A/N : Scene of violence and mild gore is ahead. Reader's discretion is advised.

THE DAY OF BANQUET

The city of Umer was busy as the day of banquet thrown in honour of the envoys arrived. It was not an everyday event as Kingdoms take turns for being an envoy and that too every five years. Five years was a huge gap for anything to happen. There could be destruction of the empire or unprecedented success.

In the large brown and white courtyard, the floors were slabs of limestone, the pillars were vermilion red and there were complicated Water Lily patterns engraved on the railings. Creeper plants seemed to be twisted round the front pillars and a few flowers of yellow and red dotted the entrance way.

The lush summer foliage in the courtyard had begun to wither in autumn and the coloured fishes in the pond looked much calmer than usual. The blue canopy of nature seemed to be covered with the geese from the North, lined up as they flew across the sky towards the warmer South.

Anwesha stared at the sky through her gallery in the direction of the geese with a sense of yearning. There was a time that she wanted to go and meet the man who would occasionally come to Umer to meet her years ago. He was none other than the current Emperor of Agnibha, Karthik, the biological brother of the body she was in.

Behind her indifferent face, she really wanted to live with her family. But the word family made her feel trepidation.

If it was not because of this so-called family in her previous life, would she have died suddenly? Would she, who was in her prime of youth would bid farewell to her life so quickly?

If she had not trusted just everyone, would it have been different?

It had been fifteen years since she had arrived here. She clearly remembered the moment and the circumstances due to which she arrived here.

༺❀༻

The first time Anwesha opened her eyes, she saw a woman looking at her. There was love, guilt and yet fierce determination in her Kohl rimmed eyes.

She was the mother of the body she possessed - Empress Virahi of the now late Emperor Paarthiv.

She felt afraid but she could not do anything. Her body was not in her control as it bawled and cried, just like any other child. She could not control her actions and could not control the bubbles that a child would spit out.

She could not do anything. And that was the problem. Everything was unusual and it terrified her.

Then she was handed over to another woman who quickly, under the veil of darkness carried her from the palace to Balasandhya. The time she arrived here with a few undercover soldiers, they quickly pretended to be travelling merchants who came to take shelter in the empire for some time.

They tried to find some way into households of nobles and ministers in order to make sure that Anwesha would be safe.

In a place like Umer where nobles were like cats and dogs, someone's household must have a pregnant woman. The rest of the path could be paved then.

At that time, Prime Minister Saurav was far away in another province due to the numerous complains of belated aids by the court from bandit attacks while his third wife Lavanya writhed in pain as she underwent labour. She gave birth to a boy - a truly stillborn baby.

The midwife that helped her give birth was in cahoots with the second wife Chitra who wanted to kill both mother and child. But the midwife who's heart was soft for children felt it was great that she did not need to bloody her hands in killing a newborn.

But Lavanya understood that the midwife's heart was bought and so using a pair of metal scissors that were used to cut the umbilical cord of her child, she stabbed that woman with all her might in the heart effectively killing off that woman.

All the maids were afraid that their bodies trembled. A gentle woman who would smile with underlying kindness actually displayed such a ferocious move, it was quite shocking. It was true when someone said - never underestimate a mother.

At that time, Bishala, the trusted servant of Virahi who had pretended to be a merchant had been trying to find out ways that she could insert the child in a noble's household.

With that, once the child grew, she would be in luxury but she should also fight for it. She would be reminded that she was not any ordinary woman - she was destined to be the Scion of Agnibha.

Bishala who acted as a new servant that time used her weapon - hypnosis. She could hypnotize thousands of people and they would be her puppets forever. After all, her mother descended from the tribe of Tomaris of

She was there when Lavanya killed the midwife. She neared the desperate woman who clinged onto her stillborn baby and seemed to waft away in another world.

Grief of a mother. That was the look on Lavanya.

