Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 240: Proving oneself

Purana Qila, Delhi, Morning of April 25, 1557

Rows of soldiers stood in formation on the training grounds, awaiting inspection. At the forefront were a thousand troops from the Gorkha Kingdom, led by King Dravya. Behind them stood three thousand soldiers from Aditya’s mercenary army, commanded by Colonels Manish, Ratnakar, and Neelesh. Finally, two thousand cavalrymen, led by Bheem, waited with their mounts, all standing in disciplined queues.

Prince Aditya moved through the ranks, stopping first to meet King Dravya. The Gorkha king, clad in leather armor reinforced with customized chain mail, stood resolutely. The two leaders exchanged salutes, fists clenched in mutual respect. Aditya then clasped both of Dravya’s hands firmly.

"Your Majesty, our imperial troops are now under your guidance. I trust you will lead them wisely and bring your expertise to bear in these trying times," Aditya said with solemnity.

King Dravya’s face lit up with a determined smile. "Do not worry, Prince. This war is not just business—it’s personal. My sister’s ambush will not go unavenged. They will shed tears of blood for what they have done."

Aditya’s expression darkened momentarily at the mention of the ambush, but he quickly masked his feelings and returned a reassuring smile. "I only wish I could be by your side in this campaign. Rest assured, upon your victorious return, I will ensure the safety of your kingdom and train your soldiers to match the standards of our own."

Dravya patted Aditya’s shoulder warmly. "That’s the spirit, my friend. And who knows? Perhaps it’s not too late for us to strengthen our bond—by becoming brothers-in-law."

Aditya bowed respectfully, his hands folded in a Namaste. "For now, I can only pray for your swift victory and safe return, Your Majesty."

He moved on, pausing to observe the Gorkha soldiers. They cut an impressive figure, each clad in chain mail layered with leather armor designed for mountain warfare. At their waists hung the infamous khurpis, secured beside their sword scabbards, and in their hands, they carried long spears. Supplies were strapped neatly to their backs, completing their formidable appearance. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Aditya moved through the ranks of his trusted colonels. Manish and Ratnakar commanded the musketeer battalion, each soldier equipped with muskets as primary weapons and crossbows slung on their backs for secondary use. Beside them stood Neelesh and his troops, skilled in logistics support. They carried only crossbows in their arsenal but stood ready to ensure the seamless movement of supplies. Behind them were 200 carts loaded with Hwacha launchers, 200 rocket artillery units, and additional logistical equipment. Aside from it, there were 200 falconet and 12 pounder heavy cannons

As Aditya passed by, the colonels and their men saluted him sharply, raising their voices in unison:

"For the Company! For the Prince! For the Samrajya!"

Aditya nodded approvingly and returned their salute before continuing.

Next, he reached the cavalry unit. These soldiers bore customized steel kite shields and wore chainmail reinforced with plate armors. Their swords hung sheathed at their sides, ready for battle. Leading them was Bheem, outfitted similarly to his men. As Aditya approached, Bheem knelt on one knee and declared firmly, "I swear, Prince, I won’t let you down."

Aditya patted his shoulder and presented him with a token of vice-generalship. "This is your moment, my friend. I want this war finished within a week. Prove yourself."

Bheem rose and embraced him. "Don’t worry, my friend. I’ll end it as quickly as possible."

Aditya smiled but added with a firm tone, "Remember, I can only delay until the 5th of next month. After that, I must leave for the south. Do whatever it takes to end this conflict swiftly and return. You represent the Company forces now—act decisively."

Bheem gave a slight bow. "Rest assured, the Company will crush anyone who stands in our way."

With that, Aditya turned to his butler, Hari Singh, who handed him a stack of papers. Aditya raised his voice to address the gathered forces:

"The Northern Corps has already breached into Kashmir. Your first priority will be to make contact and assist them. If contact is not possible, then proceed directly to the enemy capital. Capture their royal family and bring them to Delhi for justice. Those who resist.." his voice grew sharper, "shall be burned to death!"

The soldiers roared in unison:

"Burned to death! Burned to death!"

As the echoes of their chant faded, Aditya’s sharp gaze landed on a veiled maid standing at the edge of the exit. she was holding clothes in basket and was spectating the scene.

He turned to Hari Singh. "Assist the commanders with their remaining logistics and see them off. I have a personal matter to attend to."

Hari Singh nodded, and Aditya walked away, passing the masked figure. She followed him silently as he led the way to a secluded alley. Once there, Aditya stopped, and the figure halted a few paces behind him. She bowed deeply, waiting for him to speak.

Aditya smiled. "I heard you performed well in the training. Is everything going smoothly?"

The veiled figure slowly removed her ghumta, revealing none other than Priya, the woman Aditya had once rescued from the Mughal forces. She appeared more mature, her posture refined and bearing the look of a seasoned warrior.

She smiled and bowed. "It is all thanks to Your Highness. Everything is going well. I’ve been tasked with a mission by the chief regarding the southern princess."

Aditya scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, stealing from a martial master must have been challenging. Any leads?"

Priya unwrapped a bundle of cloth, unveiling a letter and a piece of payal, an anklet ornament. Aditya’s eyes widened as he pulled out another matching piece from his pocket.

"It’s the same piece! So, it was hers," he exclaimed.

Regaining his composure, Aditya shifted his focus to the letters. The handwriting on the top one was in Telugu. He frowned. "Darn it, I can’t read this."

Priya pointed to three other letters beneath it. "Your Highness, these are translated versions. The chief arranged for them and asked me to mention them if reading became difficult."

Aditya cleared his throat and picked up the first translated letter. It was from the emperor of Vijayanagar, inquiring about the princess’s well-being. The second letter was more personal, raising direct concerns about why the princess might have feelings for the northern prince. It questioned what qualities he possessed, cautioning her about the northern people, whom it described as barbaric and less cultured, with little regard for women.

The third letter was half-written, seemingly abandoned mid-thought. It was from the princess herself, where she confessed she believed the prince did not reciprocate her feelings. She expressed a willingness to marry whoever her father chose, though the letter abruptly ended.

Aditya frowned deeply. "When did I ever say I don’t like her?"

Priya, standing beside him, asked cautiously, "Do you need any assistance, Your Highness?"

Aditya waved her off. "It’s nothing." Then, glancing back at Priya, he smiled. "You’ve done an excellent job. You might not think it’s a great feat, but the items you retrieved belonged to someone highly skilled in martial arts and of significant status. Be proud of yourself."

Priya bowed deeply, her tone serious. "It is all thanks to the kindness of Your Highness. If the prince thinks so highly of me, please let me know if there is anything else you need."

Her expression turned desperate as she bowed even lower with namaste.

Aditya gently patted her head, causing her heart to race. "Keep up the good work."

As he walked away, Priya watched him leave, her emotions in turmoil. Though she was pleased with the prince’s compliment, his apparent indifference toward her left her dissatisfied.

Jealousy for the southern princess began to burn within her, and she made a solemn vow.

"Sooner or later, I will find my place in your heart. Until then, I will prove my worth.."

She clenched her fists tightly, as she resolved herself. It was only him who had given her the second chance, after all.