Kanchi palace

Vandiyadevan was excited when he heard Adithan was going to build a Golden Palace in Kanchi, he was the only one to do so though. When the letter about raising the palace reached Sundara Chozhar he was against it, they believed that luxuries like this must only be available to gods and not mere mortals.

But Karikalan being Karikalan went on with his plans. "I'll convince them, they couldn't deny a gift offered by their dear son can they?" He laughed.

Parthibendran rolled his eyes, "You're wasting precious resources, Aditha," He sighed. "I heard the finance minister is pretty mad about your decision," He said, eyeing Karikalan's face, as he had expected, a sly smile formed on the corner of his lips.

"Am I stealing from his treasury?" Karikalan asked, shrugging.

Vandiyadevan might not be the brightest tool in the shed but even he knew messing with one of the ministers was a bad idea. That too with the finance minister.

"Did you hear any news about Arulmozhi?" Karikalan asked, his little brother's conquest of Ilankai stayed in the corner of his mind.

"None yet," Parthibendran said. Karikalan's face dimmed a bit, he was worried for his brother.

"Ilavarase, if Ponniyin Selvar is anything like his brother he would easily go through any trouble that comes his way," Vandiyadevan said, trying to cheer the prince up.

Karikalan smiled a bit, leaning back on the cot. "He's not like me," He said. "Arulmozhi is way more calmer and rational, while I use brute force," Karikalan laughed. "I just worry, he's too young to go to a battle all alone,"

"You were 12 when you stepped on the battlefield," Vandiyadevan said.

Karikalan scratched his brow. "I'm different, Arulmozhi is a great fighter but he was so sheltered as a child, I don't know how he'll fare in the real world," Being the youngest child Arulmozhi was pampered too much for his own good. He inherited his father's good looks as well.

Karikalan wondered how Kundavai is doing right now, if he was worrying this much what plight is Kundavai facing? They were inseparable as kids.

She wouldn't even share it with anyone, instead, she would keep it buried inside her heart. On top of that, she had to handle Vanathi, oh that poor girl.

"He'll probably miss home," Adithan said.

"Don't you miss home, Ilavarase?" Vandiyadevan asked. "I stayed at Thanjai for a week and even I miss that place,"

Karikalan sighed, leaning back. He would've never left Thanjai if it wasn't for the bitter memories that filled the place. "Sometimes, you get used to it as time passes," He muttered, picking up a fresh apple from the nearby fruit bowl.

"I don't know about you, but Vandiyadevan terribly misses Thanjai," Parthibendran laughed, smiling slyly. Vandiyadevan knew exactly what was coming next.

"Parthiba--" He groaned.

"What am I missing?" Karikalan asked, biting into an apple.

"He misses that girl," Parthibendran said,

"Parthiba!" Vandiyadevan almost lunged at Parthibendran but Karikalan held him back.

"A girl held Vandiyadevan at her sword's point," Pallavan laughed while Vandiyadevan gave him a death stare, but that was not going to stop Parthibendran from humiliating his friend. "And this guy fell in love with her,"

Karikalan was surprised, why does this sound like something Kundavai would do? "Why didn't you tell me? I would've gotten you two married," Adithan said, patting his back. "Who's that girl?"

"He doesn't know," Parthibendran mocked. "He fell in love by just hearing her voice," Vandiyadevan was starting to blush uncontrollably.

"You fell in love without even seeing her face?" Karikalan asked, confused.

"I--uh forgot to feed Semba, Ilavarase, I'll be back," He said, rushing out. Both Pallavan and Adithan began bursting into peels of laughter.

"Ilavarase?" A guard outside called out. Karikalan immediately gestured for him to come inside. He bowed down and handed him an olai. "Our spy from Pazhuvoor has sent this Olai ilavarase,"

Karikalan unwrapped the scroll and began reading the message, his face showing seven stages of grief with each passing word. Karikalan furrowed his brows, his jaw clenched tightly in anger as his fingers slightly dug through the thin Olai.

Parthibendran noticed the sudden change in his demeanor and requested the soldier out.

"That old rag," Adithan muttered, swallowing harshly. He did not think his grandfather would stoop this low. "Why is everyone turning against me?" He shouted, kicking a table nearby in rage. The man who had raised him was now ready to stab his back.

How could he?

Has he lost all his morals? Just to woo a girl?

"Aditha...What happened?" Parthibendran asked, concerned.

Karikalan threw the Olai to him. "What did you say yesterday? Aditha why are you doubting your own grandfather? Would he betray you?" He laughed maniacally, pulling back his hair. "Well, there's your fucking answer,"

Parthibendran couldn't believe what he was reading, Chozha Nadu's guardian was plotting against the Crown Prince? This is treason! How come the empire does not know about this?

"Aditha calm--"

"My father is sick, that man is taking advantage of that and plotting all this behind his back," Karikalan muttered, pacing back and forth angrily. "They're going to strip away my righteous throne and give it to Madhuranthakan," He snickered. "That man doesn't even know how to hold a sword properly," His eyes, now red in anger.

Why Madhuranthakan? Karikalan knew why, they could keep him under their thumb and persuade him in any way they wanted. That naive man would sway to their every decision. A puppet monarch controlled by the chieftains, what an idea!

"Did I ask for the throne, Parthiba? I refused to go to Thanjai, they kept calling me," Karikalan said, disheartened. The news that his own grandfather was beginning to set in, the man who has taught him how to walk, and how to hold a sword was against him now.

He swallowed the painful lump in his throat and looked away. First Kundavai hurt him by exiling his love, Nandini hurt him by marrying VeeraPandiyan, now his own Grandfather is plotting against him. All this was a little too much for our prince.

"Why do people I love hurt me, Parthiba?" Karikalan whispered, trying so hard to control his tears. "Wou...would you do the same?"

Pallavan shook his head, placing a hand on Karikalan's shoulder. "I'm your friend, Aditha, I promise you this, I'll never betray you, no matter who stands against us," He said with utmost sincerity that Karikalan couldn't help but shed a few tears.

"I trust you and Vandiyadevan will all my life, Pallava,"

********

A/N

Alrightio, We're kinda at the beginning of the end already and I'm so fucking sorry for what I'm about to do lmao!

It'll all end well tho...hopefully. See y'all