Bishala had seen that look once. On Virahi. When she had lost her second son to the vicious schemes in harem - both from those consorts and the Emperor himself.

At that time Virahi was mortified, desperate and almost maniacal. But when she saw that how everyone seemed to move on and were not remorseful of her child at all, there was a spark of revenge and a thirst for ruination that consumed her to the core.

Bishala turned her gaze to the servants who were frozen like a statue and their eyes had a hollow gaze as if they were not in their right mind and stepped to the bed.

The bed was dirty with blood and sweat but Bishala seemed to not look at it.

"What are you doing? Get out!" Lavanya exclaimed as she clinged the naked, small child and panted with difficulty.

She continued to scream herself hoarse, "You must be with those cruel women right? Get out. I will never let you take my child away from me. Karma will definitely bite you back. There will be day when their children will die right in front of their eyes. Mark my words."

The child in her arms was already turning bluish and his wrinkled red skin that was covered with blood made his body disgusting to look at.

The condition of his mother was no better. Lavanya seemed to be dying at any moment and through the severe blood that seemed to come out from her lower body, it was sure that she would die with her child.

After all, Chitra wanted to really take her rival's life.

"I'm here to take you to where your child is." Bishala said, as she brought out a small carved dagger from the folds of her servant attire and pierced the woman at her heart. "Don't fret, because you will be avenged along with our targets. Since you're in pain, death might free you from it."

Sometimes death was a freedom that everyone longed for.

Bishala was cruel, she knew but she just fulfilled the untold wish that glistened in Lavanya's eyes and there was nothing wrong in it. Additionally, she had to make way for settling her princess here by bloodied means. And this much blood was no big deal.

Lavanya coughed up a mouthful of blood and that seemed to pour on the bed and her wet white clothes. White represented funeral and death and perhaps fate had made her wear this because the Goddess of Fate was sure of this poor mortal's impeding death.

The blood trickled from the dark beddings and fell on the maroon tiled floor that hungrily sucked it in and disappeared among the thin gaps.

As Lavanya took her last breath, she smiled. She knew that she finally could reunite with her son. She was a little grateful to that woman who killed her and she had no hard feelings here anymore.

After all these deaths, Bishala made sure that those hypnotized servants would think that Lavanya, unable to recover from her grief killed herself. They only know that the child later started breathing but she might be sick in the long run. And there was no male child ever born by the third wife.

From that moment, Princess Agneyi Mehrotra transformed into Lady Anwesha Singh of Balasandhya.

༺❀༻

The wind seemed to hit her in the face as her deep eyes turned melancholic. The thin dress could not stop her from getting goosebumps due to the cold wind.

Just then, Juhi entered the chamber with a small box made of acacia wood with carvings of flowers. Seeing that her mistress was staring at the sky, she couldn't help but near her and ask, "Mistress what are you looking at?"

"Seeing whether these geese would travel through the capital Kashish." Anwesha muttered.

Kashish was the capital of Agnibha where the current royalties were residing.

"Are you missing your family, princess?" Juhi whispered, "Prince Adelik has arrived in the capital and in the interval of the banquet, you can meet him, if you want that is."

Her voice was hardly above a whisper as she made sure that no one was around or near the chamber.

"No, I'm just melancholic about the years spent here." Anwesha said, giving a last glance at the sky and the dusky trail left behind by the sun that was about to take a plunge for the night to arrive.

The entire sky was lit up with golden hue reminding her of fire - of herself.

She then averted her eyes to Juhi who was still carrying that wooden box and motioned her to follow, as she settled herself on the chaise in front of the vanity mirror.

"Keep it here. And bring me those old jewellery."

Juhi frowned, "Are you not going to open it? It has come from the Old Madam of the household."

Of course the old madam mentioned here was the mother of Prime Minister Saurav. Moreover she was not a real mother. She was a stepmother, the second wife of the Late Minister.

