Chapter : 17; Ayush Ambitions
Inside the Palace
Queen Durgawati sipped water from a glass,with her sharp gaze shifting between Maan Singh and her ministers.
The hall buzzed with heated arguments, voices rising and falling in intense discussion, as some of them favouring in agreement and not agree on the agreement.
Some ministers saw potential in Ayush's proposal, while others hessitating that if he acquired more advanced weapons in the future, what if, he might turn against them. If that happened, would they be able to defend themselves?
As queen, Durgawati had to listen to everyone's concerns. Her piercing eyes landed on Gaurav Rajput.
Finally, after taking a deep breath, she spoke.
"You are making bold claims, but words alone do not guarantee trust. If we are to enter this alliance, I require something more than just promises. And how can I be sure that once you become powerful, you will not turn against us?"
Gaurav met the queen's gaze and smiled slightly. Ayush had anticipated this question and had already discussed a strategy to convince Queen Durgawati.
"Your Majesty, trust is built through actions, not just words. That is why we are willing to prove our commitment through an exchange—one that benefits both sides."
The ministers exchanged confused glances.
Queen Durgawati, equally intrigued, tapped her wooden throne rhythmically. "What kind of exchange do you propose?"
Maan Singh cleared his throat, drawing the ministers' attention. When all eyes were on him, he spoke with unwavering confidence.
"His Highness has instructed us to propose a mutual agreement. We will provide weapons and the knowledge to build them, along with a formula for gunpowder that far surpasses what your kingdom currently uses. Once we conquer the Bijapur Sultanate, we plan to annex different parts of Bharatvarsh while ensuring that the Garha Kingdom remains an independent dynasty under our protection. In return, we require resources in the early stages of this endeavor."
Gaurav, standing beside Maan Singh, nodded in agreement. This was exactly what Ayush had instructed them to propose.
However, as soon as Maan Singh finished speaking, laughter erupted among the gathered ministers.
"Haha…! Absurd!"
Maan Singh and Gaurav remained silent, watching as the ministers sneered.
"Hmph…! Enough!" Queen Durgawati's voice cut through the laughter like a blade. The ministers immediately silenced themselves.
One of the senior ministers stepped forward, shaking his head. "Your Majesty, look at their ambition. Do you truly believe their fantasy will come true? They demand resources, manpower, and supplies to create firearms and superior gunpowder, but what do we get in return? A mere promise of protection in the future? And even if we can afford the price now, once the Mughals learn that we are cooperating with the prince of a fallen kingdom, they might form an alliance with the Bijapur Sultanate and move to destroy us."
A murmur of agreement spread through the hall. The ministers had a point—aligning with Ayush was not just a matter of resources, but also a dangerous gamble against the most powerful empire in the region.
Queen Durgawati's fingers stopped tapping. She leaned forward slightly, deep in thought.
Maan Singh, unfazed by the minister's skepticism, spoke again. "You misunderstand, Minister. This is not a mere fantasy, it is a carefully planned strategy. The Mughals have crushed countless kingdoms under their rule, and yet you think they will spare you forever? If you remain alone, your fate will be sealed sooner or later. However, if you stand with us, you will not only survive but thrive as an independent power under Ayush's banner."
Some ministers still looked unconvinced, but a few among them hesitated, their expressions showing traces of contemplation.
Gaurav added smoothly, "Your Majesty, we understand the risks. That is why we propose a gradual collaboration. Instead of committing everything at once, let us begin with small exchanges. Test our weapons, see our gunpowder's effectiveness, and only then decide how far you wish to commit. We do not expect trust overnight, but we do expect an open mind."
The hall fell silent.
Finally, after a long pause, Queen Durgawati exhaled and said, "We shall continue this discussion, but I will not decide immediately. For now, bring forth proof of what you claim. If your weapons and gunpowder are truly superior, we shall see their worth with our own eyes."
Gaurav smirked. "That is all we ask, Your Majesty."
