That Time I Got Reincarnated With Gacha System In Mahabharata

[Aditya's POV]

Shit!

Now am I also among those who killed their own uncles?

Who am I kidding? Of course, I AM!!!

My gaze returned to the frozen figure of Lord Ernesh, entombed in ice, his face still twisted in a grotesque mask of fear and desperation. The Leviathan Axe hummed faintly in my grip, the frosty mist around it slowly dissipating as the battlefield settled into an eerie silence. The bodies, the ice, the blood—it was all a grotesque reminder of what I'd become.

"Frozen Death, indeed," I muttered, shaking my head. The irony was almost poetic. To wield such power and yet feel this... hollowness.

The truth-sensing power had been both a blessing and a curse. It stripped away the lies and pretence, revealing the stark, naked reality of people's hearts. And what I had seen in Ernesh was nothing but rot—treachery, ambition, and cowardice. He deserved his fate, didn't he?

Then why does it feel so empty?

My grip tightened on the axe as I turned away from the icy monument that was once my uncle. I could already hear the murmurs of the nobles watching from the palace walls. Whispers of fear, awe, and perhaps even ambition. Let them whisper. They would think twice before challenging me now. If nothing else, this display of power would cement my position and serve as a warning to those who dared to betray the throne.

"Aditya!" A voice, frantic and familiar, called out from the distance. I turned to see Draupadi running toward me, her eyes wide with an almost manic glint. She was barefoot, her royal robes trailing behind her as she made her way across the frozen battlefield.

"Draupadi?" I raised an eyebrow, confused by her sudden appearance.

She stopped just short of me, her chest heaving with exertion, and for a moment, there was silence. Then, without warning, she flung herself at me, wrapping her arms tightly around my torso.

"Hubby~" Draupadi squealed as she buried her face into my chest snuffing onto my clothes like a predator marking its territory. Her voice was sweet yet tinged with a dangerous undertone that sent shivers down my spine—not from the cold but from something far more unsettling.

"Draupadi," I said cautiously, my voice firm. "What are you doing here? This battlefield is no place for you."

"But it's where you are," she whispered, looking up at me with eyes that sparkled with a mix of admiration and obsession. Her grip tightened as if she feared I might vanish. "I couldn't stay behind while you... while he dared to oppose you. Watching you destroy those who betrayed our kingdom... it was beautiful. You are beautiful."

I froze, unsure how to respond to her words. Her tone was both reverent and possessive, her admiration bordering on something far darker. But a smile broke through on my face as my arms went around her waist pulling my beautiful wife further into my embrace.

"Wifey~ you shouldn't have come here," I said softly, though my tone betrayed no anger. "This place is drenched in blood and ice. It's no sight for you."

She shook her head, her dark, silky hair brushing against my chest. "It's exactly where I belong, my love. By your side, through blood and battle. They were fools to stand against you, and you... you showed them their place. How could I not be here to witness your greatness?"

Her voice sent a chill down my spine that rivaled the frost lingering in the air. Her devotion was intoxicating, yet there was an edge to it that hinted at something more—something unyielding and dangerous.

'This yandere of mine will be the death of me someday~'

"Let's go back there is much to settle," I said as I swept her off her feet.

Draupadi's lips curved into a soft, almost dreamlike smile as she nestled closer into my arms. Her grip around my neck tightened slightly, a silent affirmation of her desire to stay by my side, no matter where it led. She sighed contentedly, her eyes half-lidded as if she were lost in a world where only we existed.

"Yes, my hubby," she whispered, her voice laced with an almost dangerous reverence. "Let us return and claim what is ours."

As I carried her across the frozen wasteland, the remnants of the battlefield stretched out before us—a stark reminder of the chaos I had wrought. The nobles on the palace walls continued to watch in stunned silence, their expressions a mixture of fear, awe, and newfound respect. Their whispers reached my ears as faint murmurs, barely distinguishable from the howling wind.

"Did you see how he wielded that axe?"

"He's unstoppable... like a god of war."

"No one will dare oppose him now. Not even the other lords."

Good. Let them tremble. Let them know what happens to traitors and cowards. Yet, as satisfying as it was to see their awe, a small part of me felt the weight of their expectations settling heavier on my shoulders.

