Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 171: Unexpected Plea

Rewari Kingdom, fort city Bawal, morning of 26th march 1557.

The following morning, Aditya woke up with a mild headache, but his mind was clear. As he sat on his bed, memories of the previous evening flashed in his mind. He sighed, remembering how he had crossed the lines, slandering Mathew and speaking nonsense to Meenakshi. Fortunately, nothing he did appeared terrible enough to land him in serious trouble.

With the coronation of Crown Prince Randeep fast approaching, Aditya had little time to dwell on his drunken missteps. The importance of the day far outweighed his personal regrets. He hurried to freshen up and prepare for the ceremony. His relationship with Randeep had always been good, and by attending the coronation, any lingering tensions between them could easily be smoothed over.

Throughout the fort city of Bawal, the air was alive with celebration as preparations for Crown Prince Randeep’s coronation were in full swing. Villagers from adjacent towns were encouraged to join in the festivities and get free food and presents. The walls of the inner and outer courtyards were decorated with garlands, banners, and rows of glowing diyas, creating a joyful mood.

Security in the inner courtyard, which held the hidden city, had been significantly tightened. Outsiders were only permitted in following careful inspections to ensure the safety of the royal event.

From the outskirts of the fort, long lines of villagers could be seen, along with special arrangements for invited guests. Aditya, mindful of his friend’s significant day, visited several key checkpoints and oversaw the security arrangements, even deploying his own royal guards to support the fort’s defenses.

After ensuring everything was in order, he joined Crown Prince Randeep at the temple of Lord Shiva, where the prince sought blessings for the sacred occasion.

Though the coronation was hastily arranged, and few neighboring kingdoms had been invited, the event still drew a modest crowd of foreign ambassadors and imperial officials. Invitations for the post-coronation banquet had already been sent out, ensuring that the celebration would extend beyond today. Despite the relatively low-key nature of the ceremony, the presence of key figures like Prince Aditya signaled the continued strength of the relationship between the Rewari Kingdom and the empire.

Before the coronation, Randeep was to be paraded through the streets atop a richly adorned elephant, a symbol of power and respect, to receive the blessings and support of the people. Aditya was invited to accompany him in the procession, which he did gladly. They were surrounded by royal guards, who served as a human barrier between the audience and the royal entourage. The streets were lined with shouting civilians. Their faces were lit up with delight and appreciation. To see their favourite prince preparing to take the throne, accompanied by the empire’s Prince Aditya, conveyed a clear message: the kingdom-empire link was unbreakable.

However, in the midst of the parade, a disturbance rippled through the crowd. An elderly man, frail but determined, came running forward, breaking through the barrier and throwing himself onto the dusty road ahead of the procession. He lay prostrate on the ground, his voice trembling as he pleaded for an audience.

The procession came to an abrupt halt. Gasps of shock spread through the crowd, and whispers filled the air.

"How this man slipped past the guards?"

"What could be so urgent to interrupt the crown prince’s grand procession?"

"Something is not right."

The royal guards were quick to react, moving toward the old man to remove him from the path.

However, Randeep raised his hand, signaling them to stop. The crowd fell silent as the crown prince dismounted from his elephant. His regal robes trailed behind him as he walked toward the man, his face calm but curious. Aditya, sensing the gravity of the moment, also dismounted and followed closely.

Randeep extended a hand to the elderly man, helping him to his feet. The old man, still covered in dirt and clearly shaken, accepted the prince’s assistance with relief.

"Your Highness," the old man said with teary eyes, "I beg you to listen to me. My family...they have taken everything. I am ruined, and nowhere to go. Please, have mercy."

Aditya stood a few steps back, observing the scene with narrowed eyes. The interruption was unusual, and he couldn’t help but wonder whether this was an orchestrated attempt to embarrass the crown prince on his coronation day or a genuine plea for help. Either way, the situation demanded tact.

Crown Prince Randeep’s expression softened as he looked at the old man. "Speak, elder. Tell me what has happened," he said with concern.

The crowd watched in tense silence, waiting for the old man’s story..

