Swift, heavy knocks rattled the door.

"Your highness? Please open the door!"

Harsh frowned. What now?

He got up, leaving the book behind. He had only completed two pages, trying hard to ease himself into the new book and forget everything else when they were interrupting him!

However, a part of him felt unease as he sensed that something was off. The staff wouldn't bother him at this hour.

"What happened?" He called over, opening the door. "It's the middle of the night for fu- god's sake." He glared.

Two guards stood before him, alert with weapons slung across their shoulders. Their eyes quickly scanned him up and down.

One turned to the hallway. "Prince Harsh, secured," he spoke into radio shoulder.

Secured?

He looked over their shoulders, peeking into the hallway with sealed exit doors. What was happening? Why were the exit doors sealed? 

"What's going on?"

"Routine check, Your Highness," other said, smiling tightly. "We need to report to his majesty that all members of the royal family are safe."

"Safe...?" His heart skipped a beat. Something was wrong. "Safe from what?"

The guard ignored him, moving back. "We advise you remain inside, your highness. No one is allowed to leave their rooms until further notice from the King."

Before he could protest, the door was shut on his face.
He stood still for a moment, trying to process those words.

Something had happened.

He pressed his ear to the door, hearing muffled voices. Some phrases caught his attention, "intruder" and "death", but he couldn't make out the rest.

"What the hell..." he whispered to himself, backing away.

Someone had... died?

His heart hammered in his chest, fear pressing down on him. Something was wrong. No, more than wrong. It felt like his chest had squeezed into itself. was choking itself was suffocating him. Worst-case scenario began to bombard his head.

Staff? Relative? One of the princes?

His heart raced. It couldn't be one of the princes, right? He shook off his paranoia. No, they couldn't die. The security would protect him at all costs. They were invincible, right?

He sat back on the edge of his bed, anxiety coiling in the pit of his stomach. He bit his nails, lightly rocking back and forth. 

Please don't be one of his brothers, he pleaded as his heart pounded.

            Kshitij stood in the hallway where the dead body was being laid on a stretcher.

He watched Prithvi bhai talk to CM over the phone, convincing him not to involve media's attention when the elections were so close. All fingers would be pointed towards the ruling party when secretly, Ajmerganj royals favoured it under the table. Their animosity was just a mask to fool the public.

Jaw clenching, he crossed his arms, eyes drawn to the blood marring the otherwise polished floor. He looked around. How could anyone infiltrate so close to his brother?

The thought shook his soul.

A guard hesitated, approaching him quietly. He glanced around before his head dropped when Prithvi walked away, sternly asking the DSP for the body to be vanished without a trace.

"Your Highness," his spy began. "It's about Prince Harsh."

Kshiij's eyes flicked from watching his brother's retreating back.

He regarded the guard cautiously. "What about him?"

The guard straightened quickly. "You had asked me to keep an eye on him. Tonight... he left his room around two in the morning."

His brows drew together. Alarms blaring in his head.

At two?

"Where did he go?" He asked urgently.

"The library, Your Highness. He said he was bored. He took some books and returned within fifteen minutes. Alone."

His face darkened. "And you didn't inform me immediately? What are you a spy for?" He hissed.

"I'm sorry, your highness. But it was late. I didn't want to disturb your sleep," the guard said quickly. "It wasn't anything harmless, atleast that's what I thought about it back then. But now..." he paused, glancing toward the corridor where the body was being stretched away, "after what has happened, I think you should know."

Kshitij exhaled through his nose, turning straight as anger and unease churned.

He couldn't believe this.

Was that brat somehow related to this assassination attempt?

"Good. Keep your mouth shut about this. If anyone asks, you saw nothing. And next time, don't try to use your brain."

The guard bowed his head and stepped back.

Kshitij's jaw tightened. His mind raced.

That brat, sneaking around in the middle of the night, and now an attempted assassination inside the palace.

It couldn't be a coincidence.

***

The meeting room was cold and noiseless except for the faint hum of the screens as everyone held their breaths. Agney stood at the head of the table, eyes fixed on the looping footage from Camera 4 and 7, both showing the same frozen corridor, timestamp flickering endlessly.

