Sikva, capital city of Kavish

Princess Nakshathra closed her eyes with her hands and counted till twenty. Little faint giggles spread in all direction behind her as she faced a wall. A smile adorned her round face, listening intensely to each voice. 

" . . . Eighteen . . . Nineteen. . . TWENTY! I'm coming for you," she chirped and swirled to face an empty alley. Rows of earth colour houses lined on both sides with smaller lanes in between every four houses serving as quick excess to an open space. It's known to be the dhobi colony and a place where the princess often visits apart from river Smiti. Nakshathra tip-toed despite her tinkling anklets announcing her distance from them.

She peeped into every small lane in search of her little friends—the children of the dhobi community. Each lane was congested with bundles of old clothes and clothes to be washed stacked up against the walls made her difficult to find them. As she neared the bend leading to the open space, she heard heavy footsteps approaching her.

It must be one of them.

Much to her surprise, it was her hefty tall youngest older brother, Nathan with one of the king's guards, she recognised. Her brother appeared as if he walked out straight from his training ground to fetch her, drenched in sweat.

Nakshathra eyed the king's guard behind Nathan, but why was he coming with her brother? Is he going to complaint to the king?

"Nathu? What are you doing here?" She asked as if she had not figured it out yet and in return the young prince glared at his sister with thin pressed lips.

"Well, darling Nakshathra. Father had seen you here and wants me to bring you back, if you had not guessed it yet," he said with twinkling eyes, gesturing to the guard behind him and reached for her hand.

"What? When? How didn't I know about it?!" Nakshathra flustered at the mention of her father. She never liked to be caught doing things she was warned not to do.

"That's not the question you should ask now, little sister. Know that you are in for a long lecture." He said hiding the threatening smile on his face as they walked out the alley.

Nakshathra stomped her feet in protest, "but I did not do anything wrong. I was just playing with the kids," the princess whined and turn to get a glimpse of the guard following them in a distance. Behind the guard, the kids aged between eight and twelve ran behind. She waved her hand, "I'll see you tomorrow!" Nakshathra screamed for the kids to hear; they cheered in return.

"Guess what? It's going to be so much fun to watch appa give you a piece of his mind and forget about coming out tomorrow, you won't be out of the palace for at least a week." Nathan laughed. "Don't worry, I'll keep you accompanied," he laughed louder.

Nakshathra groan in frustration. It wasn't something new to her but her father rather the maharaja's way of dealing with discipline breaching among the royal kids had been going out of control these days. Despite their age, Bavaneswaran had made sure they get their share of punishment for breaking Heramba's royal rules all the time.

For years, their punishment had been re-reading their royal rule manuscripts for one week straight, grounded within the palace, confined within the royal study room with conductors teaching them how to be behave like royals or stay under the sun in a private courtyard.

"What's fun in watching a repetitive event?" she quoted referring to her upcoming argument with the maharaja.

"Because it's simply you and not any of us," Nathan chuckled.

"How mean, Nathu? I have been punished more than any of you ever had and I'm not going to complaint about it but this nonsense tradition has to stop."

Nathan shook his head at the impossible dream his sister has for the Heramba laws. Clearly, Nakshathra had to be the only one openly rebelling against her father's strict rules and protocols for she thinks it controls them too much—restricting their freedom of life through those laws. As a matter of fact, Nathan too disagrees with the family law but he would admit he isn't as courageous as his younger sister to break the family law.

The kind of laws implemented for the royals is that there are rules and guidelines for everything like how to talk, the tonality while talking, what to talk, how to eat, when to eat, how to behave, walk, dress-up and so on. The royal children's life is more like a mirror image of each other rather than unique individuals. It gets even worse for the women in the family, neither they should be loud and be heard nor should they even participate in martial activities. Nevertheless, the latter wasn't a matter of concern anymore for the siblings, thanks to Nakul—the eldest brother.

The brother-sister duo walked around the preparation ground for the pass hour. They dropped by at the massive Lord Ganesha statue, spoke to the people around and checked with the merchants if they have enough supplies for the next two months as the naval port will be close for any entry for traders. Nathan, being in-charge of the sea security, decided to halt traders into Kavish in absences of the royals. Though he believes the police force under the lead of chief of law enforcement, Parthiban the second prince of Kavish would do an exceptional job in guarding the city, he did not want to take the risk that may come through the waters.

A nagarapala in a blue dhoti greeted Nathan, interrupting his conversation with the merchants. Nathan recognised the guard was from the city gate by the prominent dhoti colour, he acknowledged his greeting with a nod and a warm smile.

"Apologies for the interruption, rajakumar. Yuvaraja Nakul is on his way with chief general, Pasupathi and his men," announced the guard and left after Nathan's assent.

As the news spread among the people in the ground they cheered. The return of the crown prince meant they will be departing to Mount Gaja soon once the king commences the procession. The piece of news boosted the spirit of the people as they got engaged on their works again, finishing up before they leave for their annual pilgrimage.

"Why are we here, Nathu?" Nakshathra asked as they neared the city gate. "Aren't we supposed to go to the palace?"

"Yes, we should but Nakul is returning back in some time. So, let's welcome him and head to the palace together. I can also let Nakul know about your thing; he can help you surpass the punishment. You know, he is appa's favourite," Nathan wrapped an arm around her neck, playfully.

