Royalty Gone Bad

***

Asahd’s POV:

“You seem really close. That’s cute,” Allison whispered to me while we watched the movie, referring to Saïda and I.

“You think? We’re not very close,” I mused.

“I think you are. You’ve been worrying about Stephan bothering her throughout. And she keeps turning to see if you’re okay too. That’s so cute,” she giggled lowly and it amused me. Her theory amused me because I didn’t think it was a fact.

“If you say so,” I looked at her. “Having a good time?” I asked and she smiled, nodding a little.

“I– I’m kind of impatient for tomorrow,” she admitted shyly. “It’ll be just us, two. And, I’ll be able to tell you something I’ve been wanting to.”

“Which is?” I asked and she blushed.

“Um, nothing really special. I’d rather tell you tomorrow,” she muttered.

“Hmm. Okay.”

***

After the movie, we all left the theatre, satisfied. It’d been very interesting.

We told one another, goodnight, and parted in good moods. While Saïda waited in a corner, Allison approached me.

“Tomorrow?” she asked with a smile. She was very cute.

“Tomorrow,” I replied and pulled her in for a hug which clearly pleased her. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Asahd,” she then turned and waved at Saïda. “Bye, Saïda.”

“Bye. Goodnight,” Saïda waved back and Allison ran to catch up with the others.

I went to Saïda.

“You see? Apart from that annoying Stephan, you had a good time right?” I asked.

“Yeah, it was great,” she smiled and we started walking down the sidewalk. “Can you carry me?” her question surprised and amused me.

“Why?” I laughed

“Because you look like a tree close to me and I would like to be that tall or high,” she laughed. “I just feel like it.”

“Well okay,” I chuckled and bended a little. “Get on.”

“Yay!” she hopped onto my back, wrapping her legs and arms around me for support. I gripped the back of her knees and started walking.

you’re so

you’re so short,” I mocked. “You’re so tiny, too.

perfect team,”

we are,” I

Saïda’s POV:

with me on his back, I couldn’t help it but inhale the sweet smell of his hair. Who was I kidding? That shampoo smelled so good. Since I’d started using it myself, I would

buy me shampoo, for wasting my other one,”

you could use

smells so gooood. And I’m tempted to smell my hair whenever I

“Where’s the problem?”

personalised scent and I don’t want it.

if we use it together. As you said, it’s costly here and you can’t use something else, cuz you’ve never actually done so. We don’t know what

a politician. Or lawyer,” he chuckled and I laughed

“Fine. Tomorrow.”

are you starting to

the moment, I like

if she confesses some

I don’t feel same, and that maybe I will, the longer I stay in the relationship. But if I don’t eventually like her,

She’s quite simple. Imagine taking her back to Zagreh when things get serious between the both of you. Eeek!” I squealed like a kid and he laughed. “That’ll

You’re already talking about marriage with her??”

not? Remember you have a few months to your 23rd birthday. And according to tradition, you have to get

I have to marry a girl from Zagreh, that belongs to the noble class for that matter. It’s not even possible for me to a

decide whom you want to get married to. You’re the heir and the sultan’s

Zagrehan sultan who got

“Sultan Selim did.”

he asked and I

great, great grandfather. He married two wives. His first wife was a German woman. Your great, great, great grandmother was his

of dodging my royal history lectures,”

The crowning ceremony takes place in three stages. The first will be on your wedding day, the two others will be when you’re twenty five. During these, you will be asked a series of questions on

for real?!” he exclaimed and I laughed. Sometimes Asahd was like a foreigner, himself. A complete stranger to his own

I’ll teach you and prepare you for that. Every

I’m so

Zagreh that belongs to the middle or lower class. It’s your choice to make. It might not please the

weren’t here to tell me all these things, that I am supposed

now that you realise

“Shut up.”

down a few more blocks, discussing about everything and anything. Until, a drop of rain fell on

“Uh oh,” I mumbled.

nights were becoming windy, some

“What?” Asahd asked.

“Rain’s coming.”

and personal cars drove by. No cabs in sight. The drops started fallings, plenty in

place to hide from it?” I asked as it seemed to get stronger with