stay away from me," Aditya said, his tone cautious.

Meenakshi’s smile turned rueful. "I see. So that’s why you’ve been distant these past days. Let me remind you, Prince, that I am more than capable of handling threats. If I couldn’t, I wouldn’t be miles away from my empire, speaking with you in the middle of the night."

Aditya wanted to press further, but before he could, a voice interrupted them.

"Your Highness, I apologize for interrupting, but it’s time to return," said Akriti, Meenakshi’s maid.

Meenakshi rose gracefully and turned to Aditya. "It was a good dinner, your highness. I look forward to seeing you at the departure."

Aditya nodded, offering her a tight-lipped smile. He watched silently as Meenakshi and Akriti disappeared into the shadows, his gaze fixed on her retreating figure.

"Sorry, Princess," he murmured under his breath. "But I can’t speak my heart until I’m certain."