Chapter 122: Chapter 120: Prince To Minister Shakuni... Meeting Old Buddy...

(A/N):

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After Few Months...

The months following the coronation of Devara passed far more peacefully than many kingdoms had expected.

Though tension still quietly lingered with the neighboring rulers who had left the throne chamber humiliated, no immediate conflict broke out.

Trade continued flowing through the sacred rivers, merchants moved safely beneath Trivenivrata’s banners, and the kingdom itself steadily grew stronger with each passing week.

The people slowly settled into life beneath their new king’s rule.

And for the first time since its foundation—

Trivenivrata truly began feeling like an established kingdom rather than merely a rising power.

Meanwhile, several important departures had also taken place during those months.

Dhritarashtra, along with his wife Madri, their many children, Vidura, and Bhishma had finally returned to Hastinapur.

Preparations for Dhritarashtra’s own coronation could no longer be delayed.

The Kuru kingdom needed its crowned ruler.

And Bhishma, true to the promise he once made Devara, intended to slowly step away from the crushing burdens he had carried for years after ensuring Hastinapur stood stable once more.

Their departure had left visible emptiness within Trivenivrata’s palace for a few days.

Especially for Queen Gandhari.

Though she remained composed, everyone close to her could see she missed her family.

Still, life moved forward.

And unexpectedly—Another major change quietly took shape within the royal court.

Prince Shakuni had remained within Trivenivrata longer than originally planned after the coronation.

What began as temporary support for his sister had slowly become familiarity with the kingdom itself.

He had watched the court.

The politics. The ministers. The growing trade system.

And somewhere along the way, even Shakuni himself realized something strange.

He had started enjoying it.

Which made Devara’s proposal all the more shocking.

One evening during court discussions, Devara had casually asked him.

"Do you wish to become one of the ministers of Trivenivrata?"

The question had genuinely stunned Shakuni.

"...."

For once in his life, the usually smooth-tongued prince had gone completely speechless.

Because this was no small offer.

A minister’s position meant trust.

Authority. Responsibility.

Influence over the future of the kingdom itself.

And more importantly—Prince Shakuni was still a prince of Gandhara.

He could not simply accept without permission from his father.

But when the matter eventually reached King Subala, the Gandharan king surprised many.

He approved it.

Truthfully, King Subala understood the situation clearly.

His elder sons already handled Gandhara’s administration and military matters well.

The kingdom itself stood stable beneath their management.

And Shakuni...

Shakuni was never truly suited for remaining confined quietly inside Gandhara’s palace.

The prince possessed too sharp a mind for that.

Too much cunning. Too much political instinct.

And perhaps most importantly—King Subala knew how deeply Shakuni cared for his sister.

Allowing him to remain beside Gandhari in Trivenivrata gave the prince purpose.

So permission was granted.

And for the first time officially—Prince Shakuni accepted a ministerial role within the royal court of Trivenivrata.

Naturally, many ministers became nervous the moment they heard it.

Because nobody trusted a smiling Prince Shakuni fully.

Even when he was technically on their side.

Meanwhile life within the palace itself continued peacefully.

Gandhari had returned to one of her favorite routines once more.

Painting.

Inside one of the quieter palace chambers overlooking the rivers,

Gandhari calmly practiced her brushwork across large cloth canvases while soft sunlight entered through carved balconies.

Unlike many queens obsessed purely with politics or luxury, she genuinely enjoyed art.

And over time, her skill had begun improving beautifully.

Several attendants nearby quietly admired the paintings she created, though none interrupted her concentration.

Elsewhere—

Far beneath the flowing sacred waters of the great river—Devara stood within a place few mortals could ever witness.

Goddess Ganga’s Domain...

The divine domain of Ganga herself.

The underwater realm shimmered with divine light moving gently through crystal-clear currents.

Ancient pillars carved from sacred stone stood beneath flowing waters that somehow did not suffocate or crush those blessed to enter.

Schools of glowing fish moved peacefully through the divine domain while lotus blooms drifted gently through the currents like floating stars.

And there, seated comfortably beside the flowing divine waters—Devara chatted casually with his mother.

Not as a king.

Not as a ruler burdened with kingdoms and politics.

But simply as a son speaking about his day.

He spoke about the court. The neighboring kings.

The growing trade which was going through.

Prince Shakuni becoming a minister.

The palace life.

The responsibilities slowly becoming heavier with time.

Meanwhile Goddess Ganga listened quietly with the calm patience only a mother could carry.

And for a little while beneath the sacred waters—The burdens of kingship seemed far away.

Deep beneath the sacred flowing waters of Ganga’s divine domain, the atmosphere remained peaceful and strangely warm despite the unimaginable beauty surrounding the underwater realm.

Soft currents moved gently through the crystal-clear waters while glowing aquatic creatures drifted between ancient pillars carved from sacred stone.

Divine lotus flowers floated lazily through the flowing currents, and the entire realm carried the calming presence of a mother’s embrace.

At the center of it all sat Devara beside Goddess Ganga herself.

For once, the young king looked completely free from the burdens resting upon his shoulders.

No throne. No ministers. No politics.

No neighboring kingdoms threatening war.

Right now, he was simply a son sitting beside his mother.

Goddess Ganga herself gently fed him while listening to his endless stories about the kingdom, the royal court, Shakuni’s antics, Gandhari’s paintings, and the neighboring rulers who nearly exploded inside the throne chamber earlier.

