"It's always hot in kingdom. That's why we call it Jwalana kingdom. But don't worry. You will get used to it." He leaned closer to her ear and said "After bearing my kid."
His words made her choke on her drink. He started laughing and rubbed her back.
"Y-You are too bad!" She said in between her coughs.
"You haven't seen my bad side princess." He said, making her glare at him.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped and Ahil knocked on the door.
"We have reached the market. Get down."
She stopped coughing and fixed her appearance.
"You are looking good. Don't be so nervous." He said after seeing her fixing her hair and worrying about her first appearance infront of Jwalana's people.
"I don't want them to look down on me." She said and took a deep breath. Gathering her whole courage, she said "Let's go."
He can't help but smile as he watches the little cat trying to be a lion. He opened the door and stepped down. He forwarded his hand towards her to help her step down.
She held his hand and as soon as she stepped down, Ahil opened an umbrella and stood beside her.
"Thank you brother." She said and smiled brightly at him.
"Give it to me." Raksheet said, trying to snatch the umbrella from Ahil and push him away from his wife.
Ahil immediately moved his hand away "No brother, you are a king, holding an umbrella doesn't suit you. I can hold it for sister."
"She is my wife. I can hold it for her." He was about to snatch it again but Ira interrupted him and said in low voice while looking around anxiously.
"Stop it! Everyone is watching! Don't fight like kids. We are not in our palace."
Both of them quickly looked around and found people staring at them. Raksheet quickly moved backwards and fixed his posture.
"Yes. I am sorry."
"Princess, I will hold the umbrella for you." Ahil said with a smile.
The word 'Princess' triggered Raksheet and he glared at Ahil.
"Don't call her that." He said in low voice.
"Why?" Ahil asked confused. "She is a princess. Why can't I call her princess?"
"I said, don't call her that. That's it!" He said threateningly.
Ira again came in between and stopped them.
"Alright alright, now stop. Don't you want to show me the market? Then let's stop arguing and see the market."
They finally stopped arguing and Raksheet looked away. He smiled at the people arround them who were already smiling at him but looking at Ira in confusion and fear. They were confused to see her.
"Let's go." Ahil said and gestured Ira to walk forward. He kept walking beside her, holding the umbrella for her.
"This is the biggest market of Jwalana. Buy whatever you want, I will pay for it. You can have anything you want." Raksheet said to Ira.
She chuckled and wrapped her hands around his arm "I don't want much."
She looked around in wonder. She have never seen something like this. Stalls and stores of clothes, jwellery, decoration, grocery and even cooked food.
"Do they sell cooked food too?" She asked with raised eyebrows in surprise.
He chuckled on her innocent question and replied "Yes. Sometimes people don't have time to cook food before going to work, so they buy food outside and eat it."
"Does it taste good?"
Before Raksheet can answer, Ahil replied excitedly "Of course! it does taste good! Do you want to try it?"
She looked at Raksheet for permission and he nodded with a reassuring smile. "You can taste it. It's good. But don't eat too much."
"Alright." She smiled happily and Ahil took her towards the food stall immediately.
"What do you want sister?" He asked, gazing all over the food infront of him. He closed the umbrella and placed it aside.
"You choose. I don't know which one is better." She replied, looking at the food in confusion what to eat.
The stall owner joined his hands and greeted them with a warm smile, even though he was a bit confused looking at Ira.
"Greetings your highness. Welcome to my small stall. What would you like to eat?"
Raksheet came forward and helped Ira choose something to eat. As for Ahil, he bought every item one plate.
"You sure you are going to eat all of this?" Raksheet asked, raising his one eyebrow questioningly.
"Not only me but other soldiers will eat too. I will just taste it." He replied and winked at his brother playfully. He gestured other soldiers to come and eat. Even though they were a little hesitant to eat with their king and commander, they obeyed his order.
Raksheet smiled and shook his head to see his brother's slyness. "Do you like it?" He asked Ira who was taking small bites of the food in her hands.
She immediately nod her head and smiled widely "Yes! It's too good! You should eat too." She took a bite in her hand and forwarded it towards his mouth.
He happily accepted it and ate. The stall owner was a little surprised to see Raksheet's loving behaviour towards a woman but soon he realised that their king is already married and may be this woman is his wife whom they have never seen before. It was weird to see Raksheet looking at a woman with so much love and admiration because he don't even look at women whenever he comes to market to meet people. He usually avoids them.
Raksheet noticed the stall owner looking at them in daze and decided to introduce Ira so that he will stop doubting them and it will be good for Ira to make her identity. People should know her.
"How are you sir?" He asked politely. As they know eachother because Raksheet often comes to market and meet people, it's normal for them to talk and ask about eachother.
The stall owner came to his senses and smiled "I am good your majesty. How are you? Welcome to my shop. I hope you like the food."
Raksheet smiled and nod "Yes, it's good as always. By the way, let me introduce someone."
He wrapped his arm around Ira's shoulder and pulled her a little forward "Meet my wife, princess Ira."
The man immediately joined his hands and replied "Nice to meet you, your highness. I am Amit Jain. I am the owner of this stall. I hope you like the food cooked by me."
Ira's eyes widened. She looked at the food in her hand and asked "Did you cooked it?"
Amit smiled and replied "Yes, I cooked it."
"You are really a good cook." She replied "How much for this?" She asked, showing the food in her hand.
Amit waved his both hands in air as no "No your highness, we can't take money from you. The king always helps us, we can't take money from him. This is nothing compared to the help he gives us."
Raksheet came infront and said "You have to. You pay taxes every month. You already give part of your money to the kingdom. No need to give free food to us. If you can't take the money, we can't eat your food too." He said and was about to take the plate of food from Ira and put it aside but before that, Amit stopped him.
"Don't do this your majesty. Her highness has come to my stall for the first time, I can't let her go empty stomach. I will take the money but please don't leave the food."
Raksheet smiled and left the plate, letting Ira eat her food quietly.
"Tell me the bill." He said and Amit started calculating.
After paying for the food, they left from there and started visiting different stores. Many people were looking at Ira in surprise with wide eyes and gossiping about her but soon they shut their mouth when Raksheet wrapped his hand around her shoulder and pulled her closer, giving indirect warning to everyone to not gossip about his wife.
"I want to buy some clothes." She whispered to Raksheet and he immediately understood that his wife want privacy to buy clothes.
"Fine." He replied and then looked at Ahil "Ahil, you should go and pay visit in every store. I and Ira will go by ourself for shopping. Take the soldiers with you."
Ahil looked at Raksheet and then at Ira in confusion but he sensed that his brother want some alone time with his wife. So he obeyed him.