A/N: names, places and timeline used in this chapter are fictitious.

-• dreamland •-

Upon exiting the flight, I step into a dreamland. The town is absolutely majestic. It makes sense why Yuvraaj is addressed as the Crown Prince even when the monarchy ended. The moment our car touched the roads of the city, we were a royalty. No traffic held us back, bystanders watched us in awe and our cars were given the utmost priority.

And then comes the shock of my life, the Palace.

Even from the distance, it looks like something conjured from the pages of fantasy books.

"Veer Mahal," I hear my father say. Looking at him curiously, I urge him to continue. "My great grandfather, Devendra Singh Chauhan built it in the 16th century. His great grandfather was first attracted to Jaigarh because of the area's prolific land. The town was little more than a hamlet before it was transformed into the seat of Royal power. Now it is a home to more than 3 million civilians." I gasp. "Veer Mahal was built to impress. It was the symbol of Rajput prestige, power and heritage. My Great grandfather, was known as the ruler of all directions." He points somewhere. "See that," I notice he is referring to another palace, a little smaller than the Veer Mahal and nod. "That's Chandra Mahal, and that," he leans towards my window-side. "That's Surya Mahal," he educates. "It was to signify that both day and night, are his to rule." I nod, in awe of the late King.

"Wow, he was amazing," I grin up at my father.

He smiles down at me. "He was. There are so many books written on him. Do you like to read the books?"

I shake my head sheepishly.

"No problem, there are period movies and daily soaps inspired from his regimes as well." He informs me. "Though, they lean more on the romantic and war side. But he was more than that. His political strategies, distant nature, calm and composed attitude, it all made him the great ruler that he was. This complex architecture is no less than a witness to that. He believed in serving the nation. So if you were born in that time, you'd have often found your Great Great grandfather disguising himself as a commoner and taking a stroll in the city at random times."

"He sounds like a great man,"

"He was," My father nods in agreement. "He was benevolent, merciful, justified and celebrated throughout the nation. His existence was a remarkable and proud addition to the Indian history. Through centuries, we Chauhans have been looking after Jaigarh as our own. Though declination of monarchy reduced our grip on political and economical matters, but we still hold a significant amount of control in decisions that concern Jaigarh."

I press my lips together, taking a deep breath. My chest seems to be swollen with pride only at the thought that I'm of his descent, a ruler that was loved and celebrated throughout the nation and is still respected in the pages of history.

"Does everything belongs to us?"

"Chandra Mahal and Surya Mahal are in the control of our democratic government, but the main palace, Veer Mahal, is still operated under the Chauhans. Since it's too big of a property to look after domestically, the west side, where you see the series of formal gardens and high pressured water fountains?" I nod. "It's open to the public as hotel, restuarant and museum. One day I'll show you the art gallery there. King Devendra was a huge fan of art. Often, during birthdays or festivals, he would invite artists from all across the nation and even from other countries to showcase their talents openly."

"I love to paint!" I beam at him, excited at the prospect of having a link to the late King.

"Really?" My father grins at me. "A true Chauhan indeed. Your great great grandmother, Queen Ahilyabai, was a great painter too. That's one of the reasons why King Devendra chose her as his Queen Consort."

"He fell in love with her because of her art!?" I gasp.

My father nods in response. "I don't know how much of it is true, but over the years, the story travelled that, Princess Ahilya was in the courtyard painting the sunset when King Devendra was on a visit to her Kingdom. The moment he saw her, he was bewitched by her. The next morning in the main court, without a shred of hesitance, he asked for her hand in marriage from her father."

"Aww," I cup my own cheeks. I'm smiling so hard right now.

My father chuckles, amused at my reactions. But there's hardly any limit to my admiration towards the late King right now. I'm practically raving with excitement at all the imagination building in my head about them.

"You said he has movies and daily soaps produced about him?"

My father nods in agreement. "But there are many. I suggest you start with the documentary first. It'll give you a realistic insight into his life as a ruler of Jaigarh. Then you can shift to cinematic movies and dramatic daily soaps."

"Sure, I'll keep that in mind." I consent. "Now tell me more about the palace!"

"Alright," he begins. "So the whole land we occupy as of now, without the government control, is around 43 acres." My jaw drops in shock. "Originally it was four hundred acres but we gave up on a lot for government projects in welfare of public. There's a river right behind the palace that flows from the north of Jaigarh before meeting all the important rivers of India. The palace is spread on twenty acres of land, half of which is operated as hotel and museum. The other half is where we'll live. There are three floors, and around 107 bedrooms. I'm not counting the ones on the west side." I give him all my attention. "Then there's a ballroom, a main court, theatre, and other luxurious modern amenities. Like spas, salons, swimming pools, etcetera."

