Oi!!! Stop right there! Adi cut him off instantly. I do not want to hear what your degenerate brain is about to suggest. I've already seen enough horrors from your memories. The things stored in that mind of yours are bad enough. I absolutely refuse to hear what your conscious mind might come up with.
Hamsa felt dejected, though he continued riding through the streets on his horse. The city moved around him as usual, but his mood had noticeably dimmed.
Adi, on the other hand, felt a little bad.
Well… not everything about you is bad, Adi began. Like…
He quickly started scanning through Hamsa's memories, searching for something—anything—that would help his case.
Like how you're smarter than almost anyone else in this world, yet you still manage to explain your ideas without dismissing other people's perspectives. Sometimes you even adapt your thinking so both sides can meet halfway.
Or how kind and caring you are.
If you weren't, then why would you constantly keep tabs on your brother through your mana whenever he goes out? And you do the same with most people you're close to.
Or why would you induct that Rana guy into the Royal Guard, if not to keep those two star-crossed lovers together?
Shut up, Hamsa replied immediately. Don't try to make me feel better after reminding me that at my core I'm a despicable degenerate who should probably be behind bars.
His voice in their shared mind sounded dull, almost lifeless.
Everything I did was necessary.
I keep tabs on people close to me because the first ones are my family. We are royals. If any one of us dies unexpectedly, it creates political chaos.
As for the others, they simply know too much about me and my abilities. It's safer if I keep an eye on them.
He continued riding through the busy street.
And that Rana guy? I put him in the Royal Guard so Padmavathi wouldn't get distracted and could focus on her work.
I'm not spoon-feeding her knowledge. All I'm doing is providing the raw ingredients. She's the one who has to figure out how to cook the dish.
And even though I never dated anyone in my past life, I still had close friendships with both men and women. Most of them were in relationships.
From what I observed, long-distance relationships were difficult—especially in a world like this where messages can take weeks or months—tend to fall apart sooner or later. People get distracted. They lose focus. Eventually someone makes a colossal mistake.
So I simply made sure the two of them could stay close.
If he proves capable, then that's just an added benefit.
Hamsa paused for a moment before adding bitterly,
And besides, the fact that it took you that long to dig through both our memories just to come up with those examples says a lot.
Adi fell silent for a moment.
Then, in one last desperate attempt, he spoke again.
Come on, kid. You make it sound like you don't even care a little or have a cold hart.
Surely someone who's been using a body pillow since childhood—hell, someone who even cuddles with his pet tiger whenever he gets the chance—can't be that heartless.
Surely someone like you is—
Adi suddenly stopped.
Inside the endless white room of their shared mindscape, Hamsa had manifested a physical form.
And he was currently choking Adi.
Though his face remained completely straight and expressionless, Hamsa felt incredibly embarrassed.
His grip tightened slightly as he stared down at Adi.
Say one more word, Hamsa said coldly.
Adi, still being held by the collar and throat, slowly raised both hands in surrender.
Okay, okay! I'm done! I'm done! Adi managed to say.
Hamsa narrowed his eyes for another moment before finally releasing him.
Adi immediately stumbled back a few steps, rubbing his neck while glaring at Hamsa.
You know, Adi muttered, most people would simply deny it.
You went straight to attempted murder.
Hamsa said nothing.
He simply turned away and let his mental form fade back into the endless white.
Outside in the real world, he continued riding through the city streets as if nothing had happened.
________________________________________________________________
Royal Palace
Mahadevi Bhadra's Office
"So you're saying Hamsa ordered that a girl and those close to her be protected at all costs… and he did not provide a specific reason?" Mahadevi Bhadra asked.
While Hamsa was still moving through the streets of the city below, his instructions had already reached the palace.
Inside the Mahadevi's office sat Mahadevi Bhadra herself. Beside her stood her closest aide, Lata. Two pankhawalas slowly waved large ceremonial fans, sending steady currents of cool air through the room.
Standing before them was a figure cloaked in robes that concealed everything but their eyes.
