Chapter 118: Chapter 116: Visit Of Five Neighbouring Kings...

(A/N):

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Guys with this Volume 7 is Begin’s here...

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Next Day...

The morning after the coronation carried a completely different atmosphere across Trivenivrata.

The loud festival chaos of the previous day had softened.

The streets still remained lively.

The banners still fluttered proudly across the kingdom.

The people still spoke excitedly about the coronation, the armies, the elephants, the speeches, and the divine blessings surrounding the rise of their king.

But now—Reality had begun.

Governance. Responsibility. Rule.

Inside the magnificent throne chamber of the royal palace, the court had gathered once more.

Sunlight streamed through the towering carved windows while the polished floors reflected the golden glow of the hanging lamps and ceremonial fires.

Rows of ministers, generals, sages, commanders, guild representatives, and nobles stood respectfully within the chamber awaiting the beginning of the kingdom’s first official royal court under its newly crowned ruler.

And at the center—Upon the throne of Trivenivrata—Sat Devara with a gentle smile on his face.

But unlike the previous day’s overwhelming ceremonial grandeur, today’s atmosphere felt calmer.

More grounded.

Today he did not merely look like a crowned symbol.

Today he looked like a ruler ready to govern.

Beside him, seated proudly upon her own royal seat positioned equally beside the throne, sat Gandhari.

The First Queen of Trivenivrata.

That detail alone did not go unnoticed by the gathered court.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Gandhari had not been seated below him.

Nor behind him. But beside him.

Equal in dignity before the court.

And many among the gathered nobles quietly acknowledged the significance of it.

Meanwhile the atmosphere within the chamber remained warm.

Happy. Hopeful.

The coronation had succeeded beyond expectations.

The people adored their king.

The allied rulers had shown respect openly.

The kingdom’s military strength had been displayed before all.

And perhaps most importantly—Trivenivrata no longer looked fragile.

It looked established.

Yet amidst the satisfaction lingering inside the court, everyone also understood another reality.

Several honored guests would soon leave.

In a few day’s time, Vidura, Bhishma, Dhritarashtra, and Madri would return to Hastinapur along with their heirs.

Because another major event awaited.

Dhritarashtra’s own coronation.

And unlike before—This time, Bhishma would finally fulfill the promise he had once made to Devara.

To release himself from the burden of ruling responsibilities after placing Hastinapur securely into Dhritarashtra’s hands.

That thought alone stirred complicated emotions within several people present.

Especially Bhishma himself.

For years beyond counting, the great elder had carried the weight of Hastinapur upon his shoulders through sacrifice after sacrifice.

Now at last—The possibility of rest slowly approached him.

Though whether fate would truly allow Bhishma peace...

Only time knew.

Meanwhile within the throne chamber, many officials secretly observed Devara carefully.

Because today’s court session would reveal something important.

How the young king ruled when celebrations ended.

Would he become distant after ascending the throne?

Would power change him?

Would the warmth seen during the coronation remain?

Or would the realities of governance slowly harden him like many rulers before?

Those silent questions lingered throughout the chamber.

"...."

"...."

"...."

And seated upon the throne beside Gandhari, Devara calmly surveyed the gathered court beneath the crowned lion banners of Trivenivrata.

The atmosphere inside the throne chamber remained calm and orderly as ministers quietly discussed administrative matters among themselves while attendants moved respectfully across the polished hall.

Sunlight continued pouring through the high carved windows, illuminating the crowned lion banners hanging proudly behind the throne of Trivenivrata.

Then suddenly—The large chamber doors opened.

A royal guard entered swiftly before immediately lowering himself respectfully before the throne.

"...."

The entire court quieted almost instantly.

The guard bowed deeply toward Devara.

"My king."

Devara gave a slight nod allowing him to speak.

-Nod!

The guard continued respectfully.

"The rulers of five neighboring kingdoms sharing close borders along the sacred three rivers have arrived at the palace."

That immediately caused subtle reactions within the court.

Several ministers exchanged glances instantly.

Because neighboring rulers arriving together rarely happened casually.

The guard continued listing them one by one.

"King Rudrasena of Kalingavara."

"The ruler of Velanadu, King Mahipala."

"King Virendra Varma of Suryagarh."

"The lord of Ananthapura, King Somakeshi."

"And King Pratapaditya1 of Nandivana."

The guard lowered his head slightly again.

"They seek an audience with Your Majesty now that your coronation has officially concluded."

The chamber grew thoughtful instantly.

Because these kingdoms were strategically important.

All five shared close river access, trade routes, and territorial borders connected to the sacred Triveni1 regions.

Their arrival together could mean diplomacy.

Alliance. Trade. Or pressure.

Meanwhile upon the throne, Devara simply raised one eyebrow slightly.

"...."

Beside him, Gandhari quietly observed the court’s reactions.

Some ministers already looked cautious.

Others curious.

Meanwhile Vidura’s expression sharpened slightly in thought.

Because neighboring kingdoms never approached rising powers without reason.

Still—Devara remained calm.

After a brief moment, he nodded.

-Nod!

"Let them enter."

The guard immediately bowed deeply.

"At once, my king."

Then he hurried toward the massive chamber doors once more.

For several seconds afterward, the throne chamber remained silent in anticipation.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Then suddenly—A low growling rumble echoed through the hall.

Not hostile. But heavy. Ancient. Powerful.

The next moment, the gigantic chamber doors opened fully once again.

And instead of the neighboring rulers entering first—Four enormous divine sabertooth tigers slowly walked into the throne chamber.

