A/n : My ranking just went down from 29 to 48 in mystery😶😩😩😩

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Third Person's POV

The next day went quite smooth for Maisha. She was freed from the prison and given one of the chambers near those of the king. It would be an understatement if she said that the women in palace were fuming with jealousy and anger. Was the king that popular among his mistresses? She thought.

The entire palace seemed tensed up. She had an idea why that might be but she wasn't sure. The real reason of the tension was the fact that Dev Pratap Singh ( The Army Chief) had given up his post with ease and amiable honour without any rebellion and the fact that his army, which was more loyal to him than the King himself had happily accepted a village woman, who was an orphan with no parents to teach her mannerisms and no formal education, as their master, atleast in name. They couldn't believe that he let a woman stay in the West wing of the chambers, where usually the King himself and his ministers stayed. She was a Chief after all but the people did not accept her, nor did the palace.

Vikramaditya did not care. He never did. He knew what was best for the masses and his notions did challenge their conjectures but he knew subconsciously that it would be for the better of the kingdom. He had denounced Maisha from the title of the queen a month after a tireless search for her. But she was still his wife. Although the ministers didn't know that still, they were bound to surrender and even though Dev wanted to skin her alive he only stopped on vehement objection of the King.

Maisha was currently checking out the training grounds of the soldiers when she saw the Aditya himself having a duel with Dev. She quietly sat on a bench beside the training pit. Both men were shirtless and showed off their toned and muscular chests. No wonder the women of the east side were jealous. She was pleased with the sight in front of her. Happy shivers ran her spine as she saw Aditya's flexible body dunk and dodge each and every blow thrown at his way by the opponent. She could stare at this body whole day.  She couldn't believe she was married to this guy!? Totally ignoring the fact that he was a bastard.

She observed their techniques, the amount of strength they had and their endurance. She tried on an armour herself and felt she could fall down just by the weight of that thing. They needed something stronger and lighter.

She picked up a sword and challenged a soldier who snickered a laugh and bowed sarcastically accepting the invitation. They entered the pit and she could feel all eyes on her. The duel between Aditya and Dev was over now. She regretted that she had missed the ending. However, she lifted up a sword and decided to defend. From the corner of her eye she could see a small crowd building up near the benches. Women from the east wing, servants, ministers and almost every passerby stood there with curiosity dripping from their eyes.

Maisha struggled a bit under the weight of the armour and the sword. But she was sharp and agile. She felt the soldier's movements getting cocky with each blow she defended. It was just what she wanted. From cautious and slick attacks, he straightaway played the offense, with no strategy and no technique. Maisha took her que and attacked him for the first and the last time in the two minute battle. She unarmed him with a single blow earning some gasps from the audience.

The soldier accepted his defeat and bowed respectfully to the new Chief. She could sense his embarrassment and shame so she gave him a reassuring smile. He had a newfound respect for his new boss and was ready to surrender his life for her.

"He's just a soldier and it took you two whole minutes to unarm him. Unarm our General Dev Pratap Singh first, then you are worthy of this title," came a voice of a woman from behind. All the heads snapped in her direction as she stood with her head high, hand clutching Aditya's arm.

What a weak woman! That's another level of clingy. What a poor choice? Who would glue themselves to HIM!? Maisha mentally scoffed and gave a small yet sarcastic smile. She had no intention of offending anyone in this place, especially anyone close to him for she loved her head. She just wanted freedom. "Okay," she simply said picking up a sword again and a shield this time. Aditya nodded in Dev's direction as he entered the pit.

Samaira mentally laughed at Maisha at her doomed fate. Dev was angry, both at the King and the new Chief and it was the best opportunity for him to lash out and the whole palace knew that. They were scared of the consequences but their eyes were glued to the neck to neck competition between the two parties.

After fifteen minutes of grueling duel, both were panting but their pride couldn't let them give up. Dev had a new admiration for his queen and yes, he had mentally accepted her as his queen. With a final blow he disarmed her making her trip fall on the ground. Samaira laughed victoriously as Aditya tensed under her grip. He shirked her off, eyes still glued to the scene in front of him.

