The golden horns of Mahishmati blared across the city as dawn rose red over its high walls. The skies seemed to burn with the fire of celebration, but underneath the grand banners and festive drums, a quiet tension thrummed through the veins of the capital.
Today, Mahishmati would have a new king.
And it would reveal the soul of its people.
---
The great open courtyard before the royal dais swelled with thousands of citizens—merchants in bright silks, farmers in festival whites, nobles adorned in gold, guards in polished armor, and temple priests who'd not left their sanctums in months. From the high towers, flower petals rained like blessings. The massive iron gates were thrown wide, allowing even commoners to witness the coronation.
Rajmata Sivagami Devi stood at the center of the raised platform, regal as ever, holding the ceremonial crown in her hands. Her face bore no emotion—only stone-hard duty.
Beside her stood Bhallaladeva, armored in dark green and gold, his expression grim but proud. To his right, Bahubali, dressed in crimson and silver, stood quietly, hands clasped behind his back, head slightly bowed—not in submission, but in discipline.
Virendra, standing beside Devsena and Jayvarma among the foreign dignitaries, kept his eyes sharp and watchful.
"This is not just a coronation," he murmured to Jayvarma. "It's a test."
Jayvarma arched a brow. "Of what?"
"Of who truly rules Mahishmati."
---
The Crown Descends
Sivagami's voice rang clear over the hushed crowd.
"Today, by the grace of the gods and the will of Mahishmati, I anoint my son—Bhallaladeva—as the rightful heir and King of this great kingdom."
A few scattered claps.
A pause.
Then the priests began the ritual chants, covering the lull, while Sivagami placed the crown upon her son's head.
"I am the son of Bhijaladev and Shivgami Devi, who is known as BhalalDev. I will protect and progress the Kingdom of Mahismati! I take oath of the God!"
He then walks towards his throne and sits on it. He slowly moves his hand back and forth, feeling the touch of the throne. He smiles proudly, knowing that he has acquired power.
His advisor cheers,"Long live the King, BhalalDev!"
Many other soldiers cheer along with him,"Long live the King!"
Bahubali comes forward as Shivgami puts Tilak on him as well. She then places the Senapati Helmet on his head, while Bahubali kept smiling at his mother. He got upset to see that she was still angry.
He then boldly walks forward. The servant offers him his speech. He refuses to take it. He looks proudly at the crowd who were waiting for him to speak. He announces,"I am Amrendra Bahubali!"
The whole crowd start cheering loudly. The noise of the crowd was very high. Virendra, Devasena and everyone else look around, shocked to see the love from the people of Mahismati towards Bahubali.
He looks at them and screams,"I AM AMRENDRA BAHUBALI!"
The crowd starts cheering more loudly. He continues-
"I will protect the people, their money, their honor, and the Kingdom of Mahismati! I am the cheif commander of army of Mahismati Kingdom. If I have to sacrifice my life for our King, I will not hesitate! I take oath of my mother, Shivgami Devi!
JAY MAHISMATI!"
He raises his hand in the air as the whole crowd calls out his name. They start shouting, "Long live Bahubali! Long live, Bahubali! Long live Bahubali!!....."
The elephants raise their trunks showing respects. The soldiers start hitting their spears on the ground, showing support. The ground was vibrating, but the people didn't stop.
Devasena looks up at her man proudly. things around her were shaking due the loud noise. Virendra too is impressed with respect Bahubali commands from people.
While, BhalalDev was very angry. He looks up at the crowd, trying to maintain his smile. Even though he won the throne, Bahubali won the power.
Shivgami looks at Bahubali with shock. She looks at him as he smiles at his people. She was shocked to see the power he held.
Virendra exchanged a look with Devsena.
The royal umbrella which was fixed behind the throne, due to the vibration, almost falls on Bhalal. But Bahubali runs and holds it, protecting his King. He then quickly fixes it back, while BhalalDev watches Bahubali, still surprised by the response of the crowd.
---
"This... was not the reaction Sivagami expected," Virendra whispered.
Devsena gave a slight nod, eyes never leaving Bahubali. "The people have crowned their king—just not the one on the throne."
---
That night, the celebration continued in the royal halls. But behind closed doors, the storm had already begun.
Sivagami sat in her private chamber, hands clenched tightly around a goblet of wine.
"He stole the moment," she muttered. "Without trying, without wanting, he took the heart of the people."
Her advisor stood silently nearby.
"It will pass, Rajmata. Once Bhallaladeva begins ruling, the people will see his strength."
"No," she said. "They won't. Because they don't care about strength. They care about love."
Meanwhile, in a guest balcony, Virendra stood alone, overlooking the city.
He had watched Bhallaladeva's coronation, then the crowd's ecstatic welcome of Bahubali's appointment. And what he saw wasn't just a rivalry.
It was a fault line.
A crack between crown and sword.
