A/n : Why do I feel like I'm losing my readers😨😥😥. Don't betray me lovely folks!!!!

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That evening, Maisha entered the King's chambers without permission but with a slight knock, to which on receiving no answer she just assumed a yes. The footmen had resigned to her as they feared being beaten and Aditya strangely didn't bother replacing them or minded her coming and going at her free will. Maisha tended to discuss about the security of the East Wing where all the females resided but seeing another woman in his chambers shocked her. It was more of a fact that seeing anyone in his chambers when he's not there shocked her.

It was a middle aged woman who patiently sat on the shaiya (sofa) in the living area of his chambers, presumably waiting for the young man's arrival. Though aged, her face glowed and gloated the swarm of men who had fallen for her charms back in the day.

Raveena Tondon as Queen Mother.

The sitting area was separated from the bed area by a huge carved panelling gilded with brass linings and studded with gems.

Maisha stopped in her tracks as the woman studied her face with utter disgust and scrutiny. I guess it's the mother. She thought. Maisha smiled respectfully, ignoring her judgemental looks and bowed."What are you doing here, village girl!?" The woman said in a ignominious tone make Maisha furrow her eyebrows in plain fury. "I came here to discuss something with His Majesty." She said trying to control her anger.

"Coming unannounced to your King's chambers? What would a rookie from the gutters like to discuss with him? What plans do you have? Seduce my son to bed you!?"

Her temper snapped.

"Enough! News flash, I am the Army Chief aunty ji. I can come here whenever I want unless your King objects it," she purposely said in English emphasising on 'aunty ji' making the woman stand up and stomp her feet and call for guards. Maisha had never been disrespectful to her elders but she didn't take bullshit from anyone, an elder or not. And something about this woman didn't feel right. What if she knew I married his son and then ran away on the wedding night? But that couldn't be. I had the ghoonghat (veil) on throughout the ceremony and only that Greek God saw me. Man he's hot! Maisha cringed at the speed of her thoughts and how they kept wandering back to him, his tattoo, the veins..... Shut up Maisha, not the time.

Two guards came running in as the woman ordered them to arrest Maisha. They seemed skeptical about that move which made Maisha smirk victoriously. She felt a bit ashamed of her little feat but, eh.... "I, Anandani Veerkumari Raichand, Queen Mother of Chaulakya Dynasty, order you to behead this woman right now!" She seethed as Maisha shivered. The people of this family are scary! She thought.

Before Maisha could retort or guards, capture her, though they were scared of their astonishing agile and smallish chief, Aditya came in along with Dev by his side. The two young men stopped in their tracks seeing the commotion as Dev bent down to one knee, his right hand fisted across his chest, paying his respects to the Queen Mother earning Anandani's nod and Aditya cocked an eyebrow at Maisha just assuming that she might've caused yet another nuisance. Maisha just shrugged at the silent interrogation as Anandani just glared at her.

Aditya skillfully ignored the situation hugging the woman as he ushered Dev to handle Maisha who was unknowingly fuming. Even she herself did not know why, but she wanted the kick the guts out of Aditya there and then.

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Maisha was practicing sword fighting in shorts and tank top in the middle of the night in the pit nearest her chambers. A crude design on the bark of birch, a lot buttering of King's bitches.... Mistresses to get the address of the seamstress, pleading the royal seamstress for secrecy and making her sew the desired clothes with a sword on the neck, that's how she managed to get her favorite comfortable clothes. It amazed her, how much she could do in a single day, how much that seamstress could do in a few hours. She couldn't help but notice how mad she was at the King, for no apparent reason. She disliked that woman and he hugged her! I'm so screwed. That's his mother for fuck's sake. She mentally slapped herself. But that didn't give her any right to be mean to her.

Aditya had finally attended to all the matters brought by the Queen Mother, His Regency except the one that demanded Maisha to be beheaded for disrespect of the Royalty. For Aditya, loyalty came before royalty and in this short span of time Maisha never let down his expectations or broke his trust. He had already discussed about the day's proceedings with Dev and the agendas of tomorrow's meeting which was supposed to be held today but got delayed due to another attack on the east. Half of the provincial Heads had arrived but a few of them were still left. Aditya couldn't blame them for the travelling distances were very large. At tomorrow's court session, where everyone would be present, hopefully, he was supposed to give Maisha's plan a shot and if any lead pops out, it'd be a miracle.

