Let's do a boring time skip–two years passed in a blink .
I was now one of the chief advisors,more like the tenth Navaratna.Dannyal was now a general,known for his military planning and strategies.
Suddenly among the peace,a problem arrived.A state of a war was soon to be prevailed.
While the empire was busy taking preparations,the Emperor announced ,"Whoever kills more than 200 person will be given the highest honour!"
That honor might be valuable for me.Second thought..maybe it's just my lust for winning.Will I be able to resist it?
The daily meeting was held in a private room surrounded by delicate crafts and smell of rose water.Normally,The King listened to everyone's advices and problems.But today the King proposed a new idea...an interesting one indeed!
The King said that the system of nobles voting besides advisors giving advice could be great. Ayo, ISN'T THAT DEMOCRACY?!
I shouted out loud,"Democracy!" And silence.Like dead drop.Everyone was looking at me as if I ran out of an asylum.
OH GAWD,why am I so embarrassing?!
Raja Chander,one of the advisors grunted,"Voting by nobles?Some can't even understand the difference between salt and sugar."
I smirked and said,"Yes,Majesty you are right,an advisor may misread a situation but a voting may identify the mistake,it would also lessen the weight of decision making on you. "
Birbal leans slightly towards me and says,"The nobles are our future,they need to feel important as well."
Akbar stroked his mustache,thoughtfully , "Hmm...advisors doing err is indeed a problem sometimes."
I lean closer to Birbal,whispering,"We mig–"
Raja Chander interrupted slamming his hands on the table,"Ah,What if they are controlled by the richest and most influential?"
Birbal said with a cheeky smile,"Could the advisors be any different?"
I added ,"True,the same risk is in both case,but voting lessens pressure on the king."
Raja Chander with a red face, "These two are arranging a conspiracy to lessen your authority,my lord."
I said,"This was about vote or not vote."
Birbal adds,"Yes,where did conspiracy come from?"
Akbar having his hands folded,"I have made the decision,voting WILL happen."
Raja Chander mad that he got cooked,storms out muttering, "And the head advisor?Surprisingly absent today.Conspirators!"
After the council,Birbal came out handing me a bag of snacks and said,"Please check the accounts,gotta take my wife out."
"Snacks to bribe me?Great!"I said with a huff.Nah, anything for food though.
It was after noon.After finishing teaching the women at the harem–more like after taking the jobs of the eunuchs,I went to throw philosophy on the Emperor's son,Adrian.Yeah,I am doing double shifts.
I walked through the decorated corridors with crafts and flowers and reached his room.We sat in the balcony on designed mats.The light orangish color of the sunlight accompanied us in the our chatting.
For him it may be learning time but for me it was herbal TEA time.He gave me information about his family dramas.I was probably sort of therapist to him more than a teacher.
He said that he had fallen for a girl named Amara from the harem.But the thing is he already has two wives,highest for a prince.
Now that's what I call herbal tea.I asked,"When do you guys meet?"with utter confusion of his audacity.
He said looking at the flock of birds with a soft voice,"Every night in the rooftop.She holds my hand,I feel all this pressure go away.She sees the human inside of me."
I said with a sadness in my voice,"Every one only sees the future King in you and looks for their own benefits?"
"Hmm..."He hesitated,then whispered,"Wanna meet her tonight? "
I asked raising my eyebrows,"You trust me that much? "
He nodded,"If not you,then who?"
As night arrived,everybody fell asleep,in these silence where being seen would have caused scandals,the prince's and my footsteps crept on the marble floors.
We went upstairs and there was Amara waiting for him.The moonlight kissed her hair .Her beauty seemed to have question the skincare routine of queens.
Amara exclaimed with an innocent face,"Huh?Miss....you?!"
Adrian said holding her fingertips,"I told her."
I noticed the difference in his behaviors.At last,he gifted her an anklet.Amara forbade him but he still bowed before her and made her wear it.
And I?I guess even the most powerful future King also has a soft spot for someone.
They spent hours talking looking at each other instead of the charming moon.I was clicking photos by the way.
But before coming,Amara said that her father was marrying her of to a rich noble men.If Adrian hadn't found a way within a week,he would have losen her FOREVER.
Had I been Adrian,I would have forgotten her but Adrian wasn't me after all.
He assured her that he would figure something of.While returning,Adrian told me,"She had a life full of sadness.Her mother died as a child.Step mother made her life a hell.And now...even here."
He wanted to make her life a better one.So,he had a plan,the one maybe I shouldn't have listened.
The plan was to kill the his second wife.She was nothing but a political alliance to him.But who to blame?
The chief advisor,Abul Fazl.Adrian and him often clashed on topics of inheritance.Did Adrian thought I also had a competition with Fazl?And my wish to get closer to the King would make me keep my mouth shut about this killing ?
He also told me not to tell his mother,Queen Helena.Me and the queen were really close.Yeah,I am good with everyone.Hehe
I nodded and started walking towards my room.I suddenly got cursed by knowledge.
I came across the queen Helena and the chief advisor Abul Fazl in a.....questionable and controversial posture while I mistakenly entered their room.
Helena rushed over and whispered to me,"I know you will keep this between this between us,right?"
I nodded,awkward but loyal.But the fact is how do I survive this without getting caught in a scandal?Or do I cause the scandal?I am here to destroy the monarchy after all.