The sun's rays zig-zagged on the lustrous shine of the sandstone walls and the bright paints of the Islamic ornaments. A thick carpet ran the entire length of the hall, the luminous threads entangled in floral patterns.

I should have gone straight to my room.

Both Hamza and Ayesha had been dispatched to prepare for the dinner tonight. I hadn't missed the gleam in Hamza's eyes as he'd escorted her towards the kitchens, his chest puffed out. That would keep them busy for the next few hours.

I had asked Baba to meet me after his meeting with the Caliph, deciding to take the time to do some sleuthing. I knew that staying in my room was not going to provide me with any answers.

Ali might take some time to tell his side of the story, but Afet was more than willing to divulge information. Haleema had been oh so kind to send her a message and she had been more than willing to accept.

My satin clad feet made no noise as I hastily made my way to the meeting point. I'd asked Haleema to stay back as a lookout and she'd agreed, albeit reluctantly. Footsteps sounded and I snuck behind a large column, pasting myself against the solid structure.

"Are you sure she's in our camp?" The voice was male, and they were speaking Turkish. Seif?

My Turkish was rusty, I hadn't spoken much after Mother's untimely demise, and I was straining to understand the words.

"She's a Turkish princess," Afet! I would know her voice anywhere. "With Egyptian and Syrian ancestry."

"What do you think she'd want to know?"

"About the Prince," the footsteps came closer.

"Do you think she'll believe you? Why would she have stayed with him if she had any doubts about him? You told her she's a murderer and she crawled into bed with him!"

"Watch your tongue Seif, she's your future Queen."

"Who might give birth to someone else's child!"

"She won't. I'm sure of that," Haleema had been busy.

"And you're okay with it? Okay knowing that Mehmet will be married to her?" What did that mean? Were they... lovers?

"It was always going to be that way."

They were standing right in front of me now. My heart thudded loudly and I tried to focus on relaxing my muscles. "You're stronger than I gave you credit for."

"She's important to Mehmet and to our cause. She has to know about her husband's actions. It's our obligation to tell her, we're her subjects." The doors swung open with a loud groan.

They were in the library now.

Fixing my appearance, I stepped into the corridor and entered the library.

"Salaam," They turned around, their postures tense, eyes on the floor.

"Salaam Princess."

"Please, have a seat," I waited. "I supposed I should start by why I've asked you here."

"You should know that someone will alert your husband," Seif muttered, his hands clasped in front of him.

"Of a chance meeting in a library? I've no doubt," I was counting on it.

"You're very sure," Afet remarked, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"Yes, now, before we get interrupted, what was so important that you had to nick my shoulder that fateful day?"

Seif rubbed the back of his neck, his face going red. "I..."

"We wanted to get you for a few seconds," Afet interrupted, her gaze inscrutable.

"Yes, and?"

"You're married to a monster Princess,"

"We've established that. However, I would advise you to not speak about my husband this way."

Uncertainty flickered in her eyes, but then she shrugged, looking nonchalant. "Noted."

"Mehmet told me of the... allegations against the Prince."

"Allegations?" Seif asked, his voice rising.

"Yes."

"They're not allegations Princess"

"Until I have proof, they're allegations"

"Why do you find it so hard to believe? The man you know and the murderous General are the same," I didn't move a muscle at Afet's statement.

"Maybe so, but you're asking me to uproot my life, to betray my husband all for a cause that doesn't even have ..."

"Understandable, you want security."

"Security? You're asking me to go against my father, my husband, and the place I was born in, for what? To go against the teachings of our religion? To incite bloodshed? One wrong step from my end could cost us thousands of lives!"

"Prince Mehmet..."

"Mehmet needs this alliance and his crown. I could get that for him. But he can not have his Queen, he needs to understand that. You know this. Make him understand this."

"Why did you seek us?"

"To let you know that Mehmet is blinded by his own ambition, don't let your cause suffer."

"Seif, give me a moment with the Princess," he shot her an irritated look, his handsome face marred with confusion. She nodded, her eyes on my face, and he got up, bowed, and left the room.

