Chapter 37: Amira's move

In the opulent council chamber of the imperial court, Prime Minister Chandrashekhar stood before the gathered nobles, his demeanour commanding respect and attention. As the murmurs of anticipation subsided, he cleared his throat and began to address the assembly.

"My esteemed nobles," Chandrashekhar began, his voice echoing through the chamber, "I bring forth a decree of utmost importance, one that will shape the future of our great empire."

The nobles leaned forward, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and apprehension, eager to hear the contents of the decree.

"It is decreed," Chandrashekhar continued, his tone grave yet resolute, "that henceforth, internal wars between member kingdoms are prohibited."

A ripple of murmurs spread through the assembly, punctuated by a few gasps of surprise. Sensing the unrest among the nobles, Chandrashekhar raised a hand for silence.

"Any disputes that may arise requiring armed conflict must first seek permission from the empire," he explained, his words measured and deliberate. "The conditions for such wars, including the location and size of the army, will be determined by imperial decree."

A wave of unease swept through the assembly, mingled with whispers of concern and dissent. Chandrashekhar's gaze swept over the gathered nobles, his expression stern yet unwavering.

"It is imperative," he continued, his voice carrying the weight of authority, "that we preserve peace within our realm. We cannot allow internal conflicts to escalate and bring ruin upon our people."

The nobles exchanged uneasy glances, grappling with the implications of the decree. Some nodded in reluctant agreement, while others remained silent, their expressions troubled. As some tried to raise their concern.

"Silence!" Chandrashekhar's command cut through the room, commanding attention once more. "This decree has been passed by the emperor himself. There will be no negotiations."

A tense silence settled over the assembly, each noble digesting the gravity of Chandrashekhar's words. But before the atmosphere could become too stifling, a lone voice spoke up from the crowd.

"What of external threats?" a noble inquired, his voice tinged with concern. "Will neighbouring kingdoms of empire be expected to provide aid in times of need?"

Chandrashekhar nodded, acknowledging the valid question. "Indeed," he replied, his tone measured yet reassuring. "Nearby kingdoms are expected to send immediate reinforcement ,before the imperial corpse can come in rescue in the event of external war. This will be a crucial factor in determining their rank within the empire as well."

The nobles exchanged glances, their expressions thoughtful as they considered the implications of Chandrashekhar's decree. And then, one by one, they began to offer hesitant praise and commendations for the wisdom of the emperor's decision.

"Long live the Samrat! Long live the Samrajya!" Their voices rose in unison, a chorus of loyalty and solidarity echoing through the grand assembly hall.

As Emperor Hemu concluded the assembly, Aditya made his way out of the hall, feeling a sense of weariness settling upon him. Turning to his trusted butler, Hari Singh, he instructed him to arrange for dinner to be served in his chambers, expressing his fatigue and need for solitude.

"Please, Hari Singh, have dinner sent to my room," Aditya requested wearily, "I am quite exhausted and wish to retire early."

Hari Singh nodded dutifully, taking note of Aditya's request. "Of course, sir," he replied with a respectful bow. "Shall I inform the kitchen to prepare your favorite dishes?"

Aditya offered a grateful smile. "Yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you, Hari Singh."

He instructed Hari Singh to convene a meeting of all the blacksmiths and tailors in his private chamber after two days. Once his butler departed to arrange dinner, Aditya made his way towards his room

** Near the Palace garden, Purana Qila **

In the quiet of the night, the moon cast a soft glow upon the palace grounds as Aditya made his way back to his chambers. As he rounded a corner, he caught sight of Amira, her delicate figure silhouetted against the moonlight, struggling to walk with a slight limp. Concern etched his features as he approached her, his heart quickening at the sight of her distress.

"Amira, what happened?" he asked softly, his voice laced with genuine worry.

Startled, Amira turned to face him, her eyes meeting his with a mixture of relief and embarrassment. "Aditya, I... I twisted my ankle," she admitted, her voice tinged with discomfort

Without hesitation, Aditya stepped closer, offering his arm for support. "Here, let me help you," he offered, his touch gentle as he guided her towards her room.

As they walked together, their bodies brushed against each other in the narrow corridor, igniting a spark of electricity between them. Aditya couldn't help but notice the warmth of Amira's skin against his own, sending shivers down his spine.