Aditya made his way to Maisha's chambers as he was yet to enquire about her day's progress. He stopped dead in his tracks as he saw her angrily attacking the wooden dummy in front of her. Although, her clothes were unusual and showed a lot of skin for his taste, she looked like a goddess and he itched to take her then and there.

This girl had always brought his wild side to life and the way she was huffing and panting with exhaustion, added to his torture. She was his wife! Why was he thinking so much? He had the right to have her. But did she even want him? He did not want to think about that.

He finally broke from his staredown and cleared his throat as Maisha turned around astonished by his presence. She threw a sword towards him signalling for a duel which he gladly accepted.

Since Aditya was in his usual princely clothes which were fancy and restricted his movements and changing into training clothes did not seem fit in the middle of the night, he casually unbuttoned his sherwani and threw it aside leaving him shirtless and Maisha breathless.

"Hey, that's cheating," Maisha snapped and bit her tongue instantly as Aditya laughed inching towards her slowly.

"What you are doing is no less than cheating too," he said picking up the sword from the ground and assuming his position. Maisha went wide eyed for a second and then grinned at him replying cockily ," So I guess, we're even."

"In terms of sexual tension, yes. In terms of swordsmanship, we'll find out," and with that he launched his first attack which was defended by Maisha beautiful with utter grace and sass at the same time. She hated to admit it but she liked being with him. He was not like the other Royals of the palace. He was way ahead of his time and his open mindedness and principles were that of a great ruler.

Aditya was in fact an outcast of his time, never destined to be a King. But since he was the only surviving true blood of the former King, he was crowned and the ministers couldn't do anything about it. He had faced a lot of resistance from his ministers itself in the early years of rule. His policies were prudent and most of the people failed to see that. His thought process targeted long term benefits and did not mind short term losses. It was only after a few years that they formed a complete trust in him.

Maisha finally took the honours to attack as Aditya dodged each one of them at the back of his hand. "Come on, I expect better from the Queen of Chaulakyas." He said launching a blow to her knees at which she jumped.

"Now I am a queen? I thought I was a rookie from the gutters trying to seduce His Highness to bed me," Maisha smirked as Aditya's eyes widened at the remark. She wanted to keep quiet about it and simply forget it but that woman hurt her self respect and questioned her character and somehow, she regarded Aditya responsible for everything wrong in her life.

"Who said that?" His jaws tightened as they continued their fight. Maisha chose not to answer that as she had no intention of causing an argument or crossing paths with that Queen Mother. She was just a few days' guest. She had already planned to escape, after the war, if she survived and provided that he didn't let her go.

On not getting a response for a long time, Aditya started attacking relentlessly and angrily as Maisha bit her lip sensing his strong disapproval on her silence. "Just Palace gossip. Nothing much. Don't bother. I just wanted to tease," Maisha covered up with her universal smile but Aditya knew when it was fake and when real.

Both were out of breath now and the intensity of offending and defending had simmered down. They were fighting lightly but no one wanted to give up first. "So, what brought you to my chambers?" Aditya asked trying to dodge Maisha's sword which was now dangerously close to his neck.

"Security of East Wing. Do the residents know any self defense?"

"Yes, enough to protect themselves if enemies enter the castle. I had them trained a few years ago," he grinned proudly at his prudence as Maisha mirrored his expression but only in praise.

"Well, I guess that's it." She smiled sheepishly, losing her focus of a second which was enough for Aditya to disarm her. She stumbled and fell on the ground, Aditya on top of her crushing her with his weight. She pulled him closer, their face inches apart as she tried to grab the sword from his hand. He held up the sword behind his back smirking at her, " I'm not falling for that again."

She grabbed a handful of mud as Aditya scrunched his eyes shut playfully continuing, "or that either." Maisha groaned and kissed his cheek which tensed his jaw visibly and loosened his grip at the same time. It took a lot of strength for her to flip them over as Maisha was now at top with him under her mercy.

"It will always work. Forever," she announced getting up and helping him up.

"Don't you dare pull that stunt in the battlefield." Maisha was surprised by his statement and frowned expression. "Everything is fair in love and war," she stated teasing him even more. She liked kicking his nerves and making him snap.

He pinned her on the wooden dummy behind them and kissed her.

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A/n : well that was fun to write. Who wants the details to the kiss????

And I just realised that I have a weak spot for romance and its scaring the shit out of me right now. Damn wattpad! Or maybe I'm in love with the cast... I don't know but I'm really shipping them.