In the evening, Ira and Raksheet reached Bayar. The kingdom was already glowing. Happiness was spread everywhere and everyone was talking about only one topic, Pavan's coronation, the future king of Bayar.
Raksheet was a bit tensed, thinking Pavan's coronation can announce a big war in future but he can't oppose it. He is not afraid of any war, he is afraid of losing Ira. And may be, this coronation is the beginning of it.
When they reached the palace and carriage entered inside the palace gate, Raksheet stepped down from the carriage. He told Ira to stay in the carriage until he see the surrounding atmosphere. They have entered in their enemy's land, their enemies house so they have to be careful. He can't let anyone lay a finger on his wife.
Vinay was standing beside Raksheet, looking around carefully. his one hand on his sword, ready to decapitate anyone who tries to hurt his king.
"Everything is clear, your majesty." He said to Raksheet.
Raksheet nod in agreement and turned towards carriage. He opened the door and asked Ira to come out.
"Princess, everything is fine. Come down."
Ira sighed tiredly and stood up from her seat "Is it necessary to behave like this? Visibly Alert?"
She walked towards the carriage door and held Raksheet's hand to step down.
"It is. I can't risk your safety." He helped her step down the carriage and pulled her close by wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
She tried to push him away, feeling shy arround so many people "Don't. There are so many people here." She whispered.
Instead of letting her go, he tightened his grip around her and said with a straight face "I don't care. They wanted to see how much I love you then let me show them."
"You are too much." She whispered to him.
He chuckled "Let's go inside." He said and started walking inside without letting Ira respond.
Vinay followed them from behind, keeping an eye on everyone around them.
Unexpectedly or expectedly, they found Abel standing infront of palace door, waiting for them.
Raksheet's gaze sharpened even more as soon as he saw Abel standing infront of him with a big smile. He hate this sly man but have to bear him until tonight.
"Welcome, welcome your majesty. Welcome to my small house." Abel said and approach Raksheet for a hug.
Raksheet removed his hand from Ira's shoulder and slightly pushed her towards Vinay to keep her away from Abel. He accepted Abel's hug but quickly broke it.
He then pulled Ira close, keeping her safe in his embrace.
"Look! Our beautiful princess is also here." Abel said "Nice to meet you again, your highness."
"Nice to meet you too, your majesty." Ira replied.
Raksheet smiled slightly without softening his gaze at all. "Shall we go inside? Or do you want us to attend coronation while standing outside?"
Abel didn't took Raksheet's taunt seriously as he was already expecting it. He laughed and replied "Of course not your majesty. Please come inside."
He gestured them to enter in palace and Raksheet pulled Ira more close. He signalled Vinay to stay on other side of Ira to protect her.
Ira was feeling a bit uncomfortable with her husband's behaviour but she know it's not unnecessary. He have a reason for this. When they entered inside the palace, they saw that guests have already arrived and enjoying the music and dance.
At the centre of the hall, there were some dancers performing. Most of them were womens, wearing revealing clothes to attract the men and entertain them. Seeing the shameless performance happening infront of her eyes, Ira felt a little uncomfortable. She never knew someone can behave like this infront of bunch of people. But what can those dancers do? They have to follow their king's order.
Raksheet patted Ira's head gently to make her feel comfortable. She looked up at his face and found him already looking at her with a slight smile. "Don't look there. It's not good for you to witness something like this." He whispered to her.
She looked down and replied "You too."
He chuckled on her possessiveness and walked towards the empty seats with her.
When they were walking towards their seat, they heard someone calling them.
"King Raksheet! How are you?" Hearing the familiar voice, they turned around and found emperor and empress walking towards them.
"Your majesty, I am good. How are you?" Raksheet asked and joined his hands to greet emperor.
"Greetings your majesty." Ira said
The empress walked forward and approached Ira for hug as she can't control herself after seeing Ira's cuteness.
"How are you princess Ira? I missed you so much." Empress said.
Ira accepted her hug. "I am good. How are you, your majesty?"
