Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One-Chapter 230: Ladies underwear

Purana Qila, Guest quarters, Few days back at 22 April 1557.

One of the guest rooms in the southern section of the imperial palace was heavily guarded by guards. They were not the royal guards of Delhi but the loyal soldiers of the Gurkha Kingdom, who were allowed to be stationed for extra security of the injured Gurkha princess.

The large window allowed the sunrays to illuminate the room. The atmosphere was serene but tense.

Princess Nayanthara was wearing a saree matching the color of the sky outside. She was laying on an ornate bed as her head rested gently against a mound of silk pillows. A decorative blanket in red color covered the rest of her lower body.

She denied gently with her gaze down, "Please stop, I can’t take it anymore."

She was feeling embarrassed, and her voice was meek. Despite her nagging, one could easily spot the faint smile spread across her lips.

Across from her, Prince Aditya sat on a cushioned chair as he carefully sliced a fresh apple.

"Look at this girl, making excuses like a child," Aditya said softly, lifting a piece to her lips. "You know learned people say, ’an apple a day keeps bitter medicine away’. Now you decide, do you want me to feed you this tasty fruit, or should I call the medic to feed you the bitter medicine?"

Nayanthara wrinkled her nose in annoyance but opened her mouth with a slight blush as Aditya fed her. She felt grateful for the prince, who had stayed by her side since the day she regained consciousness.

Three days ago, he had not spared a single chance to meet her. Now, he was taking care of her as if she were family. Regardless of the reasons, she didn’t want this to end. She wished he could stay forever.

After chewing the piece, she expressed her gratitude. "Thank you, Prince, for being with me all this time. But I feel ashamed for keeping you away from your duties. I know there’s a war ongoing, and you’re busy, so please don’t force yourself to stay with me for long hours."

Aditya felt a twinge of guilt, knowing she was right, but he didn’t show it. He joked sarcastically, "So, I’m boring the most beautiful lady of the mountains with my chatter? And here I thought we were friends." He sighed dramatically, chewing on a piece of apple. "Foolish me, thinking I could make friends with someone so high and mighty."

Nayanthara giggled and rolled her eyes. She’d never met anyone so dramatic and glib. He could shift a serious mood to a casual one in seconds. "Now you’re exaggerating, Prince. Me? High and mighty? Not at all."

Aditya chuckled, glad to steer the conversation away from heavier topics. Their light banter continued until Nayanthara brought up a request.

"Prince, if possible, could you help me take on some work in your company? I’ve heard you change the lives of those who work with you. I’d like to earn some revenue to support my brother’s kingdom."

Aditya was surprised by her devotion. Unlike most royals, who prioritized marriage and producing heirs, her thoughts were with her brother and his small kingdom. He doubted her skills but couldn’t outright deny her. Then, an idea struck him.

"I do have something in mind," he said, "but if you permit me, may I ask a sensitive question?"

Nayanthara nodded, now slightly alert. "Yes, I don’t mind."

Aditya leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "The special garment I arranged for your comfort... is it serving its purpose?"

Nayanthara’s cheeks turned red as she registered his closeness and the nature of the question.

Her mind raced back to the day she regained consciousness. Since puberty, she had worn traditional silk straps to bind her breast under the blouse. However, after her injury and treatment, the tight bindings became unbearable. During visits from other royals, she had felt intensely uncomfortable as her nipples were partially spottable.

Thankfully, her medic, Sweta, understood her discomfort and confided in Aditya, who had been keeping close tabs on her recovery. He had a customised this inner garment, what he called a bra, specially designed for her. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Initially, Nayanthara had been hesitant to wear something so unfamiliar, but once she tried it, her discomfort vanished. She had thanked Sweta profusely, only to learn later that it had been Aditya’s idea. Since then that topic was never brought up, for which she was grateful and thought as a one time favor.

Now, faced with the prince’s direct question, she wanted to disappear. Yet, since he had asked for her permission beforehand, she couldn’t refuse him outright. She nodded shyly.

Aditya felt slightly disappointed, as if her answer fell short of his expectations.

"See, I want to help you seriously," he said, "but to do that, I need to be sure you’re fit for the role. This is related, so please share your experience in detail."

Nayanthara was puzzled. How was earning money related to this? Still, she trusted the prince and summoned her courage.

"It has indeed alleviated much of my discomfort. I don’t feel any back pain anymore. Earlier, I used to feel suffocated, but now that problem is solved. The fabric is rich and comfortable, and the design is easy to wear." After a pause, she asked hesitantly, "If Your Highness doesn’t mind, may I know how this could help generate revenue?"

Aditya smiled, pleased with her answer. "You see, money comes from solving problems. The discomfort you experienced is common for many women. My garment is the solution." He straightened his posture, adopting a more serious tone. "Imagine how much revenue we could generate if you endorsed it as your invention and spread it among noblewomen."

Nayanthara’s jaw dropped. The idea was as shocking as it was unconventional. She couldn’t fathom how this would work, nor why the prince would abandon the credit himself.

Seeing her skepticism, Aditya leaned back and tried to reassure her. "I know it’s a lot to ask. But as a man, I wouldn’t be the best advocate for a women’s product. Designing it was my way of easing the burden many mothers and sisters carry daily. When you mentioned earning revenue, this idea fit perfectly. You can refuse, of course, but I believe this will help you generate income and build connections with other noblewomen.. something that could benefit you greatly in the future."

Nayanthara’s doubts began to fade. She felt ashamed for questioning his intentions.

Nodding firmly, she said, "Your Highness, I have no problem with that. Among noblewomen, it’s common to share and trade products. What puzzles me is how much we could earn from selling just a few and why are you giving me the credit?"

Aditya chuckled. "It’s simple. Since the product is unique, we’ll monopolize it. Targeting noblewomen is only the first step to set the trend. Once others accept it, we’ll expand through safe channels. Prices will vary, based on quality. But just think about the profits if even a fraction of the city’s women adopt it. After that, the whole empire awaits."

Nayanthara’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she envisioned the possibilities. The garment, which she had tried herself, truly was a blessing. "I don’t know how I could ever repay you for this opportunity, Your Highness. Rest assured, I won’t fail you."

Aditya feigned annoyance, crossing his arms. "What’s with all this excessive gratitude? Aren’t we friends?"

Nayanthara nodded, her smile deepening, though a hint of pink lingered on her cheeks. Their conversation had touched on matters that society would consider improper between a man and a woman, yet she felt oddly comfortable with him. She sighed internally, knowing he wasn’t available as marriage partner, so she resolved to be useful and become a loyal friend.

As their conversation deepened regarding their future plans, a sudden cough interrupted them.

Both Aditya and Nayanthara turned sharply toward the sound. Their eyes landed on Nayanthara’s brother, Dravya Shah, who stood silently at the door.

His expression was unreadable, but the tension in the air was palpable.

Aditya and Nayanthara froze, their thoughts racing with worry.

’Had he overheard everything?’

’Had he misunderstood our intentions?’

The room fell into an uneasy silence, the weight of unspoken questions hanging heavy between them.