Secrets Of Uttara Kingdom

ADITHYA

I woke up with a pounding headache, my body protesting every movement. I blinked against the sunlight streaming into the room, realizing I was back in our quarters. How did I get here?

And then it hit me. The memories of last night crashed over me like a tidal wave.

Oh no. I kissed Abhimanya.

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. What the hell had I done? I could feel my cheeks heat up at the thought of it, and my heart raced not from excitement, but pure mortification.The door creaked open, and I froze. "Are you alright?" Abhimanya's voice broke the silence.

I looked up at him, still half-reeling from my hangover and the embarrassment that followed. To my surprise, he appeared calm, as if last night hadn't just upended the fragile balance between us. He walked over and sat beside me, handing me a glass."Drink this. You'll feel better," he said.

Ginger tea. I took a tentative sip, the warmth soothing my throat. "About last night... I..." My words stumbled over each other.

"First, drink. We'll talk about it later," he interrupted, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

I nodded and focused on the tea. Once I finished, I set the glass down and stood. "I'll get ready," I muttered, eager to escape the awkwardness.

"Okay. I'll wait outside," Abhimanya said, already heading for the door without looking back.

Once alone, I exhaled deeply and rubbed my temples. The bathroom was unlike anything I'd seen before. In Dakshana, we used communal bathhouses, but here, I found a private space with steaming hot water waiting for me. Did Abhimanya arrange this?

The thought warmed me, a small smile tugging at my lips. I quickly showered, the heat easing some of the tension in my body, and dressed in simple yet suitable attire for the palace. When I stepped out into the lobby, I saw Abhimanya in conversation with the innkeeper.

The innkeeper noticed me first and smiled warmly. I returned it reflexively before taking a seat beside him."How are you feeling now?" Abhimanya asked, glancing at me with those lake-green eyes.

"Like I got hit by a boulder," I replied with a weak smile. "What would you like to eat?" he asked, his tone lighter now. "Something simple," I said, resting my elbows on the table.

The innkeeper chimed in, "We have pongal. It might help with your hangover." "That sounds perfect," I replied. She nodded and left to prepare the meal.

Silence fell between us, heavy and awkward. Neither of us seemed to know how to address the giant elephant in the room. Finally, I took a deep breath and decided to break the ice. "About last night..." I began, my voice tentative. But Abhimanya cut me off sharply. "Don't say it was a mistake or just drunk talk, Adithya."

His words startled me, and I blinked at him. "Can you let me finish?" I snapped lightly before continuing. "Everything I said last night was true. I meant it. Let's survive this together. And can I say the same about your words?"

He looked away, his expression softening. "Sorry," he murmured. "I thought you'd take it back. But yes, let's work together."

"And," he added hesitantly, "I'm also sorry about the... kiss." I couldn't help it—I laughed.

"Ridiculous," I said, shaking my head. "I'm the one who kissed you. If anyone should be freaking out, it's me, not you."

He smiled, a faint yet genuine curve of his lips. "You're right. But with you, everything feels new for me too."

"You stole my first kiss, you know that?" I teased, leaning back in my chair. His eyes widened, genuine shock flickering in their depths. "Really?"

"Yes," I replied with a small smile. Before he could respond, the innkeeper arrived with my meal, placing the bowl of pongal in front of me. "You want to eat?" I asked Abhimanya, motioning to the food. "No, I already ate," he replied.

Before we could delve into anything else, Garuda appeared. He bowed briefly before addressing us. "We're ready to depart, Your Highness," he said to Abhimanya. "We'll leave after breakfast," Abhimanya replied. Garuda nodded and left.

As I picked up the spoon, I glanced at Abhimanya. Last night had shaken the walls we'd both built, but perhaps it wasn't entirely a bad thing. Something between us was shifting, and though I couldn't yet name it, I knew it was important.

For now, we had a long journey ahead, and I was ready to face it with him by my side. "Are you done eating?" Abhimanya's voice pulled me from my wandering thoughts. "Yeah, let's go," I replied, setting my spoon down.

We stepped out of the inn, the sun casting long shadows on the dirt road as we mounted our horses. Garuda took the lead, his imposing figure steady and quiet, while I rode beside Abhimanya.

I leaned closer to him, lowering my voice. "I don't like him." Abhimanya turned to me, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Oh? And why's that?"

"He's... too calm. Always there but somehow invisible. It's like he wants us to forget he's watching. And yet, I can feel him observing every little thing."

Abhimanya chuckled softly. "That's precisely why I told you to be careful. What you're seeing is just the surface. Once we're in the palace, you'll witness even more amusing characters. Trust me." His words were light, but his expression held a flicker of something deeper something guarded.

"Can you tell me who I can trust in the palace?" I asked. "And who I should be wary of?"

Abhimanya's smile faded slightly, his tone becoming serious. "As I've already told you, there's no one we can fully trust—not even my mother. In the palace, we are on our own."

His words sent a chill through me, concern pooling in my chest. The idea of being surrounded by hidden dangers, with no one to rely on but each other, felt daunting.

Sensing my unease, Abhimanya added, his voice softer now, "Don't worry. Once we're in the palace, you'll understand everything."

I nodded, though his reassurance didn't fully ease the tightness in my chest. "Alright," I said quietly.

The day passed in the rhythm of hooves and idle conversation. We spoke of everything and nothing—our words filling the space between us like a bridge. By evening, the capital of the Uttara Kingdom came into view.

My breath caught as the palace loomed in the distance, a masterpiece of polished white marble that gleamed against the twilight sky. It stood on a raised plateau, as if claiming dominion over the land below. A wide river snaked before it, its flowing waters shimmering in the dying light of the sun. A single bridge arched gracefully over the river, connecting the palace to the bustling city we now entered. "It's magnificent," I murmured, unable to tear my eyes away.

Abhimanya smiled faintly but said nothing, his gaze fixed ahead. As we rode closer, the grandeur of the Uttara Kingdom began to unfold before me, and with it, the weight of the secrets that awaited us.