Chapter 5: Accidental Achievements and Villain Vows

Looking at Uncle Sharma's look of despair,

I was secretly delighted.

My heart did a little bhangra. I’d outplayed them! Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

Getting rid of a minister who dared to speak up—

surely that brought me a step closer to losing the kingdom.

A notification flashed in my mind—almost like a WhatsApp ping, but far more ominous.

[Detected that Minister of Rituals Uncle Sharma has manipulated the royal exam for years.]

[Most poor scholars have no hope of advancement and are disheartened.]

[Host unlocked achievement: 'Reform the Royal Exam', reputation +50.]

Now it was my turn to be stunned.

I thought for a long time before I understood.

Arrey yaar.

So that Uncle Sharma wasn't a loyal minister at all,

but a corrupt babu who broke the law?

I stared at the ceiling fan (which, in my palace, was just a slow-moving punkha). My entire plan—flopped harder than my last semester’s physics viva.

For a moment, I beat my chest and stomped my feet in regret.

I thumped the side of my bed dramatically, accidentally sending a silver bowl crashing to the floor. The maids outside probably thought I’d lost my mind.

He was my ace in the hole for losing the kingdom!

How could I have exiled and demoted him?

That Uncle Sharma, honestly.

Why couldn't you just say so from the start?

If you wanted to rig the royal exam, would I not have agreed?

But now it's too late.

After all, I've already issued the order.

If I take it back now, I can't save face.

Kya izzat reh jayegi? I imagined the gossipy old ladies outside the palace—"Dekho, Maharaja took back his own words!"

I figured I'd wait a while

and find an excuse to bring Uncle Sharma back.

Unexpectedly, half a month later, I received news.

Uncle Sharma was killed by dacoits on his way to take office.

Such a major traitor—gone just like that?

Unbelievable.

Enraged, I ordered the dacoits severely punished.

[Host unlocked achievement: 'Eliminate Dacoits'.]

[The local people praise you, reputation +5.]

Me: ...

Wuwuwu, I was wrong.

I won't do any more good deeds.

Wiping away my tears, I could only search for another corrupt babu in court.

I blew my nose on the edge of my robe, scowling like a hero in an old black-and-white film. “Yaar, main toh villain banna chahta tha, par yeh log toh hero bana rahe hain.”