Chapter 104: The Orchestrator

Almost a month ago.

It was a fine morning in the Royal Palace. The sparrows chirping and the sweet smell of freshly blooming flowers were in the air.

The palace staff were doing their work as usual, moving material and smoke billowing through the palace kitchens. The delicious smell of food was floating through the palace. They were watering the plants.

The Emperor, Krishna Deva Raya, was walking through the hallways to spend time with his eldest daughter, Lakshmi Deva Raya. He was always busy due to the piling work of the empire.

He could rarely spend time with his children and concubines. His daughter Lakshmi always made a schedule to spend time with him every month. So he usually gets notified of the time beforehand.

It was like a tradition that went on for many years. It became a part of Krishna Deva Raya's routine now to meet his daughter every month without fail.

He finally reached the garden that Lakshmi tended. She personally cared for the small garden. It was the place she always chose for spending time.

The garden was planted with many exotic flowers. He entered the garden and found Lakshmi already awaiting his arrival with some snacks and tea. Beside her was her personal maid.

Seeing him arrive. Lakshmi's face lit up with excitement, and she got up to greet him.

"Good morning, Father!" She came up running to him, tugging away at his arm.

"Good Morning!" He replied, patting her head with affection.

"I prepared some new snacks for you, Father." She said, pulling him to the small arrangement to sit and talk in the garden.

It was a small garden pavilion. A steaming pot of tea was kept on the wooden table, and various snacks were neatly arranged on the table.

Krishna Deva Raya settled into his seat. He looked up at the guard who followed him to the garden.

"You may leave. Come back in an hour." He dismissed the guards.

The maid also left along with the guards, giving them the privacy to talk alone.

Lakshmi poured tea into a ceramic cup.

"Here, Father. Have some tea. It works well for fatigue."

She also pushed the neatly arranged snacks to his side.

"I made these, father. Please try them."

He took a sip of the tea and had some snacks prepared by Lakshmi

"This has a refreshing test. Not too sweet. Just the right amount."

"I tried my best, Father. Since you didn't like too much sugar. I made this a bit less sweet just for you." She said it with a smile.

"So. What have you been up to? Lakshmi!"

"I traveled to the ports and had some great chats with some Europeans!"

"Hooo Europeans!, which ports?"

"Goa and Machilipatnam. I spoke to some Spanish and Dutch noble ladies visiting the Empire."

"I see. Did you have fun?"

"Yes, Father. We talked about various clothes and jewelry. Although it was awkward at first. But we quickly became friends!"

"That's great!."

Lakshmi was a bright child. She always loved to travel and explore. Since she was not interested in the throne much from a young age. Lakshmi went around the empire most of the time and helped him to address issues occasionally that she found out on her travels.

"Father, The roads that Harsha made were exceptional. Usually it takes so much more time to reach Goa. Now it just takes half the time to reach Goa from Machilipatnam."

"I also have heard about it!" He smiled.

"He has changed a lot after that battle in Gulbarga! At least it's for the good."

"Yeah. But he has become cold to me! " She said pouting.

He patted his daughter's head again.

"He is probably overwhelmed by his head injury, and he might be a strong contender for the throne. If he keeps up his work."

Amidst this chatter and catching up with his daughter. Four masked individuals entered the garden armed with swords and daggers. Krishna Deva Raya sensed the danger immediately and sprung into action.

He always kept a sword with his for defense. His hand was on the hilt of the sword, scanning the movements of the four individuals.

"Who are you?" He asked.

Lakshmi, visibly flustered by the sudden entrance, stuttered. "W-W-who"

"Stay close to me." He ordered his daughter.

Suddenly another individual lunged from the nearby bushes, thrusting his dagger at the Emperor.

His instincts kicked in, and he dodged the strike shielding his daughter, and in the same motion, he cleaved the wrist of the assassin, and with a flick of his wrist, he hit his head with the hilt of the sword.

Finally stabbed the chest of the assassin, that made the assassin take his final breath, trembling in pain.

"Who sent you?" He asked.

No response.

Two assassins charged at him. The Emperor being a master in martial arts and with his vast experience, dodged the swings with ease even while shielding his daughter, who was cowering in fear behind him.

He deflected a swing of the assassin, following up with a kick to the gut, sending him clattering away out of the pavilion. Another one swung at his shoulder, which he dodged with ease and punched the assassin's chin with his free hand.

The Emperor, despite not being able to move properly, was managing to fend off the assassin. But as the attacks continued, He couldn't finish them. It was slowly pushing him into a disadvantageous position.

"Stay close to me, Lakshmi." He muttered,

He finally stabbed a charging assassin in the gut.

But the Emperor was caught off guard by another assassin. The assassin drove his dagger into his shoulder. But he quickly regained his composure and sliced the neck of the assassin.

Only one assassin stood before him. He clutched his wound, and his daughter was behind him.

Pointed at the Assassin. He had fought with injuries; this wasn't a new thing for him. He scanned around for other assassins.

Then, just as he got ready to charge at the last assassin,

*STAB*

A dagger was protruding from his gut, gushing out blood. His face went blank.

'Who?' His mind raced

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He turned back to see his daughter smiling sweetly, holding the dagger.

Lakshmi had stabbed the Emperor.

"Father, go to sleep," she said.

"Why–" His voice trailed off. The blood loss from both the wounds made him dizzy, coupled with the shock of his daughter stabbing him. He felt consciousness bleeding from his gut on the floor of the pavilion.

"Princess. We did it!" exclaimed the remaining assassin. The plan was about to stand.

Lakshmi picked up her father's sword and, with a smile, approached the assassin and sliced his neck off in a swift motion.

"Your use is done here."

Later, the guards would find the bodies of the assassins with the stab wounds from the emperor's sword. Since Lakshmi used the dagger of the assassin to stab the Emperor. No one would suspect her.

Lakshmi Deva Raya had paved the way for a civil war.