Chapter 115: Deal with Vijayanagar’s Princess
After the bathtub incident with Prince Aditya, Princess Meenakshi found it incredibly difficult to face him. She had come to discuss the precarious matters of her declining empire, but fate had entangled her in a shameful mishap. Filled with anxiety, she too caught a fever, alongside her maid and. She had barely managed to escape the embarrassment by avoiding the night’s meeting.
She had already spent two days avoiding him, wherever she spotted Aditya, terrified that the prince might discover her identity. However, when nothing of note changed, she was relieved, believing the prince had no idea about her involvement in the massage incident. Had it been something different she could have taken it lightly but the incident was so shameful she couldn’t muster courage to face it.
But she was the princess of Vijayanagara, she steeled her resolve, and she prepared herself mentally to finally meet the prince for the purpose of her visit. But something changed when her eyes met his at the exhibition. She was impressed by the way he maturely handled the other delegates, reminiscent of her father, despite being the same age as her.
The air of superiority and his deftness in manoeuvring critical discussions to his advantage struck a chord within her
For the first time, she felt impressed with someone who can perhaps keep within her toes. Her heart beat faster, and she couldn’t fathom the exact unfamiliar reason behind it. Nevertheless, she remained steadfast in her resolve and awaited their hopeful meeting. When her time came to meet the prince and she entered the tent with her held high as the princess of the Empire but she came in to see something surprising.
The formidable and gloriously spoken-of prince was now sleeping like a harmless child on the table. It was understandable that he was exhausted and felt pressured. Somehow, seeing him like this made her nervousness disappear. it was now replaced by unknown calmness in her heart.
She couldn’t help but giggle as she approached him. Gently placing her hand on his shoulder, she jolted him awake in surprise.
Aditya’s POV
Aditya blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the sleepiness. Standing before him was the Vijayanagar representative, a dignified woman seemingly his age, draped in a brightly colored silk saree with intricate gold embroidery. Despite having spotted her before, she felt peculiarly calm yet commanding when confronted alone. However, her gaze reflected kindness and care.
"My apologies, Prince, for startling you," she said softly, her voice carrying a blend of authority and warmth.
Aditya straightened up, offering a weary smile. "No need to apologize. I should be the one apologizing for keeping you waiting."
She inclined her head gracefully. "It’s alright, Prince. I am Meenakshi, daughter of Emperor Tirumala Deva Raya of the Vijayanagar Empire. I have heard much about your innovations and even witnessed the impact they had on the battlefield."