"What is there to open? There will be those glaring gold jewellery as if I'm some merchant's daughter. There would not be any diamond or other stones and will make me a laughingstock in my social debut." Anwesha gave a sardonic smile seeing that box.

There were tacky designs of gold without any jewels. That type only belonged to merchants who want to show their wealth through gold. A true noble would never wear such jewellery even if they were poverty ridden.

Gold denotes rich but the true rich was glimpsed through precious stones.

"Should I dress you up? The household has sent many new designs. Would you like to take a look?" Juhi asked as she shuffled through some chests.

"Hmm."

Juhi brought some dresses. One was completely golden lehenga and the other was maroon red. Anwesha picked up the dark one. It suited her golden tinged complexion and made her look more solemn than the childish and tacky golden one.She then wore a simple chokhar necklace and headress and earrings and a single bangle on each wrist.

Once she was ready, she set out from her courtyard in the common room. The only ones who could go to the banquet were legal wives and their children. Nalindi and her daughter Sumitra and Chitra along with her daughter Chaitra were dressed to nines, their every action showing their educated and graceful self.

The sons had already set out with their father go the palace and only the womenfolk had yet to reach.

Since Lavanya was the third wife, married legally into the house, as her daughter, Anwesha would definitely get the privilege to enter the banquet and thus, Nalindi had to reluctantly take along her, the daughter of her co-wife.

There was no sight of Saurav anywhere as Anwesha raked her eyes. Maybe because he had to enter the palace earlier today in order to be present to welcome the envoys.

These days, the emperor was more and more dependent on this particular prime minister to the point that if the ruler cannot see this subject, then he would not sleep peacefully.

Indeed a very loyal subject Prime Minister Saurav! Note the sarcasm.

Chaitra was also dressed in pastel pink with embroidered roses and pearl and diamond jewellery. As her delicateness was elaborated, she saw the grandiosity in Anwesha's appearance as she entered with only one maid.

"Jiji is looking great, but..." Chaitra said as she gave a look of disapproval. "It looks too simple. Why don't you wear what grandmother had sent for you? Jiji will look more beautiful."

In reality, Anwesha looked infinitely pleasing to the eye with her dark maroon floor length lehenga and her simple jewellery. Her deep set eyes were highlighted with Kohl and her thin lips looked redder, plumper and moist as it was hooked up. Her dark hair was coiled into a bun and secured inside with a veil that reached the floor while her seemingly just pretty features couldn't suppress her innate beautiful aura.

It really made one jealous enough to go and ruin it all.

"The jewellery sent by grandmother is grandmother's wishes for me. How can I dare to wear it casually? It's better for it to be tucked safely in the locker."

Anwesha was not stupid to present herself as some landlord's daughter that had just risen in status.

Nalindi gave a smile, "Chaitra is right. One should wear some jewellery so as to show that our household does not lack anything." But then she continued, "But if you don't like to wear it, that is alright too."

On one side Nalindi was pushing Anwesha to wear those jewellery sent by the Old Madam and on other side she was showing her generosity as the stepmother.

Anwesha sneered inwardly but on her face, a beautiful smile comparable to a begonia bloomed, "I do not desire for those things. Living a simple life is what I want in order to accumulate some virtue and maybe if the Almighty is pleased by it then he will cure me from my sickness."

Finishing she gave a deliberate cough as Juhi also started, "Mistress please don't be saddened. Almighty will definitely be pleased by your humbleness despite it not getting fulfilled."

The girl was so eloquent much less her maid as they gave stabs to Nalindi.

Nalindi's smile stiffened a little and she glared at Anwesha. If she forced them, would she have to take the blame of being forceful and not fulfilling wishes? Not even respecting an ardent devotee?

"As I've said before, it depends on you ultimately. Okay, I will not mention this again." Nalindi's eyes were a lot more cooled and there was a sense of not wanting to keep any pretence anymore.

She then tugged her daughter Sumitra who wanted to add some words to make her half sister embarrassed but then decided against it seeing her mother's stiff face.

