Chapter 11: 9 ✨🪭 Befriending and Betrayal

Chapter 9 : Befriending and Betrayal

Remy Sol moon

#51 in medieval

#1 in hating

Oh my God ✨✨✨✨ Thank you so much for the interest feel free to comment your question I would love to answer.

I was in a creative grind and here's a 3k words chapter actually I spilt into two chapters as it was reaching about 6k , i will update the second half later

Please find a action filled chapter.

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Ivaan walked back to the tent, feeling restless and confused. He had just seen the most beautiful girl in his life, and he couldn't get her out of his mind. He wondered who she was, where she came from, and if he would ever see her again.

He entered the tent, where Nimit and Varun were still sleeping soundly. He had gone to the mirror festival, a celebration of art and culture, to have some fun and enjoy the sights, to cool down a bit he had seen many amazing things, but nothing compared to what Ivaan had seen.

He lay down on his sleeping bedding, trying to close his eyes and sleep. But every time he did, he saw her face in his mind. He remembered how she looked through the mirror, how her eyes had sparkled with curiosity and mischief, how her smile had made his heart skip a beat.

He wished he had talked to her, asked her name, or at least said hello. But he had been to stunned. He had just stood there, staring at her, until she had turned away and disappeared into the crowd.

He wondered if he would ever get another chance, or if he had lost her forever. He felt a pang of regret and longing, mixed with a faint hope. No he regained his focus they were her for a mission and for that he had to be at his best tomorrow and get some shut eyes before tomorrow.

He tossed and turned, unable to sleep, unable to forget. He kept thinking about the girl he saw at the mirror festival, the girl who had captured his heart in a single glance.

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In the Nanda Palace

Indu and Anya returned to the palace, after the mirror festival. They had left the lakeside in a hurry, avoiding the curious and fearful glances of the people. They had taken a carriage, and asked the driver to take them to the back entrance of the palace, where they could enter without being noticed. As it seemed not just. Nayan but people around had also heard about this and teh whispers started.

They reached their room, and locked the door behind them.

Indu took off her outer cloak, and threw it on the bed. She looked at Anya, who was still wearing hers, and holding it tightly around her. She looked pale and shaken.

Indu walked over to her, and took her hand. She said, "Anya, my sister, do not let the priest's words trouble you so much. He is not a seer, he is a storyteller. He tells tales to entertain and frighten the people, not to reveal the truth."

Anya shook her head, and said, "But what if he is right? What if I am destined to cause a war? What if I bring ruin to our kingdom and our family?"

Anya had always recieved oppositions even in the own kingdom where some ministers didn't like to hear a Woman's opinion and said hurtful things to her Father the King as to how blind he was about letting his love for children take over him but in reality Anya had to go through the same trials and tests the ministers in the court had to, even more harder if possible.

It had shaken her up , breaching her insecurities.

Indu hugged her, and said, "That is not your destiny, Anya. That is his imagination. Fate is not something written on stone, it changes its direction like a flowing lake. You have the power to shape your own future, with your choices and actions."

Anya sobbed, and said, "But how can I know what is the right choice?What if I mess up?"

Indu said, "You can trust your heart, Anya. You can listen to your conscience. You can seek guidance from the gods, if you wish. But you must not let fear or doubt cloud your judgment. You are a princess, Anya, a daughter of Rana. You have courage and wisdom in your blood. You are the wise princess You have kindness and compassion in your soul. You have the potential to do great things, Anya, to bring peace and happiness to the world. But the cost will not be heavy, if you act with honesty and integrity."

Anya looked at Indu, and felt a spark of hope in her heart. She said, "Thank you, Indu......... You always comfort me even though you are the younger one here , I hope I can live up to your expectations, and to our father's legacy."

Indu smiled back hugging her said, "You will, Anya. I have faith in you. And I will always be by your side, to support you and protect you. Now, let us rest. Tomorrow is a new day, and we will face it together."

Indu helped Anya to the bed, and tucked her in. She kissed her forehead, and said, "Good night, Anya. Sleep well, and dream of happy things."

Anya smiled, and said, "Good night, Indu. I love you."

Indu smiled back, and said, "I love you too, my big sister."

They closed their eyes, and fell asleep peacefully.

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The next day

Varun disguised himself as a teacher, Nimit and Ivaan went on with their own disguise and joined the early hustle bustle where he hoped to mingle with the locals and learn their secrets.

On the second day of the festival, Varun was walking around the market, looking for opportunities to strike up conversations. He saw a group of merchants talking about the trade routes and the taxes imposed by the Nanda king, they were playing dice He knew that dice was a popular game in the Nanda Kingdom, and that people often bet money and goods on it.

He approached them with a shy and friendly smile, and said, "Greetings, brothers ,I am a teacher from a nearby village. I have come to the festival and learn from your wisdom. May I join you" He also knew that dice was a game of chance and skill, and that he could use his intelligence and his tricks to win. He hoped that by playing dice, he could get the merchants to talk and reveal useful details about the Nanda Kingdom.