"Right, Nakul anna, the law-abiding son will help me, the law breaching daughter. How ironic?" she rolled her eyes.

"Don't get too pensive about it, Nakshathra. We are just buying time. Once Nakul is back, father will forget about your tiny law breach. We all will be engrossed in the final preparation to Mount Gaja, he wouldn't bother to punish you." Nathan flashed his teeth and ruffled her hair.

Nakul, the crown prince of Kavish and the oldest among the royal siblings of five, a much subtle version of Bavaneswaran. He follows laws and rules diligently but also tries to bend them where needed. Nakul along with Parthiban often get involved in bending rules where necessary and gets away with it as the news of the changes never reaches the king. One of those were, teaching their sisters the art of martials.

Nakshathra sat on the stairs leading to the watchtower next to the city gate while Nathan stood a little further from the tower on a small raised platform a few meters away from the gate. He eyed his sister who sat on the stairs munching a mango fruit she picked up on the way, completely disregarding the protocol to not sit by the stairs that is used for the commoners. Nakshathra sighted Nathan glaring at her, she shrugged as if it was nothing and continued to munch.

There we go, another one. May no one tell what they see to the king.

Nathan's gaze shot up to the sky with palms joined in prayer. Although the guards by the gate are more of Nakshathra's friends he doubts if any ministers or noblemen passing through the gate might get a glance of his notorious sister. That would invite more trouble for her.

The sound of horses galloping towards their direction amplified. Nathan shifted his gaze back to the gate. At the frontmost of the horseback were the crown prince and the chief general followed by two dozen of soldiers.

Nakul the leanest warrior stood apart from the rest of the troop. Unlike Nathan, Nakul stands a foot shorter and much slimmer yet his strength could not be judged by his size for his was considered much stronger than Nathan. He also possesses deep and commanding voice, often intimidates many that he chose to appear less fierce in terms of his appearance. He maintained his black thick hair short, crisp and neat with a chevron moustache complementing him as a warrior.

The soldiers on the watchtower by the gate blew the trumpet welcoming their crown prince and his troop as the horses trotted. The troop came to a halt before Nathan who stood with a warm welcoming smile.

While Nathan waited for his brother's quick briefing with his troop on their upcoming preparation for the journey, Nakshathra finally joined him. He passed a glare to her sending an unspoken message to stop being clumsy in front of those who might not think twice to tell their father. Nakshathra clicked her tongue and was prepared to answer Nathan when Nakul joined the duo.

"What brought you both here? I don't think my troop and I needed any welcome since we only went out to check on the route to Mount Gaja," said Nakul while studying both his brother and sister.

Nakshathra flashed a grin as she stole a glance at Nathan. "Anna, Nathu missed you and he brought me to welcome you so that it doesn't seem obvious to others," replied Nakshathra and earned a light smack on her head instantly.

"Behave like a prince, Nathu. Don't hit your sister," she mocked.

Nathan however, scanned their surrounding making sure no one saw what he did.

"Well, that tells me how much Nathan misses me. Anyway, tell me what's the matter, sister." Nakul prompted as they begin taking small steps towards the city centre.

"Something is waiting for her at the palace," answered Nathan.

"I thought so. What did you do this time?" The older brother stopped and turned his attention to his sister, his eyes boring into Nakshathra's. Nakul although intimidating, Nakshathra braced herself not get shaken up, her lips stretched to a smile.

"Father saw her at the dhobi quarters with the children." Came the reply from Nathan.

"That's not even a big deal, anna. I was only playing with the kids. I did nothing wrong." Protested Nakshathra, keeping in check her volume while speaking in public.

"Well, father saw it and it does make it a big deal," commented Nakul.

"I don't get it. This happens every time and it seems nothing is getting into anyone's head that mingling with commoners doesn't make us any smaller." Nakshathra hissed clearly showing her anger as she grits her teeth and clenched her fist.

Nathan shook his head unable to get his sister understand. The problem isn't about mingling with the commoners, it's about following the rules. He turned to Nakul and silently handed over the matter to his older brother to handle.

"Nakshathra, why do you do things that infuriates the king? Why can't you follow the rules for once and be good? Won't that make father and others happy instead of always giving you lectures and punishments? Do you think father like doing it?" Nakul spoke gently attempting not to aggravate her further.

Nakshathra checked around and so did the two brothers, they were out of any earshot. "Anna, what's the point of we living out of a rule book when we can't express ourselves freely? We have restriction for practically everything. From the colour of our outfit to the choice of words." She paused while her two brothers listened to her intently. "If we continue to carve our life following the rule book, we will lose ourselves one day. Where will there be uniqueness between you and me if we are to move about like a mirror image of each other? Apart from our gender, there won't be anything special in us. History will never remember us. And if the king wants his family to always follow rules than he should have just raised dummies." She finished her argument with a huge exhale ofbreath and as always leaving her brothers in a fix.

"I hope Heramba's future lineage gets better under your command, crown prince." Nakshathra added and bowed down with a smile.

"Your words never fail to leave us speechless, Nakshathra," the proud elder brother embraced his sister. "And the crown prince of Kavish, promises the young rajakumari that the future of Heramba will be better than it is."

A loud throat clearing pulled the brother-sister apart. "Now that we are done with our discussion, shall we leave. We have preparation to do and you, need to take some rest." Nathan referred to his brother as they foot it to the palace.

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