"Yes, Mahadevi," the figure replied calmly. "As I reported earlier, the Yuvraj simply issued the order without explanation."
Mahadevi Bhadra tapped her fingers lightly on the arm of her chair.
"And this girl… she belongs to the same family that was present when Hamsa helped that boy two weeks ago?"
"Yes, Mahadevi. That is correct."
The Mahadevi fell silent for a moment, clearly thinking.
"You are dismissed."
The figure bowed slightly.
In the next moment, they vanished as silently as they had appeared.
Mahadevi Bhadra leaned back in her seat before turning toward Lata.
"Lata… do you think this could mean Hamsa has finally taken an interest in someone?"
Lata picked up the report resting on the desk and glanced over it once more.
"It is the Yuvraj we are speaking about, Mahadevi," she replied carefully. "So we cannot say anything with certainty."
She placed the document down.
"From the information provided, the girl belongs to a wealthy merchant family. They own several properties—shops, warehouses, and even a recently purchased iron workshop."
She paused briefly.
"I see nothing in this report that would suggest a romantic interest."
"Other than one detail," Lata continued. "The report also mentions that the girl already has a lover. And the Yuvraj ordered that man's induction into the Royal Guard."
Mahadevi Bhadra raised an eyebrow.
"So then?"
"It may be safe to assume that the girl possesses something the Yuvraj values," Lata said. "Most likely her intellect."
Mahadevi Bhadra sighed softly.
"I suppose that makes sense."
She looked slightly disappointed.
"It's not that the thought hadn't crossed my mind… I simply hoped it would be something else."
Lata remained silent.
"Hamsa recently invented a new game," the Mahadevi continued. "He's been leaving the palace more often as well—sometimes with Garuda, sometimes alone."
A faint smile crossed her face.
"I wondered if perhaps he had finally made a friend… or maybe something more."
Lata folded her hands respectfully.
"Mahadevi, if I may speak freely."
"You may."
"Having observed the Yuvraj since his birth… I believe it is safe to say that even if Lord Vishnu himself took the form of Mohini, it is unlikely the Yuvraj would show any interest."
Mahadevi Bhadra gave her a sideways look.
Lata continued calmly.
"We have already uncovered several spies among the palace staff—most of them women sent specifically to seduce him."
"Each time the Yuvraj ignored them completely. And before they could attempt anything too brazen, our people caught them—usually after they slipped up due to the Yuvraj's complete and utter ignorance of their actions."
She shrugged slightly.
"At this point, it may simply be easier to assume that romance is not something the Yuvraj concerns himself with."
Mahadevi Bhadra sighed again.
"Yes… as much as it may be a problem, that certainly sounds like my son."
Here is your passage polished for grammar, flow, and clarity, while keeping the same tone and scene structure.
As the two continued their conversation, a messenger entered the room and stood silently, waiting for his presence to be acknowledged.
"What is it now?" Mahadevi Bhadra asked, turning toward the man.
"Mahadevi, letters from the west and the north," the messenger replied, holding up two sealed scrolls.
Lata stepped forward, took them from him, and handed them to the Mahadevi. The messenger bowed respectfully before leaving the room.
Mahadevi Bhadra carefully read through both letters.
"Lata," she said after a moment, placing them down on the desk. "I need to speak with His Majesty. Where is he now?"
"Mahadevi, I believe the Raja should be in his office. The day's court session has already ended, and there is nothing of note remaining for His Majesty to attend to," Lata replied.
"Very well. Then let us go."
The Mahadevi rose from her seat, and the pankhawalas immediately stopped fanning.
As she began walking toward the Raja's office through the palace corridors, she spoke again.
"Send for the Mahasenapati."
Her voice had grown noticeably colder.
"Things are going to become ugly sooner than we imagined."
_________________________
Raja's Office.
Mahadevi Bhadra had already arrived. She and the Raja now sat together, waiting for the Mahasenapati to appear.