"The people have chosen their protector," Virendra murmured. "But the throne has chosen its prisoner."
---
Bahubali sat on a stone bench in the gardens, fingers tracing the edge of his new armband—the symbol of the commander-in-chief. Devsena approached silently, Virendra at her side.
"You were magnificent," Devsena said softly.
Bahubali sighed. "But I am not the king."
"You were today," Virendra said. "The people crowned you with their hearts. That cannot be revoked."
Bahubali looked up at him.
"And what would you do with such power if you were in my place?"
Virendra paused.
"Protect it. Not wield it."
Bahubali smiled faintly.
"That's why I like you, Virendra. You remind me of what I could become… if I stop being careful."
Virendra's gaze hardened slightly. "Don't stop being careful. Just stop being silent."
---
Here is the next chapter, continuing directly after the coronation. The focus shifts to Bhallaladeva's rising insecurity, Sivagami's internal doubts, and Virendra's quiet moves to understand Mahishmati's politics while preparing for long-term plans.
---
The flickering torches of Mahishmati's great palace cast long, restless shadows on stone walls that had seen generations of blood and ambition. But tonight, beneath the banners of celebration and honor, there simmered something far more dangerous than ambition—envy.
The newly crowned king sat in silence.
Not on the throne. Not at court. But in the privacy of his chambers, his armor still half-worn, the ceremonial crown resting untouched on the table.
The echo of the crowd's chants still rang in his ears.
"Bahubali! Bahubali! Bahubali!"
Not "Long live the King."
Not "Bhallaladeva."
Just his name—Amarendra.
"What do they see in him?" Bhallaladeva asked aloud, more to himself than to anyone present.
One of his closest ministers, Bijjala, spoke cautiously. "He is... loved, Your Majesty. Loved for his humility. For his strength. For being what the people dream their rulers to be."
Bhallaladeva's eyes narrowed. "And I am not?"
Bijjala bowed his head. "The people do not yet understand the weight you carry, my king. But we can make them see."
A silence followed.
Then Bhallaladeva leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin.
"Yes... yes we will."
---
Sivagami stood at the balcony, watching the lights of the celebration in the city. Her hands, clasped behind her back, were still as marble.
Kattappa approached silently.
"You seem troubled, Rajmata."
She didn't look at him.
"Do you think I made a mistake, Kattappa?"
The old warrior was silent for a moment before replying.
"You did what duty demanded."
"But the people..." she exhaled, slowly, as if releasing a truth she did not want to admit. "They look at Amarendra as if he is already their king. Not my son."
Kattappa said nothing.
"I gave my word to Bhallaladeva," she said at last, more to herself than to him. "And I will not break it second time. No matter what the people want."
Then, her expression hardened.
"Devsena will marry Bahubali. And if she refuses again—then perhaps Kunthala needs to be reminded of Mahishmati's strength."
---
Virendra walked through the inner courtyard garden, where glowing lotus lanterns floated across small ponds. The gentle breeze carried whispers of drunken courtiers and gossiping nobles.
He paused by a stone bench, pulling out a small folded map from his inner tunic. On it, he had begun sketching Mahishmati's inner keep, noting guard rotations, patrol shifts, and proximity to the armory and treasury. Nothing treasonous—yet. But caution demanded preparation.
A familiar voice broke the silence.
"You walk like a spy, Prince of Kunthala."
Virendra turned. Bahubali approached, holding two small cups of sweetened milk.
"I walk like a student," Virendra replied with a smirk. "Mahishmati is a large city. Easy to get lost in."
Bahubali handed him a cup. "But you didn't. You made it here, alone, in a city that loves me and fears my brother. That tells me you're more than just a prince."
Virendra nodded, accepting the drink.
"And what do you see in this city, Bahubali?"
The warrior prince looked toward the palace.
"Cracks. Covered in gold."
---
Later That Night – A Private Council
In a small guest chamber, Virendra met quietly with Jayvarma and Devsena.
"Mahishmati is not stable," Virendra began. "There's power here, yes. But it's split. Sivagami is caught between her heart and her promise. The people want Bahubali. The ministers serve Bhallaladeva. And I believe some of them are already scheming to shift balance further."
Jayvarma nodded. "Do you suspect war?"
"No. Not yet. But a political storm is coming. And when it does, I need to know which way the wind is blowing."
Devsena folded her arms. "So what do you suggest?"
Virendra looked at them both.
"We stay. We learn. And when the time comes, Kunthala won't be surprised—it'll be prepared."
---
Elsewhere – Whispers in the Dark
In the dungeons beneath the palace, a man in black robes knelt before Bhallaladeva.
"There are still Pindari remnants scattered across the north. Give the word, and I'll... ignite them."
Bhallaladeva said nothing for a moment.
Then his lips curved into a cruel smile.
"No. Not yet. But keep your flames ready. Kunthala may still need to be scorched."
---