Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 195: Events that unfolded

Few moments before

As Princess Nusrat returned, now comfortably dressed in her nightgown, Mendes and Anirudh found themselves momentarily stunned. She wore a light royal gown, its silk shimmering under the torchlight, perfectly accentuating her jade-like complexion. Her movements were slow and deliberate, every step a seductive display that drew their attention to her shapely thighs and slender waist.

With a graceful elegance, she lowered herself onto the sofa, reclining effortlessly against the silk-covered cushions. Her eyes gleamed with mischief and anticipation. The sheer fabric of her gown clung just enough to offer tantalizing glimpses of her curves, leaving both men utterly captivated.

Colonel Mendes and Anirudh were already intoxicated, not just by the wine, but by the sheer power of her beauty. Nusrat thrived on their attention. She knew it well and had every intention of wielding that power mercilessly tonight.

"I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long," she hummed, her voice soft yet melodic as it broke the silence. She leaned forward slightly, just enough to reveal the soft skin of her cleavage, sending both men’s eyes darting downward to catch a glimpse of her alluring figure.

"I feel rather uncomfortable in places I’m not familiar with," she remarked, reaching for a pomegranate instead of the wine. As she picked up the knife, she delicately began peeling it herself.

The ruby-red seeds seemed to mirror her moist lips as she chewed them slowly, one at a time. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled. "I wonder, between the two of you, who is the most knowledgeable here?"

Mendes, quick to deflect, gestured toward Anirudh with a casual wave. "Well, as it happens, I’m somewhat of a newcomer myself. I believe young master Anirudh would be the right person to satisfy your curiosity. Though, of course, I’ll answer what I can," he said smoothly, passing the focus to his companion.

Anirudh, caught off guard by the shift in attention, felt annoyed. He had hoped to avoid a conversation that might drag out the night, especially since the goblet remained untouched. Yet, Mendes was right. He knew far more about the local trade and governance, and Nusrat’s gaze was now fixed squarely on him.

"Please, feel free to ask me, Shehzadi," Anirudh replied, doing his best to mask his impatience. "What would you like to know?"

Nusrat’s eyes twinkled as she leaned in ever so slightly, as if daring him to lose focus. "I’m curious about the volume of trade that passes through the ports. How well are they managed? And what of the customs here? What might a foreign merchant need to know on their first visit?"

As Anirudh launched into an explanation of trade, administration, and local customs, Mendes’ attention wandered. He took another slow sip from his goblet, his heart beating faster with each passing moment. His eyes wandered back to the princess, tracing the outline of her form as she elegantly shifted on the cushions.

He could feel his pulse quicken. Never in his life had he encountered a woman like Nusrat. Her beauty was unparalleled, but it was more than that, there was something dangerous in her allure, a hidden challenge that dared him to come closer.

The tension in the room was palpable, and Mendes couldn’t help but imagine how much pleasure she would offer him once she drank from the goblet.

All he had to do now was wait. Wait for her to take that sip. And soon, she finished the pomegranate and took the goblet bringing closer to her lips.

Suddenly, a sharp, panicked scream rang out from beyond the door, shattering the tension in the room.

Mendes and Anirudh exchanged alarmed glances, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons.

In the brief distraction, unnoticed by either man, Nusrat smoothly swapped her goblet with Anirudh’s.

The door creaked open as a maid stumbled in, pale and trembling, her wide eyes filled with terror. "A snake! A snake!" she gasped, pointing frantically toward the courtyard. Moments later, a guard entered and bowed respectfully. "Forgive us, my lord, for the intrusion. It happened quite suddenly." He turned to the maid and asked calmly, "Do not fear. Show us where it is."

Nusrat’s lips curled in faint amusement as she lazily twirled the goblet in her hand. "It seems my maid has a rather delicate constitution," she remarked smoothly, her voice cool and unconcerned.

Mendes exhaled in relief, slumping back into his seat, while Anirudh chuckled nervously, his shoulders dropping. "A mere reptile," he muttered, casting a quick glance at the door.

Finally, Nusrat brought the goblet to her lips, taking a delicate sip. A coy smile spread across her face, and both men exchanged subtle glances of satisfaction. Their prey had taken the bait. Now all they had to do was wait, as the sedative was meant to take effect slowly. Yet, Anirudh started to feel slightly dizzy.

Without hesitation, Nusrat drained the entire goblet in one go. "How long are we going to continue like this?" she asked seductively, leaning forward to refill her glass. Her movements revealed just enough skin to send both men’s eyes darting downward. "Isn’t the view pleasing to your eyes, Colonel?"

Caught off guard, Mendes straightened in his seat. Her next words only bolstered his confidence. "Is it as pleasing as the riches of your homeland?"

Mendes took a deep sip of his wine, excitement growing as his composure slipped. "The riches pale in comparison to certain pleasures, sehzadi," he replied, pouring himself more wine, emboldened by the moment. With a smirk, he added, "Perhaps tonight can be... overfulfilling."

Nusrat noticed the hunger in his eyes, a fire she could easily stoke. She turned her attention to Anirudh, whose youthful impatience was palpable, even under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

"Colonel Mendes," Nusrat said, her voice a teasing whisper, "is it true what they say about the Portuguese? That their thirst for conquest is rivaled only by their thirst for... other pleasures?"

Anirudh, emboldened by the wine and the drugs coursing through his system, struggled to keep his consciousness. Still fuelled by jealousy, he spat "Some pleasures are better suited for younger men, sehzadi. A man who’s seen too many winters might not have the... stamina."

