Rewari Kingdom, Inner Pace of Bawal, Evening of 14th March 1557

  "Your Highness? It's almost time." A cautious voice roused Aditya from his slumber.

  Blinking his eyes, Aditya sat on his bed while stretching his limbs. He saw his new royal guard, Rudra Singh Chauhan, a muscur and toned build , but with an unwavering attitude and an expectant gaze.

  He inquired, squinting his eyes, "So, Rudra, what time is it?"

  Rudra replied, "It's almost time for sunset. I'm here to remind you of the evening court meeting."

  Aditya sighed internally, realizing this wasn't modern-day Earth where he could simply check a clock for the time. He mused about inventing a portable clock but was then distracted by his conversation with the Portuguese envoy, Diego, who had asked him about transtions. He contempted whether kidnapping a Portuguese would solve the problems or if he should start from scratch.

  As these thoughts swirled in his mind, he rubbed his forehead to concentrate on pressing matters. Recently, it had been a heavy burden, and he missed his chubby friend Bheem for his light hearted pranks and reliable support.

  Then Rudra's voice sounded like an angel to him. "Your Highness, do you need me for anything?"

  Aditya, still shaking off his drowsiness, leaned forward. "How many forces were under your command? Tell me about your experience in previous battles."

  Rudra replied with a straight posture, "I have commanded a division of 10,000 soldiers and have even been trained to handle cavalry operations as well, Your Highness."

  Aditya was impressed. No doubt, with his posture and no-nonsense demeanor, he looked perfect for the job, but could he do it? He asked after a bit of contemption, "So, Rudra, to whom do you pledge your loyalty?"

  Rudra clenched his fist to his chest and saluted with a slight bow. "For the Samrajya, for our Samrat, and under his orders, now it's you, my Prince."

  Aditya gave him the prepared parchment to look at. Noticing Rudra's curious but non-hesitant demeanor, he felt a flicker of hope.

  Rudra was very impressed by the contents, but there were many things that weren't clear. He waited for the Prince for further instructions.

  Aditya asked, crossing his fingers, "This is the draft that I need the king to pass as a royal decree. Given our strained retions, I don't want the king's mood to affect this pn. So tell me, if I assign you to get it passed, can you do it?"

  Rudra replied without a second thought, "Give me orders, Your highness. I will see it done."

  Aditya leaned forward and inquired one st time, "This won't be easy, Rudra. You might need to pull the king's ears. Are you sure you can do it?"

  Rudra replied with unwavering eyes, "Command me, Prince. I'll do whatever it takes, even if it means pulling everyone's ears."

  Aditya raised an eyebrow at Rudra's informal tone. He couldn't help but feel amused, as Rudra was the perfect guy he needed to send a message to the king. He patted him and helped expin everything that was needed. He told him to collect the imperial coin as a token of his presence from Hari Singh and attend the king's court, then report to him ter in Khera vilge.

  Once Rudra left with the parchment, Aditya noticed a bad odor. After trying his colr, he realized it was his sweat, as he hadn't bathed and had slept directly. It was disgusting. First of all, he needed a damned good soap, but for now, he would have to work with the herbal paste of neem and tulsi. After changing his clothes, he hurried to the bathroom chambers.

  Once he had finished cleaning himself, Aditya made his way directly to the royal kitchen to satisfy his hunger. After a hearty meal, he set off for the vilge of Khera, accompanied by his personally chosen 300 cavalry.

  By the time he arrived the outskirts of vilge, the sun had already dipped below the horizon, and dusk had prevailed. The vilge ndscape was illuminated with mps and torches.

  As Aditya approached, he was greeted by the familiar faces of elite guards stationed at the new vilge entrance. They saluted him respectfully and cleared the way. He signaled for his cavalry to stay outside and proceeded alone into the vilge premises.

  A small girl, pying with sticks and pebbles near the entrance, looked up in surprise at his arrival. With wide eyes, she ran into the vilge, shouting,

  "The prince has come!"

  "The prince has come!"

  The vilge crowd flocked to welcome him. Amidst the flickering torches, their faces were lit with joy. Unlike his first visit, the atmosphere was lively. Everyone was delighted, and he was welcomed by the crowd of vilgers who had accepted him as their true savior.

  Soon, Havildar Brijesh, who looked more lively than before, saluted him and escorted him to the Kisan sahayak karyay (Farmers welfare Office). The elite guards formed a human barricade to allow Aditya to pass.

  Aditya took in the sight of the vilge, which appeared renewed and revitalized. Although the houses were not constructed of cement, they were rger and more thoughtfully arranged. Pnned roads and proper drainage were evident, and he even spotted the public toilets that had been built as per his instructions at key points along the alleys.

  As he made his way to the vilge square, Aditya marveled at the vilge's growth. The extra houses he had ordered were now home to new residents from nearby vilges. Despite the crowd that had gathered to welcome him, he noticed the empty stalls that might have been bustling before his arrival. The sight filled him with a sense of accomplishment.

  With a formal wave and a few acknowledgments, Aditya dismissed the crowd and entered the office.

  Upon reaching the office, he found it better furnished and polished. The craftsmen had taken great care in preparing the furniture and ensuring the space met the standards for temporary royal stays. Visitors would be comfortable here, with every provision thoughtfully arranged.

