In the dimly lit King's chamber of Rewari, the flickering glow of torches cast shadows upon the ornately decorated walls. Fourteen delegates, representing various factions of the indian subcontinent, took their seats around a grand, circur table, their expressions serious and contemptive.

  At the head of the table sat King Todar Mal, his regal presence commanding the room. To his right, Imperial Prince Aditya sat with an air of quiet strength, while to his left, Prince Pratap from Mewar exuded a calm yet vigint demeanor.

  As the delegates settled into their seats, an air of anticipation filled the chamber. They were all waiting for the representative from the Vijayanagar Empire. The room was filled with hushed murmurs as the leaders exchanged concerned gnces.

  Moments ter, the heavy doors of the chamber creaked open. General Omkar, the trusted attendant of Princess Meenakshi, entered, carrying himself with a composed and authoritative grace. In his hand, he held the princess's seal, a symbol of her authority and trust.

  King Todar Mal's brow furrowed slightly with concern. "Where is Princess Meenakshi?" he inquired, his voice ced with worry.

  General Omkar bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty, Princess Meenakshi is unwell with a fever. She regrets not being able to attend in person and has entrusted me to represent the Vijayanagar Empire on her behalf."

  The delegates exchanged worried gnces, their concern for the princess's health evident. Prince Vishwa from Gajapati kingdom leaned forward, his eyes reflecting his unease. "We hope for her swift recovery," he said sincerely.

  King Tejpal from Amber nodded in agreement. "Indeed, her presence is greatly missed."

  Prince Pratap from Mewar felt disappointed, "It's a shame; I've heard so much about her."

  Aditya, the imperial prince, leaned in and whispered something into the king Todar mal's ear, to which the king nodded in understanding.

  King Todar Mal gestured for General Omkar to take a seat. "We appreciate your presence, General. Please, join us."

  General Omkar took his pce at the table, the princess's seal prominently dispyed before him. The leaders, while still concerned for Princess Meenakshi's well-being, focused their attention on the matters at hand, ready to proceed with the meeting.

  The king broke the silence, initiating the meeting. He id out the agenda, focusing on the aftermath of the siege war and the progress made since then. Kartar Singh, the security in charge, stepped forward with a parchment in hand.

  "We've lost around 17,000 soldiers, with 2,826 being treated for injuries," Kartar Singh began. "The royal guard has suffered the most, with 12,000 men lost. Each delegate's forces have also faced significant losses. Given the soldiers' contributions to our defense, it is only right that the kingdom provides appropriate compensation. The royal family will offer 50 silver coins (fifty rupees that time) for each fallen soldier, and the injured will receive free treatment."

  He paused, allowing the gravity of the numbers to sink in. "Furthermore, the imperial prince is willing to contribute 2 golden mudra (two hundred rupees ) for each dead soldier as compensation."

  The decration sent ripples of shock through the room. The representatives knew that the imperial prince didn't need to shoulder this burden, and his gesture greatly relieved the leaders from a substantial financial strain.

  Many saw this as an opportunity to retain the loyalty of their soldiers through generous compensation and treatment. However, not everyone took it on positive light. Some scrutinized considered it as a ploy by the imperial prince to gain leverage, while others saw it as a chance to reap him off further.

  Tejpal Singh was the first to appud. "Your Highness, this compensation is truly a blessing. But I would advise exempting Amber from this as we fought for ourselves."

  Baljit Singh, however, pyed it diplomatically. "Since His Highness is giving it voluntarily, it would be inappropriate to deny his wishes. In return, in my name, we would give the highest priority to any request for the prince's business endeavors in our territory."

  Rajendra Singh of Gwalior remained neutral. "The offer is generous. Gwalior respects it, but we won't be able to provide any special privileges."

  Uma Devi of Bundelkhand had a different opinion. "I believe the prince is attempting to divert attention from the real issue by spending such a rge sum. This attack would not have occurred if it weren't for the prince's venture outside the capital. We are aware that the rebels targeted not only the Rewari Kingdom but also the imperial prince, dragging us into this conflict as colteral damage. We deserve greater compensation for this undesired turmoil."

