Page 144 of Sumanika

And now it was my choice.

Fuck love.

I arrived in Pratapgarh early in the morning and met the head commander of Mahabaleshgarh with his troop. "Commander Ashwin," I greeted with a broad smile, dismounting from my horse.

He stood, joining his hands, "Welcome to Pratapgarh, Kunwar Agastya.” I clasped over his hands, accepting his greetings, before stepping ahead for a tight hug.

We all were friends from the Gurukul—Ashwin, Eklavya, and many others.

"How are you?" I asked, shaking his shoulders with pride. He was one of the brightest stars among us.

“I can’t be any better,” he smiled.

Pratapgarh had completely transformed since the last time I saw it. Significant reconstruction had altered the landscape, and the trees and greenery appeared vibrant. The flooring, scenery, and everything else were mesmerizing.

“It’s beautiful. King Abhinandan has done a phenomenal job here.” I couldn’t help but admire it, unlike those who failed to appreciate someone’s effort and dedication.

“Indeed, he has. After all, he has great taste in architecture and a fine knowledge of colors,” Ashwin added, earning a gentle nod from me.

“Alright, what’s the situation here?” I asked. He stepped back to place the map on the stone table, which was adorned with small stone-carved soldier idols in their respective positions.

“If the situation escalates at Mehrangarh, I will meet the Army with King Abhinandan twenty miles before Pratapgarh. We’ll deploy the troops in three divisions. The first will be the front-line soldiers on elephants and horses—deadly and highly capable—waiting for the army twenty miles from here. We will assign hidden troops to take out the army’s smaller contingents lying in ambush along the route. They will hide among the trees; they’re known for their marksmanship. The third group will comprise soldiers stationed at Pratapgarh castle itself, equipped with the remaining elephants, horses, and weapons,” he explained as I focused on the map to understand his words.

“Alright. That looks like a solid plan. Attacking them in phases would weaken them,” I patted him on his shoulder.

“And remember, Ashwin, we won’t give them an inch of our land, much less a kingdom,” I added. He nodded, staring intensely into my eyes before replying,“We will not, Kunwar Agastya.”

Next, I asked him to show me the stock of weapons, rations, and emergency travel supplies. I also encouraged him to bring in some physicians, cooks, and male attendants for the Kingdom. This would enable the soldiers to concentrate solely on the war.

After a long discussion, I asked to take my leave, but he stopped me, insisting that I should at least spend the night there and leave in the morning since it was already dark.

I agreed and spent the night on the terrace under the starry sky. The image of her face haunted my heartbeats against my will. I didn’t want to cause her pain, but it hurt me now.

I knew that what I had done in my past was wrong, but I confided in her because I trusted her—or at least I believed she would understand me, as she promised to stand by my side through everything. However, she changed overnight.

In that moment, I realized it wasn’t just hurt or resentment; it was mostly about the fact that she didn’t trust me. And under no circumstances, no matter how deeply you love someone, nothing will ever make sense if there is no trust.

My efforts were in vain because she didn’t trust me. I asked her if she could trust me regarding my words, but she declined. Nothing hurt me more than that.

Still, I understood it was all because of her past. She had a painful history, and she was simply a wounded soul.

But I couldn’t let anyone else step into my heart. I offered the rest of my heart to her. And she shattered it for both of us.

I took a deep breath, promising myself that no matter what happened next, I would never picture the two of us together, not even in my worst nightmares.

She called me a manwhore. That was true. I was one, but I didn’t want to hear it from her mouth. She didn’t have to hurt me like that.

I closed my eyes, holding back tears. I would not cry for her, not for anyone anymore. No one could change that for me—no one’s love, hate, or demands. I was done with love in this life.

Maybe, try in the next one.

Now, I only had to expand our kingdom and make this land the most powerful continent.

I attempted to catch some sleep, but she eluded me. Her thoughts kept me restless all night, and I woke up with a headache.

After preparing in my warrior attire, I left Pratapgarh for Mehrangarh, only to find Eklavya already there. He had taken a break from Rashmika, fabricating stories about his grandmother’s death.

“Eklavya,” I called out as I spotted him where we had agreed to meet. He carried two bags and a few soldiers.

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