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Dockworkers, their backs bent under heavy crates, moved with efficiency. Nearby, towering warehouses stood like silent sentinels, their walls adorned with the emblems of the Empire.

In the heart of the port, a lively market erupted with noise. Merchants hawked their wares from makeshift stalls, their voices rising above the clatter of metal and the murmur of countless conversations. This rhythmic symphony played against the persistent roar of the sea.

In a house close to the port, a young man relaxed on a cushioned lounge, his head resting on the lap of a beautiful woman. She fed him grapes with a gentle smile. The young man had a warm, sun-kissed complexion and dark, curly hair that seemed to have a life of its own. His eyes, a light shade of blue, sparkled with an intense energy.

A knock interrupted the scene, and the young man responded, "Enter."

The room was luxurious and had a lingering scent of wine and smoke. There were documents cluttered on the table and the young man. The room was dimly lit with some oil lamps.

A young aide stepped into the room, clutching a stack of documents. He narrowed his eyes at the woman before addressing the prince. "Your Highness, we have something to discuss."

"Oh, is it Nakul?"

The prince, Alfonso Deva Raya, rose from the woman\'s lap and gestured for her to leave. She stood gracefully and exited the room with a subtle nod.

Alfonso, the third prince of the Vijayanagar Empire, was the son of the Portuguese concubine of the Emperor. His mother had been captured during the Raid of Goa when the Portuguese were driven out. She had fallen deeply in love with the Emperor, convincing her father to marry the Emperor. After the Portuguese withdrew, the Emperor took her as his concubine, leading to the birth of Alfonso.

The marriage also prevented Portuguese interference to an extent in the Empire.

As the woman departed, Alfonso turned to Nakul, the young aide.

"Alright, Nakul, what\'s so urgent?" Alfonso asked, stretching his arms casually as he settled into a comfortable chair.

Nakul began, "The first prince and second prince both have approached the merchant group for a deal."

Alfonso\'s brow furrowed slightly. "Hmm… That\'s a bit of a predicament."

Nakul nodded, "Yes. They\'re both offering significant incentives to gain the merchants\' favor."

Alfonso leaned back thoughtfully. "We don\'t have to accept their terms immediately. We\'ll wait and let them exhaust themselves."

Nakul looked uncertain. "But won\'t this put us at a disadvantage if they make significant progress?"

"Not necessarily," Alfonso said with a smirk. "Let them spend their resources. We\'ll see where their efforts lead, and when the time is right, we\'ll make our move."

Nakul nodded, understanding the strategy. "I\'ll make sure we stay informed about their progress."

"What about the road project my little brother has started? And how is he?" Alfonso asked, leaning forward with interest.

"The road is progressing as planned. The Nayakas\' supervision is impeccable, leaving little room for error," Nakul replied. "However, I think we should be cautious regarding the prince. He has dismissed our spy, Rukmini, from his chambers. It appears his talent for both strength and business acumen has been growing."

Alfonso raised an eyebrow. "Spy was not my doing anyway! But does his strength match up to Bhairava\'s?"

Nakul thought for a moment before answering. "No, not quite. From my reports, his individual strength already surpasses veteran soldiers, but Bhairava remains exceptional in martial arts. The prince\'s strength is impressive, but it\'s not at Bhairava\'s level."

"Is it because he hasn\'t used his full strength yet?" Alfonso asked, intrigued.

"It\'s possible," Nakul said. "We haven\'t seen him in a situation where he would fully unleash his potential. His skills in combat and strategy might be more refined than we currently understand."

Alfonso nodded thoughtfully. "Keep a close watch. If he becomes a significant threat, we need to be prepared."

"Of course," Nakul said, taking note. "I\'ll continue monitoring his activities and keep you informed."

"Good. Let\'s not underestimate my little brother," Alfonso said, running his hand through his hair and straightening his back. "Now, what about our own plans?"