Chitra and Chaitra who were silent too exited the common room so that they could sit in their palanquins and head to the palace.

As Anwesha seated herself in the palanquin, she ordered Juhi, "Let the carriers keep some distance from the other's palanquin. Best if we fall behind them."

Juhi held the curtain as she stared puzzled at her mistress.

Sensing her discombobulation, Anwesha said, "To begin with, these people are not from the same blood, living under the same roof but walking on roads that are poles apart. So tell, why travel together?"

Juhi nodded to show that she understood. But inside she thought, it was getting more and more difficult for her to keep up with her lady's thoughts.

In the other palanquin, Sumitra pulled the curtain back to secretly look behind and softly said, "Jiji, Anwesha Jiji is following behind."

The palanquin was wide enough for two or three people to sit. Anwesha could have sat with them but then sat in her own palanquin.

"She is purposely throwing a fit at me. Just because she is the oldest does not mean she's favored enough to strut around me." Chaitra coldly scoffed. In front of Sumitra, she never bothered to conceal her contempt of Anwesha, "Let her be, anyways the person who would be disgraced would not be me."

Chaitra and Sumitra, although younger than Anwesha had participated in many banquets and social outings before her.

Technically speaking, Anwesha should be the first one to have social intercourse but who knew that because of her coughing fits and a body that seemed to topple with a gust of wind, she would reject these opportunities.

So, Anwesha if not introduced to others by the two wives and sisters would definitely be a social outcast. She did not know any etiquettes nor any mannerisms and had no practical experience of integrating in society.

Sumitra said worriedly, "But she was infected with a cold recently and plus she is still not introduced properly to nobles..."

"Sumitra?" Chaitra snorted, "How could I not know what your heart is thinking? Don't pretend to be a good person here. If you are really concerned about her, then you should go and sit in her palanquin and not spout principles here."

Sumitra bit her lip as she looked down and did not say anything more. But her eyes flashed with an emotion that quickly disappeared.

By the time their household had set out from their courtyard, darkness had already marred the sky and the moon had come to be vigil for the night.

༺❀༻

The Halls of festivities were washed clean again and again to the point that it could mirror a person's face. Flower garlands hung down and carpets were spread out, it could be seen as far as one's eyes could take.

Maids and manservants seemed to be busy bringing out trays of refreshments, but their movements were not the least bit panicky. Years of experience did that.

There were diwans placed on the sides and stages were erected in the centre for entertainment. A thin muslin curtain partition was placed in the centre in order to seperate the genders.

Though Balasandhya was relatively relaxed on gender separation, it was still the norm for the women to be on the other side of the curtain. It was not like Agnibha where there was no curtain custom or like Gomantak where both genders could freely converse and move around without making people's eyebrows raised a notch.

As such, when Harinakshi and Sarita stepped down from their palanquin outside the Jalsa Mahal where festivities and ceremonies were conducted, they were ushered by female maids and nannies to the right side of the large hall where women of Balasandhya were already seated.

Through the curtains, the women could see the men while the men couldn't see the women. It was the speciality of this unusual muslin fabric that was made by the embroiders of Triptik, which were rare and sent to tribute every two years.

The Indrasen sisters greeted the women nobilities and Royal relatives as they walked towards the more raised diwan where the Empress and her co-wives and daughters-in-law sat. It was quite a sight as it showed peace and a loving family. But who knew what it really was within the closed walls of inner palace?

"Is there anything that Princess Harinakshi and Princess Sarita in not used to in your stay here?" The Empress asked smiling gently. She was the epitome of a benevolent Samragini.

"We are overwhelmed by your hospitality. There's no inconvenience here at all." Harinakshi returned a smile.

After a few more pleasantries, they turned to sit in their designated seats. All the while, the one who did the talking was Harinakshi while the one who kept quite and followed the lead was Sarita.

