Nandini spotted Madhuranthaka Devar overlooking the pond, a small smirk appeared on her face. She took in a deep breath and stepped forward.

"Vanagugiren Ilavarase," She said, her voice honeyed with affection.

Madhuranthakar jerked back, startled to see Nandini standing behind him. "You are...?" He trailed off, furrowing his brows.

"I'm Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer wife, Nandini Devi." She said, bowing curtly, she hated that title, but it did give her some authority.

Madhuranthakar nodded and turned back to admire the scenery. He was really beautiful, not handsome. But beautiful. His dark eyes yearned to rule these lands.

"It looks beautiful." Nandini admired. "The mountains and the lake."

Madhuranthakar merely nodded in acknowledgment, he was still cross about the Crown going to Aditha Karikalan. He fisted his hands at the thought of it and looked away.

Nandini immediately noted his envy. "All of this should've belonged to you." She said in a low voice. Madhuranthakan inhaled sharply.

"I do not wish to rule." He said, half-heartedly.

"Is it really you saying it? Or your mother?"

Madhuranthakan looked down at his hands and sighed. "I do not have to answer you." He said, turning to leave, but Nandini's enchanting voice was capable of trapping any man.

"It's your life Ilavarase. You should decide how you live it." She said without turning back, she knew he would stop, she was too confident with her own capabilities. Even though Madhuranthakan was an advent devotee of Shivan, he too was a simple man, he too had desire.

Nandini half smirked, hearing his footsteps stop.

"My own mother doesn't support me." He said in a shaky voice. "Who would?"

"Periya Pazhuvettaraiyer and the other chieftains are ready to help you if you just ask." She said.

Madhuranthakan thought about it for a bit. "I will--"

"Ask your mother?" Nandini taunted. "She'll just shut you off, Ilavarase."

"Are you asking me to lie to her?" He raised his voice. Nandini didn't look intimidated though.

She shook her head, still smiling. "Illai Ilavarase. But it's not wrong to lie to get justice."

Madhuranthakan bit his lip, processing her words. But was she trying to help him, as if Nandini had read his mind, she answered.

"I just wish to keep the Chozha Nadu safe, safe from Karikalar." She said, trying not to shake when she uttered his name.

He hummed, nodding, he too like others had heard bad rumors about him. "Are you sure they will help me?" He asked, rather childishly.

"Of course, Ilavarase, the throne belongs to you, everyone knows it, My husband will stand by you."

Madhuranthakan nodded, nervously. He had never crossed the line his mother had drawn, but...he wanted to rule, he wanted to show them what he was capable of. "Fine, I'll talk to them."

Nandini nodded, bowing slightly. "I'll take my leave then," She said, the jingles of her anklets dying down as she left the scene.

Madhuranthakan looked at the Rudhratcha Malai which 'Adorned' his neck, could he really fulfill his wish?

**********

Vandiyadevan rode Semban around the temple grounds lazily, looking around. "Did you see the woman Semba?" He asked the horse. "The one with the beautiful voice." Semba shook his back, threatening to make him fall if he didn't stop asking him the same question over and over again. "Woa--Okay, fine. I'll shut up." Vallavarayan said, rolling his eyes. He stopped his horse when he saw Karikalar and the younger Prince, Arulmozhi Varman talking.

"You are yet to talk to the Kodumbaloor Ilavarasi?" Karikalan asked, surprised. Why was his brother this slow?

Arulmozh frowned and plopped back down on the ground. "I don't know, Anna..." Karikalan frowned and sat down beside his brother, resting his hand on his shoulder to cheer him up, but he was never this uncertain about Vanathi. 

"What is it, Thambi?" Karikalan asked gently, Vallavarayan had never heard him speak this softly.

"I don't know if I'm ready for such commitments.." Arulmozhi said, rolling a stone under his soft feet.

"You're not," Karikalan said, making Arulmozhi frown even more. "You're still young, you haven't seen everything that life has to offer."

"Have you?" Arulmozhi asked, curiously. 

Karikalan shrugged, laughing slightly. "I'm not sure, but I'm not the one who has to worry about making commitments." 

"Why? Will you never get married?"

Karikalan shook his head immediately. "No." He mumbled, shifting uncomfortably. 

"Why not?"

"Eh...I'm not interested." Karikalan said, trying to mask the pain in his voice, he had once promised Nandini he wouldn't marry if it wasn't Nandini who was sitting beside him, She had broken the promise, but he would not.

"It's because of Nandini," Arulmozhi said. "I know." Karikalan stilled at his words, he inhaled sharply and put on a smile.

"You always seem to find out what's going on in my mind, I won't waste my energy lying to you," Karikalan muttered, leaning back on a tree. 

"What about kids? Have you thought about having kids?" 

Karikalan smiled slightly, of course, he had dreamt about having kids, and he was really excited to tell Nandini about them after his trip to Kanchi. But it never really happened did it?

"I have you and Kundavai," Karikalan said instead.

Arulmozhi grinned widely and hugged his breathing, sighing in content, Oh how long had it been since he had felt his warmth. Karikalan embraced him back, ruffling his hair. "Promise me you would visit me and Akka at least once a year?" Arulmozhi asked. 

"O-of course..." Karikalan whispered, not knowing how he was going to keep up with his promise.