As the matters of w and order regarding the kingdom is settled, prince Aditya returned to his seat while the king ordered his chief minister for addressing the next agenda.

  "Now, let us address the matter of our military capabilities and the possibility of sending reinforcements as per the imperial directives," Bharadwaj began, turning to the assembly with a serious expression.

  He motioned for the internal minister, Kartar Singh, who stepped forward with a fresh stack of reports. Kartar Singh handed them to Bharadwaj, who gnced at the documents and, clearing his throat, began to speak with urgency.

  "Esteemed members of the court, as you are aware, despite our recent victory over the rebels, the situation in the newly acquired region remains votile. Our forces have been heavily engaged in maintaining w and order, and there have been numerous riots, particurly along the western border. These disturbances have required a substantial deployment of troops and resources."

  Chief minister Bharadwaj paused to let the gravity of the situation sink in before continuing. "The unrest has significantly strained our military capabilities. Given the ongoing turmoil within our own kingdom, we are hesitant to commit additional forces to external engagements. Our primary concern must be the stability and security of our own territory."

  He looked towards Prince Aditya and addressed him directly. "Under these circumstances, we regret to inform you that while we can provide some support, we are unable to send a rge contingent of reinforcements. However, we are prepared to dispatch 2000 soldiers for infantry and crucial artillery from the cannon factory, which is the main jewel of our empire. This would allow us to support your efforts with essential firepower while maintaining our commitment to internal security."

  The assembly listened intently as the weight of the decision cleared on their faces. The courtier members especially delegates exchanged concerned gnces.

  The murmurs in the court died down as Chief Minister Bharadwaj concluded his report.

  Prince Aditya, who had been observing intently, smirked as he stood up once more. His gaze swept across the assembly before focusing on the Chief Minister.

  "Esteemed Chief Minister Bharadwaj, I understand and sympathize with the kingdom's current predicament. However, as an Empire's representative, I must inquire what measures have been taken to address and resolve these issues within the troubled region?"

  Bharadwaj shifted his gaze briefly to the report in his hand before responding.

  "We have acted promptly, Imperial prince. Based on the survivors' accounts, we have tracked down the assaints as thoroughly as possible and have apprehended them, pcing them in the dungeons."

  He continued,

  "It is evident that there is significant unrest among the communities, particurly originating from the recent arrest of Shadi Khan and the subsequent manipution by rebels for their own agenda. This has deteriorated the situation and fueled further discontent. We suspect that foreign powers might be involved in some capacity, but our intervention with the army has managed to re-establish a degree of control over the region."

  Prince Aditya shook his head, saying, "The recent actions taken were commendable, but missed the core issue. The spies who sabotaged the gunpowder storage and rendered the cannons useless were overlooked." He gestured to his butler, Hari Singh, who handed over a report.

  Aditya continued, "Further investigation traced the problem to certain madrasas where influential maulvis, bribed by the Mughals, incited violence and disrupted communal harmony. We arrested these maulvis, and some under our protection admitted their involvement in the sabotage. I am handing over the report to you now."

  The court gasped as Aditya handed the scrolls to Chief Minister Bharadwaj. Topics involving muslims were always sensitive, as riots or discontent for the rule would often break out with the slightest displeasure, which were used as a pretext for war by other muslim rulers.

  He continued, "Upon searching the homes of the accused, we found credible evidence of their involvement. Their houses were burned, and their belongings were donated to the victims to win public support. We have also rewarded the maulvis who supported our cause. Peace and harmony are now more stable.

  Additionally, I urge His Majesty to formally recognize and reward these loyal maulvis to send a clear message to society that we take care of our dedicated subjects."

  The court struggled to believe the gravity of the situation. Fortunately, the empire they supported is non-Ismic. Chief Minister Bharadwaj, gncing at the report, asked, "Where are these maulvis now?"

  Aditya replied, "The operation is ongoing. They are under our protection and will remain in custody until the matter is settled. "

  A military official stood up, inquiring, "Your Highness, given how vulnerable we are with these madrasas that can turn common people into spies or even terrorists, should we ban them?"

  A hush fell over the room. They could sense the chaos already brewing. Aditya responded, "Banning madrasas will not solve the problem. Not all madrasas or their followers are against the kingdom. Such a move could foster discontent and further divide our people."

  King Rao Todar Mal asked, "You have other ideas to solve it peacefully?"

