Empire of India: Rise of the Ruthless Prince

Chapter 44: Steady Transformations

Outskirts of Capital City Hampi.

A grand carriage rolled steadily along the forest path, its wheels crunching softly over the newly built roads. The morning sun bathed the scene in a warm light, making the dense greenery shimmer. Every now and then, a gentle breeze lifted the flag on the carriage, revealing the royal crest.

Surrounding the carriage was a sizable escort of cavalry and infantry, their polished armour catching the sunlight and reflecting it in dazzling flashes. This was the retinue of the Second Prince Bhairava, who was returning to the capital after spending time in Cochin to strengthen his position.

Riding beside the carriage was Arjun, Bhairava's trusted aide. He was clad in leather riding gear, with a sword hanging from his side and two daggers strapped to his thighs. His eyes were focused, constantly scanning the surroundings for any signs of trouble.

A cavalryman approached Arjun, his face serious as he leaned in to share a quick, urgent message. After delivering the information, he nodded respectfully and returned to his place in the formation.

Arjun steered his horse closer to the carriage and knocked on the door . Bhairava, sitting inside the carriage, looked up from his thoughts as Arjun spoke.

"Your Highness, the weapons purchases are nearly complete," Arjun said, his hand resting on the side of the carriage as he leaned in slightly. "We have enough supplies to last us for a while."

Bhairava, with a slightly furrowed brow, glanced out the window. He seemed lost in thought, his gaze drifting over the trees as if searching for answers in the landscape.

"Hmm," Bhairava finally said, "Now I need to make sure that Father doesn't meddle in our plans. If he does, things could get very messy."

Bhairava tapped his fingers impatiently against the side of the carriage. "Any news about the deal that's been going on?" he asked.

Arjun, maintaining his steady posture, shook his head. "No updates, Your Highness. The Emperor's personal squad is on high alert, and the First Prince remains tight-lipped."

Bhairava let out a frustrated growl and spat. "Ugh. This is getting tedious."

He shifted his focus. "And what about Alfonso? What's he up to in the Palace?"

Arjun cleared his throat before replying, "I heard he took the young prince out shopping yesterday. Other than that, we keep a close watch on his movements. He sticks to his routine—going to Goa and spending his money on alcohol, courtesy of his uncle in Daman."

Bhairava scowled, his lips curling into a sneer. "Tsk. That half-blooded fool. This is why mlecchas should never be allowed to marry into our family. It only brings trouble,"

"Anyway, arrange a meeting with that bastard," Bhairava ordered. "I need him to take care of a few things for me."

"Understood, Your Highness," Arjun replied with a nod.

He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "When should I arrange it?"

"Right when I reach the Palace," Bhairava said, his tone brooking no argument. "Drag the bastard to my chambers as soon as we arrive."

Meanwhile, in the Mudialiar Household, the First Prince Chandra was deep in discussion with Balaji Mudaliar and Govinda Rao about the economic war and the looming civil conflict stirred by Bhairava.

"What have you gathered, Govinda?" Chandra asked, leaning forward.

Govinda nodded, pulling out a stack of papers. "Our spies report that Cochin is quietly stockpiling weapons. They've secured a significant amount of arms and supplies, hinting at preparations for a prolonged conflict."

Chandra frowned, his brow furrowing. "This is troubling news. We need to counter this. Start procuring some weapons for ourselves."

Balaji chimed in. "The Second Prince is on his way to the Palace. With the Third Prince back there as well, it's likely that a significant meeting is about to take place, possibly involving some sort of deal."

Chandra's expression hardened. "It's not the first time Alfonso has aligned himself with Bhairava. We need to be prepared for whatever they're planning."

"What do you suggest we do, Your Highness?" Balaji asked.

"Prepare for the worst," Chandra replied firmly. "Buy all available weapons on the market for the troops. I will ask Mother to help me with some more information."

He continued, "Keep gathering information on their military movements using our spies. We need to know everything."

Chandra then added, "Monitor Alfonso extensively. He might be a key figure on the battlefield since he may have decided to side with Bhairava in the race for the throne."

Chandra knew Alfonso's character very well. Alfonso always put up a timid facade but only acted when the deal was favourable for him. Publicly, Alfonso appeared carefree, but he was a very shrewd man who knew how to align himself with the best opportunity.

Balaji nodded, taking note. "Do you think the Portuguese will become involved if Alfonso and Bhairava form an alliance?"

Chandra shook his head. "I doubt it. Alfonso might be connected to the Portuguese, but he's loyal to his own land. He wouldn't easily sell out his kingdom for European gains or the throne."

Balaji raised an eyebrow. "How can you be so certain?"

Chandra's gaze was steady. "I know him very well. He isn't the type to betray his homeland for some measly gains or for the throne. He values his own country too much for that."

"I guess we can trust Your Highness's intuition on that," Balaji conceded.

"Lastly, what about Harsha's movements? Anything unusual?" Chandra asked.

Balaji shrugged. "As for Harsha, we've done a thorough investigation on his aide. Nothing of note came up. He's an average man—barely able to beat one of the palace guards," Balaji scoffed.

Govinda quickly retorted. "He did beat Varun, not just any palace guard. You seem to be underestimating him."

Balaji dismissed it with a wave. "Still, he's an average man compared to veteran soldiers. Lower caste individuals lack the talent of a Kshatriya."

Chandra pressed, "What about Harsha himself?"

"Nothing much, Your Highness," Balaji said. "He's been training with his guards and reading books most of the time. The only noteworthy thing recently is that Alfonso dragged him to the market once."

Chandra pondered for a moment before responding. "Hmm. Useless as I thought. Harsha has never been a real threat. I don't know what Father sees in him,"