"A man managed to sneak into our control room... hack our system... and managed to reach the royal quarters before being stopped." His gaze darkened.

No one dared to speak.

"The cameras went on loop. The access system was overridden. Is this my security? The one I entrusted with the lives of my family? This," he jabbed a finger at the looping footage, "is what I rely on?" He snapped, turning to Neel Udawat.

Neel Udawat looked back, face unreadable and composed.

Neelakshi frowned, her eyes barely restraining the worry for her brother.

After a while of thinking over everything with a numb mind, Neel bowed. "Forgive me, your Majesty. It may come off as disrespectful to you. But you and Hukum had collectively demoted me to training guards many years ago. Maybe it has slipped your memory."

Agney's jaw clenched, all of a sudden he regretted demoting this guy for his blatant hatred.

Eight years ago and he had never been able to let it go. Neel Udawat should have died that day. That was the tradition. His family's duty was to protect the crown, to die before letting harm reach the royal bloodline. But Neel had lived. And his bhaiya hadn't.

He hated himself for it, but he couldn't forgive the man for surviving. It was betrayal in his eyes. He knew he was spiteful. Childish. But he couldn't feel or understand anything beyond his anguish.

"Control room was closer to you," he spat.

Neelakshi's lips parted, ready to throw herself in between, in case the King unleashed his fury on her younger brother.

Raghav stepped up as Agney's rage rose a notch, his gaze briefly sweeping to Neelakshi whose worried eyes drifted to him just then. She looked away instantly, jaw tight.

He blinked once, and looked back at King with determination. "Your Majesty, I am the one responsible for this failure in security. Punish me instead." He tipped his head.

Before Agney could reply, a smooth voice broke through. "But who killed the intruder, Agney?"

Everyone turned. Ranvijay leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "Cut the ruckus, nephew. Who killed this intruder? Because none of our guards did. So who?"

Agney's expressions worsened. He scoffed. "You're right, Hukum. He didn't shoot himself," he smirked coldly, turning to face everyone. "So unless ghosts have learned to use guns, there's a very humble man among us all who is downplaying this feat."

The tension in the room thickened.

"Or maybe not one of us."

Everyone froze.

Ranvijay's gaze shifted deliberately to Raghav, who stood quietly beside Agney. His look lingered pointedly.

Raghav looked back at the King with cold professionalism. "I'll prepare the full report, Your Majesty," he nodded.

"Dismissed," Agney exhaled sharply. "Stay back Neelakshi."

"Careful who you trust, nephew." 

Neelakshi's cool faltered. Even though she was loyal to the crown, however, breathing in the same air as the old patriarch could snap her years of practised composure. She couldn't dance to his whims.

Nobody could. 

She almost pitied the King.

She gave a tight lipped smile, eyes averting to Agney. "Hukum is right, your Majesty. I shall take my leave."

Agney glared, at her, because he couldn't glare at the one he wanted to. He swallowed his frustration.

He wanted to scream.

He inhaled deeply. "Go," he clipped.

She bowed and turned to leave. Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she exited the room, closing the heavy doors behind her.

Now only Agney and his uncle remained.

Mentally fuming, he felt his heavy gaze at his back.

He turned.

For a long moment, neither spoke. The silence continued to press between them.

Ranvijay leaned back, deliberate. "In eight years, since losing my precious nephew and sister-in-law, not once was our security breached. Not once." He regarded him darkly. "And now, after three days of that boy's arrival, someone dares an assassination attempt."

Agney's jaw clenched. "You're not implying what I think you are."

Ranvijay smirked faintly. "Fifteen minutes before the cameras went dark, your so called brother was wandering the halls. Going to the library, as he said. At two in the morning?" He chuckled coldly. "Tell me, dear, what do you make of that?"

Agney's eyes narrowed, anger flickering behind them. "He is seventeen."

"Still capable."

Agney scoffed. "If a bored teenager can undermine our entire system in just three days, then either he is a genius or all of us are fools."

