Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 201: Persian plan for invasion

Safavid empire, Fort city of Isfahan , night of 11th April 1557.

Inside one of the personal chambers of Prince Khodabanda’s harem, he hosted a celebratory party with a few of his trusted attendants. The air was thick with fragrance as the ladies present soothed the hearts of attendees with their charm and soft touches.

The room was dimly lit by golden lanterns hanging from placeholders on the walls that illuminated the space. Cushions embroidered with gold and deep reds filled the floor around low tables, upon which plates filled with fruits , silver goblets and golden jars were filled with wine in the flickering lamplight.

At the center of the room, Prince Khodabanda reclined on a plush ornate sofa with a goblet in hand. Two women draped beside him helped him fill his goblet from the jar while another sat waiting to feed him grapes. Their beauty was unparalleled: their skin was smooth and luminous in the lamplight, their voluptuous assets brushing against him, giving him comfort. Their smiles were playful as they attended to their prince.

Nearby, maids with delicate features and flowing garments moved quietly as they fanned their master with large feathered fans, ensuring the room remained cool despite the heat of the moment.

Seated around Prince Khodabanda were his most trusted men, each accompanied by a beauty in revealing attire. Among them were Ardashir Azad, the cunning vizier and his main supporter; Rahim Mehran, his personal spymaster who was once a former member of crescent moon; and Riash Khan, the battle-hardened general who had been a key supporter in backing his claim to the throne.

Despite their differences in age and rank, they behaved like old friends sharing a meal with zeal, as the matter they gathered to discuss was celebratory. The confirmed news of a blow to their rival faction, which backed Ismail for the throne and thus marked a significant leap for Khodabanda.

Khodabanda raised his cup high into the air, his face beaming with the intoxicated joy of victory. "This toast... is for the missing news of our biggest thorn, Shahrukh, that insufferable snake who has dared to be the voice of Ismail. May Allah, in His infinite wisdom, grant him a swift death, so our path to power may be cleared!"

A collective murmur of agreement rippled through the room as the three men raised their goblets in unison, their faces alight with satisfaction.

"Ameen," they all recited affirmation, voice mingling in chorus.

Seated next to Khodabanda, Vizier Ardashir chuckled lowly as his gaze lingered on the cleavage of the maid pouring wine. "With Shahrukh gone, Ismail’s influence will surely wane. He was a staunch backer of the prince. Now, there are only two left to support his cause."

General Riash with a broad smile on his face sipped his wine. Feeling aroused by the soft brushes of the maid sitting on his lap, he absentmindedly rubbed her soft thighs through the thin fabric as he exclaimed, "This is truly unexpected. I never imagined a noble of his stature would simply vanish from his own tent like that. I anticipate quite an uproar in the emperor’s court soon."

Spymaster Rahim, holding the goblet, expressed his concern seriously. "Indeed, that’s good news for us, but a blow undeniably to the empire. Our Shah has been in a foul mood after receiving the news. The suspect is mostly the Pakistan Sultanate, as it has been on their soil. Even though we have planted spies in the Mughal court and left our best agents on lookout, there has been no information. He has been loyal to the throne and could have been a good asset to the prince once crowned."

Khodabanda, brimming with confidene added, as he swirled the wine in his cup. "It matters little. We can help his second son secure his legacy, and he will surely switch sides to support us as a backer..."He grabbed one of the maid’s ample bosom and gave a gentle squeeze as she fed him a grape, responding immediately to his signal. After the playful exchange, he savoured the fruit and turned to Rahim, with curiosity," Tell me, how did my brother react when he received the news? What progress have they made?"

Rahim replied cautiously, barely distracted as her maid’s soft hands slid over his chest with passion," Sehzade , the reports I’ve received are not satisfactory. Prince Ismail, maddened by his loss, has hastened preparations for invasion. All soldiers under his command have been ordered to assemble near the border. Thanks to the vizier’s efforts, we have managed to delay their assembly. However, with Shahrukh’s death, I am certain he will play the emotional card to persuade Shehanshah to bolster his ranks. It will be easier for him if the royal guards join the battle."

