-|Marionette|-

"A terrible catastrophe wrecks the lands of Odra. I the Supreme monarch of the imperial dynasty of Odra beg the support and alimony of the ruler-"

Dasgreeva gazed incredulously at his brother's instance of waving off the messenger without being sympathetic or least , attentive of their cause.

"Bhrata." He stepped ahead earning the not quite amiable glances of the ministers. Sighing he rested his eyes on the dark sharp eyes of his elder brother who had looked up from his parchments to attend to his call.

Assuming the fathomable unease Shishupal stood up from his seat to dismiss the minor gathering assembled in the head chambers of his living quarters on the eastern side of the imperial palace.

Parihaar

Dasgreeva silently watched as the caucus dispersed after bowing in respect to the king.

"Have a seat , Dasgreeva." The prince deferentially accepted his seat beside the ruling monarch , now in the vacancy of the masses , his brother.

"We should help them-" he was cut short by the sharp gaze that followed his declarant words. Dasgreeva was quick to look down , awaiting a possible stern reply.

"Magadh ravages their land." The reply came rather soft but had a harsh enough impact on the prince.

"Odra isn't a kingdom as rich as compared to its neighbouring kingdoms. And with the terrible flood that affected them a few months prior how are they supposed to pay the exorbitant taxes to the samrat ?"

"That's none of our concern. We can never , not even in our dreams can we imagine going against the samrat."

Dasgreeva leered , his brother's words made absolutely no sense to him. Yes , Magadha was indeed a bracing ally but the friendly terms with Odra couldn't just be overlooked , specially when the kingdom was in desperate need of aid.

More than the cataclysm of Odra what shook him was the tragedy of Magadha's 
indutible control over Chedi.

Concealed by the thicket of polity were invisible strings that had dangerously swaddle the mind of his brother. Just like invisible strings controlling a Marionette.

×

Shafts of sunlight inundated into the colossal boudoir through the enormous spaces. The queen's chamber was an extreme expanse of intricacy , enunciating an anecdote of its own essence. Hefty , opulent curtains bound to the bulbous balustrade , bolstering the ceilings carved with a trailblazing elegance. The conspicuous involutions of the sculpted cavernous chamber , a delicate swathe of the refined glow.

Karenumati glanced alarmingly as the oversized golden bangle slid down her thin wrist. Falling on the ground with a shrill jingle and leaping a good distance across the chamber before banging against the foot of the wooden couch placed on the left end of the room , dropping flat on the cold marble floor.

This was about the 100th time that this has happened since the morning. The main reason being that the bangle was a gift from her aunt to make her happy or rather a mere attempt to put an end to her abate tantrums. A regular occuring which resulted from the excess amount of cossesion her family presented her with.

Bouncing down the plush cushions the princess broke into a short run to reach out to her precious ornament. She squatted down near the couch to view closely the extravagant piece of jewelry.
Large dark blue cushion cut sapphires placed outwardly in an old-fashioned manner over the comparatively thin golden physique of the bangle.

A glimmering smile took over her features. The blueness of the sapphires working their spell. The colour had always been preferred by her and her aunt knew it well. It didn't take her much time to pick up the prized piece of treasure , well - estimated of amounting to a good fortune , when presented with a box full of blueness. Crowns , bangles , neckpieces all studded with blue tanzabite , turquoises , topaz and sapphires.

"What is it Priya ?"

Karenumati looked up to her mother inspecting her with a deep gaze.

Droplets of water fell from her hair creating wet cravasses on the lilac silk draped over her shoulders. Kusumita had wrapped her wet hair in a dry towel before stepping out of the bathing area. The now wet towel didn't do enough to hold her heavy raven locks which cascaded down in a mystic fashion over her dusky skin. Kamala shortly stood behind her queen carrying the infant Sarabha in her arms.

Kusumita's gaze momentarily shifted to her bed where the younger twin slept soundly before lingering back to her daughter who now walked towards her with slow steady steps.

"What is it ?" She spoke kneeling down to her daughter's level as she handed her over the blue jewel.

Kusumita seemed astonished for a moment before sensing the familiarity.
"From where did you get it?" She enquired being sure it didn't belong to her collection of goldens.

"Kaki gave me." Karenumati gleamed gently picking up the bangle from her mother's palm and sliding it back into her wrist , riling her mother.

Huffing to her ownself she pressed her body weight on her lower thighs on grounds of getting up. It felt much of an extortion to her for handing over something as precious to a child who won't know its value. Honestly no royal did.

Karenumati raced behind her mother who now walked towards the bed. Jumping over the mattress close to where Mahipala laid asleep , but careful enough to not plunge on her infant brother. Laying flat on her belly she grabbed the lean book she had been reading since the morning. The oversized bangle happily settled.

" Did you ask for it ?" The queen threw a side glance taking in the features of her daughter who nodded innocently. "No , I didn't."

"Priyaa !"

" I asked pitamahi to get me the green glass bangles from the shop near the temple. Kaki gave me this instead."

Kusumita sighed , sitting down on the cushioned chair near the mirror as she ran a comb through her tangled hair not quite minding the tugs.

"Come here Priyaa."

Karenumati watched the cheif maid place her other brother Sarabha on the bed before descending down herself to attend to the her mother's calls.

"Yes maa ?" She was quick to pick up a golden ring from the dressing table her new object to fidgit with for the next few minutes. Smiling , Kusumita affectionately picked her daughter up on her lap.

"Listen to me Priyaa." Her voice went soft as she moved away a thick raven lock hanging above her daughter's dark temple.

"Give me this bangle , it belongs to kaki , I will get you a more beautiful one." The princess looked up , transferring her attention from the ring to her mother.

No.

Kusumita's expressions changed.

"I wasn't asking. You give me this bangle now so I can return it to your aunt." Her eyes fixated upon her daughter's not quite cheerful expression. Karenumati blinked her eyes a couple of times before turning around in search of the familiar voice , calling her.

Kusumita felt her heart exult in a feeling which wasn't quite euphoric neither was she in incessant misery anymore. A deep feeling in her stomach which did nothing to make her smile or perhaps happy. In her mesh of emotions she felt her daughter glide down from her lap , leaving behind her arms which felt immobile , to rush to her father who she perhaps hadn't seen for a whole two months.

Estranging from her notions she elevated her aberrant frame from her cushioned seat. The troupe of maids present across the boudoir were quick to bow to the imperial presence.

Shishupal's otherwise sharp , covetous eyes rejoiced at the sight of his adored child. His thin lips escalating refined happiness , his love for his only daughter.

Laying out his enormous arms he rhapsodically picked her up in his arms , throwing her into the air before catching her back.

His little girl , his marionette.

________________________________

Happy New Year Everyone !!

Well so Marionette means puppet :)
A bit of darkness creeping in ig-

And don't worry y'all neither is Karenumati a puppet for her father nor does Shishupal treat her as one.
The words used now are just to pave the way for the storyline ahead.

Btw any assumptions about Kusumita's past?