"Your Highness," the old man began with trembling voice, "my family has served this kingdom for generations. My only son fought bravely as a soldier during the recent rebellion. He was gravely injured and returned home without a leg. We were promised compensation, but the officials responsible for this gave us nothing. When we tried to follow up, my handicapped son was beaten and threatened. We tried to report this, but were told to complain directly to the imperial prince, Aditya. When we did, our house and land were burned down. Now, we are left with nothing and are on the brink of starvation."

The old man’s voice quivered with emotion. "I am too old to work, and my son is too weak. The officials have taken everything we had, and we are left with nothing."

The atmosphere turned serious. The allegation was against Aditya’s officials, and if true, it implicated Aditya himself. The crowd murmured, wondering if Randeep would confront the imperial prince.

A royal guard loyalist to Aditya stepped forward. "You dare accuse the imperial prince?"

"Halt," Randeep commanded, stopping the soldier. He turned to Aditya, who was observing from a distance. "I trust you, Your Highness, will not interfere in the affairs of my subjects."

Aditya nodded, understanding this was a trap. He refrained from intervening, knowing it was crucial to uncover the true mastermind behind the conspiracy.

The crowd buzzed with speculation. What would Randeep do if the imperial prince was involved? How long would justice take? What would happen to the old man?

Randeep, maintaining his composure, addressed the old man. "You say your son served this kingdom loyally. It is unjust that such loyalty is met with suffering."

He turned to one of his ministers. "Summon the officials who handled this case and the letter sent to the imperial prince. We will investigate thoroughly and hold the wrongdoers accountable."

The minister bowed and left to carry out the order.

Soon, the concerned officials arrived, along with Hari Singh, who looked grave. Aditya’s instincts told him something was amiss.

During the inquiry, the officials and Aditya’s butler admitted fault, and Aditya was blamed for negligence. All eyes turned to Aditya.

"I deny these charges," Aditya said firmly. "I had no knowledge of any such letter."

Randeep questioned, "Your butler has implicated you, Highness. I don’t have much options."

He looked at the guards who moved to arrest Aditya. His loyal units drew their swords in defense, leading to a standoff between the imperial and royal forces. However, Aditya’s strong voice cut through the chaos.

"All units stand down. There’s no need for conflict. If I am to be arrested, so be it, but I demand a fair trial and further investigation, and Delhi be informed of my situation."

The tension peaked. All eyes were on the young prince, wondering if he would have the resolve to challenge the empire for the sake of justice.

Unshaken by the pressure, Randeep declared, "I accept the conditions set by the imperial prince."

Turning to his royal guard, he ordered, "Arrest Prince Aditya and escort him to the special dungeons with respect."

Just then, a commotion erupted at the back of the crowd. Samrat Hemu, disguised in simple clothing, and King Todar Mal, Randeep’s father, emerged. The crowd gasped.

"It’s our king and the one-eyed samrat," they murmured

Aditya sighed in relief as he recognized the orchastrated plot. The soldiers quickly cleared the way for the emperor and the king.

Everyone bowed in respect, and a hush fell over the crowd.

Samrat Hemu’s eye gleamed with approval. "Well done, Randeep and Aditya," he said, breaking the silence. "You have shown the heart of a ruler by making tough decisions and showing mercy. A king must heal the wounds of his people and prevent further suffering."

He turned to Aditya. "You have set an example of patience and adherence to rules by not misusing your authority." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Randeep and Aditya bowed deeply , humbled by the emperor’s words and went on to take their blessings. King Todar Mal spoke next standing aside. "This was a test for future leaders. The old man’s plea was designed to measure your readiness to rule. Both of you have passed."

The revelation was both shocking and relieving for Aditya and Randeep. They realized that regardless of their status, they were under constant scrutiny and subject to higher authority. Had they chosen a different path, the outcome could have been far less favorable.

The situation calmed, and the crowd erupted in cheers, celebrating their leaders’ integrity and courage.

Amid the celebration, Samrat Hemu whispered to Aditya as he blessed him, "There are matters to discuss. We will conduct a meeting after the coronation."

Aditya gulped, sensing the subtle threat in the emperor’s voice.