The girls in the room, seemingly oblivious to the dark conversation, giggled and continued to serve wine, their delicate hands filling the goblets of the men as if it were a night of simple indulgence.

Vizier Ardashir, who was contemplating all this conversation, expressed his opinion, "That is certainly true, but I can still maintain the excuse that we need more intelligence. It is grave that an ambassador was kidnapped during his return, along with a substantial sum of gold. What confuses me is that the kidnappers, likely Mughal agents, did not touch any important agreements; they only took the gold. We have little ground to question Pakistan on this."

Khodabanda raised an eyebrow in intrigue. "Again, what was in the agreement? I was so happy that I forgot what the Mughals proposed."

"The Mughals agreed to our proposal for a joint patrol but demanded similar rights on the other side of our region, citing that the area could impact both sides. They also included Kandahar in their disputed area of patrol," Ardashir replied.

Khodabanda scoffed, "Cunning bastards. It’s so obvious." He turned to Rahim, his expression shifting to one of concern. "What progress have we made in searching for Shahrukh? Any new intel from Ismail’s camp?"

Rahim shook his head. "No, Your Highness. Aside from planting spies and sending a message to our main ally in Pakistan, there has been no significant progress. He is good as dead."

General Riash, straightening in his seat and setting aside the maid beside him, shared the growing concern. "We need to act decisively, Prince. Delaying will not be helpful in the long run."

Khodabanda raised a hand, gesturing for pause as the two maids shifted to sit beside him on the sofa. The atmosphere turned clearly serious, "It seems you have something in mind, General?"

General Riash replied as he emptied the contents of his goblet. "We can seize Kabul before Prince Ismail can gain control of Balochistan. There are seven key fortifications in the region: three to the east, three to the west, and the main fortcity at the center. With this agreement, we can bypass the borders. All we need to do is gather the intel, create a tunnel and breach the walls. Once we capture the city, we can choke the routes connecting the east and west. Securing Kabul will give us a significant advantage."

Rahim’s expression darkened. "But that would be a declaration of war against the Sultanate of Pakistan. The Mughals won’t stand idle; they will.."

"Khodabanda cut him off as the excitement bubbled within him. "I agree with the plan. It’s not as if the Mughals wouldn’t attempt the same for Kandahar. We need to bolster our supply lines. But how confident are you, General?""

Riash Khan replied with fire igniting in his eyes. "My twenty thousand forces are always ready. We need capable miners and artillery to execute this plan. By the end of two weeks I am certain kabul will be added to our region."

Vizier Ardashir, looking worried, added his opinion, "This will be a huge gamble; I don’t think the our shah would authorize it."

Khodabanda took a moment to gather his thoughts before proposing, "What if we don’t tell him and frame it as a skirmish instigated by the Mughals? I’m certain they’re planning something significant since they put forth this agreement. Also, we can soothe the anger of our shah by claiming that our soldiers’ morale was at an all-time low with the death of loyal bastard Shahrokh, and with the Mughal aggressive and uncooperative behavior, we decided to punish them to keep the prestige of the empire. It always works..."

The Ardashir nodded in agreement. "If that’s the case, then I think I can delay Ismail’s forces further," a knowing smile spread across his face.

Khodabanda’s arm snaked around the waists of both women, pulling them closer as he grinned. "Soon, my brothers, with this victory we shall be one step more closer to our goal. And when it is, we shall toast again."

Taking in the fragrance of the maid sitting in his lap, he clapped his hands. "Now, let’s enjoy the main event," he said, and the maids began to undress their robes to please their master.

As the men laughed heartily, the sound filling the chamber. However, Rahim’s mind hung with unease. His years of experience told him that something was amiss, but there was little time to contemplate this feeling as he felt the soft, moist lips of a nearby maid on his sensitive parts while her soft curves brushed against his thighs, intensifying his pleasure threefold.

Oblivious to the men gathered here engaging in their carnal desires, destiny taking a sharp turn no one anticipated. Miles away from them in the Pakistan Sultanate, the Mughal soldiers had already gathered. The night is far from over.