The News arrives:

Early the next morning, Neji exited his chamber in high spirits. No matter how long the eunuchs begged him, he wouldn’t open his mouth regarding his plans for the day. Even eunuch Nolan who’d served the prince since his early teens was baffled with his actions, but who were they to obstruct him. If the prince said the Phoenix was just a bird, he was probably right; or if he favored porridge over the seven delicacies, even then he was right.

They as servants could close their mouths, but they couldn’t hold their thoughts. A weird rumor that the prince was seen talking to a servant girl entered their train of thoughts. A dragon of the imperial bloodline cannot be attracted to a lowly maid, they thought but was it true? They didn’t know. Even if they did, they wouldn’t be able to reprimand him. His Highness, the Crown Prince, was away negotiating with the Moguls, and His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor, was seemingly lenient when he heard the rumor.

The palace which was a jewel adorning the lands of the capital was a den of wolves and snakes acting their parts only waiting to reveal their fangs. The two younger brothers of the Crown Prince were ready to point their fingers at any and all faults. They would readily draw blood without staining their hands. By the time, the Prince was having his breakfast, all the palace maids and eunuchs had heard of the rumor.

A Prince, a dragon among men supposedly fell for a seductress maid who overestimated herself.

Neji wasn’t aware of the ruckus that was happening behind closed doors and in the hearts of many but he did observe the slightly weird gazes of the servants. Usually afraid to even lift their heads in front of him, some women were a little too interested in him today. And, his gaze finally landed on Nolan.

Eunuch Nolan had been waiting for a chance to reveal the matter but hadn’t been able to say anything as the prince was in a happy mood. When he saw the prince’s enquiring stare, he immediately kneeled down and explained everything down to the last detail.

The other servants in the room were scared and bowed till they could only see their own feet. To them, Neji was a considerable master, but the people of the imperial family weren’t so simple, one wrong word and they might lose their life; forget about justice, not even a dog would spare them a glance. If the emperor or the prince want them dead, then they had no reason to live. All servants were aware of this fact.

Eunuch Nolan's back was drenched as he held the greatest responsibility. He wasn’t just sent to serve the prince but was also expected to uphold the prince's reputation. He hadn’t managed to control the rumors, and now the entire palace was like a gigantic machine creating false stories and absurd accusations.

Sure, he’d seen the prince talk to a servant girl last night and as the prince, he was the owner of all women serving the emperor. It was a short conversation; the Prince might have fancied the girl, or he was just playing around, he didn’t know, but now it had escalated to the point where they were calling the girl a whore, and the prince a womanizer. Some even dared say to go as far as to say that the bloodline was already corrupted as the girl was pregnant with a son of the direct bloodline.

If it were in any other situation, the consequences wouldn’t be so bad but now that the emperor was aging and the Crown Prince wasn’t at home; the two High Princes were like foxes waiting to tear at the Crown Prince’s reputation from any side. A son’s fault is a father’s sin. And, certainly, everyone who sided with the second and the third imperial son was using this slight opportunity to scold and blame Neji.

It was truly berating the mulberry when pointing at the little peach.

But, unlike what they’d expected Neji didn’t burst into rage nor did he even frown from the beginning to the end. He only concentrated on his pigeon soup, and when he was finished, he rinsed his mouth with some warm water. Only then did he raise his head and glanced at Nolan who didn’t dare raise his head.

“Rumors are rumors; send some of this soup to my uncles’ palaces and pass on my reply. Don’t mistake me for a motherless duckling, whoever I chose to be my woman shall be above them when she’s mine and my son shall naturally inherit my grandfather’s courage and intelligence, they need not concern over my well-being.” Neji said in a calm voice, his smile never leaving his face.

The intention, however, was very clear; it was like a slap to all those who spread the rumors. Don’t mess with me, was the most appropriate translation. But, Nolan and those servants couldn’t help but think, Whoever I chose to be my woman shall be above them when she’s mine and my son shall naturally inherit my grandfather’s courage and intelligence. What did he mean? Was he telling others that he would choose his bride, or was he informing others not to touch the poor maid?

