As Aditya stepped into the king's chamber he met King Rao Todal Mal sat on his throne, his face etched with frustration. Beside him, internal security chief Kartar Singh and Crown Prince Randip Mal were seated in the seats. The tension was palpable in air.

  Aditya greeted the king and was motioned to a seat across the wide round table. As he took his pce, he noticed the king's troubled gaze which spoke volumes of frustrations he suppressed in his heart.

  The king began, his voice heavy with worry, "What have you done, Your Highness? Do you have any idea of the pressure I am under?"

  Aditya frowned, his replied in confusion, "Why should I be concerned with your pressure? I did what was necessary."

  King Rao's frustration deepened. "You've targeted over 300 houses within the capital, many belonging to influential families loyal to my lineage. You didn't even spare my distant retives. And this is occurring while delegates from distant nds are present in my pace."

  Aditya's gaze remained indifferent, causing the king's irritation to fre further. The king turned to Kartar Singh, who handed him a document.

  With a pointed look on it, the king continued, "Out of those targeted, 156 people, including women and children, have been killed already. Additionally, 234 personal guard soldiers were sacrificed. st morning, you abducted 120 royal craftsmen without notice and demanded an additional 200 craftsmen and 300 workers from my prime minister."

  He flipped to another section of the document. "Beyond the capital, you've sealed seven madrasas in nearby vilges, burned 23 houses belonging to schors from the minority community, and extended your actions to 123 additional vilges across the kingdom. There are also reports of a mass sughter in a vilge that sheltered 300 individuals from the same minority."

  His voice thundered, filled with anger and frustration, "You have around 1,350 prisoners in your custody, and I was not informed of any of this beforehand or afterwards. I expected the draft you advocated for, but look at the storm you've unleashed. Now tell me, Prince Aditya, how should I treat you after you've brought such devastation to my name and my kingdom in just one week, when you were supposed to stay for a month?"

  Aditya leaned forward, he replied without backing down. "Your Majesty, I understand your anger, but you must realize that those targeted were involved in a conspiracy against me. Their actions were a direct challenge to imperial authority. Measures had to be taken. The madrasas are temporarily banned, and the arrests were necessary to maintain order."

  King Rao got visibly enraged with such rude gesture. He stood up and unsheathed his sword, pcing it on the table and passed it before Aditya. Both Randip and Kartar Singh exchanged gnces with anxiety.

  The king's voice cracked as he shouted frantically, "Yes, it was my mistake for failing to control the situation, and I allowed this to happen. But shouldn't you have informed me beforehand? Where is the respect of the king? As penance for my failure, I offer my head. Take it and restore your imperial authority. At least I will die with some dignity."

  Randip stepped forward as the conversation suddenly turned heated, pcing a reassuring hand on his father's shoulder, he offered him a gss of water. "Father, please," he urged gently, attempting to calm the king's outburst.

  Turning to prince he pleaded" Your highness, Please understand that my father was deeply shocked and dismayed by these events. The recent purge has shaken him profoundly. We need to address your actions in tomorrow's court meeting, and we would appreciate your cooperation now. If you wish, you may also present your expnation then."

  Aditya's gaze remained steady as he addressed the king and his son. "You misunderstand the situation, King Rao Todal Mal. If taking your head would have solved the issue, it would have been the first to fall."

  A stunned silence fell over the room as Aditya's sudden response exceeded their expectations.

  The king's face was a mask of disbelief, struggling to grasp the unexpected severity of the situation.

  Aditya held up three fingers and folded one as he began, "Those who defied imperial authority might have also turned against you. I didn't inform you because I needed to be certain that you weren't involved and to prevent any interference with my investigation."

  Folding the second finger, he continued, "The houses of the Muslim schors that were burned belonged to those who colluded with the Mughals and acted as spies. They used religion as a cover to brainwash innocent students and turn them against the regime. We had ample evidence and testimonies to support this."

  Folding the next finger, Aditya continued, his tone steady but firm. "We made sure no harm came to loyal innocents, and rewards are being distributed for assistance."

  Folding the third finger, he continued, "The vilge where the sughter occurred was a st resort. The Muslim residents chose to protect the traitors rather than cooperate. Their attempt to shield the traitors was deemed as collusion, and they were punished accordingly. In the interest of w and order, we had to take decisive action. We ensured no harm came to loyal innocents, and rewards are being given to those who assisted."