"Wow," leaves my mouth in wonder.

"Yeah, wow indeed."

"And who looks after everything? Because you're a surgeon right? And mom used to say that's one of the hardest job. So how do you get the time to look after everything?"

"I don't. Yuvraaj does." My father says proudly.

There goes my heart, admiring my half brother, despite his controlling nature. Why did he have to be so good at his job? Nothing looks out of the place. One man, handling all of this, so efficiently without breaking a sweat and yet managing to keep people on their toes. Someone else in his place would be a workaholic, depressed mess by now. That reminds me, didn't our father say I'll be meeting my brothers today? Not singular, but plural. Means more than one. I wonder how old they are and if they help Yuvraaj in buisness.

"In the flight, you mentioned about me having brothers?" I bring up politely.

My father frowns.

"Just before Yuv- Bhai called you in his office," I remind him.

"Oh, yeah, right. We had to cut the conversation short there, yes. What about it?"

"Are they young like me? Or...." I trail, not having correct words to put forth. What can I say? Old like my half brother? That implies as if he's old as the hills.

"My second eldest, he is following into my footsteps as a surgeon. But he's still a resident. The youngest are of your age, probably two months older. And then the middle ones, one is eighteen and the other is twenty, both are poles apart and still exploring career options."

I sit speechless.

Wait.

How many brothers do I actually have!?

I voice out my question. "How many are they?"

"Six." He smiles. "Including Yuvraaj."

My jaw drops in shock.

"Taranya?" He grips my shoulder and shakes it gently. I blink out of the haze, looking at him in horror.

"There are total six?"

"Yeah," he whispers.

I swallow.

"Hey don't worry, not everyone is like Yuvraaj. The twins are funny, Agastya and Yuvaan are quarrel buddies, and Vivaan is the most responsible of all."

I sink further into my seat, wanting it to open up and swallow me whole and never spit me out back into this world. All the amazement and awe that I feel towards my new life slips away at the realisation that I'll be the only girl among seven men.

That's like a nightmare!

"I thought you loved my mother?" I look at him when the realisation draws in that he had seven kids with the woman he claimed to not love. Is that possible? To make a family so huge with someone you don't love.

He sighs. "Your all brothers except the twins were born through IVF."

"And the twins?"

Rage fills his eyes, but not towards me, towards something entirely different. Or maybe someone. He shakes his head, as if driving out the glimpses of his past and looks down at me with a gentle but forced smile. "That's a story for another day."

"Can't I know now?"

"You're too young," he ruffles my hair. "Don't worry, I'll tell you everything soon." He smiles at me in assurance. I nod and shift my attention out of the window, admiring the sprawling acres of green landscape.

After an hour of journey, the gates to the main palace finally open. I suck in a deep breath, staring out in amazement at the grandeur of the majestic opulence. The architecture and the scenery is absolutely breathtaking.

"Are those horses!?" I gasp. There are three of them, brown, black, and white. They look so mighty and powerful.

I hear my father chuckle. "Yes, Vivaan, your second brother is a great horse-rider."

"And that?" I point to the second lawn.

"That's the archery section," he tells me. "Yuvraaj and Yuvaan often practice there. Guns, bows, darts, all that could render their target helpless from the distance, they enjoy that."

I nod.

"And what else others enjoy?" I ask curiously. The intimidation of having six older brothers hasn't wore off yet, because let's face it, Yuvraaj is equal to a hundred, yet there are five more. But I can't help the intrigue I feel towards them. What kind of men are they? Are they as curious about me as I am of them? Will they treat me like a family or detest me for being the daughter of the woman that their father loved instead of their mother?

"You'll find Arush in the basketball court. He enjoys that more than sneaking out with girls, and let tell me tell you he's a definite womaniser. Just like his older brother Agastya. That boy is more into baseball and delinquency than his studies. Both of them are partners in crime." My brows raise in surprise at their description. "Yuvaan is short tempered. But the most docile and gentle when is around his clay and Perry."

"Perry?"

"His golden retriever." My father chuckles. "He used to love watching that character in one of his favourite cartoon show from the childhood. Hence, the name. He also goes along most with Ayush. Both the boys are same in some manners." I hum, absorbing all the information given to me.

"Does that mean, Ayush and Yuvaan, and Agastya and Arush don't get along well?"

"Bingo!" He exclaims. "You don't want the four of them in the same room. It's a recipe for disaster."

"Tell me about Vivaan,"

He opens his mouth but then smiles with a sigh when his eyes fall somewhere behind me. "You see for yourself,"

Just as I turn, the door to my side opens. I didn't even realise when the car stopped. With a bated breath and my heart hammering into my chest, I step out of the car, instantly meeting the pair of the gentlest amber eyes I've ever seen. They glow like fire, but not the one that's greedy to consume you, instead the kind that seeks out to give you warmth in the cold night.

