"You have already told me." She replied.
"I know. But the more I look at you, the more you look beautiful." He said, coming closer to her.
She was trying hard not to blush. His every word is so sweet and convincing, she can't ignore it.
He was about to wrap his hand arround her waist when suddenly Ahil came there, ruining their sweet moment.
"Sister!" Ahil called, making Raksheet and Ira pull away from each other. "I want to introduce you to my friends. Would you please come?" He was having a bright smile on his face until Raksheet spoke.
"No, she won't." He said with a straight face, making Ahil's smile drop.
"Why?" He asked, disappointed.
"I know your friends very well. They are all spoiled brats. I can't let Ira go to meet them. What if they do something to her?" His tone was serious, showing clear disapproval for Ahil's request.
Ahil groaned in annoyance "Brother, my friends are not that bad how you think they are. They will not do anything to your wife. Don't worry. She is not only your wife, she is my sister-in-law too. I will take care of her." Ahil insisted but Raksheet wasn't looking to give in.
"It's ok. He just want to introduce me to his friends. It's not a big deal." Ira said, catching Raksheet and Ahil's attention and showing her presence. "I trust him. He will not let anything happen to me." She smiled at Ahil.
Ahil just wanted a support so that he don't have to convince his brother. "Yes yes. I will protect you sister. I will not let anything bad happen to you. You can trust me." His eyes lit up with a big smile.
"But Ira...." Raksheet looked at her with concern, not wanting his wife to go away from him and meet those trouble maker brats.
"Don't worry. I can take care of myself. I am not a fragile princess. Don't you believe in me?" She asked confidently.
Raksheet was silent for a while but then he chuckled at his wife's confidence "Ok, you won. You can go with him. But call me immediately if his stupid friends do something to you. And you..." He looked at Ahil, with a serious look. "If your friends misbehave with her, they have to pay for it. And you too." He warned him.
Ahil gulped at his brother's warning, thinking it will be more risky to stand infront of his brother anymore. "Sister, come let's go." He said to Ira and quickly left from there with her.
"Sister, these are my friends. He is Shubh, he is Abhimanyu, and he is Vijay." Ahil introduced his friends to Ira. "And friends, she is my beautiful sister-in-law, princess Ira." He said proudly with a big smile printed on his face.
Ira smiled, seeing Ahil's proud face.
"Nice to meet you, your highness." Ahil's friends said and joined their hands to greete her.
"Nice to meet you too." Ira replied.
"Sister, you know, Abhimanyu's father is our general secretary. And Shubh's father is royal advisor. Vijay's father is deputy commander."
"I see. All of your fathers are on big positions. I am sure you all want to be successful like your fathers." Ira said, wondering about their parent's high position.
"Yes, your highness. We want to be like our fathers. I want to be the general secretary as my father. After my father, i want to be the loyal general secretary of Jwalana and serve my kingdom." Abhimanyu said.
"Same goes with us. We want to be on our fathers position after them. And we are working hard for it too." Vijay said.
"I don't know about other two but Shubh will be the royal advisor for sure." Ahil wrapped his hand arround Shubh's shoulder and hugged him from side, tightly.
"Why so?" Ira asked.
"He is the most patient and smart among the four of us. He is a little shy but he is sweet and kind. He knows how to handle the situation very easily. Whenever we are in trouble, He always finds a way out of it. He also gives good advice. He is always ready to help people. He have all the qualities to become a royal advisor." Ahil praised his friend.
"No no, your highness. He is just praising me too much." Shubh said with a smile. His voice and smile both are as sweet as Ahil discribed his nature.
Ira chuckled 'Brother Ahil's all friends are so sweet and friendly. Then why Raksheet don't like them?'
Ira was in her chamber. Changing her clothes with the help of her maids.
After changing her clothes a maid combed her hair.
"Your highness, should i braid it or keep it open?" The maid asked.
"Just keep it open." Ira replied.
The other maid was removing her jewellery.
Ira was looking at herself in the mirror when she remembered about Advika. She wanted to know more about her. She has just met Advika today and want her to be her personal maid. She looked at the maids who were serving her. They must know about Advika. After all they work together from such a long time.
"Do you know about Advika?" Ira asked, looking at the maids trough the mirror.
The maids looked at each other and then at Ira.
"Yes your highness. We know her." The maid who was removing Ira's jewellery, replied. "She is the head maid of this palace."
"She is working here for more than 22 years." The maid who was combing Ira's hair, spoke. "She is so disciplined but friendly too. We love to work with her." She smiled as she described Advika and her experience working with her.
Ira can understand why other maids like to work with Advika. She is so cheerful and friendly. No one gets bored or tired of being around her.
"Why she is not a personal maid?" Ira asked again, making both the maids look at her.
"Your highness, Do you want her to be your personal maid?" The maid asked doubtfully.
"Hmmm." Ira replied.
"Sorry to disappoint you, your highness, but Advika can't be your personal maid."
"Why not?" Ira asked disappointed but she wasn't surprised as she has a slight idea about it since earlier.
"She is our senior. She have to manage everything about us. About new maids, the maids who are going to leave the palace, the duties of servents and maids, the maids in kitchen, servents in armoury, even gardeners. She have to take care of everything! She have a lot of work to do."
"I see." Ira replied in disappointed tone.
The maids looked at each other in concern.
"Don't worry your highness, Advika has trained us how to serve. We will try our best to serve you with the same loyalty and sweet nature as Advika." The other maid assured, trying to gain her madam's trust.
Ira smiled and nod.
A sound of foot steps echoed in hallway, indicating someone is coming.
Soon Raksheet entered in the chamber.
The maids quickly stood up and left the chamber, leaving Ira and Raksheet alone.
He closed the door and looked at her. She was busy applying some lotion on her hands. She wasn't bothered by him standing there, admiring her.
When she was done applying lotion, she stood up from her seat and went towards bed.
"Are you done?" Raksheet asked, his eyes still fixed on her.
"Yes." She replied, sitting on her side of the bed.
She wasn't wearing any jewellery or fancy dress. Her hair were simply open. She was wearing a simple but comfy light yellow dress. There was no makeup on her face but her bare face is still mesmerizing. She don't have to put much efforts to make someone fall in love with her. Especially Raksheet, he fell in love with her the moment he saw her. So it's more easy to make her husband go crazy for her.
He walked towards her, removing his robe. He hung it on the stand and sat down on bed.
"Did you enjoyed the party?" He asked.
"Yes. The party was good. The guests were also very nice. Everyone was so respectful and kind." She replied, looking at him.
Raksheet smiled and nod in agreement.
"And brother Ahil's friends too." She added.
His smile dropped as he heard about Ahil's friends.
"They are good. They are respectful and friendly. They are well mannered and hardworking."
"Mannered? In your dream." He muttered but it was enough for her to hear.
"Did you said something?" She asked.
He quickly shook his head.
"They told me they want to be like their fathers. I hope their hard work will pay off."
He looked away and sighed in frustration.
Hearing his sigh, Ira understood he don't like to hear about Ahil's friends. "Why you don't like them?"
He looked at her with tired eyes "Because they are not as good as you think. They are all trouble makers, including your dear brother Ahil."
She looked at him confused "What do you mean?"