"I am good too." They broke the hug and empress looked at Ira from head to toe "You are looking beautiful as always my dear." She kissed Ira's forehead and she replied.
"Thank you your majesty. But I must say that you are looking more beautiful than me."
It's good for them to stay in empress and emperor's good list. The closer they are to the emperor, the more Abel will stay away from them.
"You are flattering me." Empress said.
"No I am not."
"Nice to meet you again princess Ira." Emperor said.
Ira smiled at him and replied. "Nice to meet you again, your majesty."
Abel was watching them from a distance. He chuckled after seeing how Raksheet is trying to stay on emperor's good side.
He shook his head and walked away.
"Raksheet, come with me for a moment." Emperor said and Raksheet looked at him confused.
He looked at Ira, not wanting to leave her alone. She looked at him and blinked, signalling him to go and she will take care of herself.
"Don't worry about her. Your knight will be with her." Emperor said and looked at Vinay who was standing behind Ira and Raksheet.
Vinay quickly straightened his back and replied "Yes your majesty. I will protect her highness."
"And my wife is also with her so don't worry." Emperor pointed towards empress.
She smiled and replied "Don't worry Raksheet. Go on, i am with your wife."
Raksheet smiled slightly and said to Ira "Don't go anywhere and stay with her majesty. I will be back." He then looked at empress "Your majesty, please take care of her."
Empress nod and gestured Raksheet to go with her husband.
Raksheet walked away with the emperor, leaving Ira on Vinay and empress's responsibility.
The emperor placed his hand on Raksheet's shoulder, walking towards the less crowdy place and said "I know the situation. I know what happened years ago between your and Bakshi family. We can't change it but we can fix it."
Raksheet was hearing him but when he said the last sentence, he said "Sorry your majesty, but we can't fix it anymore. At least not now."
Emperor breathed deeply and patted Raksheet's shoulder. "I can understand. Even if you both don't want to fix it or it can't be fixed anymore, don't escalate the issue. Princess Ira is new to your family. She don't know anything about it. Don't let her face this all mess."
"I know what you are trying to say your majesty but trust me, I don't have any intentions to escalate the issue. What happened years ago, i and Ira don't have anything to do with it. I don't want her to get involved in it. It was between our elders, We did not exist at that time. We are always sorry to his majesty Abel and his family for what happened but we can't always sit back and ask forgiveness. If they try to hurt us, we have rights to defend ourselves."
Raksheet looked at the emperor and said in a polite yet serious tone. "Your majesty, we are not here to pull the matter. I didn't want to bring Ira here with me. I didn't want her to step in this kingdom where everyone is our enemy and sees us as murderers But because she is the future queen on Jwalana, i had to bring her here."
"I can understand. That's why I am telling you this all. Don't worry, I am with you. Because I know that kumar family had always regretted and are always sorry for their mistake. I talked to your grandfather through the letters. He was worried for you and princess Ira. I can clearly take your side this time if something goes off because you are in your enemy kingdom, attending the coronation and don't have any backup to protect yourself and your wife. You are a guest here so they should treat you well." Emperor sighed heavily and looked at the direction where Ira and empress were standing, waiting for their husbands to finish their discussion.
"I am just worried for princess Ira."
Raksheet followed emperor's gaze and saw Ira. His eyes softened immediately and he felt heaviness in his chest.
Emperor continued "It would be better for you and princess to stay with us till the coronation ends. Try to avoid interaction with any Bakshi family members as much as you can. You are not the part of this cold war so you shouldn't suffer either."
Raksheet gulped, looking at Ira and nod. "Ok, we will stay with you." He smiled slightly "She is looking happy with her majesty the empress." He looked at emperor and said "It seems like her majesty likes Ira a lot. But please don't take her to imperial capital. I will die."
They started laughing and emperor patted Raksheet's shoulder.
"Of course not. She is yours." He leaned close to Raksheet's ear and whispered "I know how it feels when someone takes your wife away for long time."