The Desert Prince and The Dreamer

Chapter 11

"Sir, that's all I request." Lailah finished talking and the Sultan glanced at her. She didn't take her Father's looks at all but She sure did take his determination. He always would get what he wanted and even as a Chief guard, the Sultan would grant him his wish.

"Before I even answer, will there be any more requests for favors?" he said to her looking at her seriously.

"No Sultan. But also this is not a request for a favor rather an entitlement as your employee." Lailah replied bravely making the King glare at her. She had asked Sapphire to convince the King to see her and when he had accepted She had come to ask him to stop her mother from working as a maid. She was old and needed to rest and enjoy her life and to also let them get new and better housing.

"You seem brave, I hope you can handle my son." he didn't specify which son but they both knew who he meant. "So, your Mother will stop working in the Palace and you will both move into the apartments near the west wing."

"Thank you so much Sultan." Lailah said excitement boiling inside her, She couldn't wait to tell her mother. She hadn't gotten the chance to talk to her since the Job announcement and now She will take for her more good news. She stood up and left the study and not stopping, ran straight to her house. Her Mother was there, She ran to her and hugged her tight.

Ms. Latiffah knew about the Job already, the maids couldn't stop talking about it, Ofcoarse they added some other dreadful rumours which She refused to believe. "I'm so happy for you my habibi." She said hugging her daughter tight.

"Thanks Mommy," Lailah said letting go of her Mum, "I have some other news too."

'Ya Allah, please let it not be true.' She prayed silently to herself. The maids were saying, her daughter will be marrying the King thats why She had been given a position in his company. She didn't want that, her daughter was too young to be attached to an old man.

"...are moving to the apartments next to the west wing and you are no longer a maid Mommy."

"So it's true!" Ms. Latiffah said sadly almost to herself. Her daughter was marrying the Sultan and they were moving to the porsche west wing apartments near the Palace.

"Yes Mom, it's true. Finally you get to relax and do what you love to do." Lailah said excitedly.

"But are you happy about the decision my dear?" She asked worried.

"At first I was not Mommy, I even said no but the King guilted me and made me feel like an ingrate child. So Sapphire convinced me and I knew it was for the better."

"Sapphire was also in on it?" Ms. Latiffah asked in shock.

"No, actually She didn't know. No one in the palace knew, Zayn was so mad and the Queen too, only Shaffik seemed happy for me." She shrugged.

"Poor Zayn, he probably had feelings for you and found out too late." Ms. Latiffah said to herself then added, "Why was Shaffik not mad?"

"What are you talking about Mom. This has nothing to do with what Zayn feels, he just hates me straight out and isn't scared of expressing it. And Shaffik seems okay."

"So, have you made arrangements or Should we start making them now?"

"We can start straight away Mommy." Lailah said excitedly.

"This is not how I had planned everything to go habibi, but If you're really happy, then let's plan your wedding." Ms. Latiffah sighed.

"Alright, wait...what?" Lailah wasn't paying attention until She heard what her Mom said. "What are you talking about Mom? Are you trying to set me up with someone?"

"What are you talking about? How can I set you up with anyone when you already have someone?"

"What's happening here? Why are you talking about weddings?"

"So you don't want to marry, you just want to move in? You can't disgrace me like that." Ms. Latiffah's heart was beating faster and She was breathing hard. She needed to sit down.

"Mom, Mom, calm down." Lailah tried to calm her Mother down, definitely something was wrong. She made her Mother take deep breaths and let them out. After a few minutes She was calm. Lailah proceeded, "Alright, tell me, what's happening?"

"You said you are marrying the Sultan but don't want a wedding. Habibi that..."

"Hold on." Lailah cut her off, "What. Are. You. Talking. About?" She asked with a pause to every word.

"The maids earlier were talking that you got a Job offer but it came with marrying the Sultan. So when you came in here and I asked you if it was true you said Yes."

"But I didn't tell you that I was marrying anyone Mom. And the Sultan, that man is like a Father to me, you know that. Mom, his Job offer has no attachments, not of any sort. All we are required of me and you is to move into the new apartments since you are no longer a maid, you cannot live here. I did not mention any talk on marriage or wedding or anything else, okay Mom?" Lailah spoke firmly looking at her Mother for clearance. Her Mother nodded with tears running down her face. "By now you should know better than to listen to rumours Mom, you almost suffered a heart attack." Lailah said softly.

"I'm Sorry baby, I Should have listened to you carefully and not let my mind wander off."

"It's fine, so let's start packing shall we?"

"We shall habibi." her Mom replied and they both laughed and stood up together.

**********

"That is the worst decision you've ever made in your life Sayyid." Queen Zurah told her husband that night as She combed her hair.

"I don't think so my dear." Sultan Sayyid replied as he looked at his wife. He loved her but she has always been over ambitious and a bad influence to his children.

"Giving that peasant girl a job when there are better candidates out there. What would you call that?"

"I would one day like to know what that girl did to you and Zayn. You both hate her so much with a passion. For Zayn, I might understand, he probably has his feelings mixed and he's in denial but you, why?" he wondered.

"She is just not the right candidate for this Job, you would have let her stay in Spain or Send her Mother to..."

"Enough woman." the King growled at her. "Another word about that family from your mouth and you'll be sent out of the Palace."

"I'm Sorry darling. I'm just looking out for you." the Queen bowed her head and spoke quietly.

"Then don't. I can look out for myself better. Turn the lights off when you're done." He laid in his bed and closed his eyes. He should have just let her stay in her room.

Queen Zurah continued brushing her hair as She stared unblinking at her image in the vanity mirror. She had her reasons for hating that family, but the King will never know. If he did or found out, her life would be completely over. She finished with her hair and put down the brush then stood up and headed towards the bed. She looked at the King, he was already sleeping or trying to avoid her. She thought as She laid back in the covers and clapped her hands twice and the lights went off.