But the match wasn't over. At least, for Maisha. She threw a handful of sand in Dev's eye making him wince in pain. She snatched his sword away and threw it on the other side of the pit with the speed of light. She took out a pocket knife from her waistband of the saree she was wearing. She had been released just that morning. She didn't even change her clothes and went to check out the training site straightaway. She pressed the knife on his neck as ,"Game over brother," she said earning a roaring applause by the spectators.

Samaira stomped away huffing as Dev washed his eyes and talked to Maisha more about the war tactics. He had given his word to Aditya that he'd closely watch her and judge her capabilities without any partiality and without revealing her identity to anyone, even her.

For the next few hours, Dev and Maisha moved from pit to pit, as he showed her all the equipments. "So you manufacture everything here?" Maisha asked a bit surprised at the self sufficiency of this prosperous kingdom as Dev proudly nodded.

She was truly impressed by their tactics. They used everything, guerilla to the most advanced and posh weapons and techniques.

"The swords are really heavy though," she said picking up one and scrutinizing it. "Cast iron?"

"Only the best," Dev replied.

"What's the use of these gems? They only make it heavy," she pointed out.

"Maybe we can use an alloy of aluminum and iron. Or just try aluminium alone," she said running her finger on the sharp edge of the sword.

"Any change in the equipments need to be sanctioned by the King himself. You should propose your ideas to him" Dev stated.

"Then when can I meet him?" She asked. He looked at the sky and said, "He should be free by now."

"Wait.... How did you... By looking at the sky!?" Maisha was shocked that he could tell time just by looking at the position of the sun. Dev chuckled as if it was the most obvious thing.

Aditya had just returned from the court and was ready to go over some paperwork when there was a knock on his door. He never allowed anyone in his chambers, ever. Everyone knew that.

Of course, he knew who it could be. He wondered what she had done with the guards this time. "Come in," he said somewhat amused as she entered. She had now freshened into army clothes with the emblem of their kingdom at the upper left corner of her shirt. These clothes suited her. Aditya could not help but rake his eyes along her curves and admired how these clothes hugged her at all the right places.

She cleared her throat as he snapped his attention back to her. She courtisied him awkwardly just as she had seen in the movies only to earn his chuckle as he motioned her towards the empty chair. She casually plopped on the chair in front of his huge mahogany desk as he cocked an eyebrow at her improper demeanor. "What did you do to the doormen?" He skipped to the point without wasting anytime.

"I can explain.... You see, they wouldn't let me in. I had no choice," but she was cut off "So you dodged them?" He completed her sentence.

"Yes," she said amused making him laugh. It was the first time she had heard him laugh. He had a contagious and pleasant laugh. He should laugh more. He looks attractive. She thought.

"You need to stop doing that. They are your own men. You have a big responsibility. They should be like your family," she was surprised at the sudden change of his mood but she acknowledged the fact that he was right. She nodded promising that this won't happen again as he wrapped up his paperwork.

"I wanted to make some changes in the equipments," Maisha jumped to the conclusion not wanting to waste his time. He nodded as he listened to the detailed proposition she had made. "Have you seen our workshops?" he asked.

"Workshop?"

"Where everything related to military of this kingdom is manufactured. We have the best alchemists of the east." He stated getting up from his chair and continued,"They might want to hear your ideas."

"When can I meet them?" Maisha got up almost simultaneously, excitement evident in her voice. "Now, if you want. I'm going there anyway. You don't have much time though. There have been many rebellions in the eastern borders. We might have to move soon," he said.

"No worries. If my calculations are correct, we'd be successful. Besides, we'll just make a few samples of new machinery and test it thoroughly before using it in the field. Meanwhile, we can continue with the normal manufacturing." She said handing him a few rough drawings of smaller and lighter cannons, new armours, swords, knives and other designs of gates and wires to secure the palace and the Capital. She had scribbled a few designs on the bark of betel while enjoying a nice bath after hours of fighting and using the most cool weapons of her life, in her new chambers. Honestly, she felt that this kingdom was more advanced than most of the modern world countries.

Aditya nodded as they both left for the workshops immediately.

A/n : soooooo..... You like it?