Empire of India: Rise of the Ruthless Prince

"Stop this nonsense," Harsha interrupted.

The brunette lady stopped fighting immediately at his presence. Dhruv was watching from the side with a dejected look.

He turned to the medic and gestured for him to go away.

"Dhruv, arrange two horses." Harsha ordered him. "And some guards."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Dhruv bowed and left them alone.

Isabel and Maria stood there with a fearful look.

"Sit down," Harsha said in Spanish.

He knew Spanish because it was one of the most spoken languages that were planted into him by the research lab. He knew more of the modern Spanish, so his tone and pronunciations were a bit different but understandable to Spanish speakers.

They both sat down on the other side and clutched each other tightly.

"Why were you fighting?"

Isabel looked at him with a tinge of anger.

"He tried to remove my top."

"To tend to you? Right! I have told them to not harm you ladies in any way." He sighed.

"Who even are you?" Isabel spat. "You think it's appropriate to keep a lady here with all these soldiers?"

"Me? I am the Emperor of Vijayanagara." He casually mentioned.

Isabel gasped and lowered her gaze quickly, knowing that she had disrespected an emperor, and it was punishable by death in most kingdoms.

"Hm…I suggest you watch your tone in front of me." Harsha warned. "And for your sister? I guess there's no need to be scared. Everything is alright."

Isabel just stared at him awkwardly with a mix of curiosity and fear.

They sat silently at the campfire.

"What's your name?" Harsha broke the silence.

She reluctantly looked at Maria for a second and answered. "Isabel Silva and she is Maria."

"Silva, eh?" Harsha threw some wood into the fire. "Was that man your bodyguard or lover?"

"Lover? Huh!! No way." Isabel looked at him in disdain. "He is my bodyguard."

"Figured."

Dhruv came with two horses and accompanying him were a few guards.

"Your Majesty, here is the stuff you requested." Dhruv bowed slightly.

Harsha asked as he got up. "Do any of you know how to ride horses?"

Maria didn't say a word but Isabel answered. "No!!."

"Right." Harsha sighed.

"Dhruv, take her and head to the city." He pointed at Maria.

He then turned to Isabel. "You are coming with me. We will take you to the city to get you tended to by some female servants."

Maria looked at Isabel and muttered. "No!! Sister. I am scared."

Isabel patted her cheek lightly. "Don't worry; it's going to be safe." She whispered back.

"Believe me!" She said. "Go to that tall man."

"Ok." She mumbled, sniffling her tears.

Dhruv picked up Maria like a doll and sat her up on the horse gently.

Meanwhile, Harsha just waited for Isabel to get on the horse after some effort. She sat on the horse. Harsha also jumped in front of her and began to ride to the city.

Isabel wanted to punch Harsha in the back of his head.

'Tch…He treats ladies like air. What an arrogant emperor. No tact!!'

"Put your hands on my waist. I don't want you falling off the horse now." Harsha ordered coldly.

"Fine…" Isabel mumbled and did as he said.

Within a few minutes. They were at the city and it was dark with lamps lit up. The night market was bustling on the other side.

Harsha put on a hood and gestured to Dhruv to move along. Finally they reached a merchant's house in the city.

Dhruv explained the situation and the merchant was more than happy to help with the matter since they were part of the royal contingent.

"Get down," Harsha said.

"I don't know how to." Isabel sighed.

Harsha clicked his tongue and just grabbed her wrist. He pulled her in, and she gracefully fell into his arms. He put her down.

"Now, go inside and have your injuries treated." Harsha said with a blank look. "And while you are at that, take a bath and wear cleaner clothes."

Isabel turned red like a tomato and ran inside with Maria trailing behind.

"Huh? What's up with her?" He mumbled.

Harsha also was given a complimentary bath, which he used quickly and he changed into his royal clothes. He sat on a chair beside the room, waiting for the two Spanish women to show up.

It had been a lot of time; he was quite bored.

He sighed. "How long do women take to get ready?"

The door finally opened after a while and both of them walked out.

Isabel stood draped in a saree and her long hair braided with some decorative things and all her injuries were patched while Maria wore the same thing and her hair also braided.

"Finally." Harsha exclaimed in Spanish. "Let's go."

Dhruv talked to the merchant and took a couple of maids from the manor to attend to the noblewoman.

Isabel sat behind Harsha on the horse heading back to the camp. She looked around; it was the night.

She got treated better than she thought by the Emperor. She expected the Emperor to be a rude old man but it turned out to be a handsome young man.

Isabel couldn't help but feel awe at the muscles of the Emperor. His physique was better than any noble she had ever seen and on top of that, he was good-looking. It was a deadly combo.

'He even killed a leopard.' She remembered the scene in the forest.

She kept her hands tight around her waist. Isabel felt a little flustered when he told her to take a bath and wear nicer clothes in a straightforward manner.

For her, it was a daily thing of men falling head over heels for her beauty back home but usually most of them were put off by her eccentric, tomboyish behaviour. It was rare and rather impossible not to get compliments about her beauty from the opposite gender.

Today was one such occasion.

'No use thinking about it. I will have to get married to some idiot soon.'

"We have reached." Harsha said coldly.

Isabel, flustered, removed her hand from his waist. He got her down gently this time.

"By the way," Isabel asked, "What is going to happen to us?"

"Oh... we can't verify your identity." Harsha said. "We cannot have you roaming freely in the Empire either."

"So? What? Are you going to leave us with some noble?" Isabel asked with a haughty expression.

Harsha chuckled. "I was bored of the journey to the capital."

"You and your sisters shall accompany me to the capital until we can "verify" your identity."

"Huh? How long?"

Harsha shrugged. "Don't know and don't care. You do not have a say in this. I make the rules."

"And fret not; no harm shall fall upon you. I guarantee that." Harsha stated.

Isabel looked at her sister. She was fidgeting, occasionally stealing glances at the armored man who rode with her.

'Oh…Maria.'

She was also curious about the Empire and beyond. It was a perfect chance to safely explore the places.

"Um…Ok, but I have a condition." She said with a confident look.

"You know, you are pretty confident for a hostage." Harsha laughed. "You are amusing. I shall grant a favour. Speak."

"I want to explore the cities if we are travelling together." Isabel stated.

Maria tried to interrupt. "But sister—"

Isabel looked back and came close to her sister. "Maria, don't. He is the emperor; if we offend him, we might be in trouble."

She reluctantly nodded and agreed.

"Hmm…that's alright but unless it doesn't delay us."

Finally, a bright smile lit up her beautiful face and she exclaimed. "Yes, finally!!"