If she did end up with the prince, he was warning them of her status. As the eldest daughter in law, she would naturally be the official wife. And truthfully, her status would one day rise above them all. If they carelessly slander and get on his wrong side, he was warning them that he wouldn’t be lenient.

Nolan widened his eyes in shock; seeing the calm yet dangerous words of the prince he bowed his head and silently left the prince. The maids and the butlers who were waiting for the prince were moved and shocked by the prince’s words. Their master had never said a word about this lady, and today, he almost declared to everyone that she belonged to him and that he wouldn’t tolerate any disrespect towards her.

Was this their little prince? They thought. When had he grown up? Some of the old servants smiled in their hearts.

While Eunuch Nolan went to pass on his master’s words, Emperor Mehak had a dark face as he heard the report on Vaani. She had no background. Her father was a drunkard; her mother died some years ago and at the age of fourteen, she entered the palace as a trainee. Quickly climbing through the ranks due to her sensible nature and intelligent choice of words, she was promoted to serve in the Imperial palace just a month ago.

No matter in status, education, family or any other qualifications, she wasn’t suited to the prince. She was someone a prince should never even glance at, and his grandson was chasing after this woman. Mehak couldn’t believe ears for a while, but thinking of the conversation with his grandson, he calmed down.

It wasn’t that he didn’t think the nobles were above common folk but the palace was truly a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers resided. An inexperienced, naive country girl would lose her life faster than a firefly if she unknowingly offends the wrong person. But, he still couldn’t understand his grandson’s way of thinking.

“Sir, Prince is still young. It must be a passing attraction,” seeing the Emperor’s dark face and angry frown, the head Eunuch Ernnal convinced in a small voice.

Mehak frown eased a little, and he sighed in his heart. If that was just that, then he couldn’t be happier, but the ways of heart would sometimes go past the rationality of mind. He was an emperor, even if he didn’t like some things, he’d still do them. Born in his family, Neji would have to sooner or later understand that he couldn’t do anything he wished. Being a ruler gives a man ultimate power and freedom, but nothing comes without a price, sometimes somethings have to be sacrificed to gain something much more important.

Right at that moment, a shadow crept into the room silently and without any trace. Ernnal stiffened in fright but seeing the calm expression on the emperor’s face; he struggled to keep a straight face. Mehak frowned slightly as he saw the shadow dancing before him and snorted. A laugh resounded in the study as if mocking the emperor frightening Ernnal to death but soon the darkness condensed and took the form of a small cat.

“Did I anger you, Your Majesty?” The cat asked in the raspy human voice imbued with sexiness and jumped on the table. Ernnal reacted at the sudden movement but stopped as Mehak lifted his hand. He’d never seen the shadow or the cat but seeing the emperor’s attitude; Ernnal concluded that the shadow was probably just a projection of someone’s arcane. To be able to control the arcane to this extent, and even use telepathy, just who was this master? He thought.

“Enough Neem, what is it?” Mehak frowned and questioned. He tried hard to hide his irritation but still there was no mirth in his voice.

The cat laughed but didn’t seem to mind the emperor’s anger. The cat licked its tail and paws as if it was a majestic creature of the night before finally saying, “His Highness, the Crown Prince has sent me to inform you that the Moguls have broken the treaty and schemed to claim his life. But, he has not only escaped from the pagans but also claimed the life of the second imperial son of Moguls in the process and will be triumphantly returning to the Imperial court with Princess Feya.”

Those words rang like thunder in the ears of Mehak. He rose to his feet in shock, confusion, and disbelief. He couldn’t guess why the Moguls would break the treaty, but he understood what was upon them. At that moment

of shock, as a concerned father he completely trusted his son but as an emperor, he questioned the news, but neither of them spared a moment of thought to his new daughter in law.

*******

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Kanna.