Returning to Ayush
After the meeting, Gaurav and Maan Singh walked through the palace corridors, passing silent guards stationed at various points.
When they arrived at Ayush's private chamber, they found him seated on a wooden chair, doings something with a strange device neither of them had seen before.
Ayush turned around when he noticed their presence.
Gaurav stepped forward first. "Your Highness, the negotiations have not been finalized yet, but we have made progress."
Ayush, who had been assembling a drone given by the system, frowned slightly and looked at Maan Singh. "Explain what happened there."
Maan Singh crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "The queen was skeptical at first. Her ministers laughed at our ambitions, but we managed to make them reconsider. However, she has requested proof, she wants to see our weapons and gunpowder in action before making a decision."
Ayush tapped the armrest of his chair rhythmically, deep in thought.
He then directly communicated with the system.
"System, wasn't the deal supposed to be complete? Why is she still hesitating?"
Ding!
"Host, the deal is indeed in motion. However, the queen wants additional benefits for her son and is being cautious due to the presence of spies among her ministers. She cannot openly support you without raising suspicion."
Ayush's eyes narrowed. "No wonder she never finalized the deal outright."
Even Ayush had to acknowledge Queen Durgawati's sharp political instincts. She was maneuvering to secure advantages for her son while avoiding alerting her enemies.
He then turned to Gaurav and said, "Well, I expected this. They fear the risks of siding with us, especially with the Mughals and the Bijapur Sultanate watching. Still, the fact that they haven't rejected us outright works in our favor."
Gaurav nodded. "Indeed, Your Highness. I also proposed a gradual collaboration instead of immediate commitment. In the future, it will be difficult for them to resist joining us fully."
Ayush smirked. "How much gunpowder do we have left? If we want to secure this alliance, we need large-scale production."
Maan Singh replied, "Not much, Your Highness, but we have enough for a demonstration. However, we need more resources for large-scale production."
Ayush exhaled. "Alright. You both have done well. Get some rest."
"Yes, Your Highness!" They bowed and left the chamber.
Left alone in the private chamber, Ayush continued assembling the drone, carefully following the manual provided by the system.
Unlike the ordinary drones, this one, given by the system had a range of more than 50 kilometers, with a battery life of three continuous days when fully charged.
Even more impressive, it had voice transmission capabilities, a deadlift capacity of 50 kg, and a maximum speed of 299 km/h. With a full 50 kg load, it could still maintain a speed of 50 km/h.
It was also equipped with multiple 360° cameras, thermal sensors, VR headset compatibility, and FPV control.
Ayush's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"This drone will be crucial for my next move. First, I'll use it to gather intelligence inside the Garha Kingdom. Then… I'll use it to rescue my father."
"But now, it's time to kill someone first and test the drone for the first time."
With a dead smile on his face, he stepped out of the room empty-handed and stood on the palace balcony when he suddenly noticed someone else was already there.
Ayush, who was about to take out the drone, immediately stopped.
"Hey, you... What are you doing here?" Ayush looked at Priya, who was calmly gazing at the sunset as if she had had enough.
"You...! You are Aunt Kalyani's son, right?" Priya turned around, noticing Ayush looking at her, and then asked.
"Yes...! Is there anything wrong?"
For both Ayush and Priya, this was the first time they had spoken to each other. Especially after the death of Priya's parents, she had been a little traumatized. She rarely talked to anyone anymore, except for Ayush's mother, Kalyani.
Ayush observed Priya closely. Her eyes, though calm, carried a deep sorrow, one that couldn't be masked by her composed demeanor. He had seen what happened to her parents, but this was the first time he was seeing her up close and taking to her. And he has never usually talked and chat with girl in his previous life.
Priya, on the other hand, looked at him with difference. She had seen him before from a distance but had never spoken to him. Now that they stood face to face, and there was an awkward silence settled between them.
"You seem lost in thought, Something on your mind going on?" Looking at Priya, Ayush finally chose to broke the silence and awkwardness between them.
[A/N : I am Back..!]