Princess Chitrangada was carefully stretching the arrow in a bowstring. There was absolute silence as she aimed at the deer. The deer stopped for a second, it's ear moving to catch the vibrations of any movement.

"This is it" whispered Chitra and released the arrow. It shot through the air piercing the deer through the neck. It fell dead instantly.

"Wow! Your highness. This was awesome. You can hunt as good as a man" Said Poonam.

Poonam was Chitra's chief ladies in waiting and her best friend. Princess Chitrangada stood proud and smiled. She gestured at her bodyguards to collect the dead deer.

"I have been practicing" Chitrangada replied.

Chitrangada was as beautiful as Apsaras the heavenly maidens. She was taller than average women. Had an athletic built with curvaceous hips, narrow waist, and proud firm breasts.

She had amber eyes like limpid pools of gold that adorned her flawless face, long, dark hair that tumbled over her shoulders like a fountain of molten chocolate, an aquiline nose, and pink lips. People said she might be the reincarnation of Menaka the heavenly nymph. Raja Kirtiveer was indeed blessed to have such ethereal beauty as a daughter. She was destined to be the Queen since the day she was born as she was engaged to the Crown Prince Vikram. Such Fortune attracted both blessings as well as envy.

Unconcerned with these complexities Chitrangada had been pampered by her parents. As per the customs she had been trained in all martial arts and she excelled in all of them.

She especially loved horse riding and often left the palace secretly without her bodyguards to enjoy the freedom of riding.

She was reprimanded by her mother whenever caught because it was dangerous for a princess to be out all alone. But that did not deter her from her escapades.

She returned triumphally from the forest with the dead deer when she ran into her father in the courtyard. He was having a discussion with the Raj Purohit and her mother.

Hearing her voice Raja Kirtiveer turned to greet her " My darling looks happy today".

Chitra bowed to the Raj Purohit then turned towards her father.

"Yes, father I killed a huge deer today. I mean it must have been 8 feet, at least with beautiful skin. It would make an excellent rug for you" Chitra replied proudly of her accomplishments.

"Chitra you should not be going out in this harsh sun. Look at you, you have tanned, and your hair is a complete mess. A princess should not rough it out like a commoner. why don't you say something to her" Queen Kalavati said?

Kirtiveer laughed " My daughter is free to do whatever she likes as long as she is in Navsarika. She is responsible enough isn't it dear?"

Chitra grinned and nodded enthusiastically.

"You have spoilt her; she would be getting married soon what would Raj Mata say that I didn't give proper training to her daughter in law" Kalavati lamented.

"I am sure she would be won over by our daughter, who wouldn't be ?"

Kirtiveer said.

"You arrived right on time Prince Vikram is visiting later today."

Chitra beamed "What! This is awesome. I hope he brings the things which I had requested".

Vikram and Chitra had been childhood friends. As they were engaged, their families often visited each other and planned several hunting trips together.

It was Vikram who had first taught her how to string a bow and an arrow when she was 5-year-old. He always brought her exotic items like rare gems, pearls, or fabric on his visits. But what she loved best was the rare books which he brought , on her request.

Chitra loved literature especially rare Sanskrit books. She ran off towards her quarters to change and welcome Vikram.

Kirtiveer turned towards Raj Purohit and said, "So 3 months from today would be the perfect date for the wedding?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I will send a message to Maharaj. This also gives us ample time to prepare" Kirtiveer replied.

Not far from the Palace in the Royal guest house Prince Vikram was thrusting deep into the figure sprawled naked under him. His eyes screwed in pleasure as he thrust faster!

"Your highness!" The woman moaned louder matching his rhythm. Finally, Vikram could not hold any longer with a roar he reached his climax. He collapsed next to her and panted. The woman turned sideways lifting her head on her elbows and looked at him adoringly.

"Did you enjoy my prince?"

"You are always at your best. Can't wait to take you to my palace" He replied.

Indu beamed but she knew what he meant. She could never become his consort. She was a low born ladies in waiting. At most she could hope to become one of his concubines which would be little improvement over her status of a maid for Princess Chitrangada.

However, being a close confidant of the crown Prince and the future king bestowed certain power. She was eager to grab that.

