Meenakshi wandered alone through the byrinthine corridors of the pace, clutching a dry pair of clothes. With her maid Akriti unwell, she had to navigate the pace's maze-like yout by herself. She soon recognized her error, realizing she should not have ventured unaccompanied into unfamiliar territory, even if it was just the bathing section.

  Her payal (anklets) echoed softly in the lonely corridors as she continued her search, the scent of sandalwood and herbs teasing her senses. Eventually, she stumbled upon a small, secluded chamber. The door stood slightly opened, and the dense aroma of sandalwood and herbs piqued her interest, drawing her in.

  Unbeknownst to her, Aditya was inside, taking a dip in the tub for his mud bath.

  Meenakshi entered the chamber, her eyes widening at the sight of the luxurious bath setup. Seeing no one inside, she decided to take advantage of the privacy. As she closed the door and began to undress, her saree gracefully slipped to the floor revealing the proportionate curves of her perfect figure in blouse and petticoat. Just as she was about to proceed further, she was startled by the sound of a spsh.

  A calm, commanding voice broke the silence, "You're here earlier than expected? Come assist me with the massage."

  Meenakshi froze in her tracks, her eyes widening at the unexpected sight of Aditya, his bare body covered in a mud bath of fuller's earth, in the ceramic tub. His face was still recognizable, having seen him closely from the walls. But seeing him in such a vulnerable state was beyond her expectations.

  As she gathered her composure, she noticed his eyes were closed, evidently mistaking her for a maid. Her initial panic subsided, repced by a growing unease about the potential consequences if she were discovered in this compromising situation.

  Her mind raced as millions of thoughts flooded her at once.

  'Oh Deva! I should have checked properly before entering. Why didn't he lock the door? Should I quietly leave? Is everything going to be alright?'

  Aditya's command interrupted her train of thoughts. "What's taking so long?"

  He tried to clear his face with his hands, but only ended up smearing the mud mask further.

  Meenakshi's heart skipped a beat. 'Did he just... No, I can't reveal myself in this state.'

  She hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath, deciding to py along until she could find a chance to slip away unnoticed.

  "Please turn your back to me," she said softly, trying to keep her voice steady and her usual tone concealed.

  Aditya, still with his eyes closed, sighed in relief as he turned his back to her side. "Thank you. The herbs are on the side. Just rub them gently."

  Meenakshi picked up the herbal mixture, her hands trembling slightly. She moved closer to the tub, her bare feet making no sound on the cool marble floor. She knelt beside him, her fingers brushing against his skin as she applied the herbs.

  Aditya smiled, feeling the gentle touch. "That's perfect. Just a little harder," he murmured, completely unaware of the awkwardness of the situation.

  A shiver ran down her spine as she felt the warmth and firmness of his back. She continued, trying to focus on the task, but her thoughts kept drifting.

  'Hmm.. Not too bulky, nor too slender; almost a banced and toned physique. I've never been this close to anyone before. It feels so intimate. Should I... explore further?'

  Meenakshi's cheeks flushed at the thought, and she continued, her touch becoming more confident with each stroke. She couldn't help but admire his muscur back. It was the first time she had ever touched an adult male body, and she found herself liking it.

  Aditya felt a little strange with her touch. Although it was gentle, it wasn't as soft as Amira's. Instead, it was firm yet smooth, simir to Raamya's, like that of a sword practitioner. A fleeting suspicion of her being an assassin crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it, considering the expertise needed in her profession.

  Feeling rexed, he spoke his mind. "What do you think of this mud bath? It's my first time. Initially, I thought it would be a bit disgusting, but it feels cool and rexing. The smell is surprisingly pleasant too."

  Meenakshi was taken aback by his straightforward question. 'What kind of imperial nobility is he? This is a must-have bath for every noble, and given his status, he should have known this.'

  Deciding to enlighten him, she spoke as she continued rubbing his back.

  "This mud isn't just ordinary mud. It's a special cy procured for medicinal purposes, especially for skin care and muscle rexation, mixed with appropriate herbs. In your case, it's diluted with rose water and sandalwood powder. The herbal paste I'm using seems to be made from almond oil and mint leaves."

  Aditya appreciated her expnation, reminded of Multani mud used by his friend's mother in his past life. He leaned back, enjoying her touch, prompting her to move to his front.

  Meenakshi continued in her trance, moving her hand to massage his body. Though her blouse was nearly ruined by the mud, the sensation of pressing against his back was enticing. She bit her lip subconsciously, feeling his developing abs under her fingers. Pausing, her breath caught in her throat.

  'What am I doing? This is too much. Get a hold of yourself! 'she thought inwardly.

  Aditya's eyes remained closed feeling the sensation of her spongy melons, but a slight smile pyed on his lips when she corrected herself. "Thank you for letting me know... That felt good. You have a gentle touch."

  Meenakshi blushed deeply, her mind racing. 'Does he like this? Should I continue? This feels so wrong... No, the risk of being caught was too high.'

  It was her first time being so physically close to someone, and receiving a compliment for such an intimate act stirred unfamiliar feelings within her. She felt conflicted, torn between her values and the strange sensations coursing through her. But she pushed aside her inner turmoil, excusing herself to continue, knowing now was not the time to make her escape.

  Summoning her courage, she let her hand travel upwards, over his abs and across his chest, but this time maintaining a careful distance. Each touch sent a thrill through her, mixing fear and excitement. She could feel his strong, steady heartbeat beneath her palm.

  'I can't believe I'm doing this. If he opens his eyes... No, I shouldn't dwell on that. He won't even notice,' she reassured herself, pushing through her inner turmoil despite the potential consequences.

