Viraaj smiled in response and held Abhiveera's hand.
From a distance, Abel was watching them with an evil smirk. He was happy to see this bond between them because it will be easy to destroy them. Attack on one and other will come to you by himself. And the thing that made him more happy is Viraaj's condition. The strongest king of Aaro can't even walk properly. Isn't it funny?
'There is more you have to bear. Be ready.'
His eyes then looked arround and fell on Veer.
He was busy with Ahil's friends when he sensed someone looking at him. When he looked arround, he found Abel looking at him. Smiling at him while raising his wine glass for cheers.
Veer gulped, feeling uneasy and looked arround in nervousness.
"What happened?" Shubh asked.
Veer came out of his thoughts and looked at him "N-Nothing. I am just a little tired. M-My head is hurting a little. Just a normal headache. Nothing else."
"You should take some rest after coronation."
Raksheet was standing outside the hall door. He was waiting for Ira, to meet her and help her feel confident to enter in hall and meet all the guests and emperor. He know his wife is a overthinker and will be so nervous to enter in hall alone. So he decided to be with her and enter in hall with her so that she would feel secure and confident.
He was walking back and forth impatiently when he heard some footsteps coming in his direction.
He stopped and looked at the direction of sound and found Ira walking towards her with Advika behind her.
As soon as he saw the beauty walking towards him, shinning like a treasure of love and prosperity, he felt like he again fell in love with his wife. His eyes were stucked on Ira and his mouth was slightly open in wonder. His eyes travelled on her from head to toe. The more he look at her, the more he feel blessed.
Ira stopped infront of Raksheet and smiled to see her husband looking so excellent. She saw him in his coronation look before but she didn't saw him in his royal robe. And it is so pleasing to see her husband looking so great and powerful. But by the way he was looking at her, it's clear that he is lulled in her beauty.
"Your highness, i heard you were waiting for me." Ira said. She addressed him as 'your highness' instead of calling him by his name. Because it will be inappropriate to call a Prince or a soon to be king by his name in public.
Raksheet quickly came to his sense when he heard Ira calling him 'your highness' instead of by his name. He quickly looked arround and found Advika and the royal advisor 'Dhritil koushik' standing there, watching them.
Ira tried to control her laugh after seeing Raksheet's reaction.
"Ah, yes. I was waiting for you." Raksheet replied, trying to clear the awkwardness between four of them.
"Why?" Ira asked.
"I thought to accompany you enter in hall. There are so many guests and emperor too. I thought you may feel nervous to go inside alone, so i wanted to help you." He explained.
Ira almost forgot about the guest inside when she heard that her husband is waiting for her and rushed to meet him. But when Raksheet mentioned about it, the nervousness returned in her heart. She looked at the hall's door that was closed and imagined the people inside there. How they will react after seeing her?
Raksheet saw that his wife is again overthinking and stressing her mind. To stop her from overthinking, he held her hand.
Ira shifted her gaze towards Raksheet.
Advika and Dhritil quickly looked down when they saw Raksheet holding Ira's hand. They even stepped back to let the couple talk privately.
"Princess, don't be nervous." Raksheet said "You should look confident and calm. The more you will show your fear, the more others will take advantage of it. Just calm down. I know you didn't faced so many people before, but you should get used to it." He came near Ira and whispered in her ear "After all, a Queen should know how to be social."
Ira's eyes widened after hearing Raksheet's words. She slightly pushed him away and whispered back "I am not a queen."
Raksheet chuckled. He kissed the back of her hand and replied "You will be soon."
Ira can't believe how eager her husband is to see her as his queen. Even when he himself didn't became a king yet.
"First, you should get crowned. Then we will think about whether I will be your queen or not, okay?"
"There is nothing to think." Raksheet replied confidently, without thinking twice. He has already made up his mind to make Ira his queen.
Ira tried to suppress her smile but it grew even wider to see her husband's confidence.
Raksheet took out a small dagger from his pocket and gave it to Ira. She looked at him confused and he said "Keep it with you, to protect yourself."
She nod slightly and hided it near her waist, in a pocket .
"Sorry to disturb you your highness. But the ceremony will start soon." Dhritil informed.
Ira quickly pulled her hand back, feeling embarrassed after realising that Advika and Dhritil are still there, watching and hearing them clearly.
"Hm, ok." Raksheet replied. He then opened his arm a little bit and gestured Ira to hold his arm.