Every queen of the Emperor was very polite to the envoy's womenfolk be it Triptik or Gomantak. But that was a faux since in their beautifully crafted words were poisonous traps besieged to make out the Kingdom's thoughts. There was no womenfolk envoys from Agnibha though, considering the womenfolk back in the empire to be miniscule currently, so one could not make out what intentions Agnibha had.

Overall, it was a smiling and peaceful pre-banquet facade.

However, one particular queen who was dressed in nines in crimson floor length lehenga and her semi transparent dupatta that seemed to sweep the floor was exceptionally silent today. Her usual cordial smiles were not seen towards the Indrasen sisters as she looked at them through veiled hostility. She was Queen Dhamini, one of the most favored wives of Emperor.

Queen Dhamini asked Harinakshi who was quite a distance away from her, her voice loud yet crisp. "Princess Harinakshi, how old are you this year? You seem to look very young to me."

The nobilities and other lesser queens of the Emperor stopped their chatter after hearing such words from Queen Dhamini. They were now going to see some entertainment from the consorts of Emperor.

Who did not know the hostility that the Second Prince had towards a particular devil from the Indrasen Royal clan? It was quite famous that year that it was an household joke even in the most remotest of towns. Details were not known much but the scandals reached everyone's ears.

Harinakshi, not the least bothered, replied, "I'm fourteen. Five months later, I'll be fifteen, Your Highness Queen Dhamini."

"Hmm." Queen Dhamini nodded, her chin raised like a proud peacock as she gave a smile, "in our Balasandhya, women are married off at the age of fifteen. Since you're a princess that have arrived here, are you interested in the marriage alliance with our Yadursen clan?"

It was quite shocking for the envoys that Queen Dhamini said such words. Such words and authority should belong to the Empress so why was it that a mere Queen dared to give the shorter stick to Empress?

They looked at the Empress who smiled like a flower, her eyes calm and devoid of any anger. Sitting in her dark green floor length lehenga, decked up in neither too much nor too less jewellery, she was the perfect Empress a nation could have. No emotion could be perceived through her actions and the way she just smiled at the words of Queen Dhamini made her look more magnanimous.

The envoys then gave each other a look and bowed their heads, their posture easily passing them off as mannequins.

They were here just for hearing not for saying. They dare not interfere in Balasandhya's chaotic atmosphere.

Sarita's eyes widened in anxiousness. Her brother had said that they had come here not for some marriage alliances but she was afraid that her Jija might be forced to accept it. Why was this queen attacking them as soon as they entered the hall?

Sarita had not known about her brother's great deeds since she was very young at that time and the Emperor and Empress of Balasandhya refused to taint her innocent mind.

Harinakshi was not panicked like Sarita visually but the sweat on her palms told another story. This Queen Dhamini's influence here was more than she had expected.

If such words were said by the Empress it could be understood somewhat. But these words were said by the favored woman of the Emperor, one who's whims were tolerated and pampered well.

But Harinakshi soon regained her composure, her voice resounding in the now silent hall, "Your Highness Queen Dhamini, you may not know this, but... Gomantak has marriage policy of women marrying after the age of seventeen. It is even recorded among the travelogues and books about the great empires if Arunima. I thought that coming with Bhratashree, it will just be a visit to the central plains of Arunima. Marriage alliance asked by you was not expected by me. I thought the Emperor and the Empress will talk about political alliances right?"

Her last statement was said with such an innocent face that the womenfolk of envoys couldn't help but support her. Yes, when the main personages didn't say a word about it, how could a queen of the back palace talk about it?

The Empress' eyebrows raised a millimeter and a hint of mirth yet vigilance could be seen in her eyes. She had lived and judged people accurately in her entire life and currently, all the cells in her body was hinting that this not-yet-fifteen-years-old girl would definitely start up a cat fight among women of the Emperor Manohar.