At one point, she lightly sighed hearing about the confrontation.

"You inherited far too much stubbornness."

Devara immediately grinned.

-Grin!

"I learned from powerful people."

That earned him a soft flick on the forehead from the goddess.

Meanwhile, while Devara continued talking casually—Something quietly moved through the waters behind him.

A large crocodile slowly drifted through the divine domain, clearly attempting to pass unnoticed.

Unfortunately for it—Devara’s eyes suddenly landed on the creature.

And instantly—His face lit up like a child spotting an old friend after years.

"YOU!"

The crocodile froze mid-swim.

Slowly... Very slowly... It turned its head.

And the moment it saw Devara standing up excitedly—The creature’s ancient survival instincts immediately screamed danger.

Without hesitation, the crocodile abruptly turned around trying to escape deeper into the waters.

Unfortunately—It was too late.

Devara launched himself forward through the divine currents with alarming speed.

"COME BACK HERE!"

The crocodile visibly paddled harder.

It genuinely tried fleeing.

But before it could escape even a short distance,

Devara caught up instantly and wrapped both arms around the massive creature in a crushing hug.

"I FINALLY FOUND YOU!"

The poor crocodile just floated there in utter defeat.

Its eyes slowly shifted sideways toward Goddess Ganga with the most exhausted expression imaginable.

Meanwhile Devara happily clung to it like a long-lost childhood friend.

"Where did you disappear to all this time?!"

"You abandoned me!"

The crocodile stared at him silently. Dead-eyed. Emotionally destroyed.

Because the last time it remembered this child—He had been small.

Annoying. Manageable. Now?

Now the little menace had grown into a full-grown disaster with divine blessings, impossible strength, and absolutely no understanding of personal boundaries.

The crocodile’s expression practically screamed.

’The tiny demon evolved into a greater demon.’

Even Goddess Ganga could not stop herself from laughing softly seeing the scene unfold.

The divine crocodile looked toward her again desperately as though begging for rescue.

But the river goddess simply smiled beautifully and ignored its suffering completely.

Meanwhile Devara continued hugging the exhausted creature excitedly.

"You got bigger!"

The crocodile blinked slowly.

Its expression somehow became even more dead inside.

Because he had gotten bigger too. Much bigger.

And significantly harder to escape from now.

Still clinging happily onto the exhausted crocodile like he had just reunited with a long-lost brother, Devara looked completely unconcerned about the creature’s visible emotional suffering.

The massive crocodile simply floated there in the divine waters of Ganga’s domain with the expression of someone questioning every life decision that had brought it to this moment.

Meanwhile Devara continued rubbing the top of its head proudly.

"You vanished for so long!"

The crocodile’s eyes slowly narrowed.

Its entire face radiated one exhausted thought.

’I was hiding. From you... Can’t you understand.’

But then—While still hugging his unfortunate crocodile companion,

Devara suddenly noticed movement deeper within the glowing underwater domain.

His eyes shifted curiously.

And there—At a distance near several ancient submerged stone pillars—

Four more gigantic crocodiles stood partially hidden within the flowing currents.

The creatures were enormous.

Nearly similar in size to the one trapped within Devara’s arms.

But unlike ordinary crocodiles, these divine beings carried unusual appearances.

One possessed deep crimson eyes glowing faintly beneath the waters.

Another had golden irises sharp as molten sunlight.

The third carried eerie pale silver eyes.

And the last one’s eyes shimmered with an emerald green glow.

All four were staring silently toward the scene unfolding before them.

More specifically—Toward Devara assaulting their family member with affection.

The atmosphere briefly became oddly awkward.

Especially because the four crocodiles clearly looked uncertain whether they should approach...

...or rescue their relative.

Devara blinked in surprise seeing them.

Then slowly turned toward the crocodile in his arms.

His eyes brightened immediately with excitement.

"Wait..."

He pointed toward the distant group.

"Are they your family?"

The crocodile remained silent for a moment.

"...."

Then very slowly—It nodded its head.

-Nod!

Devara’s expression immediately lit up even further.

"You have a family?!"

The crocodile looked at him with visible disbelief.

As though asking him.

’What exactly did you think I was? A floating rock?’

Meanwhile the four distant crocodiles visibly stiffened when Devara suddenly began dragging their unfortunate relative toward them through the waters.

The red-eyed crocodile even took half a step backward instinctively.

Clearly the stories about this human had already spread among them.

And judging from their cautious expressions—Those stories were probably terrifying.

Meanwhile Goddess Ganga simply watched the entire scene with quiet amusement from nearby.

Because despite being a king feared by neighboring rulers, worshipped by citizens, and respected by sages—

Devara still behaved exactly like an excited child whenever something fascinated him.

Especially animals. Or divine beasts.

Unfortunately for the crocodile family—Today they had become the target of that enthusiasm.

Meanwhile Devara happily waved at the four creatures while still holding onto their exhausted relative.

"Why are all of you standing so far away?"

The crocodile trapped beside him immediately closed its eyes in pure resignation.

Because it already knew.

Its peaceful life was over now.

The glowing waters of Ganga’s divine domain rippled softly as Devara shamelessly dragged his crocodile companion forward by its tail through the underwater currents.

The poor creature no longer even resisted.

At this point, its spirit had visibly left its body.

It simply allowed itself to be pulled across the divine realm while staring blankly ahead like a warrior defeated by fate itself.

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(Author note:)

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Guys I have a new fic which named: Karuppan: King of Openings.