Ranvijay's smile thinned. "Coincidences are dangerous to ignore."

"And accusations without proof are dangerous to make," Agney shot back. "He is a child, Hukum. Don't turn your paranoia toward him."

"You're vouching for him?" His brows raised. "You've grown... soft," he spoke the last word like an insult after considering it for while.

Agney's thumb tightened around the sapphire ring. There he went... the mockery Yuvaan loathed. "Or I've grown tired of you trying to find a scapegoat, especially a kid."

A beat of silence passed between them.

Ranvijay stood up with effort. "As you wish then. But don't say I didn't warn you. He can never be one of us."

Agney stared back intensely. "How many of your men guard these halls, Hukum? The... new recruits, as you say. Can they be one of us?" 

Ranvijay's eyes darkened, but he only gave a tight, diplomatic smile. "My, my, the cub is starting to roar, isn't he?" He chuckled faintly. "Just make sure you don't strain your throat."

Agney watched the man leave the room. When the door closed, he exhaled deeply, his temples throbbing with stress. He rubbed them, eyes heavy.

"Stupid kid," he muttered to himself, and sat back down heavily in his executive chair.

Agney didn't doubt Harsh. Suspicion had stirred once, but the thought vanished as quickly as it roused. The boy was too young to plot such evil schemes. He barely knew the place. Planning an assassination attempt was ridiculous. Besides, he had burst sobbing with his soulful teary eyes and childlike fear when Agney slapped him and spoke a little too harshly. He wasn't cut for the merciless ways of this palace.

He was sensitive. 

Defiant, yes. But equally sensitive.

He couldn't do it.

Agney's instincts were spot on about it.

And his bhaiya had taught him to trust his instincts. 

His main concern was pinpointing the mole in the palace. Who would betray them? Most staff had been serving them as a family profession.

Why a sudden attack? Especially when Harsh had arrived?

Did the attacker believe the King's attention had splitted because of the teen?

Why choose to attack him in his own home?

Who was the mole?

Who killed the intruder?

His mind was racing miles per second. 

Agney didn't know how much time passed as he toyed with his ring, perturbed. He didn't look up when the door opened quietly.

"Bhai?"

The haze cleared off, grounding him to reality at his brother's voice. 

Prithvi closed the door after him, moving in.

"I convinced Uttarkashi to drop the matter. He's not pleased, but it's what it is. The DSP has assured the body will be burnt to erase the traces. And if his family dares to stir trouble..." he trailed off, "let's say we will arrange their compliance too."

"Rest of the staff?" Agney asked impassively.

"Vaguely informed. Don't worry, bhai. This won't leave the palace."

Agney gestured toward the seat across from his desk.

Prithvi leaned against the desk, facing his brother. His hand brushed his mouth, trembling. He shifted again, though the tremble of his hands didn't waver.

It was at a particular angle of light that he caught a sheen layer of tears in Prithvi's eyes. Prithvi faked a faint smile to assure him.

"It's fine. Just sleepy," his brother lied effortlessly, looking away as he blinked rapidly. "I was up all night for the draft before the attack. Turns out, I was deluding myself that I wasn't in a writer's block." He let out a short, forced chuckle which died fast. His fake smile dropped. "And Yuvaan? Did you inform him?" He asked, craning his neck towards him.

"I won't inform until he's back. He's due in a few hours. No need to make him panic when he's out of home."

Prithvi's eyes softened, tired as he nodded. He masked his anxiety, but Agney caught it, the way his throat bobbed.

Guilt intensified in his gut. Prithvi had to shoulder many of Agney's burdens in life. He didn't want to trouble him, but he was helpless. The twins were too young and Yuvaan had been burdened under more responsibilities than his age should.

Agney stood up, restless at his brother's distress. He walked over and pulled him into a firm embrace. 

Prithvi froze, before he melted, wrapping his arms around him. 

"He was so, so close," he choked, voice weak. 

Agney shook his head, looking away as his jaw clenched. His chest tightened at the reminder of that. He didn't care about himself. He was worried about his brothers. "He could also reach your floor." 