Queen Dhamini was stumped a little inside but having schemed for a few more years, she knew that this girl was just like her abominable brother. Birds of a feather!

Every sentence hinted that she was misusing her authority, was stupid to not know Gomantak's customs which were known even to a kid and disrespected the emperor and empress while daring to meddle in politics - which shouldn't be done by a lesser queen.

From her peripheral vision she even saw the icecold glares of other queens and their jealousy seemed to roll over to her in heaps.

"Princess Harinakshi has misunderstood. It was perhaps looking at your peerlessly beautiful appearance, I felt like the one who gets you as a daughter in law will definitely be very fortunate. The talks of an alliance are not serious... until you make it so."

It was interesting that Queen Dhamini used the word peerlessly beautiful. It was said to prostitutes and courtesans not a respected woman of royal household.

When describing a respected woman, one must use virtuous, benevolent, of good appearance and etiquettes as adjectives. Having just a beauty as reputation never fared well for a woman.

Harinakshi was not in the least angry about it. She knew she was very beautiful. With her dark locks that made one go and touch, her hazel eyes that enamored people and her features which were a perfect mishmash of her parent's fine appearances, she was bound to look peerless. On top of that she had milky white skin, a rarity on the rest of Arunima because of it's relatively humid temperature.

Despite the sarcasm laced undertone, Harinakshi was least bothered about it. Who did not like to be praised for their good appearances?

She knew that these women were jealous and envious of her inside. They could only vent it out with petty words as she scoffed internally.

Of course, Harinakshi would never admit that she was very narcissistic.

"Thank you for the praise Queen Dhamini." She said, her eyes glistening with naivety. The smile on her face blossomed like a magnolia in full bloom.

Happiness seemed to radiate from her entire being that all the envoys and Noble women seem to be wondering whether this princess was genuinely not aware or that she was being indifferent.

Queen Dhamini got irked. How could this girl take it as a compliment? Did she not understand that she was comparing her to filthy courtesans and whores of the red light district? What was so good about it that she was so happy?

Just when she was about to counter, she saw Empress giving her best smile in a certain direction. She followed her gaze and saw the Prime Minister Saurav's household arriving.

Currently, Saurav had only two proper wives and several concubines that could not be shown in public. So only the legitimate wives and children birthed by the wives could enter any banquet hosted by the palace personages.

Nalindi with her simple yet elegant attire and Chitra with her charming peacock colored attire entered inside. Behind them, their daughters arrived. Each and everyone were dressed to finest.

But everyone's gaze was not on those delicate, gentle and charming looking daughters of Saurav but instead another maiden who walked in.

They saw a young female walking slowly from the door, wearing a dark red outfit with lily embroidery and a dark beige embroidered dupatta. These colours would normally be too old for young females, especially since Anwesha was a little rounded. If she was not careful, she would look like a child who had stolen an elder's clothes to wear.

Her footsteps were slow and the corners of her skirt did not move as each step was very light yet still had weight. One did not know why it felt as if there was a graceful air of magnanimity. Her chin was slightly raised and her eyes were naturally placid, as if one was unable to see the bottom of her eyes but all the energy was confined inside, like a beast that had kept all its claws and teeth.

Her five facial features were lovable because her face was round and adorable. Though she had yet to grow up, when coupled with her dignified manner, it was unexpectedly not out of sorts.

It was not the manner a young female but was more like... an Empress who controls the dynasty.

The right side of the hall gradually quieted down.

____________________________________________

A/N :
I know that this chapter had cruelty but everything has a reason. I'm not justifying anyone's deeds but taking into consideration the timeline, we must think from their point of view too. Also, I've stated court intrigue and bloodied politics in foreword already.

How many of you think Bishala is evil?

Do you think the cruelty shown here is justified?

Finally, what do you think about this chapter in an overall way?

Please give your precious stars and comments as I'm in dire need of it. *Author screaming in desperation*

I'll add the glossary later.