  Madhav Joshi, the newly elected Sarpanch (vilge chief), and the young police guard chief, Bu, rushed forward to greet him. They enthusiastically updated Aditya on the vilge's progress. He was pleased to learn that five nearby vilges had merged into Khera, raising the popution from 160 to 890. The vilge had blossomed into a bustling trading hub, with merchants from the fort city regurly visiting to buy goods at lower prices.

  The police militia had expanded to 60 members, with additional recruits still training with crossbows. Thanks to the diligent efforts of both the elite guards and the police militia, crime had become nearly nonexistent. Meanwhile, construction continued at the open space beyond the vilge's residential borders, signaling further growth.

  Aditya was genuinely impressed by the test developments. He noted that he would reward the elite guards for their dedication and consider recruiting skilled individuals from them into his mercenary army. However, he knew there was an important opportunity at hand that required his immediate attention.

  Looking at Madhav Joshi, Aditya inquired, "Sarpanch, do we have any prominent local merchants here? I have some business to discuss with them."

  Sarpanch Madhav looked puzzled and turned to Police Guard Chief Bu for answers. Bu stepped forward and said, "Apologies for the intrusion, Your Highness. The Sarpanch hasn't had much time to interact with newcomers, and given the security concerns, I'm more familiar with the local merchants."

  Aditya nodded, prompting Bu to continue, "There are thirteen local merchants in the vilge. Out of them, five are particurly prominent."

  Intrigued by the growth in the business sector, Aditya ordered an urgent meeting with the prominent merchants. He also instructed Madhav to prepare a list of requirements for the manufacturing of a new product that would enhance and simplify vilge life.

  As Bu went to summon the merchants, Sarpanch Madhav asked for time till next day to make necessary arrangements. Aditya took the moment of respite on his seat.

  Soon, the five merchants arrived at the Farmer Relief Office, ready for their meeting.

  Aditya greeted them warmly and gestured to the stools set before them. "Thank you for coming, gentlemen. I'm pleased to meet with you today. I have a proposal that could benefit all of us."

  The merchants took their seats, with curious expressions.

  Merchant 1, gncing around nervously, spoke first. "We're here as summoned, Prince. What is it you need from us?"

  Aditya leaned forward slightly, his tone earnest. "I've heard that you are well-connected merchants. I am impressed and would like you to consider becoming agents for my Hindshakti company. You would sell a new product directly to the vilgers through your established channels. There's a substantial profit to be made."

  Merchant 2 frowned in concern. "Selling a new product? Your Highness, that's quite a challenge. People are often hesitant to try something new. How can we be certain this will work?"

  Aditya, maintaining a reassuring tone, replied, "Consider the advantage. I'm confident in the product's effectiveness. You will have an exclusive market, and before others catch on, you'll gain recognition as the leading sellers of this new item."

  The merchants were divided in their reactions. Some were excited by the prospect of gaining a monopoly, while others were skeptical, concerned about the risks of dealing with royalty and potential losses.

  Aditya, sensing their hesitation, reassured them. "Don't worry. You won't need to invest anything upfront. You'll only use your channels to sell the product. To mitigate risk, you can set your own margins while adhering to my base price. I chose you because of your connections, and I want to give you the first opportunity."

  Merchant 3, still curious yet skeptical, asked, "What exactly is the product? We need more details before making any decisions."

  Aditya smiled slightly. "The product is a new type of cleansing agent that cleans effectively and leaves a pleasant fragrance, simplifying traditional methods that can be cumbersome. I call it Soap."

  Merchant 5 raised an eyebrow. "Soap? That's quite different. Can we see it now?"

  Aditya, slightly embarrassed, admitted, "I'm afraid I can't show you the product tonight. I need time to finalize the arrangements. It will be ready by tomorrow."

  Merchant 1 sighed and said, "Your Highness, if that's the case, I must decline. Business is challenging, and I'm not ready to take on a new venture."

  Merchant 2 nodded in agreement. "New products can be a burden, and people are often resistant to change. If it's not mandatory, I'd prefer to excuse myself."

  Aditya nodded understandingly. "I appreciate your honesty. You're welcome to leave if you're not interested. Thank you for considering my proposal."

  Merchant 3 stood up also and said, "I'm grateful for the opportunity, Your Highness, but I'm not confident about this venture either. I'll have to decline."

  However, two merchants remained. Aditya looked at them with hopeful anticipation. The remaining two introduced themselves as Tulsiram and Harsh.

  Tulsiram smiled warmly. "I've heard of your reputation, Your Highness, and I believe in your vision. It would be a pleasure to do business with you."

  Harsh added, "I grew up in this vilge and returned after hearing about its rehabilitation. I'm impressed by the growth and want to contribute to your efforts, Prince."

  Aditya expressed his gratitude. "I'm thankful for your willingness, Tulsiram and Harsh. You'll be valuable assets. I promise to offer more opportunities in the future. Please come by tomorrow evening to see the product."

  Both merchants agreed and left the office. Shortly after, Bu asked if the meeting had been helpful. Aditya thanked him and requested arrangements for his stay that night.

  As Bu left, Aditya stepped outside the office and scanned the bustling market square with hopeful interest that can open his route to making more money.