The office looked much as it always did, though today there was one notable difference—a large map spread across the central table.
A few moments later, the doors opened.
Mahasenapati Krishna entered the room.
"You summoned me, my Raja," Krishna said, bowing slightly with his hands joined together.
"Yes, Krishna, we did," the Raja replied. "Now tell me—what forces can we spare to send north by the next season?"
Krishna thought for a moment before answering.
"As things stand now, we can dispatch roughly two thousand cavalry and ten thousand infantry. The infantry would be a mix of professional soldiers and semi-professional levies."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"May I ask, is this to honor our defensive agreement with the Parthians?"
"That is correct," Mahadevi Bhadra answered. "We have just received reports that a large steppe horde is moving south. They are unlikely to enter Valangar itself. Their main direction appears to be toward the Parthian Empire."
She placed one of the letters on the map.
"However, that does not mean we will remain untouched. We can expect migration and raiding along the northern lands."
Krishna nodded slowly.
"And before you suggest sealing the mountain passes," the Raja said, "let me make this clear—we cannot close them."
He gestured toward the map.
"Only a few population centers exist there, but those routes are vital for trade. Losing control of them would be disastrous."
He paused before adding,
"And beyond that… we are descendants of an ancient Kshatriya lineage. If we fail to honor our agreement with the Parthians, we lose face."
Krishna inclined his head slightly.
"Very well, my Raja. I will begin preparations to move those forces north."
He hesitated briefly.
"Though if I may ask—will the Yuvraj be involved in this matter? If not, I would at least recommend sending him as an observer."
"No," Mahadevi Bhadra answered immediately. "Hamsa will not be involved in this matter."
The Raja glanced toward her.
"Bhadra, he will be in Takshashila at that time. Our forces will have to pass through there if they wish to arrive before the campaigning season begins."
He sighed.
"And whether we like it or not, if he encounters them… he will take command and lead them himself."
Mahadevi Bhadra remained silent for a moment.
"Yes," she finally admitted. "Knowing him, he likely would."
She thought for a moment before speaking again.
"In that case, we should send a larger contingent of the Royal Guard with him, half would do I suppose."
Krishna considered the numbers quickly.
"That would raise our total to around seven thousand cavalry and ten thousand infantry. From what we know, the Parthians already have roughly fifteen thousand cavalry and ten thousand infantry stationed there, and they may reinforce further."
He folded his arms.
"We cannot send more than that. If we weaken our borders further, we risk the Dharmaraj Empire taking advantage."
The room fell silent for a few moments.
Then the Raja spoke.
"Very well. We will do it."
He leaned back slightly.
"I would like to see what Hamsa's training has done for the Royal Guard."
"And besides," he added calmly, "Hamsa is intelligent enough to retreat if things turn unfavorable. He also has the best means to do so."
Mahadevi Bhadra looked uneasy.
"Is that really acceptable?" she asked quietly. "I know it is not unusual to send young men to the battlefield… but he is still only eleven years old."
The Raja looked at her with a faint smile.
"Bhadra, of all people, you should know that eleven is merely a number on paper for that boy." the Raja said. "He has already shown abilities far beyond his years. So he will be alright." he added.
"Very well," Mahadevi Bhadra said after a moment of thought. "Then let us begin preparations. It would also be better to involve Hamsa from the very beginning."
A dasi was immediately sent to summon the Yuvraj.
Not long afterward, Hamsa arrived at the Raja's office. Once he was present, the three of them began discussing the plans in detail.
However, Hamsa's straightforward acceptance of the fact that he would likely be sent to war did raise a few eyebrows.
Though, before anyone could dwell on it for long, the discussion quickly shifted back to strategy.
The Mahasenapati led the planning, outlining troop movements, supply routes, and defensive positions.
Yuvraj Hamsa frequently suggested changes and adjustments. Many of his ideas were accepted, while others were debated and eventually rejected.
Regardless, the discussion continued late into the evening as the foundations of the campaign slowly began to take shape.