"Aditya," Draupadi murmured, her voice breaking through my thoughts. Her dark eyes met mine, and for a moment, the battlefield, the nobles, the blood—all of it faded away. "You don't need to carry this burden alone. I'm here. Always."

Her words, though sweet, carried an undercurrent of possessiveness that sent a ripple through me. She wasn't offering support so much as claiming me entirely. A small smirk tugged at the corner of my lips despite myself.

"I know, wifey," I replied, my voice tinged with both amusement and resignation. "You're not exactly the type to let me forget."

As we reached the palace gates, the heavy doors creaked open, revealing a sea of nobles and advisors waiting in tense silence. Their gazes darted from me to Draupadi in my arms, their expressions ranging from disbelief to reluctant acceptance.

My foster father Mahamantri Siddharth stepped forward, his face betraying no emotion save for a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "Your Highness," he said, bowing deeply, "your victory today has reaffirmed the strength of the throne. The traitors have been dealt with, and the kingdom stands united under your rule."

As my gaze met Mahamantri Siddharth's, I noticed a flicker of something deeper behind his composed exterior—a certain glimmer of worry, admiration and pride.

"Father, you knew right... that he was my... uncle?"

Siddharth's eyes remained fixed on mine for a moment longer than necessary, as if weighing my words. His face was a mask of stoic professionalism, but the brief pause, the faintest tightening of his jaw, spoke volumes. He had always been a man who prided himself on control, but there were moments, like this one, when even he couldn't mask the complexity of the situation.

"Yes, Your Highness," he replied evenly, his voice measured. "Lord Ernesh's bloodline is no secret to me."

"Then—" I shouted but he held up a hand interrupting me.

"We can talk about this in private, but now addressing the throne's stability is of utmost importance," Mahamantri Siddharth continued, his voice calm but firm, the urgency of the moment making him speak with a slight edge. "The nobles are watching, and they need assurance. You've done what was necessary, and your actions have silenced any doubt about your strength. Now, we must go as planned in weeks' time for your royal coronation as guests from all over the Aryavart will start arriving in two to three days at most." His words settled over me like a heavy cloak, the weight of responsibility pressing down on my shoulders once again.

I glanced at the gathered nobles, their eyes flickering with a mixture of respect and fear. They had seen what I was capable of, and I knew this display of power would have lasting consequences. Some would undoubtedly challenge me, test my resolve, but today, I had made it clear: the throne was mine, and anyone who dared defy me would meet a swift, icy end.

"Understood," I said, nodding to Siddharth. "But don't think for a second that this means everything is settled. There are still factions out there that will seek to undermine me. I will not tolerate any further disloyalty."

Siddharth's eyes gleamed with a subtle approval, though his face remained stoic. "Of course, Your Highness. The kingdom's enemies are many, but they will find themselves in the cold shadow of your strength."

The words hung in the air, a reminder of the precarious nature of power. Despite my victories, I knew the battle for the throne was far from over. But for now, I had earned a temporary peace, a moment of dominance.

I started walking toward my and Draupadi's chamber leaving everything else behind. I turned my attention back to Draupadi, still cradled in my arms. Her smile had softened, the dangerous edge in her eyes replaced with something more tender. Her fingers traced the collar of my armour absentmindedly, but her mind was clearly elsewhere. I could sense her thoughts—a mix of pride, obsession, and an overwhelming need to possess me entirely.

"You're incredible," she murmured, her voice low and almost reverent. "No one can stand against you. Not even your own blood."

I forced a smile, though it felt strained. "And yet, I'm still left with the question—why does it all feel so empty?"

As I carried Draupadi through the palace halls, my thoughts swirled in a whirlpool of confusion and uncertainty. The grandeur of the palace, the echoing whispers of the nobles, and the chilling weight of my recent actions should have felt like triumph. Instead, they left me hollow, as if the victory was a fleeting illusion. Even as Draupadi's hands tightened around my neck in possessive devotion, something gnawed at me—a lingering emptiness that nothing seemed to fill.

We entered the lavish chambers that had become our refuge, and Draupadi immediately settled herself on the plush velvet cushions, still gazing at me with that same adoration—and obsession. I couldn't escape the feeling that she was not simply my wife in this moment but something more... something far more dangerous.

She lept onto my lap as her lips...

.

..

...

[To Be Continue]

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