The cameras of both Agney's, and Prithvi's and Harsh's common hallways were overridden. What if the attacker had reached one of his brothers?

Prithvi shook his head rapidly. "That's—"

Agney's arms tightened around his brother, the embrace firmer as his body warmth anchored him. "That's the truth," he spoke in a low voice.

Agney was thirteen. Prithvi twelve. Both of them were glaring at each other, red-faced and furious at another of their petty arguments.

"You think you're better than me just because bhaiya listens to you!" Prithvi shouted, fists clenched.

Agney's face went dark with frustration. Why couldn't he make his sentimental brother understand he was befriending the wrong guy. His new best friend would drain his energy like a vampire.

Besides, that guy didn't like his brother. His brother deserved a better deskmate.

"And you never listen. You're careless. You don't think before you do anything. You just want this... this fairytale. That ain't going to happen. Friendships are not that simple. You should be grateful I was there to break off your stupid friendship!"

"Stop controlling my life, you dictator!"

Agney scoffed. "Then stop acting like a baby."

​​​​​​"As if you're a hundred years older."

"One year."

"That doesn't make you my grandpa. I'm serious. You keep bossing me around."

"I am your bhai," Agney snapped. "That's why I can't let you jump off a cliff."

"See, see, that's how you behave. You think you know the whole world," Prithvi pointed out. He fumed. "I don't wanna live with you. You suffocate me. I-I can't..." he sniffed, swallowing his tears.

Agney grimaced, recoiling back. Why the sudden tear works?​​​​​​

"Agney," a firm voice cut through.

Oh. No.

Agney froze.

Viraj stood at the archway of their mother's study.

Yuvaan walked to his brother's side and removed his black sunglasses. "See? My tip is always right. Agney Rajvansh was bullying Prithvi bhai."

Viraj strode forward with calm authority. Yuvaan trailed behind, swinging his toy gun.

Agney gaped, before the shock wore off. "Yuvi! You were supposed to be on my side!"

Prithvi sobbed. "Bhaiya!" He cried with theatrics, and flung himself into their bhaiya's arms.

While their bhaiya was shushing and placating Prithvi, Yuvaan walked to Agney's side and leaned in unapologetically.

"Too bad Mr. Agney Rajvansh. Prithvi bhai promised me maggi."

He puffed air at his toy gun, put on his sunglasses and strutted out of the room like he were some action hero.

Agney's gaped after him. 

Did his nine year old brother betray him just for maggi?

Commoner's maggi?

Yuck. 

Yuvaan's tastebuds were ruined. 

​​​​​​"Bhaiya, bhaiya, Agni ruined my friendship again. Now no one will want to befriend me," Prithvi wailed, shaking his head. "Everyone in the classroom avoids me because my older brother keeps jumping on my friendships. They all mock me. Everyone sings, 'Prithvi, Prithvi, is your Knight nearby?'!"

Agney gaped. This was unfair. He didn't even do that much.

Their bhaiya stared at Agney pointedly. "What am I hearing, Agney Rajvansh?"

​"Ask him bhaiya, ask him." Prithvi twisted in their bhaiya's arm, glaring at Agney. "He splattered paint over Lakshay's face."

"Agney?"

Agney sputtered, mouth gaping like a fish as he tried to find an excuse.

Their bhaiya stepped forward and flicked Agney's forehead. 

Agney yelped, rubbing his forehead. "He doesn't listen!" he huffed. "That guy doesn't even want to befriend him. Prithvi is the one clinging to him." 

"And forcing him will make him abide you?"

​​​Agney looked away.

"Relationships are not cages, Agni. They are like plants. Both lack of love and overdo kills it. And Prithvi Rajvansh?"

Prithvi looked down when their bhaiya's stern gaze pinned him down.

"How many times do I need to remind you that he is older? Call him Agni bhai."

"He's just an year older," Prithvi whined.​​​

Viraj's lips twitched. "Is that so? One year is like a minute? You're not twins, baby. He's your elder."

Agney side eyed them, muttering, "He thinks he doesn't need anyone. He's so smart," he mimicked in a nerdy voice.