Ira shook her head, knowing how her husband like to show off their relationship and quickly wrapped her hand arround his arm.
Soon the general secretary 'Rutajit' stepped on stage and announced "Ladies and gentlemens, please take your seats. The ceremony will start soon."
Guests started to take their seats. The emperor sat down beside Abhiveera, at the centre of the row. Abhiveera and Viraaj stood up from their seats to greet him.
"Greetings your majesty."
The emperor 'Bishwajeet Rajput' noded his head slightly and replied "Greetings." His eyes narrowed when he saw Viraaj's pale face and asked "king Viraaj, you are not looking well. What happened? Are you sick?"
Viraaj and Abhiveera stood still and Viraaj replied "No your majesty. It's just the travel fatigue."
Abhiveera looked at Viraaj after hearing his lie. Viraaj's eyes met Abhiveera's and he slightly shook his head as no. Because he didn't wanted emperor to find out about him not feeling well.
Viraaj again looked at emperor and smiled "You know i am getting old so It's normal for me to get tired easily."
Emperor started to laugh and waved his hand "No no. Don't say this. A king won't grow old so soon." He stopped laughing and said "You will be fine soon. After all, you are in your granddaughter's house. I am sure she and her in-laws will take good care of you." His eyes shifted towards Abhiveera "Right king Abhiveera?"
Abhiveera chuckled and nod "Of course your majesty. King Viraaj is not only our relative but our family too. And i should always take care of my family."
"That's so nice of you. I am impressed. You both families are made for each other. Both are respectful and caring towards their family members. I hope your bond will be more strong with the time." Emperor already knows them from such a long time. And he know how clean and kind their background is from long time but he also know the history of Jwalana and Bayar's enmity.
"We hope so too." Viraaj and Abhiveera replied.
"Ah, king Viraaj, you should sit down. Or else you will get tired." Emperor said jokingly and Viraaj and Abhiveera chuckled.
The emperor is indeed a kind and friendly person as everyone has heard. Unlike the previous emperor. But he can turn into the most cruel and dangerous punisher if someone dare to disobey him or try to harm his empire.
All the other guests got settled down on their places.
The door of ceremony hall opened slowly, revealing Raksheet and Ira being the centre of attention, looking the most beautiful pair in the world. The musicians started playing the grand music, the sound of drums and violin melody filled the excitement and energy in hall. All the eyes turned towards the couple entering in the hall. Everyone stood up.
The couple started walking towards the throne through red carpet.
Ira's hand was wrapped around Raksheet's arm. Her eyes were darted down, afraid of looking at the people staring at her. Her grip tightened on Raksheet's arm when her heart started beating faster in nervousness. She can sense people looking at her and whispering something. But she didn't dare to look at them. She wanted to just glance at them once to know the situation but her eyes refused to look up.
Raksheet felt Ira tightening her grip on his arm. He knew his little wife is nervous or may be scared too but the smile never left his lips. He don't wanted people to think there is any problem with Ira. He held her hand that was wrapped around his arm and tapped it gently. He then whispered to her "Princess, don't be scared. Your husband is here to protect you. look up. See, how everyone is mesmerized by your beauty. After all, my wife is a actual defination of beauty."
Ira's grip loosen. Her heart felt calm and a thin smile appeared on her lips after hearing her husband praising her. She do really want to look at the people infront of her but her fear is pulling her back.
Raksheet saw that his wife is still afraid to look up so he said "Look, your grandfather and mother are also watching you."
Ira quickly looked up, her eyes searching for her grandfather and mother, still walking slowly.
Finally her eyes landed on her mother at the left side of the hall where all the ladies were sitting. Her mother's eyes were moist with a big smile on her face. She was trying hard not to cry after seeing her lovely daughter after such a long time.
Seeing her mother smiling so brightly while holding her tears back, tears started to form in Ira's eyes too. But she held her tears back when she saw her mother signalling her not to cry and keep on smiling. Ira's lips uncontrollably curved into a smile that bought happiness in her mother's heart.
Ira then shifted her gaze towards the men's side, to search for her grandfather. Even if it is inappropriate for a princess to look at a bunch of men irrespectivly, she don't care. She just want to see her grandfather no matter what people think or say.
When she was struggling to find her grandfather, her eyes caught somthing moving. She saw her grandfather slowly waving his hand, being careful that no one will notice him doing that. His granddaughter is not a kid anymore so he shouldn't behave like this infront of everyone but he can't see Ira struggling.