Chapter 18: Chapter 18

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JAMAL

I lay on my bed my eyes wide open. I saw her, my so-called betrothed and the only thing I could think of as I stared at her was how different she was to Sarafina.

I thought I was finally close to being able to feel but as I stepped into the hall... I realized that I am still the same emotionless Jamal that has always been.

The door to my chambers swung open and I groaned inwardly as my dad walked in furiously.

"Can't I have at least some privacy in this palace" I muttered and sat up.

Father ignored me and stood at my front. "What was that stunt you pulled at the hall, disgracing the royal family and your bride in particular" he snapped at me.

"What do you expect from a cursed prince, you should have known this would happen before arranging a marriage between Ditya and I" I stated matter-of-factly.

"You scumbag! Do you know why I did that... I'm only trying to protect my province from possible attack from Pecan"

I scoffed. "A wise man once said, he who is afraid of war is not fit to be called a leader" I said reminding him of his exact words to me when I was learning the affairs of Zedora at age eight.

"Jamal!" His voice came out in a clipped tone. "That saying doesn't apply in this situation!"

I sighed and lay back down on my bed. "Father, I need my privacy... Can you please leave" I said coldly.

He gasped in surprise. "Jamal!"

I closed my eyes and waited, I heard the door closing and I finally opened my eyes again.

Ashra knows I can never get married to Ditya even if I can feel.

•Winter Island•

"Naja, I think it's time for you to go back, though your enemies are still alive, but you will defeat them with the help of Sarafina your daughter.... She is the key to bringing back the lost order of the whole province, winter clan included"

Naja looked at the old lady, she was the one who had taken her in after she ran from Zedora leaving her family behind... Though she had no choice at time but now it was time to go back and she won't run away again.

"I will leave by sunrise in the next two days" Naja replied.

.

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DITYA

The swinging opening of the door was what woke me. I flickered my eyelids open as Insia, my maid from Pecan walked in.

She bent and arranged my flops where I could easily slip my legs into it. "Morning princess" she greeted as I sat up.

"What am I doing today?" I asked ignoring her greetings.

"You will be meeting with the new maids that are already assigned to serve you"

"Then?"

"I believe you are supposed to take a walk with your betrothed before noon"

I scoffed. "Seems like we didn't get off on the right foot but a walk can iron things out... Right?" I asked her.

She bowed slightly. "Yes, princess"

"Good..." I paused. "Insia.... I need you to do something for me"

"Anything for you princess"

I smiled and slipped my legs into my flops. "Find out if Jamal has had any kind of relationship with a lady before I arrived... If there is, find the lady too and report back to me"

"Yes princess"

I smirked and flickered my.fingers. "leave me for a while"

She bowed again and walked out. I lay back on the bed.

Let's see how this goes because I'm hell bent on making Jamal mine, which means I'll do whatever it takes to see to it.

Even if it means killing a maiden who doesn't know her place and by so doing I'll be making him pay for my priceless tears.

SARAFINA

"So you finally got of the hook huh?" Rai mocked as we took our bath.

"She thinks it's permanent, wait until we tell Ditya that you've charmed prince Jamal" Zareen said with a scoff.

"Why don't you guys try minding you business than sniffing into other people's life" Pooja snapped.

"Jealousy is a bitch" I muttered.

"Hmph! Who is jealous of you?" Anushka said rolling her eyes.

I shrugged. "I don't remember talking to you Anushka" I replied her.

Pooja smiled at me giving me a thumbs up sign. I winked.

•••••

"Only two of you has been assigned to Princess Ditya" Terai said as we sat down for breakfast. "And that is Fina and Sherry"

"Sherry!!" I gasped out. I'm going to be working with Sherry?

"Why would she be assigned to walk with me" Sherry yelled frantically.

"What do you mean" Terai asked calmly.