A knock interrupted their conversation, and the door swung open. A man dressed in black stepped into the room with a brisk stride.

"Your Highness, I have come to report something urgently," he announced, his eyes scanning the room quickly.

Alfonso, reclining in his chair, straightened slightly. "What is it?" he asked, his gaze sharp.

"We have eliminated Rukmini in the Nayaka\'s mansion," the man said, pulling a small parchment from his belt and placing it on the table. "The youngest prince recognized her, and she was becoming a liability. I took her out before she could reveal any more information."

Alfonso\'s face lit up with a satisfied grin. He chuckled, "Haha, good work."

The man continued, his expression turning serious. "Unfortunately, the Nayakas will be investigating the incident. The patriarch seemed quite fond of the young prince, and there were discussions about a potential deal."

Alfonso\'s brow furrowed as he considered the implications. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. "Hmm. We\'ll need to monitor their investigation closely. If they get too close, it could endanger our plans, Remove all your traces from Thanjavur. Shut the base down,"

"Understood, Your Highness," said the man in black.

"What about the other plans I told you about, Nakul?" Alfonso asked, his gaze fixed on his aide.

Nakul nodded. "We\'ve gained significant ground on those fronts as well."

"Good." Alfonso leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled thoughtfully. "Now, contact my uncle in Daman and see if you can coerce more funds from him."

Nakul\'s eyes narrowed in determination. "I\'ll make sure to squeeze them for every last drop of gold."

Alfonso\'s lips curled into a sly smile. The Portuguese had been supporters of his due to his heritage, but he never truly considered them as allies. Despite his loyalty to the Empire, he used the Portuguese as a means to fund his ambitions.

Under the guise of Nakul, he funneled wealth and influence through their support, maintaining a facade of cooperation while leveraging their resources to his advantage.

Nakul, while appearing as a figurehead of independent merchants, was fully aware of the power and ambition behind Alfonso\'s actions. His loyalty to Alfonso was unwavering, understanding that their combined efforts were key to achieving their goals.

"Good," Alfonso said, waving him off. "Keep me updated. And Nakul, make sure our own preparations are on track."

"Also, Inform \'That\' person about Harsha\'s movement, I am sure it would bring some amusement for that person," Alfonso added.

"Is it really necessary? I prefer not to go there, Your Highness," Nakul said with a slight wince.

" That person entrusted you to deliver the information, Come on. You know my hands are tied when it comes to that," Alfonso said with a slight chuckle.

" You are having fun of my suffering, Your Highness," Nakul said with a deep sigh.

"Bye Bye, Have fun talking and reporting," He said giggling with a playful smirk.

"Understood, Your Highness," Nakul said, bowing slightly before exiting the room.

"Harsha finally decided to show his talent after all these years," Alfonso chuckled to himself, his eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and intrigue.

He leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "I wonder how \'that\' person will react to this information."

Alfonso was well aware that he wasn\'t the favored candidate for the throne. He lacked the martial prowess of his brothers and instead excelled in administration. His strategy was to remain patient and bide his time, knowing that opportunity would eventually present itself.

By presenting himself as a non-threatening figure, Alfonso had successfully convinced his brothers to underestimate him. This tactical deception allowed them to focus their attention on each other, creating discord and conflict among them.

Alfonso\'s plan was to let them exhaust their resources and energy fighting amongst themselves, while he prepared to step in and seize the rewards once they were weakened.

His calculated patience and strategic maneuvering were his greatest assets, and he was prepared to use them to his advantage when the time was right.

Alfonso was never like this before, before he was taken under the wing of that person. He was a lively young boy who didn\'t understand anything about politics. He was now a crucial piece in the Empire\'s politics and that person\'s plan.

He liked his younger brother a lot contrary to his older brothers, But he couldn\'t be there for him when he needed him the most. But whenever he met Harsha he would go out of his way and buy many things to cheer him up.

\'I should visit him soon after I finish these things up,\'