Royal Wedding (Part 1)

February 22, 2010

The flickering glow of candlelight cast soft shadows along the carved wooden walls of Krishna Deva Raya's study. The room was silent except for the occasional crackle of the fireplace, but his mind was anything but still. He leaned back in his chair, staring at the thick reports laid out before him.

The discovery of gold in Kolar Gold Fields had sent ripples through the highest circles of power. The number of reserves was a carefully guarded secret, and only Krishna Deva Raya and Oasis Mining knew the true extent of it.

His fingers lightly tapped against the polished wooden armrest. Publicly, the discovery must be controlled.

A discreet knock on the door broke his thoughts.

"Enter," Krishna called.

Ramesh Shaw, CEO of Oasis Mining, stepped inside, his face carefully composed but his eyes betraying excitement. He gave a respectful nod before taking a seat across from Krishna.

"Your Highness," he began, "we've conducted another assessment of the site. The initial estimate of 10,000 tons was… conservative. Our secondary survey confirms the veins extend far beyond our original projections."

Krishna remained impassive, though inwardly he was unsurprised. The system had already confirmed the true reserves, but he could not reveal this to anyone else.

"What about security?" he asked.

"We've taken steps to militarize the zone," Ramesh reported. "The police and military have sealed off the area. No unauthorized personnel can enter—especially foreign interests. The Royal Intelligence Service (RIS) and Military Intelligence Service (MIS) are monitoring any foreign activity that might indicate an attempt to infiltrate the region. We've also declared it a restricted zone under direct jurisdiction of the Crown."

Krishna gave a small nod of approval. "Good. Now, let's move forward with the press release."

Ramesh straightened. "Shall we proceed with the official figure of 1,800 tons?"

"Yes," Krishna confirmed. "That's all the world needs to know."

Press Conference – Oasis Mining Headquarters

Bright lights beamed down onto the royal blue stage, where a sleek banner proudly displayed the golden crest of Oasis Mining. Cameras from both domestic and international media locked onto the podium, anticipation thick in the air.

Ramesh Shaw, dressed in a formal black suit, stepped forward.

"We are honored to share some exciting news today," he announced, his voice steady and professional. "Our company, a subsidiary of Oasis Group, has successfully discovered a new gold deposit in Kolar Gold Fields. This site, located near a previously depleted area, holds an estimated 1,800 tons of high-purity gold."

A wave of excitement rippled through the room.

Reporters from Royal TV Network, BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera exchanged hurried whispers, fingers racing over keyboards to break the news.

Global Reaction

Online Forums & Social Media

• @WorldNewsWatcher: "Holy hell! 1,800 tons of high-purity gold?! Vijayanagara is insanely lucky. If Western sanctions ever hit, they'll still be standing strong."

• @EconomicAnalyst: "Not just gold—don't forget the recent discovery of over 1 billion tons of high-quality crude oil. Vijayanagara is sitting on a literal fortune."

• @InvestorCircle: "Vijayanagara's economy is unstoppable. With this much gold and oil, they're poised to become one of the richest nations on the planet."

In Vijayanagara

Across the empire, the streets buzzed with excitement.

• "The Crown Prince owns the company—do you think they'll increase welfare programs for us?"

• "Of course! Didn't he already give every citizen a subsidy last time? The royal family always takes care of us."

The Royal Palace – Dinner with the Family

The aroma of rich, spiced dishes filled the grand dining hall as the royal family gathered for their evening meal. A long sandalwood table, adorned with golden plates and crystal goblets, stretched beneath a towering chandelier.

King Sriranga Deva Raya, regal yet relaxed in a deep maroon tunic, took a sip of honeyed wine as he observed his son across the table. Queen Fulmati Deva Raya, draped in an elegant silk saree, smiled warmly as the servants placed a variety of delicacies before them.

As the meal concluded, Krishna wiped his hands with a silk napkin before speaking.

"Father," he said, his voice steady, "I want the royal family to relinquish 20% of our shares in Royal Petroleum Company to the government—at the price of one Varaha."

The room fell silent.

King Sriranga set down his goblet, studying his son carefully. "To what end?"

Krishna leaned forward. "With this, we can increase national welfare programs, raise the standard of living, and ensure the people's loyalty. If the citizens prosper, the throne remains unshakable. No one will dare betray the royal family."

The king remained deep in thought, his fingers tracing the rim of his cup.

He exhaled slowly, his expression firm. "With this much wealth, foreign powers will attempt to divide our people—to exploit us. If we do not act wisely, greed will corrode our unity."

He met Krishna's gaze.

"No matter what you choose, I will support you," he declared. "You are the future king. It is your duty to safeguard both the throne and the people."

Krishna inclined his head. "Thank you, Father."

A glint of determination flashed in his eyes. This would be announced during his wedding.

As the conversation shifted, Queen Fulmati sighed dramatically.

"Krishna," she chided, "your wedding is just three days away. Must you bury yourself in work?"

Krishna gave a sheepish smile. "Mother, there are still matters to settle."

She waved her hand dismissively. "Enough of that. Your in-laws arrive tomorrow, and then we will all travel to Padmanabhaswamy Temple for the wedding."

Krishna nodded. "Understood, Ma. I'll focus on the wedding now."

Queen Fulmati clasped her hands together. "One more thing—I want free meals provided to every citizen, tourist, and foreign worker in Vijayanagara in honor of your wedding."

King Sriranga nodded in approval. "I will have the Royal Investment Bureau handle it. Every food service company in the country will be compensated by the royal family."

Krishna smiled. "That would be wonderful."

His father then turned serious. "One last thing—have you ensured the security arrangements?"

Krishna straightened. "Yes. The Prime Minister of India, President of Russia, and leaders from across Asia will attend. The Middle Eastern royal families have also confirmed, while Europe and the US will send delegations."

Sriranga's eyes sharpened. "Then make sure security is airtight. The Royal Intelligence Service (RIS) and Military Intelligence Service (MIS) will monitor for any external threats, while the military, police, palace guards, and the Armed Forces Special Branch will secure the event."

"I've also assigned half of my Agni Special Forces to be on standby," Krishna assured him.

Sriranga nodded, satisfied. "Good. I do not want any incident that would tarnish our nation's name."

Krishna's jaw tightened in agreement. "I'll ensure everything is perfect."

As the meeting concluded, Krishna retired to his chambers, mind still calculating the days ahead.

The gold discovery, the wedding, the world watching Vijayanagara rise—the pieces were all in place.

And he would ensure that nothing—nothing—disrupted his plans.