Chapter 171: Unexpected Plea
Rewari Kingdom, fort city Bawal, morning of 26th march 1557.
The following morning, Aditya woke up with a mild headache, but his mind was clear. As he sat on his bed, memories of the previous evening flashed in his mind. He sighed, remembering how he had crossed the lines, slandering Mathew and speaking nonsense to Meenakshi. Fortunately, nothing he did appeared terrible enough to land him in serious trouble.
With the coronation of Crown Prince Randeep fast approaching, Aditya had little time to dwell on his drunken missteps. The importance of the day far outweighed his personal regrets. He hurried to freshen up and prepare for the ceremony. His relationship with Randeep had always been good, and by attending the coronation, any lingering tensions between them could easily be smoothed over.
Throughout the fort city of Bawal, the air was alive with celebration as preparations for Crown Prince Randeep’s coronation were in full swing. Villagers from adjacent towns were encouraged to join in the festivities and get free food and presents. The walls of the inner and outer courtyards were decorated with garlands, banners, and rows of glowing diyas, creating a joyful mood.
Security in the inner courtyard, which held the hidden city, had been significantly tightened. Outsiders were only permitted in following careful inspections to ensure the safety of the royal event.
From the outskirts of the fort, long lines of villagers could be seen, along with special arrangements for invited guests. Aditya, mindful of his friend’s significant day, visited several key checkpoints and oversaw the security arrangements, even deploying his own royal guards to support the fort’s defenses.
After ensuring everything was in order, he joined Crown Prince Randeep at the temple of Lord Shiva, where the prince sought blessings for the sacred occasion.
Though the coronation was hastily arranged, and few neighboring kingdoms had been invited, the event still drew a modest crowd of foreign ambassadors and imperial officials. Invitations for the post-coronation banquet had already been sent out, ensuring that the celebration would extend beyond today. Despite the relatively low-key nature of the ceremony, the presence of key figures like Prince Aditya signaled the continued strength of the relationship between the Rewari Kingdom and the empire.
Before the coronation, Randeep was to be paraded through the streets atop a richly adorned elephant, a symbol of power and respect, to receive the blessings and support of the people. Aditya was invited to accompany him in the procession, which he did gladly. They were surrounded by royal guards, who served as a human barrier between the audience and the royal entourage. The streets were lined with shouting civilians. Their faces were lit up with delight and appreciation. To see their favourite prince preparing to take the throne, accompanied by the empire’s Prince Aditya, conveyed a clear message: the kingdom-empire link was unbreakable.
However, in the midst of the parade, a disturbance rippled through the crowd. An elderly man, frail but determined, came running forward, breaking through the barrier and throwing himself onto the dusty road ahead of the procession. He lay prostrate on the ground, his voice trembling as he pleaded for an audience.
The procession came to an abrupt halt. Gasps of shock spread through the crowd, and whispers filled the air.
"How this man slipped past the guards?"