C4

Swords clashed making sparks fly. Shadow gaurds and Madhur watched in awe as the High king of Antharv fought Chandra, the leader of shadow gaurds, rest of the gaurds and maids dismissed even before beginning his training . It was hard for everyone to remove their eyes from the sparing duo, none of them wanting to yield. It was the second match of the day. The first match was interesting but not as interesting as this one. The junior gaurd had strong attacking techniques but his defence was poor and thus wasn't able to hold the fort against the High king for more than half an hour.

And pumped up with the rush of sparing, holding his sword after a long time, Salil challenged the leader of shadow gaurds for a match. Chandra tried to go easy on the High king in fears of harming him but Salil taunted him for having poor technique and the fight took a three sixty degree turn.

Salil was really loving every moments of his training. Little did he know about the trouble coming his way.

*******

"Look your Highness! Is this a way the high king should behave?! He didn't even bother to stop at your arrival. " exclaimed Mayuri in a sick nasaly voice to the Queen Mother whom she had dragged along to meet Salil when she got the wind of Salil sparing from one of her spies she had planted in the High king's palace. She smirked thinking how she had finally managed to land the so called High king in trouble.

The Queen Mother on other hand quietly observed the fight, the concubine's words ignored. Lets just say she was impressed by Salil's fighting skills and refusal to yield.

Salil on other had was getting agitated and the one to face the burn of his anger was Chandra. His attacks were now even more fierce and faster than before. Chandra was trying his best to retaliate with same vigor but the constantly babbling concubine wasn't letting him focus and in one such moment when he was a bit unfocused, Salil kicked his leg and pointed his sword at his throat, forcing him to yield.

"You were a great opponent, chief Chandra but you need to work on your concentration. I hope you won't mind helping me train in future." said Salil with a smile after the match was declared finished with Salil as winner. The cheif couldn't help but laugh at the High king's cheekiness.

"Still hung upon your old ways, I see. Why don't you quit playing around and pay attention to your duties as a husband, as a High king?" asked the Queen Mother as she walked towards the High after watching the shadow gaurd, he had been training with leave. Salil immediately bowed to her as courtesy not missing the smirking concubine. He was sure that some trouble was about to come.

"Its a pleasure to have you here at my humble abode, Queen Mother. I would be great full if you have a tea with me but before that, I would like to change out of these sweaty clothes first. Madhur will escort you to the lounge, please let me make myself presentable to meet you first. " said Salil with a sweet smile to which the Queen Mother responded with a firm nod and followed Madhur to the lounge of the High king's palace.

*******

"Tell me High king Salil, when will you start taking your responsibilities seriously? You should remember that you are a High king not a warrior anymore." said Queen Mother in a stern voice, sipping her tea. Salil hadn't really expected her to return so soon from her pilgrimage. In his past life Queen Mother didn't return before he died. As for her return later, he can't say.

"Yes High king, why waste time in all that when you have the entire Kingdom of Antharv to protect you? Its not like we are at war." Interjected Mayuri, with a teasing smile on her face which clearly said that she was hell bent on getting him in trouble. But Salil wasn't a fool.

"I never neglected my duties, Queen Mother. The issues brought before me are dealt with great seriousness. And I will always be a warrior, even of I don't need to go on the battlefield anymore. Besides, isn't it my duty to lessen the burden on the king's shoulders? A queen is an equal of King, not lesser than him. How can the king focus on the needs of his people if he has to worry about his queen all the time." said Salil as he sipped his tea. Hibiscus teas always calmed him down. The Queen Mother looked quite satisfied with his answer while the concubine gnashed her teeth in anger. She had vowed to get Salil in trouble, she wasn't about to go down without a fight.

"But we are not at war that you are preparing yourself to fight! And how are you sharing the king's burden if you can't even provide him with an heir?" questioned the Mayuri, her agitation clear as day in her voice. Queen Mother could sense Mayuri's malicious intentions but she didn't stop her. She wanted to see if her son in law could handle the matter. Salil smiled at the question and started,

"Enemies aren't only at the battlefield. They can be anywhere, even the sweetest smiling faces may hold most malicious intentions..." all the while his eyes were on concubine Mayuri as if saying that he knew her intentions.

"It's good to be always prepared. And as for the heir, if you see me failing in that matter why don't you help the king out? But I think you too are failing even after the king spending most of his time with you....makes me worried about the King." Salil sipped his tea, hiding the mocking smile on his lips. Whereas Mayuri was fuming with anger, one could practically see smoke coming out of her ears. She bowed to the Queen Mother and the High king and left hurriedly. She was there to land Salil in trouble but up till now she was only able humiliate herself. But she wasn't about to let Salil win so easily.

The Queen Mother, who was closely watching this exchange, smiled at Salil after the concubine left.

"You have learned a lot since the last time I met you, High king Salil. Today you made it clear to me that you are capable of handling this palace, this Kingdom as a High king." said Queen Mother as she got up to leave. She was at ease now. Salil had finally become the High King she always wanted him to be. She could see the fire in his eyes that she had prayed the heavens to bless her son in law with.

Salil on other hand was confused. How could Queen Mother ignore the balant disrespect he had shown to the king? But anyhow, he was happy that he didn't land himself in any trouble.

*******

The very same night, while Salil was getting ready to sleep, he heard the guards announce the king's arrival. He couldn't help but huff at the moment. He was sure that the king was here to relieve his sexual tension or else why would he visit him at the night? Horny bastard! Cursed Salil in his mind as he put on a fake smile to greet his husband.

Atharva on other hand smiling a genuine smile when he saw his husband approaching him with a smile. He knew that it was a fake one but he would live with whatever he got right now. He knew he didn't deserved Salil's smiles after being's so rude and disrespectful towards him since the beginning of their married life.

"Did you need something your Majesty that you're here so late at night?" The sweet voice of his submissive partner snapped Atharva out of his thoughts. Looking around he noticed that all the maids and gaurds have left them alone. His husband must've been thinking of something naughty if he asked everyone to leave, thought Atharva with a smirk.

"I just wanted to visit my husband. Is there a problem with it?" asked Atharva as he stepped close to Salil who stepped away instantly. It hurt him to see his husband acting so distant but he didn't object. He knew he was the one who caused this to happen. And now he would try his best to make things right.

"Not at all your Majesty. But I'm afraid I can't serve your Majesty tonight. You might want to visit your concubine instead." said Salil as he sat before the mirror, braiding his hair so that it won't tangle when he slept. His words carried a silent message for the king to leave him alone but the king ignored it.

"I won't be needing any services tonight, my High king. I will just accompany you to sleep. Hope you won't mind." said Atharva as he got under the covers, waiting for Salil to join him. Having left with no option, Salil got into his bed with a sigh but turned to face opposite direction where he wouldn't see his husband's face.

It hurt the king to see his husband turning away from him but he didn't say anything. He knew Salil wanted him to leave but he couldn't. Every night he would come to sleep beside his beloved after he had gone to sleep just to hold him close to his heart. Just to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

He knew there was a lot of work he needed to do to earn Salil's love and he was ready to move mountains to get that love.

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