A FEW WORDS:
Maharani - Queen
Madeera - Wine
Rajkumar - Prince
Porus - An Indian King who was a legendary warrior with exceptional skills.
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❝I look those haters straight in the eye, keep my chin up and shoulders back. Because I know I'm a fierce queen – and they know it, too.❞
Alyssa Edwards

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THE Queen walked towards the guest chambers, mentally preparing herself to meet the suitor who had decided to come grace Raanpura's palace.

She could hear a faint masculine voice booming from inside the chambers as she walked leisurely, enjoying the peace and quiet before she had to entertain her guest.

The Queen entered the chambers and saw a handsome man talking to her handmaidens, "—And then I took out my sword" The man took his sword out from it's sheath and jabbed it in the air, "And slashed it right through him."

The man looked two or three years older than the queen. He had a fair complexion - fairer than that of the queen's - and rugged features highlighted with arrogance and egotism. At one glance, the queen might have deemed the Rajkumar as handsome but she knew better than that.

The Queen cleared her throat, grabbing the guest's attention and gave the man a phony smile, "I hope you are enjoying you stay, Rajkumar."

"Ah, the Queen has arrived." The visitor said as he bowed down in front of Akira and vaguely scanned the room around him, "Yes, yes. The stay has been amazing though I must say that the chambers in my palace are a bit bigger."

He showcased a quick grin, "I mean I am not complaining, you have a lovely place. A bit tiny but commendable, nonetheless."

Akira fisted her hands, letting her nails dig into her palms as she kept smiling, "Thank you Rajkumar. What were you up to, may I know?"

"Oh," Varun laughed, "I was just telling these peasants the story of how I single-handedly battled an entire army and emerged victorious. It is quite a story, if I may say so myself."

Akira put on an artificial smile, ignoring the boiling blood that was gushing through her veins at the mention of her helpers as mere 'peasants', "Oh did you Rajkumar Varun? Would you mind telling me about this impossible feat of yours?"

The Rajkumar nodded and went on to narrate a story of his supreme heroism but Akira paid no attention, she was too busy signaling the handmaidens to leave them alone and close the door as they leave.

"Why don't we sit down Rajkumar?" The Queen said as she offered the prince to sit down on the divan.

"Sure sure, why not." The man laughed as he took his seat on the divan and asked Akira to sit next to him. Akira politely declined as she sat on another divan right across the prince; a small ornamented table was the only division between them.

"So Rajkumar Varun" Akira placed her sword next to her while she spoke, "tell me, why are you here?"

Varun started, "You see Aki-"

"It's Maharani for you, Rajkumar." Akira cut him off, her voice was sweet like a poison pie.

"Oh," The Rajkumar shrugged with indifference as he corrected himself, "Pardon me, Maharani." He started yet again, clearing his throat, "As I was saying, I am here to discuss the idea of our marriage."

The Queen flashed Varun a small smile, "So I have heard, and why do you want to tie the knot with me, Rajkumar?"

"Isn't it obvious Maharani?" He gave her another smile as if trying to lure her with his charm, "I am in love with you."

Akira laughed and the room reverberated the melodiously venomous sound, "We haven't even have met before and you claim to love me? Isn't that quite shallow Prince?"

"Yes," He caught himself, "I mean no, I have heard tales of you and they intrigued me... You seem like someone interesting enough to marry." 

"Interesting enough?" Akira squinted her eyes ever so slightly as she continued with that bright smile of hers, "Oh, I can assure you that I am more interesting than just 'enough'."

Varun looked uneasy as he laughed along, "Yes, yes. I believe you, my lady. Also, not to mention you're extremely pretty and-"

"And? There's an 'and'?" Akira raised her eyebrow in amusement, "Very well, continue."

"Don't take this the wrong way Aki-"

"Maharani." Akira cut him off as her fingers traced the emerald on her sword hilt. Her eyed landed on the hooded sword edge and she made sure he knew how his words could determine his whole fate.

"—Yes, yes Maharani." He looked away, a thin line of sweat on his forehead, "Don't take this wrong way but every strong kingdom needs a fierce leader."

"And am I not fierce enough for you, Rajkumar?" The Queen looked the prince in the eyes, intimidating him to his bones as she continued to mark out the engraved emeralds on her sword hilt.

"No no no Maharani." Varun laughed but his gaze gave it away, it was filled with fear, fear of the queen.

He continued nonetheless, his uneasy laugh still hanging low in the air, "All I am saying is that how many great kingdoms have flourished under the rule of a woman? Porus wasn't a woman now, was he?"

Trying to diffuse the tension, he laughed yet again and Akira gave him an amused smile. While she held the smile strong, her eyes told another story – they were like the silence before the storm, brewing with the deadly mixture of anger and vengeance.

"Would you like a drink as we talk, Rajkumar?" Akira asked as she stood up from her seat and walked towards the bedside table which faced the back of the foreign prince. An expensive bottle of madeera rested there.

"Sure Maharani."

The queen trudged through the room and sat back. As she poured them drinks, she asked, "So what were you saying, Rajkumar Varun?"

