Chitra followed Shivaditya to their room. He was still red and he collapsed on a chair. She couldn't stop laughing at him.

He made a grumpy face and said: "I have never been so embarrassed, and you are laughing."

"Well I can't help it..you look soo..so...shaken."

"Aunty always makes me feel like a little schoolboy." He grumbled.

"She is quite a sweetheart though. She is brash no doubt but she is pretty nice."

"Yeah, she is a dear apart from her tacky conversation."

"Well." Chitra soothed him.

"Well, there's just one way to avoid her, we should run off to that jungle lodge till she goes back."

"That is so rude, She is your aunt. Btw how does she know Vikram's grandmother ?"

"They have a history they don't get along well so she was quite satisfied to know that I nicked away her Future daughter in law."

Chitra was shocked "Really !! I didn't know is it why your two families have a rivalry?"

"No our rivalry is more political and something of an ego issue my great-great-grandfather had run off with Vikram's Great Great Grandfather's sister! There was bloodshed then and it's been going on since."

He pulled her in his lap and said "I would love to retreat with you in that forest lodge again. You know to refresh the old memories" he carelessly ran his hands through her hair.

She ruffled his hair and said "I have to tell you something. While you were away I went to the marketplace with Kamakshi one old woman attacked and cursed at me."

He looked angry " What! why didn't anyone inform me? Did she gets executed?"

"I pardoned her. I asked Maharaj to pardon her" she replied.

"What? Why?" He asked surprised.

"It wasn't her fault. She lost everything in the war which is our creation."

Shivaditya thought about the army of children." I came across something similar as well."

He narrated the entire incident.

"Where is that boy now?" She asked.

"I brought him along, he wanted to join the army. So he will be trained as a soldier."

"That's very sweet of you."

"This also made me think that wars affect the common people most. I agree we cannot go fully demilitarized but the campaign in the south for example. It wasn't required. That made the change in tax rates which enraged the provincial leaders which led to rebellion. Everything action leads to some consequence."

Chitra gave a smug smile. It was the first time that Shivaditya had said something against his father's views. Perhaps he would not be a puppet anymore.

"Shiv I think you should become more active in administration." She said caressing his hair.

"Alright if you insist my lady." He hugged her placing a kiss on her lips.

******

Devburman was standing in front of the cell where Shubhraj was locked up. He coughed to attract his attention.

"Why are you here?" Shubhraj said.

"Father I am sorry you have to go through this," Devburman replied.

"Perhaps I wouldn't be here had you not betrayed me. My son!" he spat angrily.

"I had to do this to save the empire father. It was already clear that I was never interested in being the king. But you never paid attention to my wish."

"You are stupid! You know nothing! " Shubhraj replied.

Dev sighed "I should be leaving now a father. I am sorry for everything." He turned away.

"Shivaditya killed Mrignayani, " Shubhraj said making sure Dev heard it.

Dev turned around in disbelief "You are lying."

"I was the chief advisor I know what happened and why Shivaditya was sent away."

"I don't believe you!" Dev said enraged.

"I know you won't. Why don't you ask your darling brother who doesn't give a damm about you anyway." Bhojraj smirked.

Devburman clenched his jaws in anger and walked away. He was going towards Shivaditya's palace.

"Where is Shivaditya?" Devburman asked the gatekeeper when he reached Shivaditya's quarters.

"His highness just left for the barracks, your highness." He replied.

Devburman nodded and turned towards the barracks. Shivaditya was in a discussion with his military generals when he got a message that Devburman was looking for him.

He dismissed his generals and told the attendant to send Devburman in. Meeting him was never a pleasant experience for him but being outright rude would have been improper.

"Yes, what is it?" Shivaditya asked as soon as Devburman entered his bureau.

"What did you do to Mrignayani?" Dev asked. He was usually stoic but today his face looked stormy.

"I don't want to have this discussion. If you have nothing useful to say then just leave." Shiv replied angrily.

"Did you kill her?" Dev asked.

Shivaditya's face turned white " What nonsense is this? I don't want to talk about it. Just leave."

"Shivaditya just answer me. Please tell me it's a lie." Dev almost pleaded.

Shiv's anger was replaced by guilt, which had been consuming him for the last 6 years. Something which he had buried deep in his heart. It resurfaced again.

"It was an accident," Shiv said quietly.

"What do you mean it was an accident? What did you do?" Dev pounded his fist on the table.

"You are asking me what did I do? What did you do brother? I saw you.....both of you. You were kissing her." Shiv was enraged.

"I loved her! Yet you married her. Why? Why did you agree? She asked you not to, isn't it? "

"I didn't know you Ioved her, and I don't know what letter you keep talking about. It never reached me."

"So you killed her? Did you kill her in your jealousy? Answer me?" Dev was infuriated.

"It was an accident! She was running away from me.....and she fell" Shiv closed his eyes at the memory.

The dam which was holding his rage and sorrows from all these years finally broke. He dashed at Shivaditya holding his collar "Tell me what did you do? Did you hurt her? Why was she running away tell me what did you do?"

"Yes, I slapped her. Because she was my wife who was cheating on me with you! What else was I supposed to do ?" Shiv lost his patience and shouted.

Devburman didn't listen any further he smashed his fist on Shiv's jaws. Shiv fell back with the impact and felt the blood flow from his nose.

He touched his nose and saw the blood on his finger "You traitor " he hissed.

Hell broke loose after that. The general and the soldiers stood bewildered as Shivaditya and Devburman lashed their swords, ready to kill each other.

*********

The news of their fight spread like wildfire in the palace. Poonam heard it from other ladies in waiting about the fight. She ran towards the barracks leaving whatever work she had been doing.

"Stop them," She said to Jayaraj who looking at them as shocked as others.

" I can't do anything," he said helplessly.

"Why are they fighting?" She said worriedly.

He said, " I have no idea but Prince Devburman arrived angrily, he disrupted the meeting with his highness and suddenly they came out fighting."

"Somebody should inform Maharaj quick !", Poonam screamed her eyes tearing up.

She stood helpless.

" STOP IT!" Bhojraj 's voice boomed.

He rarely stepped out of his court and quarters so beholding him in the barracks was an unusual sight for everyone.

Dev and Shiv froze midway about to strike each other.

"Take them apart," Bhojraj said again.

They were forcibly pried apart by the generals.

"What is all this?" Bhojraj yelled.

Shivaditya and Dev were still panting.

"Explain this" Bhojraj said.

Shiv didn't reply he simply glared at Devburman.

Dev said "I attacked him. I would have done this long ago had I known the truth."

"What are you talking about? "

Bhojraj said impatiently.

"He killed Mriganayani and you covered it up isn't it?" Dev said angrily.

If Bhojraj was angry he didn't show it but the aura around him seemed to change.

He commanded, "Arrest him!"

Even Shivaditya looked shocked.

"Like father like son! " Bhojraj said and walked away while Devburman was dragged to the dungeons.