Chapter 9

George got out of the throne room, barely catching himself of jumping of happiness. And he went back to his bedroom.

A few minutes later, the royal meeting was finished. Sundarta went with dreaming eyes, thinking about George, to her room.

Passing by the courtyard, she found Chandramukhi training some odalisques dancing a dance that she already learnt by heart. She fast joined them, and her mother noticed that she was happier and more active in dancing as the song they were singing was about love.

The dance is finished, the Queen asked the girls to get a rest. Then, she went to The Adopted Princess and started the conversation with her, of course in Hindi: "You look very happy."

"I am, mother" she smiled, looking at the floor, shy.

"If a woman dances this active and happy with a love song, then, that woman must be in love." She hinted.

Sundarta didn't answer; she kept smiling and looking at the floor.

Chandramukhi chose to leave her daughter in peace and not to embarrass her. So, she decided to forget and to talk about another subject: "So, how is it going with George?"

Sundarta blushed and answered lowly: "He's fine… his father allowed him to stay until he comes by Asadha."

"The British king is coming?" Singh wondered.

"Yes, he accepted my condition for the contract." She explained.

"Good! That's good!" She expressed her appreciation.

Silence spread between them. After, Chandra asked: "What are you going to do now? Are going to practice sword wrestling as usual?"

"No." Sundarta denied. "I'm going to rest in my bedroom; this meeting was so tiring."

"Fine. I'm still teaching the girls." She informed.

The Adopted Princess nodded, then she continued her way to her room.

Once she arrived, she took the ghoonghat off and threw herself on the bed. She put her head on her arm and suddenly she smiled, with dreaming in love eyes…

***

At the afternoon, Sundarta got out of the bedroom, with a long braid, nude makeup and simple jewels, and went with her sword down to practice sword wrestling with Ratan, her childhood friend and a special servant of hers.

George was taking care of some commercial papers when he heard the sound of two fighting swords. He got out and barely saw a man and a woman fighting.

He went down and toward the courtyard, and he saw Sundarta and Ratan.

When he appeared, Ratan stopped fighting and bowed to George as he was the Michorian king's guest and the latter ordered his servants and maids to serve him as a Michorian prince.

Sundarta, looking at George, asked Ratan to get a rest away from them. He nodded and went away after he excused them.

The Adopted Princess asked the British prince: "Do you practice sword wrestling?"

"Yes." He answered.

"Then, let's see how far you're talented." She wondered, getting another sword and throwing it to George.

When the latter received his sword, Sundarta began walking in a circle in front of him; it's a sign of getting ready for a fight.

George started also turning around. Suddenly, Sundarta ran and began fighting. She was faster and better than him that just a minute later, she hit George's hand and so his sword flew away while George fell down.

The fighter gave a hand to the guest to stand up. Then, she advised: "Watch out next time."

She planted her sword in the land and turned, coming back to her room while George fast informed: "I would like to practice more sword wrestling with you."

Sundarta stopped walking. Then, she turned to him and asked: "Why?"

"I would like to improve my skills as a swordsman" He lied.

She thought about for a while, grinning. However, she said: "That's enough for today. Besides, you're our guest; I don't want to hurt our guests."

George thought that she was right. So, he didn't argue with her. The latter smiled to him and continued her way to her bedroom…

***

Meanwhile, in Great Britain, although that Edward accepted the condition, he still doubted about the Michorian king; he had never got any conditions for kings of the Indian subcontinent. And especially when his son wrote him in the letter that the king wanted to meet him "to know his intention about the contract". So, he asked Leroy – as the latter was literary always next to his king – in his throne room while they're alone:

"Leroy… the Michorian king wanted me to go to his kingdom to discuss the contract…"

"Yes, your majesty…" Leroy answered.

"Yeah…" Edward said, thinking and playing with his beardless chin. "He's the only king who made this condition…"

"He may want to hurt you, your majesty!" Leroy doubted.

"No… he adopted Ann's daughter… Besides, George is there… I don't think he wants to but… I think he doubts about our honesty." Ed concluded.

"Heaven forbid!" Leroy screamed. "He has no idea how much we're honest and clear… He's wrong!"

"I may be wrong but… I'm going anyway: I sent a letter to George as you know, telling him about my trip to Michor. And then, when we meet him, we'll find out what's his intention, himself too…"

"But your majesty, be careful: The Adopted princess is widely known for her wisdom as much as she's known for her extreme beauty! Besides, it's her who wanted to see you, not her father." Leroy warned.

"Don't worry…" Edward reassured his guard, in a mysterious accent. "I'll be careful once I put my foot inside the Indian kingdom…"

He shut for a while. After, he ordered his bodyguard to ask workers to prepare slowly the trip until June; boats and food…

***

At night, odalisques were blabbing in Sundarta's room. Their only subject they were talking about was George.

The princess was playing Veena, smiling and never caring about the girls; she was daydreaming and remembering every second of her with George.

One of the odalisques informed: "Today, I saw the British prince by accident in his bedroom from the window. God bless him: he's very handsome!"

Another one said: "His eyes are green as tree leaves. He must be special!"

And another said: "God Vishnu well created the British prince; his handsomeness is truly rare!"

The rest of women agreed with her. While finally Sundarta objected calmly, saying while she was still playing guitar with dreaming eyes: "Stop, girls; you may hit the British prince with your evil eyes…"

And the evil eye was and still common between many religions and cultures: it's a superstitious curse or legend, believed to be cast by a malevolent glare, usually given to a person when the one is unaware.

However, one of the odalisques rejected Sundarta and announced: "No! Your Honor! He's now protected by our religious prayers! He'll be fine! Besides, when Lord Vishnu created him, he cannot leave this beauty without his protection! I assure you, your Honor, that he'll be protected always from evil eyes of jealousness and envy."

The Adopted princess kept playing simple notes of Veena while one of girls asked innocently: "Your Honor, if the British prince purposed to you, would you marry him?"

The other odalisques secretly laughed. But Sundarta looked at the dark star-sky through the opened door, smiled and murmured: "Maybe… maybe…"

***