The merchants welcomed him and asked him about his village and his teachings. Varun lied smoothly, telling them that he taught history and geography to the children. He then asked them about their business and the situation in the Nanda Kingdom. The merchants weren't suspicious of a mere teacher who had come to their kingdom for the festival were happy to share their opinions and complaints.

He joined them and pretended to be a novice, but soon he showed his skills and intelligence playing dice.

The merchants told him that the Nanda king was a oppresser who oppressed the people with heavy taxes and harsh laws. They also revealed that the king had a large army and a strong fort, but he was paranoid and distrustful of everyone. He had many enemies, both inside and outside the kingdom.

Varun listened attentively, nodding and asking questions. He pretended to be impressed by the king's power and wealth, but also sympathetic to the people's plight. He said, "It must be hard to live under such a ruler. How do you cope with the difficulties?"

One of the merchants said, "We have no choice but to endure. We hope that one day, someone will come and liberate us from this."

Varun smiled inwardly, thinking that he was that someone. He said, "I understand. But you should not lose hope. There is always a way to change things for the better. You just need to be smart and brave."

The merchants explained that they used six-sided dice, and that the aim was to get the highest score by adding the numbers on the dice. They also said that they bet on each round, and that the winner took all the bets.

Varun nodded and said, "That sounds interesting. I would like to try it. How much do you bet?"

The merchants said that they usually bet one gold coin per round, but they could increase or decrease the amount depending on the situation. Varun agreed and said that he had some gold coins with him. He took out a pouch and showed them the coins. The merchants were impressed by his wealth and said that he was a generous teacher. They invited him to sit with them and join the game.

Varun sat down and took a pair of dice. He rolled them and got a six and a five, making a total of eleven. He smiled and said, "That's a good start. I guess I'm lucky today."

The merchants rolled their dice and got lower scores. They congratulated Varun and gave him their coins. Varun thanked them and said, "That was easy. Let's play again. How about we double the bet?"

The merchants agreed and said that they would win the next round. They put two gold coins each on the board. Varun rolled his dice and got a six and a four, making a total of ten. He said, "Another good score. I hope you can beat it."

The merchants rolled their dice and got lower scores again. They groaned and gave Varun their coins. Varun said, "Thank you for your generosity. You are very kind. Let's play again. How about we triple the bet?"

The merchants hesitated and said that they were running out of money. Varun said, "Don't worry. You can bet anything you want. How about some of your goods? I'm sure you have some valuable items with you."

Varun listened attentively, nodding and asking questions. He pretended to be surprised and intrigued by their information, but he was actually very pleased. He had fooled the merchants with his intelligence and his tricks. He had used his dice and his bets to get them to talk and reveal useful details about the Nanda Kingdom. He had gathered enough information for a possible attack.

He thanked the merchants and said, "You have been very kind I have learned a lot from you. I appreciate your friendship and your hospitality. I hope to see you again soon."

He then got up and left the market, giving the money back, taking only the information with him. He had accomplished his task. He had succeeded in his mission.

Varun was pleased with his success and decided to leave the market, but as he was about to go, he caught the eye of Prince Arjun, who was watching the game of dice from a distance.

Prince Arjun was impressed by Varun's intelligence and because of his fondness for playing dice, and he approached him with a friendly smile. "Hello, sir. You are a remarkable player. I have never seen anyone win so many games in a row. What is your name and where are you from?" Prince Arjun asked.

Varun bowed and hesitated he caught unwanted attention and replied, "Thank you, your highness. I am honored by your praise. My name is Varun and I am a teacher from the kingdom of west. I have come to the Nanda kingdom to learn more about the history and culture" "The West? That is a faraway land. You must have traveled a long way. How do you like the Nanda kingdom?" Prince Arjun asked.

"It is a beautiful and prosperous land, your highness. I am amazed by the culture and the people here. They are very hospitable and generous. I especially enjoy the festival of Nanda. It is a wonderful occasion to celebrate life and happiness." Varun said, lying smoothly.

"I am glad to hear that, Varun. You seem to be a man of culture and wisdom. I would like to invite you to the palace of Nanda, where I am staying as a guest. I would like to play dice with you and have a friendly conversation. Would you accept my invitation?" Prince Arjun asked.

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In the palace

Princess Anya was feeling guilty for making her younger sister Indu worry about her. Anya wanted to show her gratitude and appreciation to Indu in a special way.

She knew that Indu loved painting and had a talent for capturing the beauty of nature. She decided to surprise her with a painting session in the garden of the Nanda palace. She asked the servants to arrange for some painting equipment and canvas and set them up in a shady spot under a tree. She then invited Indu to join her for a walk in the garden.

Indu was curious and excited as she followed Anya. She gasped when she saw the painting materials waiting for her. She looked at Anya with gratitude and joy in her eyes. "Anya, you did this for me?" she asked.

