"I see it now, amma. When you first told me, it was beyond my comprehension. Now I finally understand why you did what you did. And I agree with you. Our means of achieving our goal might be different. But we both desire the same. The prosperity of our people. And to achieve that, the power of these two great empires should reside in our family." Mayanshi looked at Bhargavi expectantly.

"But Maya, it was very selfish of me to--"

"We tried being selfless. Didn't we? What did it give me? Nothing. And selfish people got everything that belonged to me. Perhaps it's time we started thinking about ourselves first." Mayanshi held her mother's chin and made her look into her eyes. "I need you, amma. More than anyone else, I need you at this vulnerable moment. I understand if you don't want to help me--"

"No! I will do anything for you Maya."

"Amma, we will reach the city by sunrise." Bhargavi was startled by Abhimanyu's voice. 

"Yes, I'll be there." She replied without meeting his eye.

"Is something wrong, amma? You seem to be troubled ever since we started our journey."

"Nothing, Abhimanyu." She dismissed him before he asked further questions, and resumed thinking about her previous conversation with Mayanshi. 

'I never thought you would give me another chance. I swear I won't let you down.' Bhargavi made a promise to herself going against her better judgement.Though she no longer sought power, she was not willing to let go off an opportunity to win her daughter back. 'I will do whatever you ask of me.'

---***---

"Maharani, I know it's not my place. But I am very glad to see you reconciling with your family. You are trying to mend ties with your uncle. And I saw you speaking normally with your mother." Devika combed Mayanshi's hair gently, in an attempt of detangling.  "I hope you are happy now."

"It's not mending ties that matters now. I have to bring as many people as I can, to my side."

"I-- I don't understand. I thought you have forgiven them."

"Forgive them? My mother thought of using me as a weapon. If I trust her again I will be the biggest fool on the face of Earth. I'm just using her guilt to make her do what I want her to do. Same goes for my uncle. He cares for me. A little push from my end will make him risk everything for me." 

Devika remained silent. It was hard to process her queen's new strategy.

Mayanshi noticed the frown on her handmaiden's face. "Devika, if there is anything I have learnt after everything that has happened, it is this. Never trust anyone. Just let them be labouring under the delusion that you trust them completely. That way you'll have the upper hand."

"Does that mean you trust no one?"

"No one except my Abhimanyu." Mayanshi shrugged. "And of course you." She added hastily after noticing the look on Devika's face.

Though Devika was proud to be her queen's confidante, it wasn't reassuring. 'She hesitated before speaking my name. What if she is just saying this to make me feel good?' Doubts crept into her mind. She mentally reprimanded herself. 'What am I thinking? I am not important enough to be included in all this. Yes. That should be it. It's not like she is trying the same strategy on me, like she did on her mother. My princess will never do that to me.'

"I am going out this afternoon after the courtroom session ends. If someone asks..."

"The Queen has gone to offer the customary monthly prayer to her favourite Goddess, for the well-being of her subjects." Devika suggested.

"Not bad, Devika. Your are getting better at covering up for me. This excuse doesn't make me look like a love-struck girl." Mayanshi grinned.

"You are not a love-struck girl, Maharani." Devika chuckled. "Foolish of me to even assume something like that in the first place." She added the final piece of ornaments to Mayanshi's hair.

Despite being delivered in a light-hearted manner, for some reason, Devika's remark of her never being in love bothered Mayanshi. 'Not everyone can afford that luxury.' She told herself before walking away.

---***---

"Following me secretly, Lord Dushyanta?" Mayanshi asked the king's cousin.

"If I were, I would be disguised and well hidden from you. I wouldn't approach you directly like I did." Dushyanta retorted.

"Disguised and well hidden? You mean, like the other man?" 

"What other man?" He frowned.

"I don't know who he is. But he has been spying on me since this morning." She slightly tilted her head, signaling towards her right. "I don't mind though. I know the queen mother might want regular updates regarding my daily routine."

"Why do you hate her so much? She is your family now." He spoke in an annoyed tone. 

"And I suppose being my family engendered undying love for me in her heart." She said mockingly.

"He is not sent by the queen mother. I can prove it to you." Before anyone could fathom what he was doing, he sprinted in the direction of the said man and caught him.