"And you act like you're everyone's guardian," their bhaiya retorted. "Tell me, Prithvi, if one of your friends were to take him lightly, what would you do?"

Prithvi hesitated, his fists clenching. "I will... I will punch them."

"Why?"

"Because he is my bhai. They don't get to play around with him. He is my older brother."

Viraj smirked. "Then why this ruckus?"

Prithvi thought about it for a moment, the gears in his head turning. With a tentative look, he pulled out of their bhaiya's arms, sniffing.

"I'm sorry," he muttered.

Agney, still bristling, softened. "Fine."

Next second, Prithvi flung to Agney, hugging him. "Sorry, bhai." He grinned like a Cheshire cat.

Agney hugged him just as Prithvi pulled back his head. "But I will stop calling you bhai if you tried to ruin my friendships again. Consider it a treaty."

Their bhaiya chuckled. "Dream on baby. He will still control your life anyway. That's what older brothers are for. They get to control." He ruffled Agney's hair, and turned to pinch Prithvi's cheeks.

​​​​​​"And you get to shed crocodile tears, you little gremlin." 

Prithvi grinned mischievously at being caught. He ran away.

He whisper-yelled in the hallway how he was going to sneak Yuvi, not one, but three packets of maggi became he was such a cool baby brother!

​​​​​"I heard that!" Viraj called over, chuckling.

He pulled Agney into his arms, ruffling his hairs. "Baby bear, be a good, responsible older brother."

​​​​​"Bhai?"

"Hm?"

"You're crushing me."

Agney loosened his hold, his eyes lingering on his brother's face. His lips curved up in a hollow mirth, remembering everything they had before the time stole it.

"What are you thinking?" Prithvi asked, clueless at his brother's faint smile.

"Nothing." Agney smiled. "All of a sudden you and I..."

are old, he wanted to say, but he couldn't. He masked his emotions.

"About Harsh..." Prithvi began tensely.

He stiffened. "What about him?"

"Do you doubt..." his brother hesitated, not wanting to ask such a rhetorical question but his heart couldn't resist. "Is he somehow involved in this?"

"What nonsense?" 

Prithvi pulled back. "I don't want to believe it too. I know, okay? I know he's a child, but..." He trailed off, pressing his lips together. "My heart, bhai... it's scared. It keeps wondering what if he will hurt us. It's not because I want to doubt him, but my heart isn't willing to listen. It keeps on whispering the worst scenarios. We can't afford to be hurt again... our blood or not," he ended breathlessly.

Agney observed him steadily, realising the depth of the fear that coursed through his brother. He wish he could physically pluck it out of him, but he couldn't, not when he had been having the same doubts a while ago. "No. I don't think so. The boy's selfish- yes, but he's not dangerous."

He let out a tired sigh, eyes dim with exhaustion. "If Harsh had that kind of time, that boy will use it to stir trouble, not to get us killed. After all, he loves to get up our noses."

Prithvi chuckled, small. He nodded faintly, the weight in his chest easing a little.

"But who fed you that nonsense?" Agney frowned.

"Yug told me about the coincidence, so..."

Agney's eyes widened. "Yug knows? How?"

Prithvi tried to shrug. "I think Faiz told him?"

"Who told Faiz?"

"I don't know." Prithvi moved back an inch, defensively. "How would I know? Maybe Hukum told him." He shrugged.

Agney pinched his nosebridge. "Or Karan told him."

Prithvi sighed wearily, realisation dawning on him. "That means... Yuvi knows too."

"But who told Karan? Hukum? Seriously," Agney muttered, turning away, "what are these men? Gossip girls?"

Prithvi shrugged, clueless himself.

"Alright," he murmured, hands falling to his sides. "Keep the younger's out of trouble. You're the oldest after me. If someday anything happens to—"

"Don't. Nothing will happen to you. Why do you have to keep spewing stupid things like bhaiya?" Prithvi snapped.

"Prithvi..." Agney exhaled, tiredly.

Prithvi turned swiftly, and left, purposefully slamming the door loudly on his way out.