  Her fingers lingered, tracing the lines of his muscles, memorizing the feel of him. It was a forbidden moment, one she knew could never happen again. But for now, she allowed herself to get lost in the sensation.

  Aditya felt strange with the intimate way she slid her hands across his body, as if taking measurements.

  It was no longer a massage but an intimate touch of seduction he was too familiar with his lover. Recalling their conversation where she had not used honorifics appropriate for his status, he made a split second decision.

  Grasping her hand, he turned to her and demanded, "Hey! Why are you being so informal with me? Who sent you?"

  Meenakshi got horrified and flushed red with embarrassment at the prospect of being caught. She couldn't figure out what went wrong but it was not time to linger. She pushed aditya away and grabbed her saree and dashed straight out of the bath chamber.

  While Aditya, on the other hand, couldn't grasp her, as the mud on her hand was too slippery to catch her. He hurriedly took a leftover cloth from nearby and cleaned his face enough to catch a glimpse of her fleeting figure.

  All he could figure out was her retreating back and a broken payal(anklet) left behind in her haste. The entire experience left him feeling disappointed and unsettled.

  "Damn it! That's why maids can't be trusted," he muttered to himself, picking up the payal to keep it for self.

  He hurried back to finish his bath in the nearby built-in pond. Afterwards, he swiftly dressed in dry clothes and departed.

  Unbeknownst to him, moments ter, the assigned maid arrived with warm water, puzzled to find the chamber muddy and empty.

  Afterward, Aditya headed directly to Tejpal's assigned quarters. After a brief wait, Tejpal arrived, exuding warmth. Aditya initially considered keeping the maid incident to himself to prevent unnecessary concern but opted to dig-in as much information as possible, sensing Tejpal's loyalty based on his dependency.

  He inquired about recent events preceding his arrival and subsequently shared his own account of the days' events. However, tensions escated when he reacted strongly to news of the joint Rajputana attack on his capital.

  "I deeply apologize, Your Highness, but I must leave now. My kingdom urgently requires my presence," Tejpal decred, rising as if prepared to depart.

  Aditya attempted to calm him with reason. "I understand, Majesty, but I need to share crucial information that could aid in your defense."

  Intrigued, Tejpal halted in his tracks and returned to his seat.

  "Then please make it brief," he said with urgency in his voice.

  Aditya leaned in, his expression serious. "The siege is imminent, expected within 12-14 days as per our sources. The Rajputs have likely closed the western frontier of your kingdom.

  The southern corps is en route to reinforce your capital sooner, while orders are in pce for the imperial army to retaliate against Agra for their betrayal. They will join your defense thereafter."

  Tejpal felt a wave of relief upon hearing the news. He was aware of the impending threat to his kingdom and was gd that he had pyed his cards right.

  However, with his homend at stake, he knew he couldn't leave matters to others. Clouds of doubt still lingered in his mind regarding the prince. So, he decided to confront his concerns head-on without dey.

  Tejpal expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Your Highness. The Samrajya did not betray us when we needed it."

  "Of course we would come. The Samrajya stands united. It's unfortunate I've been tasked with reinforcing and securing Rewari, but I assure you, I'll send my own battalion with new weapons under your command for defense," Aditya reassured him.

  Tejpal felt genuinely touched but appeared hesitant.

  Aditya met his gaze squarely and said, "Ask what you will, Your Majesty. I'm here to address any concerns you have."

  Tejpal responded, "Many of our allied leaders, including those from our member kingdoms, are questioning the timing of your reinforcement. You were suppose to come ter by morning."

  The prince chuckled heartily, amused by his conclusion that perhaps the maid had been sent by the rewari king to seduce him and possibly gather intelligence about his early reinforcement.

  He breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn't a more serious matter needing immediate resolution, and decided to dismiss it. He made a mental note to disclose it ter. Little did he know, that his misunderstanding inadvertently saved the princess of another Samrajya from being embroiled in a mistaken scandal.

  Putting aside the issue, he refocused on Tejpal, who appeared puzzled and awaited an answer.

  Aditya responded, "As stated before, we seized the Mughal base at Chandanpur vilge near the Sahibi River, from where we intercepted a pigeon post requesting reinforcements from enemy. Our base isn't far; it's a straight path with just two more vilges in between. We faced some resistance, but we handled it."

  Tejpal remained unsatisfied. "I understand, but we haven't seen the logistics team capable of setting up a base. Also, the arrival of Mewar's Rajputs together..." He paused, realizing he might have spoken too far.

  Before Aditya could respond, a guard's voice interrupted their meeting with urgent news. As the guard entered, they were notified of a rge caravan spotted outside the fort.

  Intrigued by this development, they went to the top of the wall and soon discovered fgs of the Samrajya and Mewar on the caravan, along with rescued and injured vilgers as it approached the fort.

  Turning to Tejpal with a smile, Aditya said, "There's your answer, King of Amber. We hurriedly left rest of them behind to reach here within a prahar (quarter of a day)."

  He patted Tejpal's shoulders, who appeared visibly embarrassed for doubting them.

  Tejpal on the other hand, wanted to apologize, but the words didn't come easily to someone younger and not yet a king. The title "King of Amber" struck a chord with him.

  "My apologies, Your Majesty. I understand the challenges of leadership. I don't take offense. Just continue to show your loyalty, genuinely. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to greet a friend of mine," Aditya reassured to leave.

  Tejpal felt relieved, seeing the prince in a new light. It wasn't just because he was an imperial prince, but because he was proving to be a growing emperor worth following for a lifetime.