DISCIPLINE

Next day, Anugraha was waiting for Abhitha at his usual spot. A woman in Crimson red flowy saree and dazzling head to toe in Gold jewellery walked towards him, it was Abhitha.

"Good morning, your highness" Abhitha said with a head bow.

"You weren't this polite yesterday" Anugraha mocked.

"I've always been polite" Abhitha said in all sincerity.

"You sure do know how to lie, now let's go out for some fresh air" Anugraha walked forward expecting Abhitha to follow. Instead he felt a hand at the back of his collar causing him to stumble backwards.

"I'm afraid we cannot do that, your highness"

"What do you mean and why are you holding me be my collar? Weren't you claiming, you're always polite just a moment ago?" Anugraha complained.

"Your father has given me orders to drag you to training, I cannot defy him. Now let's go" she dragged him towards the training grounds.

What is this strength!? How is this dainty looking woman this strong!?

"Why am I always being dragged!? First by Siyaansh and now you, how am I the prince if I'm being treated this way!? Just let go off me, I can walk on my own!" Anugraha protested.

"Don't even think of escaping, your highness because I've been ordered to be as strict as possible" Abhitha warned

"Okay, I promise I won't. Just let go" Hearing this Abhitha let go off his collar and walked forward and Anugraha followed behind.

During the training, Abhitha noticed it's not that the prince lacked talent and was incapable. It was mostly, the prince being sluggish and running off from any hard work.

"He's not bad, is he?" Siyaansh who was watching Abhitha intensely studying Anugraha spoke.

"His movements are precise and his agility is great. I was expecting him to be total good for nothing"

Siyaansh chuckled "Shouldn't you be more careful. I'm close to the prince, you know?"

"I said that to his face yesterday"

"Right, you did hahaha"

----

Anugraha who was practicing for a while now finally decided to take a break. He placed his sword in it's sheath and walked towards the pair.

"Tired already?" Siyaansh asked

"Just taking a short break" Anugraha ploped on the ground, his breathing was still uneven and he had a thin layer of sweat on his skin.

"What were you two talking about anyway? I saw you staring at me, were you bad mouthing me by any chance?"

"What do you think?" Siyaansh

"...you most definitely were"

"Blame yourself for having so many criticism worthy qualities" Anugraha gave him a glare and Siyaansh chuckled.

"You're not half bad, that's what we were discussing" Abhitha chimed in.

"Ofc, did you think I was completely useless? I've been practicing swordsmanship since I was just 10, I just need a little refining, that's all" he spoke with confidence.

"Take it more seriously from now on" Abhitha

"I'm doing it right now, am I not?

"...."

-----

Since that day, Anugraha seriously focused on training thanks to Abhitha's threat of telling The King. It had been few weeks and he had showed almost unbelievable progress further solidifying Abhitha's theory of The prince being talented but lazy.

After a tiring day, both Anugraha and Abhitha decided to return to their respective rooms. Sun had already began to set, giving a colourfull display of red and orange. Guest chambers, were just a little ahead of the prince's residence so they both walked together like they always did.

"I'll take my leave now, have a good evening" Abhitha gave her farewell.

"Wait! Accompany me for a meal"

Abhitha looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"I just don't like eating alone. Just sit along side me, that's all"

The prince had never made such a request during all this days so Abhitha was little taken aback. After contemplating for a moment, she agreed,

"Fine but I'm not hungry so I won't be eating"

"Alright"

He asked one of the servants to serve him a meal and they both went into his residence.

This was the first time Abhitha stepped inside the prince's residence. The place was spacious and had two rooms. The hall they were sitting in and the bed chamber. Every corner of the room was filled with expensive decor and rare items. Abhitha was from a noble family so she wasn't unfamiliar with luxury yet this was on another level.

Soon the servant arrived with the meal and set it up on the small square stool before leaving the two alone.

"You sure you won't be eating? You must be tired with all the training "

"I'm fine"

"If you say so" he took a bite and continued

"Do you even know how to smile? Are all the people from Raktapadma like this?"

During her stay here, excluding the polite grins, she hasn't smiled once.

"What kind of question is that?" She asked with an unpleasant look.

"Forget about that, why do you always wear red? Do you like red that much?" He asked out of genuine curiosity.

"It's a family tradition" she answered without giving any further elaboration.

Raktapadma, the birth town of Advaya sect was well known for it's lakes filled with red lotuses. Advaya sect was well respected and in some aspects, operator of the town. Since they started practicing spirituality, they decided to create some distinction from the common folks, announcing red that resembled the red lotuses as their official colour and everyone in the town respected that.

"..." He nodded in understanding.

That's it?

"I seriously don't get it, how can you keep a straight face when I'm sitting right infront you giving you all my attention. I'm pretty well known for having a striking appearance, you know?"

"I don't get swayed by trivial things such as this"she said with her usual stoic demeanor.

"Is that so?"

He suddenly leaned forward catching her off-guard. She moved her head back slightly but he stopped just as their faces were infront of eachother.

"How about now? Do you still not feeling anything?" He said with a sly smile.

Their eyes met for a few seconds and for some reason her heart beat quickened, she immediately looked away.

What just happened?

"How can a prince be this frivolous, it's unbelievable"

During her stay, Abhitha noticed that the prince had a habit of shamelessy flirting with the young maidens in the city. A habit she despised. And right now he doing just that.

"It's a part of my charm" he said with pride.

"Charm, my foot. Ridiculous is what I'd describe that" she exasperated.

Anugraha was satisfied, atleast she showed some real expression instead of a straight face even if it was out of annoyance.

"It definitely affected you" He teased

"It did not.... I'm leaving" She abruptly got up.

"You can't, sit back down"

"What makes you think, you can order me around?"

"I'm the one with authority here, you work for me remember?"

She huffed in disbelief and sat back again.

"Seems like you've got a few things wrong, your highness. You think my sect send me here to work under you? My sect doesn't take up trivial tasks as protecting some spoiled Prince. It was your father who requested us to send someone to protect you since their were speculations of Udichi conspiring against Yamaya and you being the only heir made you vulnerable to assassination attempts. My sect is doing you a favour, you understand?"

Assassination!?

For the whole time Anugraha was kept in the dark, he wondered why his father suddenly started caring so much for his safety. Now it all made sense.

"....I didn't mean to offend you or disrespect your sect, I wasn't aware of this whole situation"

"Now you know, so refrain from making such comments"

He gave an affirmative nod. Then she got up again, did her farewell and left leaving the prince alone to cope with this new piece of information.