Ch-21: Revelations of an Inventor

Karnasagar's storytelling continued, drawing the Queen and the Princess deeper into the captivating narrative.

"When I first laid eyes on him again," Karnasagar began, "it was at the blacksmith's workshop. He entered with a companion, a friend of his, and confidently ordered custom-made wheels he referred to as 'pulleys'."

His words conjured a vivid scene in the minds of his listeners. They could almost hear the rhythmic clang of hammer on anvil and feel the heat of the forge.

Vijay's presence, in the midst of such an industrious setting, was incongruous yet undeniably intriguing. As he discussed his peculiar request with the blacksmith, the friend he'd brought along observed the proceedings with keen interest.

The Princess, her curiosity now piqued to its zenith, leaned forward, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. "What is a pulley?" she asked, eager to learn more about the mysterious invention.

The Queen, her maternal instincts entwined with a genuine fascination for knowledge, added her own inquiry. "Indeed, what purpose does this contraption serve?"

With a sly grin, he responded to their queries by saying, "Patience, dear ones. Allow me to continue."

Karnasagar leaned in, his eyes reflecting the excitement of his tale, as the Queen and Princess hung on to his every word. He continued, "As I watched Vijay order the creation of these pulleys, it became apparent that this endeavor was no child's play. The blacksmiths informed him that crafting these intricate devices would take several days."

Queen Kamala nodded, her understanding of the labor-intensive process evident. "Indeed, refining iron is a task that requires time, precision, and dedication," she remarked.

He continued "As I was going to leave the workshop Vijay suddenly ordered for a paper and started designing something. My interest piqued and started following them".

Princess Kundavai, her curiosity now fully awakened, inquired, "But Uncle, what made you follow Vijay? Was it mere curiosity or something else?"

Karnasagar chuckled softly before responding, "Curiosity, yes, but more than that, it was the audacity of a young boy, claiming that his invention could hasten the iron refining process. I believed it to be a youthful exaggeration, something not to be taken seriously. Little did I know that this boy held secrets that would astonish us all."

The Queen leaned forward, her interest deepening. "And what did you discover, Karnasagar?"

He smiled mysteriously, relishing the suspense he was building. "My dear Queen, my dear Princess, all in good time. Allow me to continue my tale, and you shall soon learn of the remarkable journey that unfolded."

Karnasagar's eyes gleamed with excitement as he continued his story, painting a vivid picture of the workshop where innovation was taking place. He described the contraption that Vijay and his friend were constructing, an enigma even to the experienced commander. The Queen and Princess listened intently, their imaginations stirred.

"And then," Karnasagar declared, his voice holding a hint of disbelief, "the unimaginable happened. That unassuming contraption... it actually worked! In mere minutes, it produced a quantity of molten iron that would typically require an entire month to achieve using conventional methods."

The Queen's breath caught in her throat, and her eyes widened in shock. Beside her, Princess Kundavai sat frozen, her youthful curiosity overshadowed by sheer astonishment. Karnasagar savored the silence that followed, relishing the impact of his revelation.

Finally, Queen Kamala found her voice, her disbelief evident. "Are you telling me that this boy, this commoner, has discovered a way to revolutionize iron production? To yield in minutes what we've been laboring over for a month?"

Karnasagar nodded solemnly. "Yes, Your Majesty, it appears so. Vijay's invention, his machine, has the potential to transform our kingdom's industry and economy. I've witnessed it with my own eyes; there's no denying its power."

The Queen's thoughts raced, grappling with the implications of this newfound knowledge. It was a momentous revelation, one that could reshape the future of their realm.

Meanwhile, the Princess, still processing the astounding information, looked at Karnasagar with a mix of wonder and reverence. For the first time, she was confronted with the idea that innovation could be a force capable of altering the course of history.

As the weight of Karnasagar's words settled upon them, the room seemed to hum with the promise of change and the unknown challenges that lay ahead.

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Karnasagar's narrative flowed like a river in full spate, every detail and event rushing past in his breathless account. He described how the villagers had initially greeted Vijay's pulley idea with skepticism, unsure if it was too good to be true. The Queen and her daughter, their minds captivated by the story, listened intently, afraid to miss a single nuance.

With a final exhalation, Karnasagar concluded his tale, leaving the Queen and Princess hanging on the precipice of the unknown. The room echoed with the weight of what had just been revealed. The Queen, with a furrowed brow, contemplated the implications of Vijay's innovation. The Queen realized the potential danger that Vijay's inventions could pose to the Mantri and the established order of the kingdom but also the immense help it will cause during war.

Meanwhile, Princess Kundavai sat enraptured, her eyes filled with wonder and fascination. The world of Vigyan had always been her passion which she always felt not achievable by her, and here was a tale of innovation that surpassed her wildest dreams.

As Karnasagar excused himself to form a team to apprehend the traitors, the Queen's gaze lingered on her daughter. She saw the fire of curiosity burning in Kundavai's eyes, an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and innovation.

Hidden behind her regal façade, a sly smile graced Queen Kamala's lips. She had a plan, and no one knows anything about it, to her, it was as if fate had delivered the boy in these trying times. The future held promises of both intrigue and transformation, and the Queen was ready to navigate it with cunning and finesse.