The prince started once again, his voice lacing with self-importance, "Uh, yes, I was saying that while I agree that you are a fantastic ruler Aki– I mean Maharani. I think that it's time that someone else got the throne, someone more..." Varun pretended to think for a second but it was all too clear what his intentions were, "capable."

Akira laughed yet again, handing over a goblet to the prince as she took one for herself, "You are the youngest of your seven brothers, if I am not wrong?" 

In the back of her mind, she replayed the conversation she had with her mother just yesterday; her rough words had left an imprint on her mind. "They will never see you as their equal Akira. Never." That's what her mother had said and Akira had vowed to challenge all those that questioned her abilities or her. 

"Yes, you're well updated." The prince nodded, sipping the wine ever so slowly.

"Hmm" The queen gave him a subtle nod, "You are the last heir to the throne, right? That too if all your brothers died along with their heirs otherwise, the throne isn't really in your territory, am I correct?"

He gave her an uneasy shrug, "Yes. Why do you ask Maharani?"

"Nothing, Rajkumar," She gave him an indifferent look, "Just making sure I have the correct details. I wouldn't want an impostor in the palace now, would I?"

The two monarchs sat in silence, sipping the cool wine before the Queen finally broke the serene silence with a small cold laugh, "You know what fascinates me, Rajkumar Varun?"

The Rajkumar answered absent-mindedly, "What, my love?"

Akira shot him a glare while a small smile still tinted her lips, "Know your place, Rajkumar Varun."

The Prince looked down at his goblet, embarrassment lacing his sharp features – the arrogance had been now replaced by dread, "I – I'm sorry."

"As I was saying, It fascinates me that you thought you could come here and just woo me with your rather mediocre skills and take my throne" Akira pretended to think as she sipped the madeera, "I mean even if that was your plan of action, you should have at least thought your words through Rajkumar. They weren't the most impressive."

Varun looked up from his goblet, his tongue betraying him as he stuttered in front of the lethal figure, "Ma- Maharani... I don't want the throne, no. I would never want your throne."

"Last to the throne, that it if it is possible in this lifetime. You have no other way to seize power than to take it from someone who already has what you want." Akira put down the goblet on the table, "And marriage would be the perfect cover for you to get what you want."

"No, no, you're mistaken. I was just talking about what would happen after we're married and you know my loyalty..." He paused, "My loyalty, it lies with you."

"Loyalty..." Akira laughed humorlessly at the figure in front of her, "Such a funny word don't you think? The main question here is – was there any loyalty to begin with?"

"Ye- yes maharani, obviously. I am just looking out for you and your kingdom."

"You are looking out for me" The ruler paused, looking the man right in his apprehensive hazel eyes, "Or my throne?"

The rajkumar said nothing.

After a moment passed in thick silence, the monarch spoke up, "It's about time now."

Varun looked bewildered, "What do you me—"

The prince stopped mid-sentence and started coughing violently as his insides burned in agony. It felt as if a thousand scorching suns had filled the prince up, blazing everything and leaving just ash and ache. The rajkumar fell to the marble floor, writhing in pain as he held his throat and croaked out, "Wh- what is... happening?"

The Queen gently hit her forehead as she smiled down at the wriggling figure which lied next to the table, "Oh, silly me, I forgot to inform you that the madeera was spiked..."

The Maharani stood up from her seat and walked gingerly towards the body on the floor, taking her time as the man thrashed - a blue tint glazing his physiognomy now, "with snake venom."

Akira bent down in front of the failing body and she could make out a faint phrase leaving the former prince's mouth, "I- I'm sor- sorry, pl-please don't."

"Let's hope you have enough sense to try to make a fool out of someone else in your next lifetime." The Queen caressed the rajkumar's cheeks as she whispered in his ears, "And I do hope that was fierce enough for you, my love."

Akira sat beside the stiff body until the rajkumar breathed out his last breath, leaving the mortal world behind.

The Queen stood back up and looked down at the now dead figure as she sighed in indifference. Akira turned around, walking towards the divan to pick up her sword and she made her way out.The monarch walked out of the guest room and into the wide corridors which were unaware of the tragedy that had played out inside the sealed doors.

The queen called out to two of the handmaidens, "Tell the royal guards to look after Rajkumar Varun, alright?"

The two handmaidens nodded anxiously as they walked away hastily, away from the queen's view.

Akira stood in front of the wide opening of the corridors and looked at the blooming gardens in front where the sunlight danced with the flowers, coating them in a delicate golden glow as it painted her in its aurelian smolder too.

The Queen stood there for a while, just standing and gawking at the striking flora until she heard footsteps behind her as the commander general plodded her way.

"Aziza" The ruler nodded at her friend.

"So how did it go?" The senapati asked, a tinge of smugness indicated that she already knew the answer.

The sunlight seeped through the Queen's skin, filling her with warmth as a dim smile graced the brink of her lips, "Tell everyone that we are very sorry to announce that Rajkumar Varun" The queen paused, outlining the engraved marble railing, "is no more."

The Senapati smiled, "Gladly."

Aziza turned around and started to walk away as the empress called out to her, stopping the commander in her tracks.

"If anyone needs me I will be in my room."

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