Aaryaveer's POV

"We will reach by tomorrow evening!" Gasped Brahamadutta as we managed to travel around half of the path.  Sun had began to set.

"Yeah, let's create a temporary camp here tonight." Proposed Nakul.

Three of us sat under the stars as the soldiers went ahead to take their sleep breaks.

"You did the right thing by sending Utsav to with Veertiji." Said Nakul as he played with the grass.

"Though, fighting without him makes me miss him." Chuckled Brahamadutta, knowing fully well how Veerti needed someone to ensure things operate smoothly.

"What do you think about Veerti?" Suddenly Nakul asked me, completely taking me by surprise.

"What about her?" I feigned innocence.

"I mean, we don't know her at all. We don't even know if she really belongs to our kingdom. Initially I thought that she was a spy of Sanket Singh's kingdom but when I saw you returning with her, hale and hearty from your previous operation, I knew we could trust her." Said Nakul.

"Yeah, she is good at her work." I commented.

"I was thinking.... You know... maybe." Nakul had a blush on his face.

"Maybe?" I knew where his mind was heading towards. And trust me, I was getting annoyed every passing second.

"Maybe, if she agrees, can you propose her on my behalf? I mean I would love to court and marry her." He said, dreamy eyed.

I couldn't completely blame him. After all, only Utsav had knowledge about Veerti's real identity.

"Actually I can't." I didn't bother to tell him the exact reason.

"But why ?" Nakul pouted like a child who was denied his favourite toy.

"Just like that. I think you should focus on the war." I tried to sound stern. But Nakul being my childhood buddy, couldn't restrain himself.

"I never knew that I would find strong woman so appealing. I haven't seen her face but the way she speaks... the way she moves... I know she has this incredible personality. I don't care about her skin tone but the way she is so humble while talking to everyone and yet, her no-nonsense attitude attracts me towards her. Her language indicates that she is well read and knows how to deal with the world. I would be really thankful, if you could arrange our alliance." Said Nakul, as he twitched his eyes to remember the woman whom he was describing. Yes, the same woman who was my wife and his sister in law.

I couldn't stop frowning even though I had to control my tongue. Nakul saw it. Brahamadutta saw it too.

"I think someone wants to marry that lady himself!" Joked Brahamadutta even though his eyes were serious. Perhaps he wanted to know my intention.

"But I thought he would never marry anyone except Her Majesty, Queen Aaryawati." Nakul looked doubtful.

And that was it. I had to tell them the truth. That Aaryawati was Veerti and Veerti was Aaryawati.

"I am sorry brother. I didn't know that was my sister in law. Please pardon me." Nakul looked repentant. I smiled at him with the hearty assurance.

"Do not worry. Our lips are sealed. Your information is sacred and safe." Chuckled Brahamadutta.

As we went to take a nap, suddenly Nakul turned around. I knew he wanted to speak up. He had hard time holding himself back. He snickered at me with his final question. "Does Aaryawati has a sister?" I glowered.

He chuckled and went to the opposite direction of mine. I couldn't help but smile. I hoped that midst the banter, we would be able to win the war. At both the ends.

Aaryawati's POV

"Okay everyone! I have given you all your sarees. Does anyone here knows how to drape the saree?" I shouted to the soldiers who were gathered in the grounds.

"I know, your Majesty!" Shouted an over enthusiastic soldier. And then I remembered. He was also the part of the spy team that my mother had formed. No wonder he knew about the dressings and disguises.

"Can you teach them?" I asked him.

"Sure!" He replied.

I looked around and saw Utsav getting uncomfortable as he tried to follow the instructions.

I went inside my chamber, stuffed a pillow under my dress to make myself look like a heavily pregnant woman. I looked myself in the mirror. I smiled at myself proudly. I would make a beautiful pregnant Queen.

A HIGHLY VULNERABLE PREGNANT QUEEN!

I went to the Court room and saw the messenger of Sanket Kingdom. He was in black, his attire signifying the colour of the flag of his kingdom.

I tried to look vulnerable and helpless.

"Yes?" I asked as I entered the room. I had my right hand behind my waist and walked like a tired pregnant woman.

The messenger looked at me and for a split of a second, I saw his grin. We exchanged the pleasantries.

"Your Majesty, I am here to talk to the King Damodarveerji or King Aaryaveer. Whoseever is present."  He said.

Liar. He knew that King Aaryaveer was out of the kingdom!

"Actually" I started speaking with utmost innocence. "King Aaryaveer is out in the army camp." Then I bit my lip, as if I was not supposed to disclose this information.

I could see the body language of the messenger getting confident by every passing minute.

"King Damodarveerji  has gone to meet my parents. He isn't available in the kingdom right now." I lied.

The messenger looked at me from top to bottom as if a hunger would look at his helpless potential prey. I secretly cringed at that but pretended not to notice. I looked at him questioningly while his gentlemanliness  and Sophistication in the  mannerisms started to fade.

"Now that only you are present, I would like to convey the greetings of our King Sanketsingh. I had come here to warn you about the possible attack our King intends to do on your kingdom, commencing with your fort." He spoke up.

"But you can't attack us! Our army is situated at the base camp! My husband and father in law are located outside the kingdom. The fort is filled with Royal women and the women of other stratuses!" I tried to sound very distressed and panicked.

"Pardon me, Your Highness but we have no option but to declare war on your Kingdom!" He smiled, looking at my bulging abdomen.

"Is attacking helpless women, part of your Dharma?" I tried to appear desperate.

"For us, victory is the only dharma. Either you give up or fight. You have no other option." Said the messenger. Earlier his head was bowed down while he talked to me. Now he had forgotten that I was the Queen of the nation! His arrogance was going to kill him and his men!

"I cannot give up so easily else the prestige of my kingdom would go into ashes. On the other hand, I cannot let ruin the lives of my sisters." I looked conflicted as I tried to talk to myself while the messenger continued to enjoy my so called dilemma.

It was already evening. I wanted to buy some more time. If I wanted, I could have faced the attack but I wanted the wars from both the fronts to commence simultaneously. So the Sanketsingh couldn't relocate his army from his kingdom to our kingdom and vice versa. Stronger surprise Attacks from both the sides (ie from our kingdom and against their kingdom) would be a brutal shock for the rival and they would end up losing.

"Okay, I need time to think. I shall let you know my decision by tomorrow morning." My fingers nervously played with my saree to fake my body language.

"Alright. But if tomorrow you decide to fight, then do not blame us for the fate of yours and  well as your sisters." The messenger gave me the last mocking lustful look and went away.

I swore to myself that I would kill that guy with my bare hands.

Now I had time. If I could commence the war by the noon next day and Aaryaveer can commence from his side at the next afternoon, we could shock the rivals with our attacks.

Also, my helplessness would have created a wave of overconfidence in the minds of the rivals. I was sure that they would have reduced the number of soldiers since I had almost assured them that the resident of the fort were only female.

I called out Utsav and asked him to help me with the final layer of preparations.