  He smmed his fist on the table, emphasizing his point. "Perhaps you be should thanking me for eradicating the termites that would eventually hollow out the remaining system. Remember, King, you are part of the empire; just as much as the citizens are."

  Aditya rose from his seat and passed the sword back to the king's side on the table, his eyes meeting the king's with a mix of defiance and resolve. The king was visibly shaken and trembling with anger. He stared at the weapon as if it were a symbol of his own faltering authority.

  "You were given a second chance to right the wrongs," Aditya decred. "Tomorrow, at the judgment, you will have the opportunity for redemption. My men will present the evidence. How you handle it will be remembered in history. The choice is yours: you may either appeal to the Emperor or deal with the consequences."

  Without awaiting a response, Aditya turned on his heel and exited the room, leaving the king to grapple with the turmoil of his situation.

  Randip, seeing his father's distress, moved to comfort him. However, the king's fury erupted. "OUT!"

  he roared, his voice a raw edge of frustration. "I SAID, GET THE HELL OUT!"

  Randip looked bewildered, gncing at Kartar Singh, who offered a sympathetic nod. Both men reluctantly left the room, leaving the king alone to wrestle with his thoughts in the oppressive silence.

  The next day, the kingdom was again in uproar by the events that unfolded. In the public court, the surviving prisoners were executed, their deaths broadcasted as a stark warning to those who dared defy the royalty. The revetions during the court proceedings were arming.

  Aditya's subordinates had presented damning testimonies and evidence, exposing the crimes of the Muslim schors and the orthodox factions. Acharya Sukhdev, the head priest, had surrendered and named those involved in plotting against the imperial prince as well as in scheming to repce the crown prince with the distant royal retive.

  The king, enraged by the revetions and the scale of the conspiracy, ordered the execution of the entire family lineages involved, including his own distant retives.

  The public executions were brutal. The streets ran red with blood as the condemned, their families, and their distant retives were beheaded in full view of the citizens. Despite the cries for mercy, no one was spared.

  However, those who chose to support the regime were generously rewarded. Schors and witnesses who aligned themselves with Aditya were granted substantial rewards, including bags of gold. In contrast, Acharya Sukhdev's fate was less fortunate; only his immediate family was spared with stripping of all privileges due to his surrender. The rest of the traitors faced a full-scale purge.

  After the event, questions and theories continued to circute among the citizens as they roamed the streets, discussing their own opinions. They wondered why the testimonies had appeared so terrified, why there was no mention of their return, and where the main figure, the imperial prince, was.

  In stark contrast to this chaos, Aditya was now at the local infirmary, where he met with a significant patient who was tearfully reunited with his mother. Nirbhay, now properly attired and looking healthier, was engaged in a moment of personal connection with his mother, Madhuri.

  Madhuri, an elderly woman who once confronted the prince openly in vilge, folded her hands in gratitude as she addressed Aditya. Her voice trembled with relief and reverence. "Thank you, Your Highness. This mother blesses you with her all fortunes, hoping that your future be glorious and your rule prosperous."

  Aditya smiled gently, acknowledging her gratitude. "Mayi, I am merely a medium through which fate has pyed its hand. It is not my doing, but the outcome of fate's course". He felt a bit clichéd for using such humble words, but he did not wish to take credit for the actions where his own interests lied.

  Before he can address the boy, Nirbhay himself overwhelmed by guilt, slowly got out of bed and fell to his knees before Aditya. Tears streamed down his face as he pleaded, "My lord, I have committed great sins. Please, take me under your care. I wish to serve you for the rest of my life and atone for my wrongs. My hands are stained with the blood of the innocent. Please grant me salvation."

  Aditya was bit surprised but the things turned out to be good.

  He helped Nirbhay to his feet, pcing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Rise, great warrior. Even though you fought for the wrong side, your fight for justice has earned my respect. I am impressed by your talent and resolve. I have decided to pardon you for your crimes. If you wish to join me, I have a pce for you, but be prepared, the path ahead will be fraught with challenges. Are you ready to take it?"

  Nirbhay's voice was firm, a new sense of purpose in his tone. "I am ready for anything, Prince."

  With a nod of assurance, Aditya turned to leave, leaving a rge shadow behind. Madhuri's heart melted at the sight of her son standing in the shadow of the prince. Hope flickered in her eyes as she envisioned a brighter future for her son, knowing that he got the chance to become the man he was meant to be.