  Vishal Rai of Garhwal supported her. "No offense, but His Highness's early arrival raises suspicions. He needs to expin how they arrived sooner than expected when he had informed us of a dey. Additionally, his new weapon caused casualties among our own ranks. His generosity for the deceased is appreciated but more compensation is warranted."

  The argument heated up further when Suhan Das, representing the member kingdom of Bengal, joined the fray. Though he appeared more neutral, he suggested, "For compensation, perhaps a discount on the new weapons or the miracle powder the prince developed in the capital could be considered."

  Soon, counterarguments and support were voiced by the delegates based on their judgments and preferences. Some cunning leaders, like Envoy Diego from Portugal and envoy Aziz Rehman from Ahmad sultanate , stayed silent, observing how the situation would unfold.

  'SILENCE!!'

  King Todar Mal roared for silence, his voice booming through the chamber. He was genuinely enraged by the insult to the imperial prince within his own kingdom, but he knew openly siding with him would tarnish his image as a minion to imperial nobility.

  "Enough with the allegations," he decred, attempting to steer the discussion away from the heated topic. "We might have been victorious, but don't forget that the war isn't over yet. We haven't recimed the nds the rebels captured. Even though they have surrendered, we still need to regain control of the territory. My own son is captive to these rascals. I have called everyone here to settle matters peacefully, not to hurl accusations at each other."

  The delegates quieted down, the king's outburst effectively restoring order in the chamber.

  "Let's hear the opinion from the prince himself," he said, handing over the reins to Prince Aditya to manage the situation as he saw fit.

  Prince Aditya, however, sat with an amused expression, his hands resting on his face. His mocking gaze swept across the room, taking in all those present as if he were observing mere ants. This demeanor was particurly irritating to those who had hoped to see him panic or make a mistake due to his young age. His calm and collected attitude was entirely unexpected and unsettling.

  Aditya leaned back in his chair, his eyes glinting with a mix of mischief and confidence. He let the silence stretch for a moment longer, allowing the tension in the room to build. Then, in a calm and measured voice, he began to speak.

  "Esteemed delegates, of this indian subcontinent." His voice carrying a hint of sarcasm," I appreciate your concerns and your passion for your people. Truly, it warms my heart to see such dedication."

  He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing, "However, let us not forget the gravity of our situation. Without me, I can't even imagine if your bodies would have received the opportunity for basic rites, or if your heads would have been on pikes while the rest of your bodies were being torn apart by crows or vultures."

  Uma Devi scoffed dismissively, "Perhaps they would have let us go, considering we had no involvement. It seems illogical for them to target nobility of other kingdoms-"

  "Or worse, being vioted, treated as mere pythings, and then held for ransom once they're done with you," Aditya continued, leaning forward at the table and locking eyes with Uma Devi. "Do you think they acted alone, without considering the repercussions of empire let alone bother about repceable nobles who might not be alive to give their side of EXPLANATIONS!?"

  This revetion left Uma Devi visibly shocked, as she had never contempted such brutality, finding it horrifying even to imagine.

  "If not for our empire, your insignificant kingdoms would have been obliterated. You wouldn't even have the luxury to demand expnations or compensation, let alone independence. The mercenaries who attacked me weren't mere rebels but hired thugs working for the Mughals. And if you think this ends here, you're mistaken. They even colluded with the Rajput alliance of Marwar to attack Amber. Who's to say whose turn is next?" Aditya stated firmly.

  Vishwa Gajapati stuttered, "M-Mughals? But haven't they signed a peace contract?"

  Aditya responded with a wry smile, "We have a treaty of non-aggression, but proxies can be conveniently denied."

  Vishal Rai interjected skeptically, "You're making baseless cims, your highness. What evidence do you have?"

