Sriya_Saar

Wondering where this life will take her, she embraced her destiny for duty and honor. Life is short and unpredictable, things will never go the way you want them too. Sometimes you become part of bigger plans. 
Shakti Shah has just realized she is not the daughter Colonel Shah and his wife, as if it would not be shocking enough now she has been declared the Princess Royal of Kaivalya kingdom. 
Raised in a military family with patriotic morals and bound to the royal family by birth she is ready to face the tides of politics, war and marriages to do whatever it takes to safeguard her two families and the people of her nation. 
Even marrying into the powerful Nirvana empire and signing her life and dreams away. The trouble is her to-be-husband, who is notorious for his iron rule and unbending ruthlessness in securing what he wants. 

But as the fate would have it, the bridegroom's party has their own matters to handle. A last minute decision in the Nirvanian delegation can change Shakti's destiny, and her husband. 

What has Fate written in her cards?

Embracing You As You

Winter has just passed but chill remains in the air. The bridal wagon is wading through the bustling city towards the Central Arena where the main events would have started already. I can see children waving towards the wagon and their curious gazes. The city is bustling with happiness, people are smiling after years of trepidation and misery, it is a culmination of their tough times. Only good things are ahead, for them.

'We will reach in 10 minutes' Miss Matilda declares. After nodding in approval the bodyguards start scanning the surroundings through the window. Why are they here, do they think I will run away? Haha! That too in all this white tulle suffocating me, that will be some headlines tomorrow.

"Bride ran away with metres of white trail sweeping the central arena" I giggled.

Miss Matilda looks at me with apprehension and I can see the bodyguard getting alert.

Huh! So they are really here for stopping my escape.

They worry for nothing, I promised His majesty I will go through this wedding so I will. My father taught me from when I was young that a warrior would never back away from the challenge world has bestowed to him. As his daughter, I will take forward the legacy of Shahs to new heights. If not on the battlefield, let it be in spirit on my way to the marriage I am doomed to have.

Any other day, I would have been happy and excited for this much awaited day of the Kaivites. The beloved Princess of Kaivalya will be married today, and her marriage will secure our kingdom's trade, security, wealth and honor. I would have joined in the festivities with my academy friends and eaten good food, would have gulped a good amount of beer. Not today though.

Today I will be married off to Nirvana empire's king History majesty Satyaki Baan Yaudheya.

I have seen him from afar once, during our academy days when the he came to Kaivalya for diplomatic reasons. I was 16 then and Yaudheya king was already 23. Now I am 21 and he is 28, a match destined by fates and forced by geopolitics.

I hope nothing for myself other than some respect and space. I definitely wish our alliance can counter the Bharmaur threat looming on Kaivalya. Bharmour empire is bigger and vicious in their plans to capture small kingdoms. We Kaivites can hold on for only some years till the inevitable happens.

In recent years, the kingdom has suffered from the avalanche in the north and rivers have flooded and destroyed the crops regularly. This has put the kingdom in a need for external help and rescue. Bharmour has taken advantage of the issue and suspended the trade routes, cancelling our supplies from the Northern plains.

Now the Nirvana empire can help us but they want assurance and what can be better than giving away the royal daughter to the rake of Yaudheyas.

'We have reached.' Miss Matilda announces. Suddenly my heart is drumming and my feet feel light. It's here now. My verdict.

I gather my breaths and take a shaky sigh releases through my lips. For the first time I can see pity in Miss Matilda's eyes.

I smile weakly, stand up and the door opens. A loud cheer from the happy crowd pierces my heart, my first foot touches the ground and I tell myself.

Epilogue