Chapter 4

The people of Hamster started to live happily. The smiles on their faces was back, fields grew green, trade progressed and the country was back to normal. Princess Veronica's joy grew no bounds. As a celebration to victory over the evil a fair was organised.

The kind hearted princess distributed sweets and clothes to the needy during the fair. The citizens in the constituency danced and sang happily in praise of her. With the love adorned in their hearts they gave her a new name out of respect - The Queen Victoria.

As the name suggests Victoria means victory and Princess had never tasted failure in her life. While she was taking the blessing of a veteran bowing her head humbly in spite of her many past victories, a woman holding a baby in her arms came rushing to her.

"Oh humble Queen Victoria, I live in the east province of your country. Your eminence is spread far and wide and you stand the magnificence of giving the best judgment in the globe. Today I came to you with the same expectancy that you would grant me justice." She placed the baby at her feet.

"Mother..." The queen spoke abject keeping aside her glory and valour. "I am blessed that you have so much confidence in me." She joined her hands in respect to her. "Children are another form of God and I'm just your humble servant." Her modest words in spite of her huge list in success brought tears of reverence in her subjects.

Veronica lifted the baby to her arms and hugged him to her chest for the soft heart she possessed filled with motherliness. "This woman claims my baby as hers." She pointed to the younger looking lady standing between the crowd.

"Hmm" Veronica nodded in thought. "Do you have any proof to say that the baby is yours?" The woman shook her head with tears in her eyes. "What proof can I give to claim the baby which is mine by flesh and blood, your majesty? Every hour I feed him transforming my blood that goes to him as milk." She dried her tears with a cloth in her hands.

Princess Veronica nodded thoughtfully. She asked the same question to the other lady too who was standing between the crowd but the younger lady also had same reply like the former one. The decision was already taken by the smart princess as she looked at the two females with a servile smile.

Queen Victoria clapped her hands and an attendent rushed. He stood right infront after bowing to her. "Take this baby and cut him to two pieces giving each part to the ladies." The people who were standing around curiously waiting for her judgment looked aghast at her insensitive order. There were soft murmurs heard between the people but the soldier cared none.

He lifted the sword ready to cut the baby who was sleeping peacefully in his other arm. But before he could complete the order a soft cry was heard from the woman between the crowd with a strong 'no'.

"No your highness, let the baby stay with her." She directed to the lady who was looking reverentially at the princess with folded arms. "I cannot see my child die."

Princess Veronica gave out a victorious smile. "The baby belongs to her. Give her back her baby." She spoke aloud with power and rule aiming at the lady who cried and spoke standing between the crowd.

She looked back at the other lady in fierceness of a tigress. "Why would you commit such heinous crime of stealing another woman's infant?"

"Princess I'm so sorry. I had been wanting a child since many years but I couldn't hold one in my belly. That lady has got six kids. So I thought I could steal one from her." Veronica arrested her with orbs of fury.

"You foolish woman, no matter the number kids a mother nurtures she carries the same amount of love towards all her kids. A mother's love is unparalleled, limitless and the most sacred emotion God has created on earth. Children are a gift from God. If you haven't got one yet, keep praying him. He might grant you your wish but you shouldn't steal another woman's child."

"Hail of blessing to Princess Veronica, long live the princess." The people raised up their hands in air to slogans. The princess humbly bowed to her citizens and walked to her chariot.

She was soon married to the handsome Prince of Persia. But Veronica couldn't join her husband after marriage. She loved her people more than her happiness. The princess continued to rule her kingdom staying in Hamster and the Prince joined her to make her happy.

They were soon blessed by God with two children but was this the happy ending of Princess's journey?

Ten years later a deadly disease spread in the country. The princess consulted famous sorceress and many black magicians who had the capacity to turn the tables with the flick of their fingers but nobody could counter the dangers that crossed the nation.

The happy lives of the people shattered succumbed to a deadly disease. None knew its roots, when and how it attacks people. No physician in the country or neighboring states was able to find a solution.

The kind hearted princess traveled far and wide to protect her citizens and finally came across a hermit deeply under the penance of a Banyan tree.

He told her Otaku had a liberation from his live burial months ago and the monster is back now with much more vengeance. The deaths and the menacious diseases suffered by her subjects is due to his vicious revenge upon her. He did an exceptional penance and regnanted the black magic powers. Thereby today he became the most frightening and perilous beast.

"What is the solution to this problem?" The princess asked the saint with eagerness.

In mute the sage once again closed his eyes going to meditation. More than half an hour had passed for him in deep prayers but the princess continued to pray him with folded hands in expectancy of a solution. Finally he opened his eyes which were red and fuming like the swelter of the sun and the words he spoke next swept the ground from under the queen's feet.