  Aditya chuckled as he replied with confidence, "Why not hear from the captured evidence himself?" he then cpped his hands.

  His revetion sent a chill through the room, and all eyes turned to Kartar Singh, who solemnly brought forward a gagged prisoner, Ansari, his hands missing, his body bound in chains, and clearly frightened.

  Aditya calmly released the gag momentarily, prompting Ansari to confess his role and their pn, a revetion that sent shockwaves through everyone present, except the king who perhaps had been made aware before.

  He gnced at everyone present, emphasizing, "Let me be clear. There are significant external threats that jeopardize our independence. Without our presence on the frontiers, your kingdoms will crumble like sandcastles."

  He stood up, his presence commanding the room. "We can either bicker and undermine each other, or we can stand together and ensure the stablity of this nd which had direct contact with the mughal borders for any possible aggresions. I, for one, choose the tter."

  The room was silent, the delegates clearly taken aback by the prince's composed and authoritative demeanor. Even those who had been most critical found it hard to argue against his points this time.

  King Todar Mal watched with a mixture of pride and relief. Aditya had not only deflected the criticism but had also managed to bind the delegates, at least for the moment.

  "As his majesty has pointed out," Aditya concluded, his voice steady and authoritative, "our immediate focus must be on reciming our lost territories and securing the release of those still in captivity. Following that, we will initiate a thorough investigation to ensure such incidents do not recur within our borders."

  Everyone nodded in agreement with Aditya's directives, finding them logical. However, Envoy Aziz Rehman from Ahmednagar Sultanate remained skeptical. "Forgive me, Sehzade," he began, "but why not directly interrogate the captured nobles? It could save time and resources."

  Aditya sighed softly, pressing his forehead. "At times like this, I regret using my precious rockets," he mented in a low voice. The room fell silent, taken aback by his candid admission.

  He continued, "On our way here, we encountered vilgers so resentful they dared to halt our paths and inform the rebels as well. Have you ever considered how such a rge force could gather within a kingdom without the royal family or the delegates knowing?"

  King Todar Mal's expression tightened subtly in acknowledgment of his own oversight.

  Aditya's tone grew firmer. "Regarding compensation for the deceased, I will personally oversee the distribution rights. This will not be handed to any other kingdom officials."

  Prince Viraj Parmar of Malwa, protested. "But Your Highness, you promised..."

  Aditya cut him off sharply. "The money I promised is on behalf of the company, not the empire. I cannot guarantee it will reach the soldiers if their leaders are greedy enough to turn against their savior. If any of you have additional demands, you are welcome to take them up with the emperor himself."

  Viraj Parmar, baffled and disappointed, sat down quietly. The room buzzed with tension. Those who sought to exploit the situation were visibly annoyed, while loyalists like Tejpal and Baljit smiled, knowing they had backed the right side. Pratap, Omkar, and Rehman stayed neutral, adding little to the heated exchange.

  As the meeting drew to a close, Envoy Diego inquired, "We Portuguese have suffered greatly, but we value the prince's generosity and offer any help needed. However, when will the exhibition be held? We need to make deals and return soon."

  This time, Diego echoed the sentiments shared by others. Initially gathered for a weapon exhibition, they hadn't anticipated being drawn into the stability concerns of a frontier region.

  Aditya took his time to respond, carefully considering the implications of holding the exhibition under current circumstances. With the war ongoing and the factory not yet freed, he needed to consult with rumoured expert to fully understand the empire's technology. Only then could he strategize on what to sell and to whom.

  "The exhibition," he began thoughtfully, "will commence at the cannon factory's testing grounds after three days, starting at dawn. This will provide ample time for preparations and negotiations."

  After concluding the remaining discussions, King Todar Mal dismissed the meeting with a heavy sigh, his heart weighed down by the challenges that y ahead in the days to come.

  ***********************

  Author's note:At that time, a typical foot soldier's sary ranged from 10 to 20 paise/copper coins per day, and that was quite comfortable income to them.