The court instantly froze.

Even seasoned warriors visibly stiffened.

These were the sacred beasts pulling Devara’s legendary Vajravyaghra Rath.

Massive divine sabertooths radiating overwhelming presence.

Their striped fur shimmered faintly beneath the sunlight while their enormous paws moved silently across the polished floor despite their size.

The sheer predatory aura surrounding them sent chills through several lesser nobles instantly.

Yet the beasts themselves behaved with complete familiarity inside the throne chamber.

As though the palace belonged to them too.

Without paying attention to the terrified court officials nearby, the four divine creatures calmly walked toward the throne platform.

Then naturally—Two settled down on the right side of the throne.

And two on the left.

One of them let out a massive yawn revealing terrifying fangs longer than daggers before lazily resting its head upon its paws.

Another flicked its tail slowly while observing the chamber with golden eyes.

The silence inside the throne room became almost comical now.

Several foreign attendants from smaller kingdoms looked seconds away from fainting.

Meanwhile Devara simply rested his chin against his hand calmly as though divine sabertooth tigers casually occupying his throne room was perfectly normal behavior.

Beside him, Gandhari failed to suppress a small amused smile seeing the court’s reactions.

Because honestly—Even after all this time—

The divine beasts still terrified almost everyone who sees them for the first time.

For several long moments after the divine sabertooth tigers settled themselves beside the throne, the atmosphere inside the royal chamber remained unusually tense.

Not because of hostility.

But because the overwhelming presence of the beasts made it difficult for many visitors to relax fully.

The four divine sabertooths of the Vajravyaghra Rath rested calmly around the throne platform like living guardians.

Yet every occasional flick of their tails or slow opening of their golden eyes sent visible nervousness through some attendants standing near the chamber walls.

Especially the foreign ministers.

One unfortunate minister from a neighboring kingdom nearly stopped breathing when one of the sabertooths lazily stretched its massive claws against the polished floor.

Then finally—

The great doors of the throne chamber opened once more.

This time the visiting rulers entered.

One after another, the five neighboring kings stepped into the chamber alongside their ministers and attendants.

Rudrasena of Kalingavara entered first, his sharp eyes immediately scanning the throne room carefully.

Beside him walked Mahipala of Velanadu, whose expression remained diplomatic yet visibly cautious.

Soon followed Virendra Varma of Suryagarh, then Somakeshi of Ananthapura, and finally Pratapaditya of Nandivana.

Behind them followed their ministers carrying scrolls, ceremonial gifts, and diplomatic insignias.

But despite their attempts at composure—

The moment the rulers noticed the four divine sabertooths calmly resting around the throne platform, subtle tension appeared across several faces immediately.

One minister visibly slowed his steps.

Another swallowed nervously.

-Gulp!

Meanwhile one of the sabertooths lazily opened one eye toward the arriving group before losing interest again.

The chamber somehow became even quieter.

At the center of it all—Seated upon the throne beside Gandhari—

Sat Devara calmly observing the arrivals.

The crowned lion banners behind him fluttered lightly beneath the moving air while sunlight reflected across the throne platform.

For a brief moment, none of the five rulers spoke first.

Because standing before Devara inside his own court after witnessing the coronation and military displays yesterday felt very different from discussing him from afar politically.

The kingdom no longer looked vulnerable.

It looked dangerous to underestimate.

Still, formal diplomacy prevailed.

The five rulers eventually folded their hands respectfully toward the throne.

Devara acknowledged them with a calm nod before speaking directly.

"What brings the five of you together before my court?"

His tone was neither warm nor cold.

Simply composed.

King Rudrasena exchanged a brief glance with the other rulers before stepping slightly forward as their representative.

"We first came to offer congratulations, King Devaratha."

His voice echoed respectfully through the chamber.

"Your coronation has become the talk of many kingdoms already."

Several ministers behind the kings nodded in agreement.

Rudrasena continued carefully.

"But beyond congratulations ...we also wished to discuss the future."

That line immediately sharpened attention inside the court.

Meanwhile beside the throne, one of the divine sabertooths suddenly yawned again loudly enough to make two visiting ministers almost jump from their place.

Even Gandhari briefly lowered her gaze to hide her amusement.

She could tell these kings were not here with a good intension.

But Devara remained focused entirely on the rulers before him.

The neighboring kings slowly realized something now.

Despite his youth—

Despite the divine stories surrounding him—Devara listened like a ruler already accustomed to responsibility.

And that made him far more dangerous than mere charisma alone.

The atmosphere inside the throne chamber subtly shifted the moment King Rudrasena mentioned discussing "the future."

"...."

"...."

"...."

The words themselves sounded polite.

Diplomatic.

Yet everyone present in the chamber understood there was weight hidden beneath them.

Because rulers rarely traveled together merely to exchange congratulations.

Especially not neighboring kingdoms sharing borders, rivers, trade routes, and territorial interests.

Before the silence could deepen further—A familiar voice cut through the chamber.

"Hm."

Prince Shakuni leaned slightly against one of the carved pillars near the royal section, casually twirling a dice piece between his fingers.

The prince’s eyes narrowed with open amusement.

"What future requires five kings to march together into a throne room?"

His lips curved into a sharp sneer.

-Sneer

"Looking at all of you together, one would think you came here to declare war rather than offer congratulations."

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(Author note:)

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Guys I have a new fic which named: Karuppan: King of Openings.

Disclaimer: This is not the historic figure a hero who fought against Mughals. So Don’t compare him to him.Three Holy rivers