He comes forward, seemingly careful and cautious. I flinch when the driver shuts the door close. I look over my shoulder in search of my father.

"Taranya?"

"Yes!?" My head snaps to the front anxiously.

He smiles warmly at me. "Hi," he tilts his head to reach my eye-level. "I'm Vivaan."

I nod timidly. "Hello."

"I'm your brother," he smiles, his eyes gleaming like sun. He looks happy to see me. That settle my nerves into a calm rhythm.

I smile back at him.

"Dad," he looks beside me as our father comes and stands on my left. "How was the flight?"

"Long but the little star here kept me engaged with her talks," He answers gently patting my head. Vivaan looks down at me with a softest gaze known to the mankind. I blush with all the attention on me.

"Great. We've someone eloquent in the family to speak on my behalf now." My half brother says with a chuckle. Dad laughs a little too. I simply smile, feeling welcomed and accepted. "Where's Bhai?"

"He headed directly to the office from the airport. He'll be coming home for dinner."

Vivaan nods. "Oh silly me, I kept you here standing. C'mon, let's go inside." Then he takes the lead and we follow.

The inside of the Palace is just as beautiful as the outside. Walls chasing the heights my eyes fail to capture, several staircases leading to floors above, expensive vases and artistic furniture, plush ivory traditional lounges, different portraits and paintings, warm woolen carpets. The ceilings are gilded, the chandeliers dripping with crystals. I pause a few doors down along the wide, tall corridor with plush red rugs and gilded cornices, my gaze landing on the lush green gardens outside the window, in awe of the colorful blooms swaying with the winds.

"Tara?" Hearing my father's voice, I look to my front and notice both the men have stopped walking for me. Cursing my easily distracted nature, I quickly catch up with them.

"Dad, I think you should go and get some rest. I'll show Tara her bedroom." He says to our father.

The old man hesitates.

Noticing that, Vivaan looks down at me. "Will you be comfortable with me, Tara? Or I can get a maid to tag along with us." He suggests.

"No, it's okay. Go, Da-Dad, I'll be fine." I say to the man.

His smile fades and eyes widen in surprise. I nervously fiddle with my watch, worried if I offended him by calling him Dad so early into our relationship. But I can't call him by his name either. Considering how much a big issue Yuvraaj made just because I called him by his name, I don't want the same to happen with my father. Though I know he isn't as strict as my elder brother about the honorifics and stuff.

He steps forward and cups my cheek. I sigh in relief witnessing the gentle smile on his face. "My lovely little star," he whispers and leans in to press a kiss on my forehead. I clench my hand into fists, overwhelmed by the love and affection. Standing straight, he strokes my cheek fondly. "Go and get some rest. I'll see you in the evening."

I nod and watch him leave in the direction of his room on the ground floor.

"C'mon," Vivaan says capturing my attention back to him.

I follow him meekly. He shows me around, a little tour on our way to my room, which is all the way on the third floor.

"Does everyone live on this floor?" I ask curiously.

"No, just you, twins and Agastya." He informs. "Everyone is given rooms according to their ranks in the house. Bhai, the eldest of all," he refers to Yuvraaj and I nod in understanding, "he gets the ground floor along with our father. Since he is the first son and the crown prince. Their time is more important. Yuvaan and I, our rooms are on the second floor."

"So our time doesn't matter?" I smile nervously.

He laughs. "No, that's not it. Actually, it's not compulsory that the youngest live on the third floor while the oldest gets the ground. But we subconsciously still follow the rules. The thing is, in old times, when monarchy still existed- careful," he gently holds my elbow when I trip a stair, too busy paying him attention. "The King's time was most respected. As the ruler of a Kingdom, he couldn't afford wasting time in descending and climbing stairs. The main court, office, gardens, meeting area, all were well connected with the ground floor and offered an easy access. Since the Crown Prince is next in line to sit on the throne, he is just as important as the King. All the other princes and princesses would take the second floor while the young maidens, consorts and concubines will take the third floor. But since King Devendra was a one woman man, he never needed third floor to flaunt his war quests or daughters of ministers since he never accepted them. Hence, the third floor was allocated to his youngest son, who was later killed in the war."

I nod, understanding the logic behind the living arrangements. "Are all these rooms open for staying?" I ask as we pass several hallways.

"Not all," he shakes his head. "There are around seventy two rooms on this floor. When we were kids, the maids kept them open all the time so we could play games, like hide and seek or something. But as we grew older, we rarely accessed the rooms, so except for a few, like ten of fifteen, most of them are locked. But the maids clean them frequently. Like once a week."