"Yes, Indu. I wanted to thank you for being such a wonderful sister. You always make me feel better when I'm stressed or scared. You deserve to have some fun and express yourself. I know how much you love painting and I thought you would enjoy this scenery. Look at the flowers, the birds, the mountains. They are so beautiful, just like you."

Indu hugged her and thanked her again. She picked up a brush and started to paint. Meanwhile Anya left to join Prince Nayan as he had asked her for a play of dice.

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In the Market

"I am glad to hear that, Varun. You seem to be a man of culture and wisdom. I would like to invite you to the palace of Nanda, where I am staying as a guest. I would like to play dice with you and have a friendly conversation. Would you accept my invitation?" Prince Arjun asked.

Varun was surprised by the offer, but he saw it as a chance to get closer to the royal family and learn more secrets. He agreed to go with Prince Arjun, hoping that his disguise would not be discovered.

They reached the palace of Nanda, where they were greeted by Prince Nayan, the son of the Nanda king. Prince Nayan was also a fan of dice and he welcomed Varun warmly. He led them to a private chamber, where they sat on cushions and could play dice.

Varun looked around the palace even in the private chamber there was a partition of a half transparent curtain that was pulled down he concluded that it would be the royalties Queens and Princesses.

But this was not something normal he had seen, he sensed eyes on him as he looked at the curtain from behind sharp eyes watching him, observing him with intensity.

Varun ignored the look, and sat down to play and continued to display his brilliance and won every game against Prince Arjun and Prince Nayan. They were both amazed and frustrated by his luck and skill. They also asked him many questions about his life and his views on various topics. Varun answered them carefully, avoiding any suspicion and lying whenever necessary. He also asked them some questions in return, pretending to be curious and respectful. He learned more about the Nanda kingdom's plans, strategies, and vulnerabilities.

He also learned about the kingdom's ambitions, alliances that is forming between Nanda nad Rana possibly, and the conflicts. As they we not just mere guests here there was indeed a marriage prospect here. He was satisfied with his progress and decided to end the game and leave.

He thanked Prince Arjun and Prince Nayan for their hospitality and generosity, and asked for their permission to depart. They agreed and gave him some gifts and compliments. They also asked him to come again and play dice with them. Varun accepted their offer and bid them farewell. He left the palace and headed towards the tent.

Princess Anya was watching the game from behind the curtains and saw he was very logical and smart, almost excellent in the game of dice even though he claimed to never play the game, which made her curious about this guy.

He was indeed very wise and seemed to understand the working and politics of whatever the prince talked about even though he was a mere teacher or so he claimed.

She saw that he had dropped his belt knife a strange shaped knife which caught her attention she asked the servents to get that knife to her.

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As Varun was walking through the palace gardens, he was stopped by a young woman who called out to him. He turned and saw Princess Anya, the sister of Prince Arjun, Arjun had introduced her as an intelligent princess who had a keen interest in politics and warfare.

She had been watching the game of dice from behind a curtain and had noticed something that the others had missed.

"Please wait for a minute ." Princess Anya said. Varun was startled by her voice and wondered what she wanted. He pretended to be polite and said, "Yes, your highness. How may I help you?"

Princess Anya decided to throw a guess as she came closer to him and said, "You are not a teacher are you ?"

Varun was shocked by her accusation and tried to deny it, but she cut him off. Showing him a knife, his knife specifically "Don't lie, the knife that you carry on your waist which had slipped out, It has the engraved symbol of Virata, the kingdom of the Demon tyrant but you said you had never been to the South?"

Varun touches his waist realising that it was indeed his belt knife that he had lost , that was a very unique knife, one of a kind, it was his Mother's only remaining thing he owned, his good luck charm, he had carried it every, he can't afford to lose that.

Anya's suspicions are confirmed when she realises he is not defending he has not more to say"You have fooled my brother and the Nanda prince,"

Varun realized that his cover was blown and that he was in grave danger. He looked around and saw that there were no guards or witnesses nearby. He decided to make a run for it and escape. He pulled out his knife from her "You should have called the guards and exposed me Princess." He winks at her, hoping to push her and run away. But Princess Anya was not defenseless. She fought back, parrying his blows and striking at him, and creating commotion and noise They engaged in a fierce duel, exchanging insults and threats.

Prince Arjun, who had followed his sister after seeing her leave the chamber. He reached the garden and saw the scene of push and pull. He was shocked and enraged by what he saw. He saw his sister fighting for her life against Varun, the man he had befriended.

"How dare you attack my sister? You dare to touch a Princess, I will kill you for this." He drew his sword and attacked Varun forcing him to defend himself as the soldiers had followed Varun was outnumbered and outmatched, and he knew he had no chance of escaping. He cursed his fate and fought with desperation, hoping to take one of them down with him. But he was no match for the combined force.

They overpowered him and wounded him severely. He fell to the ground, bleeding. He looked at Anya with hatred He spat out blood and lost conciouness.

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And I oop!

Princess Anya surely unknowingly has got herself into a mess.

Will the prediction turn out to be true.

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