"I am sorry, sire. I didn't do anything. I was just passing by." The man begged him to release his grip.

"Maharani, like I said, this man is innocent. He is a soldier. I know him." Dushyanta vouched for him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. He used to be Samarjit's bodyguard." He blurted out.

Mayanshi smirked. He immediately realized what he had done and tried to make damage control. "He is just an employee. Samarjit wouldn't have--"

"Thank you, Lord Dushyanta, for unintentionally uncovering our revered king's intentions." 

"I'm sure there must be some explanation. My brother isn't..." Dushyanta trailed off.

She glanced towards the man. "It must be difficult for you to report to your king about what I do, while keeping your distance from me. I invite you to travel along with me. That way you won't miss anything significant."

"M--Maharani, I b-beg you," the man stuttered. 

She held her hand up and signaled him to stop. "Let's go meet your employer." She ordered him, ignoring the look on terror on his face. 'I'll have to postpone my trip. Time to confront my husband.'  

---***---

"Maharaja, the queen is here to see you." The guard announced. 

Samarjit looked up. "Is she? Send her in."

"She has brought a guest. She asked if you would allow him inside."

"Any guest of hers is welcome in my chambers." Samarjit nodded.

"I'm glad you said that, Maharaja." Mayanshi entered, with an annoyingly cheerful smile. The soldier followed her uncertainly. 

Samarjit's face turned pale. "Maharani, this is..."

"Your old bodyguard. I know." She paused to see his reaction. He stayed calm. "I am here to express my gratitude, Maharaja. Thank you so much."

"I don't quite understand what you mean, Maharani. Why would you thank me?"

"I feel elated by the affection you are showering on me, my king. You sent your old bodyguard after me just to make sure that I am safe." She subtly hinted that she knew about him spying on her.

He didn't contradict her statement. He was well aware it would be foolish to do that. "Well, what can I say? I am always worried about my wife's safety. She has a habit of going out for hours, without informing anyone about her absence." He taunted her in an equally subtle manner. "I'm certain there must a very good reason for not giving the details to her husband. But as a king, it is my duty to make sure that the people she meets don't pose any threat to her." 

"Let me ease your mind, my king. I have just gone to pray at the temple. Your spy, er, my apologies, your bodyguard can confirm that. Wouldn't you, kind sir?" She turned to face the other man, who cursed himself for getting involved.

"That wouldn't be necessary, my love. I believe you." Samarjit dismissed him. 

The royal couple were left alone in the king's bedchambers. They stood there with smile on their lips, shooting daggers at each other with their eyes.

"Is there anything else I can help you with?" Samarjit asked her.

"How about a game of dice?" She requested sweetly. 

He nodded and quickly set the table for the game. "I hope there is some improvement in your game since the last time we played. I hate to see you lose." He cast the dice. It was three. He moved his coin.

"I may not be an expert, Maharaja. But unlike few others, I'm not an amateur either. None of my moves are poorly planned." She pointed out his incompetence, while rolling the dice. It was five.

"A single mistake doesn't matter as long as the player is capable of rectifying it in his next move." He cast the dice once again. It was four. 

"And how exactly are you planning to do that?" She nodded in the direction of her dice. It was six. "I'm ahead of you in the game. Looks like you are losing."

"Do not worry about me. I have just the weapon to defeat you." 

"I beg your pardon? This is just a game. For a moment it sounded like you are viewing this too seriously. Almost as if you are talking about our empire." 

"Why, yes. Now that you remind me, I have an announcement that concerns you. There has been a slight change in our plan which I am sure you would accept and appreciate."

"Would you be so kind to elaborate?" She demanded softly.

"Sure. We have to travel south in a few days. Virata is a vast empire which requires protection in all directions. Especially the capital city. Which means, both the rulers can't march southwards."

"I don't understand."

"You won't be fighting alongside me in the war. The empire needs the queen. You will stay here while I go." He announced. "The council of ministers think this is for the best. They need the presence of a strong leader like you right here. If you refuse, my mother will have to take charge of the empire while we are away. And something tells me you don't think it is a good idea to burden my mother with this duty."

Mayanshi was dumbstruck. Samarjit rolled the dice once again. It was four. He killed her coin with his. 

"Looks like you will have to plan everything from the beginning in this game of dice, my queen." He smiled smugly.

---***---

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