Mendes’s jaw clenched, but he forced a smirk, raising his glass toward his supposed partner. "Youth is often wasted on the impatient, young master Anirudh. Experience," he leaned closer, locking eyes with Nusrat, "makes the wait worthwhile."

Nusrat chuckled softly, her fingers tracing the rim of her goblet. These men, powerful in their own right, were reduced to nothing more than servants to their lust.

"I do enjoy the company of powerful men," she said, her voice silky smooth, the tension thickening with every word. She passed her empty goblet to Mendes as if to signal her selection of him. "But even power needs the dare to proceed, wouldn’t you agree?"

Mendes grinned, his mind clouded with lust and arrogance. He leaned back, unashamedly eyeing the princess as he poured more wine into the goblet, ready to pass it to her.

Anirudh fuelling with anger, downed the wine in one go. But then his vision blurred, and he could no longer keep his consciousness, slumping into a deep sleep.

Nusrat giggled. "What a surprise; he couldn’t last longer." She reached for the goblet, but Mendes moved first, his rough hand attempt to grab her arm.

In a swift motion, she twisted his arm and slammed the candle lamppost down hard onto his head, pinning him to the dining table.

Mendes felt dazed for a moment, blood trickling down his forehead. As he touched his head, the sharp pain brought clarity. He noticed the evil grin on her face and glanced at Anirudh, still sleeping profoundly in his chair. He could hear faint clashing swords from outside, as if a fight was going on. A sudden realization dawned upon him: they were being attacked.

He yelled in rage, "You whore! You tricked us!"

Furious, Mendes grabbed his sword, ready to unsheathe it, but Nusrat leaped forward, pressing her hand against the table and kicking him in the chest, sending him sprawling to the ground. He struck the wardrobe behind him, creating a loud crash.

Recovering quickly, Mendes composed himself, threatening as he unsheathed his sword. "Good. I was considering playing nice, bitch. Now I’m going to rape you daily for a month before selling you to the brothels."

Nusrat stood firm, the knife steady in her hand, her gaze cold and unyielding. "None has lived who dared to assault me, and you will be no exception."

She shifted into a fighting stance, ready to strike. Mendes, still under the influence of alcohol, took a wild swing with his sword. Nusrat smoothly dodged, rolling to the side and slashing deep into his leg.

Mendes howled in pain, staggering back as blood soaked his trousers. He tried to regain his stance, but Nusrat was relentless. She lunged forward with her knife aimed at his chest.

Mendes barely managed to parry, but as her blade slid along his sword, she twisted, slicing deep into his hand. The sword clattered to the ground as his grip loosened.

Without hesitation, Nusrat unleashed a whirlwind of slashes, her blade cutting through flesh, severing tendons, and carving deep into bone. Mendes’s screams filled the hall, but they were soon silenced as she twisted his head sharply by snapping his neck. His lifeless body crumpled to the floor with pool of crimson forming around it.

As the bloody spectacle unfolded, the servants and maids in the mansion had gathered in the hall, their faces frozen in horror. The first to scream was swiftly silenced as Nusrat hurled her dagger, piercing the woman’s throat. Blood splattered across the floor as her body collapsed.

The rest of the servants scrambled for the door, but as they flung it open, they were met by blood-soaked Persian soldiers loyal to the princess. Frozen in terror, they retreated back into the room. One of the guards bowed before Nusrat, his sword still dripping with blood.

"Sehzadi Sahiba," he reported, "as per your command, all military personnel have been dealt with. What should we do with the remaining witnesses?"

Nusrat calmly emptied the last of her wine. She ordered plainly, "Finish them."

The hall erupted into chaos once again as the soldiers moved in, slaughtering the remaining survivors. Screams filled the mansion as blood splattered across the walls, the massacre unfolding at her command.

Soon after, Anirudh began to stir, groaning as he regained consciousness. His eyes opened to the sight of carnage, the bodies of servants and soldiers strewn across the floor. Fear seized him as his gaze met Nusrat’s. She stood over him, her eyes filled with icy malice.

Nusrat grabbed Anirudh’s hair, yanking his head back, forcing him to meet her cold, unforgiving gaze. "Shall we begin?" she hissed, her voice a venomous whisper. "For your unforgivable offense?"

Anirudh wept, his voice trembling as he pleaded for mercy. "Please, don’t harm me. I swear I wasn’t in favor of this. I’ll be your loyal servant; just spare my life. I don’t want to die."

Her lips twisted into a pleased smile as she patted his head with surprising gentleness. "Poor dog," she whispered, her tone soft but dripping with malice. "Now look at me." She leaned in closer, her eyes locked on his. "The man before you tried to play smart and is now paying the price with his life, so If you want to live, tell me everything."

Anirudh, trembling with fear and pain, revealed everything he knew. She learnt many key information especially about Aditya’s arrival in Bengal and, more importantly, the resistance by his own step brother, the city lord’s third son, who is now a banished bandit and is labelled as enemy of royalty.

A cold smirk curled on Nusrat’s lips as she absorbed the details. She caressed Anirudh’s cheek, her touch deceptively gentle while her words cut like a blade. "Good. Now you’ll help us clean up this mess and settle into your fort." Turning away, she added with icy calm, "And make sure the blame falls on the rebels. "

Too terrified to resist, Anirudh nodded frantically, sealing his fate as her pawn in this dangerous game. Nusrat smirked, stretching leisurely as she walked out, fully aware that he had submitted to her will.

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//A/N:

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