Afet leaned towards me, her fingers placed on the cushions beneath her. "I know why you're doing this, I can respect that. A woman's place is on her husband's side..."

"A woman's place is where she wants to be, as you've clearly shown me. You're a woman in a man's profession. I wanted to be one too, and maybe I will be someday," someday, if I ever gathered the strength to pursue it. "But Mehmet's ego could propel us all into an unjust war."

Reluctance crossed Afet's face, warring with the logic I'd laid out. "What?"

"Do you think the Caliph will let me go? That he won't take this as an insult? You kill his son, he comes after you. You take me, they both come after you. Our Dynasty would die! Our bloodline would wither out. Mehmet is blinded by his own ambition!"

"You like him." I didn't need to ask who he was. And she had no right to know.

"It's not about liking someone. Look at the facts. You'll destroy nations just from this"

"You're unlike your mother," I jerked back as if she'd slapped me. "She would have done anything to get this done."

"What do you mean?"

"Your mother started the rebellion. She was the one who led us. She-"

"Forgive my intrusion, Princess Laila, your Father is waiting for you in your chambers," Haleema's clear voice echoed in the room, her eyes sharp and accusatory.

I nodded and made my way out of the library, shooting Afet a scathing look before I left. Time to let Baba clear this up.

I handed the cup to my father. "Baba, What did she mean by that?" How dare she drag my mother into this?

"I told you to let this be, Laila!" He took a sip and relaxed, his body propped against the wooden screen.

"I can't Baba, not when Mother was involved."

"Your mother was a remarkable woman, but why would she leave her family and lead a rebellion? Why would she leave you? She loved you more than life itself!" Tears gathered in my eyes and I sniffed. "We were shattered after her death..." He lowered his head, his eyes filled with untold grief.

Would I be the same? If I lost Ali, would I be like my father? It had taken a lot to bring him back to life, to make him live again. Would I also be like that?

"I remember."

He let out a bitter laugh. "Of course you do. I wasn't the ideal father. You handled yourself remarkably well for an eleven-year-old." My eyes shot up to meet his.

This was the first time he'd acknowledged that period of our lives. He grimaced and nodded, his face reflecting the hurt and grief in his eyes.

"Your mother was an exiled princess, she's being used to propagate and advance an agenda," I nodded, placing the tray of desserts back on the table.

"What about the Prince? Why would Mehmet say that?"

"Laila, Ali has been a General for the past three years. In his time, he's faced countless manipulative tactics, assassination attempts, and fake plots," I nodded, trying to understand. "What Mehmet told you was one of those fake plots. Mehmet refuses to believe this. I've tried to explain it to him, but he's gone mad."

"What if he does something rash Baba? What if he hurts Ali?"

"Do you care for him, daughter?"

A blush stained my cheeks. "He's my husband, Baba." He chuckled and patted my head.

"He won't do anything as long as you stand against him," his eyebrows lowered into a frown. "For all his faults, the boy does care for you."

While canoodling with Afet. "Let's hope that's enough."

A banquet had been set up in one of our personal chambers, the aroma of spices carrying on the warm air. Colorful cotton throws and the bright lamplight made the room look comfortable and regal.

Ayesha and Haleema moved around, fluffing the cushions and placing food on the table—aromatic rice with fresh dill and split beans, lamb simmered in a sauce of turmeric and caramelized onions, skewers of chicken and roasted tomatoes, fresh vegetables garnished with mint and chopped parsley, olives marinated in fine oil, and lavash bread with rounds of goat cheese.

"Not bad, you've clearly got the skill," Zaynab announced, giving me a brief hug.

"Glad you could make it. I know it was on short notice..."

She smiled. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

My heart melted at her genuine appreciation. I opened my mouth to thank her but was interrupted by Khalid, Amina, and Ali's entrance.

I stood up to greet him, my mouth forming the words just as he blew past me, not even sparing me a glance.

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Trouble? Also, guys, this isn't my best chapter, I was a bit distracted. The next one will be better 😍