  Aditya replied, "The problem lies with unreguted madrasas. This reflects a broader issue: any unreguted institution, be it madrasas or gurukuls, can become problematic if not properly monitored. While some may argue that gurukuls are not such institutions, history has shown that even respected figures like Chanakya have overthrown empires when their interests were not met."

  There was a stir among the courtiers at the mention of gurukuls. Most of the gurukuls were based on temple economy and were outside the authority of the kingdom, and hence the associates, be it nobles or higher caste brahmins, enjoyed a sense of privilege and influence in matters of their self-interest. The sudden turn of events on their turf made many uncomfortable. King Rao Todar Mal silenced them and asked Aditya if for more suggestions, as he was genuinely worried by the revetions.

  Aditya said, "The empire has initiated a scheme for basic education through schools, but it cks support from the schors of the gurukuls. I propose promoting a system of schools where all civilians study together, regardless of community barriers, under the kingdom's regution. This education should be conducted in the Devanagari script to prevent misguidance by self-procimed schors. Additionally, strict regutions should be implemented to monitor all institutions. This approach will help maintain communal harmony."

  The courtiers murmured among themselves, debating the merits of the proposal. Acharya Sukhdev Agnihotri objected, "I object to the suggestions made by the Imperial Prince," but was cut off by the King.

  King Rao Todar Mal reprimanded him, "We just faced near elimination from the rebels. As a king, I must ensure that such events shall not occur in the future. The regime must be greater than religion, as it provides shelter and security for all."

  He continued, "Given the complexity of the matter, a pn will be devised by the council, involving Prince Aditya. We will implement a parallel school system alongside reguted education. This matter will be discussed again in seven days."

  The crowd murmured in approval, though some, like Acharya Sukhdev, struggled to accept the decision, their faces reflecting their dissatisfaction.

  As the court settled into a focused discussion on military matters, Prince Aditya took the floor to emphasize the crucial role of the empire's support for the kingdom. He stressed that substantial contributions from the empire were vital for maintaining the kingdom's status and influence among the other member states. Aditya argued that, given the current situation, the kingdom should send not only essential reinforcements but also cavalry to strengthen their position.

  After some debate and deliberation, the court agreed to dispatch 5,000 cavalry and 3,000 infantry as being part of Western Corps of empire to Amber Kingdom. The king announced that these reinforcements would be sent the morning after the next day. During the proceedings, King Tejpal Singh requested permission to have his troops cross the border to his home kingdom, Amber, a request that King Rao Todar Mal readily accepted. In a surprising turn, Baljit Singh of punjab also offered to lend his forces, citing a sense of duty as a member state to support Amber, even though his forces were not part of the same corps. This gesture lightened the mood in the court and highlighted the spirit of solidarity among the member kingdoms.

  To conclude the session, the king announced a banquet to be held on the night of the seventh day of court proceedings. The banquet would be organized to bid farewell to those delegates who intended stay till then for their conribution of saving the kingdom.

  With the decision made and the arrangements set, the court was adjourned.

  After the court meeting, Aditya personally escorted Princess Meenakshi to her room. Throughout the journey, he praised her, acknowledging that her help in arranging the reports and settling the financial accounts was crucial for preparing his own report.

  Princess Meenakshi was pleasantly surprised by his demeanor. While he had been intensely serious and knowledgably about the court matters, his humble appreciation for her work was both unusual and heartwarming. She appreciated his personal touch in escorting her to her room, which could have been done by another royal guard.

  As they reached her door, Aditya said with genuine interest, "I hope the princess will forgive me for any inconvenience today. I would be honored if you joined me tomorrow for a journey through the kingdom's vilges, where I pn to conduct a survey."

  With a pyful smile, Princess Meenakshi replied, "It's all right, Prince. We are in agreement. I will definitely stick with you, not giving you a chance to escape instead."

  Aditya, momentarily distracted by the day's events, recalled, "There was something you mentioned earlier, but it slipped my mind. Could you remind me what it was?"

  Meenakshi's face flushed slightly as she turned her gaze away and said, "It's getting te, Prince. We can discuss it another day."

  Aditya, puzzled but respectful of her wish, took his leave and bade her farewell.

  As he walked away, Meenakshi watched his broad figure retreating down the corridor, wondering if this agreement would indeed bind him to her mission or if it might be her own heart that will get trapped instead.