Amira, too, felt a rush of sensation as Aditya's strong arm encircled her waist, steadying her with every step. She found herself drawn to him, captivated by his unwavering concern and tender touch.

Despite Aditya's supportive presence, Amira found it difficult to walk with ease, her twisted ankle causing her discomfort with each step. Aditya, overwhelmed by conflicting emotions, felt a pang of unease as he noticed the stirring of arousal from the innocent touch of his friend in need.

To quell the rising guilt and to offer her more assistance, he surprised Amira by suddenly lifting her into his arms, her eyes widening in shock at the unexpected gesture. This action only deepened Amira's embarrassment, her cheeks flushing with red color as she realized the intimate closeness of their encounter.

Amira protested with a playful tone, "Loafer, put me down! What if someone sees us?"

Aditya replied bluntly, his voice tinged with concern, "As if I care. You're still struggling to walk. Don't worry, we'll reach your room in no time."

Feeling touched by his care, Amira hugged Aditya slightly, causing a stir of emotions within him.

In that fleeting moment, as their eyes met amidst the soft glow of moonlight, time seemed to stand still.

Amira found herself lost in the depths of Aditya's gaze, her breath catching in her throat as she drowned in the intensity of his gaze.

Aditya, too, felt a surge of longing course through him as he gazed into Amira's eyes, the depth of her vulnerability stirring something primal within him. He longed to hold her close, to protect her from the world and keep her safe within the shelter of his embrace.

Aditya, trying to lighten the mood, teased, "Easy, princess. Dance too much, and I might just drop you."

Amira playfully pinched Aditya's cheeks, retorting, "Very funny."

Her tone turning sombre, she sighed, "We'll return to our kingdoms soon. I won't be able to see you as often."

Aditya reassured her, "Don't worry. Today, in the council assembly, your father was appointed to the defence ministry temporarily. Perhaps they'll appoint a regent to hold your territory in his absence, for the time being. You can stay a little longer."

Amira's eyes widened in surprise, "Seriously? I would have been so bored out there."

Aditya chuckled at her response but decided to keep his thoughts on his departure for Rewari to himself.

He lifted her into his arms, and they walked through the opposite lane, Amira still hugging him tightly and making light-hearted jokes about his 'royal service' of carrying her.

While passing through a lane near the palace gardens, unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes watched their every move, silently tracking their journey.

As they reached Amira's room, a sense of reluctance settled over them, casting a shadow over their shared moment of intimacy. Aditya's fingers lingered against Amira's skin for a moment longer.

Just then, Amira said, "Wait, Aditya. It's still hurting badly. Can you help me, get close to the bed? I can walk myself."

Aditya nodded and provided her support to get to the bed. As she reached the bed, she asked, "Aditya, if you don't mind, could you please massage me with oil? My personal maid is out for dinner. Look how bad it is," and she showed her beautiful legs out of her nightgown.

Upon hearing the word "massage," Aditya's mind wandered briefly, recalling certain opportune rumours, shown in website of Popcorn Hub from his past life. However, upon seeing the red swollen ankle, he felt a pang of shame and quickly resolved to help her.

As Aditya applied the oil and gently massaged her legs, Amira felt a wave of relief wash over her. The tension in her ankle began to melt away under his skilled touch, and she couldn't help but release a soft sigh of comfort.

As Aditya continued to massage her leg, his mind raced with conflicting emotions. He knew it was wrong to indulge in sinful desires at this unjust moment with a person who might just think of her as friend, but the allure of Amira's beauty was too powerful to resist. If fortune favors, he decided to wait for the perfect time and this time was not perfect.

Finally, as he reluctantly pulled away, Amira was left complicated with mixture of emotions.

Grateful for his kindness, she thanked him softly, her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment.Internally, she was glad that her plan of bringing Aditya to her room might have brought them closer and it all went out too well. She felt a little pity for Aditya, as her leg wasn't that bad.

Aditya bid her goodnight and quietly exited the room, leaving Amira alone with her thoughts.

As he left the room, Amira buried her face in her pillow, her heart still racing from the intimate encounter.

Alone in her chamber, Amira couldn't shake the memory of Aditya's touch in her ankle. She traced her fingers along the path where his touch had lingered, a silent desire echoing in her heart for their paths to cross once more.

Though she knew she shouldn't entertain such thoughts and it might be too early to decide, she couldn't deny the undeniable pull he had on her, a pull that left her craving for more with each passing moment.