Aaryawati's (Veerti's) POV

"Let the match begin!" announced the King. For a brief second, I looked at Aaryaveer. For some reason, he was looking at me rather than his own man—as if concerned.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, my rival Nakul struck his sword at me. Automatically, my hand lifted, and my sword clinked against his.

Did Aaryaveer know that I was Aaryawati? Was he suspicious? Why was he looking at me like that?

For a few minutes, my body reacted instinctively against the attacks of my rival while my mind was too busy pondering the reason behind that brief stare from the King. Suddenly, Nakul took a step back and threw his shield at me. Thankfully, I snapped out of my thoughts and moved backwards just in time for it to fall a few inches ahead of me. Why the hell would a soldier throw his shield in the middle of a fight?

"I thought you were too busy daydreaming! Looks like you have just woken up," Nakul flashed an arrogant grin. Everyone around me laughed while I looked at Aaryaveer; his face remained serious.

I cursed myself for overthinking in the middle of a friendly but important match. Where did my focus go?

"You were lucky while I was daydreaming. Now that I am fully awake, your bad luck begins!" I shouted back. The crowd fell quiet.

It was time to slice him with my sword rather than my words. I began my attack, demonstrating my agility. I am a very strong person physically, though I look lean, because I have always been strict about my diet. Though everyone in the palace believed I was too "choosy" about my food, I simply had my personal chef prepare healthy meals. That discipline had continued even after my marriage.

My attacks increased in speed and intensity. I provided Nakul no time to breathe as my advances became more aggressive. I soon pushed him into a corner. His earlier overconfidence in throwing his shield was now costing him the match; he had only a bare hand and a sword for his defensive stance.

Since he was completely cornered, I threw my own shield. It hit him directly in the leg, and he fell.

"This is how you throw a shield!" I grinned.

I stood over him and pointed the tip of my sword at his chest. He grinned and put his hands up in a sign of defeat. Everyone clapped.

"I am impressed. I have never seen a woman fight so bravely," said Aaryaveer as I ventured out of the arena. Utsav, Nakul, and Vishwakarma nodded as if backing their King's praise.

I smiled. He had no idea what his wife was truly capable of. I hoped that now he wouldn't be suspicious of my identity; never in his dreams could he imagine his wife defeating his best swordsman.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." I smiled at everyone and started walking toward my tent. I had minor injuries and wanted to tend to them.

"She is a wildcat," I heard a snicker from Nakul.

"Yes, she is something else," added Vishwakarma.

I turned around to look at Aaryaveer one last time. It looked as if he was lost in his own world. I sighed and reached for the flap of my tent. Suddenly, I heard his voice.

"Veerti-ji!"

It was that same powerful voice that had the capability of shaking people to their core. I turned to meet his burning eyes. Right now, he wasn't the friendly, relaxed Veer. He was King Aaryaveer—powerful, stubborn, and apparently ready for a fight.

"Let's have a battle, ma'am," he spoke.

A pin-drop silence fell over the army men. The tension was thick. I looked at him, eye to eye—those same eyes that were hungry for their own answers.

In our married life, I never fought with my husband. Our roles were well-defined; he was the superior, the King. He treated me with utmost respect, and I took my role as a doting, submissive wife very seriously. I never questioned his decisions, and he ensured my needs were fulfilled. We were an ideal couple. But I had no idea how our equation would translate to the battlefield.

The roles had changed. I was now his fellow battle-mate. He was my King in our kingdom, yes, but in the arena, we were both just soldiers.

We locked eyes, and for some strange reason, something passed between us. He wanted to assert his dominance to fuel his suspicion, and I was not going to give him the satisfaction of being my superior. That wasn't how this would work.

As a woman, there are times when you must put your head down and avoid unnecessary attention. And then there are times when you have to make your place clear to everyone. If I wanted to fight by their side, I had to teach them how to respect me. They respected me as a woman, but it was time they respected me as a warrior. And that would start now.

"Your Majesty, let's begin then," I said, turning back toward him, my voice loud and clear.