Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 124: Cries of Villagers

Rewari kingdom, Khera village , Morning of 8th march 1557

With the morning sun shining brightly, Prince Aditya and Princess Meenakshi rode at the head of their small cavalry. Aditya, clad in a white kurta pajama, radiated regal authority, while Meenakshi, in a vibrant saree, added her own grace and elegance. Bheem, Aditya’s personal royal guard, followed closely behind, leading the rest of the force. Unbeknownst to them, a shadow trailed from a safe distance.Their destination was the village of Khera, a short distance from Bawal Fort. With shining armors and precise two column formations they followed the duo.

As they approached Khera, an unsettling feeling took hold. Outside the village border, new local recruits trained with normal cross bows practising their marks in open spaces. The guards at entrance saluted as they gave way for their group to pass.

Aditya was surprised by the sight as he entered the village. The supposed to be lively village is now filled with tension. Instead of the usual morning buzz, armed soldiers patrolled the streets, keeping a watchful eye. The villagers even though present moved slowly with subdued expressions.

Signs of conflict still remained, burned fields and damaged homes told the story of the violence that had hit the village. Despite the visible signs of trouble, there was an uneasy calm settled. Perhaps it was all thanks to the soldiers’ presence and the cooperation of new police force, that sustained the maintenance.

Both Aditya and Meenakshi shared a worried look.

They rode further into the village. Suddenly a group of soldiers appeared from behind some buildings. Leading them was a middle aged man in a elite guard commander’s uniform. His stern face softened when he saw the royal visitors.

"Your Highness, Princess," Havildar Brijesh greeted with a respectful bow. "I am Havildar Brijesh, a small rank commander. It is an honor to have you here."

He looked exhausted, showing the tough job he had in restoring order. "I’ve arranged for you to stay at Kisan sahayak (farmer relief) office . It has been arranged as per your needs."

Aditya dismounted from his horse and addressed Havildar Brijesh, "Thank you, havildar. We need a clear picture of the situation and what has been done to restore order."

Brijesh took a moment to scan the village before responding. "The situation is now under control, Your Highness. However, significant damage had already been done before our arrival. We currently have only 100 men here and are facing a shortage of manpower."

He explained that, with no governing figure in place, the village fell into chaos. Outlaws took over, ruling the village until their army intervened. It all began after the military cleared the local Nayak’s(lord) residence, the village zamindar, who also served as the sarpanch, abused his power and set up his own administration. He hoarded the relief supplies sent by the government and turned those who joined him into his enforcers.

When the military arrived, the outlaws deceived them, but after a thorough investigation, the army captured them and imprisoned them in newly constructed dungeons. Their houses were burnt in public outrage and in process the hoarded rations got also destroyed. There was also unsettling disputes over land rights and the food shortage has added another burden on the forces to maintain peace and order. Alongside from every family there is demand for the release of the rebel soldiers, whose fate are still not clear if they were arrested or got killed in battle.

The military unit is now training local recruits for a new police force and has requested additional rations. Trust is still fragile, but the arrest of the zamindar and the recruitment of locals have begun to restore some confidence.

Aditya sighed as he finished listening. He turned to Bheem and said, "Bheem, please work with Havildar Brijesh to gather the villagers and bring them to the village square. I need to address them personally."

Bheem nodded. "Understood, Your Highness. I’ll make sure it’s done."

Turning to Havildar Brijesh, Aditya instructed, "Subedar Bheem will assist you in gathering the villagers. Let’s get them to the village square as quickly as possible."

With respectful bows, both men led their teams to carry out the task.

Once alone, Meenakshi asked about his plans. With a mysterious smile, Aditya guided her to the square.

A few moments later, in the village square, Aditya saw the weary faces of the villagers, filled with distrust and frustration. He felt deep sympathy for his subjects who had no one to turn to, nor any one to complain to.

Taking a deep breath, he addressed them with a grave expression.

"My dear friends, you might not know me, but you might have heard my tales. I am the far-off prince from Delhi who enacted the laws for your betterment. Unfortunately, the malintent of a few greedy individuals has led everything to ruin. I cannot undo the past, but I am here to lessen your burdens."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Initially, they had revered him for his reforms, but recent events had shattered their faith. Still, seeing the prince show empathy made them begin to open up.

"Why are you here? Are you just enjoying seeing us in this state?" a widow woman shouted, her eyes filled with anger.

"If it weren’t for your reforms, we wouldn’t have lost our loved ones. Who will light my funeral pyre now?" an elderly man cried out.

Another elder added, "We don’t need your sympathy, prince. Just leave. Your presence seems to bring us more misfortune. We will manage somehow. Please go."

Soon, the crowd echoed, "Go back, prince, go!"

Aditya’s heart sank, as if the words were hitting him like stones. He hadn’t expected the situation to be so dire.

Just when it seemed hope was lost, an old woman, frail and bruised, pushed through the crowd. Her eyes, filled with desperation, searched for the prince.

"The prince has come? Let me meet the prince! Let me see him!"

The villagers parted to let her pass, their expressions a mix of pity and defiance.

Before she could reach him, her path was blocked by the royal guards.

"Let her come," Aditya ordered the guards, allowing her to approach him despite the villagers’ doubtful looks.

The woman held his shoulders with grief, her tears streaming down her cheeks. Pointing with three trembling fingers, she said through her sobs, "I had three sons. The eldest was as big as you. Their father vanished a few weeks ago, and then my sons went to the lord’s house but never returned. I heard from others that it was you who took them. Can you bring them back? Please, bring them back!" She shook him desperately as she pleaded.

Aditya’s heart ached at the sight. His throat felt dry, struggling to hold back his emotions. He knelt and touched her feet, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Mayi! (Mother), I haven’t taken them. But I swear, as long as I am alive, I will try to find out where they are. Until then, please treat me your son."

The woman cried, realizing that her last hope might be gone. Yet, she touched his head gently, her gesture a mix of despair yet filled with faint hope. He signaled to his guards, who carefully lifted her and carried her to the infirmary.

The onlookers were shocked. A royal touching the feet of an old, beggar-like woman and calling her "mother" was unheard of. Even more shocking was the fact that he didn’t care about knowing her caste nor his actions showed any hesitations. His plea, for the first time, felt genuine. Even the soldiers present were touched by the sight.

Soon the silence broke. The flood of pleas and questions emerged. All but filled with human suffering. Aditya raised his hands to calm them.

"I can’t promise to return everyone," he began, joining his hands in a Namaste gesture. "But I vow to find the missing. Many are held captive, but I offer pardon to those who accept our terms and surrender. For now, please help us understand the village’s situation. I am here only for you."

Hearing the plea of prince, the crowd felt relived, with hope they began to address their issue.

Eventually, hope began to grow in the people’s hearts.

A small girl, no older than ten, with tattered and dusty clothes, stepped forward through the crowd and asked, "Can you give me something to eat? I’m hungry."

Aditya turned to Elite Commander Brijesh. "What’s the status of the food supplies?"

"We have rations for a week, Your Highness," Brijesh replied.

"Distribute them immediately," Aditya ordered. "Then arrange a meeting at the farmer’s welfare office with everyone in line. I will address them individually."

A guard, looking anxious, spoke up, "Your Highness, this is all we have. Once it’s gone, we don’t know when more will arrive."

Aditya reassured him, "I will ensure additional supplies are sent from the city. For now, distribute what we have and make sure everyone gets a portion, regardless of their status."

Relief spread through the crowd as the news of food distribution reached them. For the first time, true order seemed to be restored.

As the crowd dispersed, Meenakshi stood alone, watching the back of the prince, which appeared broader and more resolute with each passage of time.