Indu had always been an ambitious woman. She was beautiful with a voluptuous body that she used for her advantage. On his last visit, she had served the prince dressed in her most low-cut blouse and daringly low lehenga which accentuated her midriff. As expected, the Prince had secretly invited her into his quarters. Thus, she got her place as his secret lover along with many others.

Princess Chitrangada might get her place as the Queen but Indu was determined that he would prefer her in bed. However, the Prince was enamored with the princess, Indu was aware of it. She needed an opportunity to create a misunderstanding, a slight rift, anything that would make the princess fall from his grace. It would not be easy, and it might happen after a long wait, but Indu was patient.

Vikram left the bed and picked up his clothes from the floor.

He threw her veil at her and said "Get dressed woman! And make sure you tidy up the bed. I have to meet my princess soon" He chuckled and went off towards the bathroom.

Prince Vikram was a charmer, he was tall, muscular with an angelic face and husky voice that could charm any woman. He was aware of his powers and used it to his advantage.

There was hardly any noblewoman, pheasant, or a prostitute in the Gurjar-Pratihara region who could resist his spell if he tried. Princess Chitrangada was the only woman who was out of reach for him.

Though she belonged to him he could not even dream of touching her until the wedding. He had been warned by his father to keep his philandering ways in check lest it offended Raja Kirtiveer. Chitrangda still treated him like her childhood friend rather than a lover. Maybe because she was still naive and too sheltered.

"It would be fun teaching her pleasures of the bed," he thought and smiled in his bathtub.

Vikram was welcomed and ushered into the Royal inner courtyard when he reached the palace. He greeted the King and the queen while waiting impatiently for the Princess.

"Vikram! How are you?" Chitra beamed as she ran toward him.

Rani Kalavati gave her a stern look "How many times do I need to tell you don't take his name. It's inappropriate"

"But we are friends mother !" she protested

"It's inappropriate to take your husband's name. How many times do I need to remind you?"

"I will stop when we are married" and giggled.

Vikram laughed "It's good to see Chitra has not changed at all".

"What did you bring for me?" She asked excitedly.

"There is a surprise for you in the stables."

"Really? Come on show it to me now! please" Chitra said with childlike enthusiasm.

Vikram and Kirtiveer laughed while Kalavati rolled her eyes at her insolence. Chitra had lot to learn regarding the Royal decorum.

Chitrangda squealed with delight as she stroked the white horse which Vikram had brought as a gift.

"He is beautiful" she smiled her eyes stuck on the horse while Vikram stared at her.

"You are becoming more and more beautiful Chitra," He said.

She turned towards him and grinned "but mother says I have become tanned and she frowns when I go horse riding".

"When I become the King, I will make a law that no one should bother my sweetheart. Not even her mother. She is free to do anything."

Chitrangda laughed "As if Rajmata(queen mother) would let you do that ".

Vikram smiled and leaned closer to hold her waist "I am not afraid of the Rajmata".

"But I am scared of her, I get a feeling she doesn't like me."

"But I like you, you must only be concerned about me because you belong to me, others don't matter."

Chitrangda grinned and slipped out of his grip "I don't belong to anyone, your Highness. I am a free woman.Want to race? Let us see who will win" she laughed and hauled herself over the horse.

Vikram was annoyed for a moment because of her breaking away when he was trying to be more intimate but decided it was not a long wait for the wedding anyway.

"Challenge accepted," He said and hauled himself on another horse.

Raja Kirtiveer was looking at the latest reports from the Law and order minister.

"The bandits have increased their raids, Your Majesty. I have dispatched a fresh platoon of soldiers to the Newari village. But the problem is these bandits are coming from the Dandak forest which is on the border. They are fast and hide deep in the jungles."

"Are you saying these bandits could be coming from the other side of the border the Chalukaya Kingdom?"

"It's a possibility, your majesty. As of now, we are still investigating."

Kirtiveer frowned. This was bad news. Border hostility with the Chalukaya was not new but if they were intentionally creating problems by sending bandits he needed to discuss with Maharaj Vallabhdev. He did not want any issues during the wedding.

After pondering for a while, he said "Keep investigating and try to catch them alive. We need to interrogate them"

"As you command your majesty" the minister replied.