"To keep the air flowing," I mumble under my breath.

"Yeah," he responds.

"I saw horses before the Archery section. Dad said they belong to you."

"Oh yeah," he beams like a burst of sunshine at the mention of his horses. "They're thoroughbred. The brown one is Bolt, he is the fastest of all. The black is Mafia, because is the bossy one. And white is Queen, she's the mare."

"Bolt, Mafia, Queen? Are these their names?" I question curiously.

"Yeah," he scratches the back of his neck sheepishly. "I know silly, but I was really young when Grandma gifted them to me. So I couldn't come up with anything better. Now they are used to the names." He shrugs.

"No, they are not silly. I find the names cool." I nod at him with a smile.

"Really?" He turns around and walks backward with his hands shoved inside his pockets. "Agastya always makes fun of them. Especially Mafia's."

"No way. Imagine you going into a war and saying, Mafia, charge! Your enemies will be shaking in their boots." Vivaan throws his head back to laugh. The sunlight warms his skin golden, making it glow like the sun itself. I chuckle, almost easily comfortable with my second half brother. Yuvraaj could never.

"I like you already," he turns back around to walk with me. "Here's your room," he opens the door and gently nudge me inside with his hand on the small of my back. My mouth falls agape at what awaits my eyes. "Your room is next to Ayush's. Most of the time he keeps to himself since Arush and Agastya gets along more. So he's often left alone. You can either find him in his room or in the library. A personal library was built for him when he was seven years old and found himself loving to read books. It's at the end of this hallway. If you want, you can always check it out." He says, entering the room behind me and leaning against the wooden chest of drawers. "If you need any help or you're afraid, he's probably the one you can turn to. The palace gets scary at the nights since we keep unnecessary lights turned off. But only for the guests. Once you get used to this place, you'll realise it is the safest place in the world."

"This room is beautiful," I whisper in astonishment.

"You'll love the view more, come here," he guides me to the bedside window. I look outside and almost gasp in amazement. I have the clear view of the river from here and it's absolutely breathtaking.

"Woah," my hands fly to cup my mouth and I look at him with wide eyes.

He chuckles at my reaction. "Now I'll leave you to get fresh and settle down. The helper will bring your bags up to your room."

"But they are so heavy! How will they climb all these floors?"

"There's an elevator," he reveals.

"Oh," I let out in surprise. "Why did we walk then?"

He smiles. "Because I wanted to show you around. Anyway, the helper's name is Tarun. He runs errands around here. Whatever you need, food, stationery, books, if you don't feel like going out, you can tell him and he'll get it for you. But no forbidden stuff." He warns me with a wag of his finger.

"Forbidden?" I raise my brows.

He hums. "Like, alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, condoms."

My nose scrunches at the end.

"I'll see you downstairs when it's time for dinner." He says and turns to leave.

"Wait." I stop him. He faces me once again. "How will I know it's time for dinner?"

"Don't worry about it, a maid will come to inform you."

"Alright, thanks." I smile.

He smiles back and leaves. I close the door after him, turning around and plastering myself against the doorframe, taking in the sight of the luxury that's my room now. I can't believe I'll be living here.

It's all white, with hints of gold and beige thrown around. It's giving me Pinterest vibes. Aesthetic to the eyes and loaded with finest luxuries of the world, it was truly made for a princess. I soak in the beauty of it, trailing my hand over the furniture and walking towards the bed, the velvet carpet soft like feather beneath my feet. I pull at the drawstrings holding the white drapes, stepping back in awe when they cascade down like silk, confining the king-sized bed.

A knock on the door startle me. I quickly walk to the door to pull it open. A young boy, I guess Tarun, stands outside my room with all my bags.

"Your bags, Princess Taranya,"

I nod and let him inside.

"You look my age," I comment.

"I'm fifteen."

"Right. You look young. You go to school, right?"

"Yeah, of course." He smiles. "I just help around the house with easy stuff, like bringing snacks or stationery, hauling bags and running simple errands. My mum's been working here for years now so I've practically grown up here."

"Oh, that's nice to hear." I say softly. "Thank you for bringing my bags."

"You're welcome. Do you need anything else?"

"No, I'm fine." My phone rings catching my attention.

"Alright then, I'll take your leave." I look back at him and nod. I close the door after he leaves and fish my phone out of my pocket.

Janet's name on the screen heightens my excitement to a new level. I answer the phone and practically yell at her.

"Bitch, you'll be jealous seeing my room!"

And here we go... Into the main plot finally. Excited to meet the other brothers?

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Don't forget to vote and comment. Makes my day.