Warrior Princess; Her Quest to the throne

All the secrets which she and her clan had collected from the various households, over the past several years, were called in. The main decision makers of each rich and influential family were ruthlessly blackmailed or poisoned or coerced, making sure that a power shift occurred in the family from the man to his wife or mother, depending upon who was the more traumatised one.     

Devyani wasn't a male-hater but she believed that for most men, it would be near impossible to accept a woman and that too, an unqualified one, as their ruler. It would take years, not months to convince them that a woman could handle any task in front of her, as well as her male counterpart. Unfortunately, time was not on her side and hence, this method of acquiesce was chosen to subdue the powerful heads.     

In the past month, a quiet but forceful transfer of financials and decision making had occurred in majority of households, whether they were merchants or politicians or belonging to the religious sect. None of these men wanted to acknowledge it in front of the others and the existence of an inflated male ego worked as a favourable factor in keeping things under wraps. But Devyani knew that it was a matter of time before this advantage would be lost. As a result, there was an intense frenzy gripping the people behind the scenes.     

She and her people had worked themselves to the bone during this period of time. It was imperative that the facade of normalcy was maintained. Therefore, all of them were performing their duties as courtesans, maids etc. during their working hours and as spies and information carriers post that.     

Devyani was well aware that the current queen often received beating from her husband, king Chandranarayan. In fact, she was the only one who had survived the marriage, out of his four wives. Apparently, the king couldn't ejaculate till he didn't see blood on his partner.     

Even though the royal court maintained an exclusive harem for the king, but those girls were sent for training to Devyani's house, as well. When the first set of concubines had turned up bloody and bruised, Devyani had discreetly slipped a bunch of sleeping pills to them with a strict warning that they were to be used on the really bad days. In some form or another, most of the servant class working in the Central zilla owed Devyani over the years. She hadn't done this to earn appreciation or accolades. It was just her way of thumbing her nose at the existent norms of the rich and the powerful.     

After much deliberation, she had approached the queen two weeks ago, through a trusted eunuch. She had told her to support the cause and in return, she would be free of the nightmare which she had been living for the past three years. Not surprisingly, the nineteen-year-old, Rani* Damyanti had not hesitated for even a minute before saying yes. It was possible that she hadn't fully grasped the implications of what was going to happen, but in her mind, anything was better than the current hell which she found herself in.     

Devyani had visited the Southern zilla a few times during the past weeks since it was easier for her to travel in disguise than for Vallabh to come to the Central zilla. The scrutiny of people entering the capital was much more than in any other province.     

Prior to meeting the queen, they had argued about who amongst the two should take the throne. Vallabh being an apolitical person, had told her firmly that the administration wouldn't last if it was under him. What he could ensure was, to successfully subdue the royal guards and take the king as a prisoner. He had also assured that he would defend the next monarch from the other zilla generals, with the help of the Central zilla army up until they had the whole country surrender and pledge allegiance to the new ruler.     

But the politics of running day to day administration, was something out of his purview.     

"Why don't you become the next head of state? After all, this is your plan," he had said to her, his serious eyes blazing with intensity.     

Waiting for Devyani to stop laughing at his suggestion, he had continued solemnly, "I can't see any other being who is more capable or deserving of the position, currently."     

Choked with emotion at his heartfelt words, she had shaken her head, nonetheless.     

"Chandragarh is far away from the day when a person with a less than stellar reputation can contest for the throne, let alone the fact that the contestant is a female. But if we manage to pull this change, one day it will happen. For now, I think I have the right candidate who would draw no objection from most quarters," she said determinedly.     

Royal palace, six days from the coup     

"What news from the Southern zilla? Is there any sign of trouble from that general?" the king asked one of his trusted minister.     

"My king, it seems that he has turned a new leaf since that episode two months ago. Earlier, he was a celibate man, only concerned and dedicated to the cause of serving the country. But ever since he returned to his post from here, he has started indulging in all possible means of entertainment, whether it is drinking, whoring or gambling. He visits the local brother almost every night now. I don't think we need to worry about any sort of rebellion from his end," the minister assured him.     

*Rani - Queen