"She is only a criminal who___"

Enough of my silence. "Who is a criminal huh!.... Do you know why I was outside at the time of seeing the prince?... No you don't! But yet you keep hurling insults at me like I intentionally wanted to see the prince"

"You don't know what suffering means do you? Of course not, you've probably never had to stay under the sun a whole day trying to make ends meet on an empty stomach... And still after that your best is still isn't enough so you are made to sleep in the cold night with no shelter over your head!!" I was yelling now as tears fell from my eyes.

"Funny enough I thought coming here was the best escape route but I was wrong... Because here is the worst place to ever feel secure... All thanks to your hating selfs" I breathed in a sigh and dropped my spoon, the whole hall was silent. I wiped my tears and looked at Terai.

"I'll be waiting outside, Terai" I said and made my way outside.

I placed my back on the wall as I slipped down my hands covering my eyes.

It has always been like this.

This is my life.

JAMAL

I made my way out of my room after I finished dressing up. Khan was standing at the front door.

"Anything special for me to do today Khan?" I asked.

"Uhm.... You have to take a walk with Princess Ditya before noon"

"Anything other than that?" I asked.

"Apart from that, you're free today."

"Good then, I'm not in tested in taking a walk with Ditya, make sure you deliver my message to her"

"But my prince___"

"No more word from you Khan" I said and walked out.

°°°

Mila threw over her veil and dropped all her royal ornaments... It was the perfect way to sneek out of the palace without being recognized.

She couldn't tell Forbes about her deal because he would surely object it and he had never liked Kayla before.

She opened her door slightly to see if anyone was in the passage way. She sighed as there was nobody. She had dismissed the whole staffs working at her chambers.

That checked, she slipped out from the back door of the chambers.

°°°

Kayla was disturbed as she thought of Zella.. Not because she missed her child, why would she miss the bastard... Zella wasn't even her daughter she was her late sister's daughter. She had died during Zella's delivery.

Kayla was worried because Zella had an hint of the truth about Salmar's death. Though she knew the girl was too good to ratt her out but yet she couldn't take chances. She had to find the snark, she had to find a way to stop her even if it meant killing her.

She can't let anything get in her way of becoming queen.

.

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DITYA

I was making finishing touches to my dressing when Insia walked in.

"What do you want?" I asked without looking at her. "Uhm... You have a message from prince Jamal". She said shaking obviously.

I turned to her, twirling a strand of my hair. " what's the message?"

She moved back, fiddling with her fingers. I raised my brows at her. "Cat got your tongue?"

She shook her head vigorously. "Actually the prince said he is not___ he is not interested in taking a walk with you"

My hands dropped to my side as I turned to look at her fully. "What... What did you just say?" I asked quietly.

"The.... The.... Prince said...."yet

I raised my hands. "I heard you clear and fine.. Who brought the message?"

"His personal guard" I balled my fist in anger. How can he? How can he refuse to walk with me. Nobody.. Absolutely nobody, not even a prince should ever reject a walk with me.

"Take me to his chambers" I told Insia.

"But princess__"

"You are not to argue, just do as I say !!" I yelled. She bowed slightly and walked out. I followed.

°°°

Mila sighed in relief as she successfully sneaked out of the palace. Now she just had to find Kayla. She tightened her hold on the scarf covering her face and started walking away.

Mila eyes scanned the empty street as she tried to recognize Kayla's house. It has been twenty seven years since she has come to this side of Zedora.

Her eyes suddenly caught the building almost like six feet away from her. She thanked her stars for having a retentive memory. She quickly walked towards the house. She exhaled deeply and then knocked.

The door swung open before she could even knock the second time, to reveal Kayla. "You are here" Kayla stated.

"Yes I am" Mila replied as she followed Kayla into the house which locked the door behind her.

"Why did you want to meet me here?, why not your husband house?" Mila asked sitting down.

"Are you just plain dumb? This place is more secluded than the rowdy street of Salmar's house... I didn't want to blow your cover" Kayla replied her with a scoff.

"So why don't we get right to why we are Jere, I need to return to the palace as fast as I can" Mila said.

Kayla laughed as she picked up a cup of herbal tea. Sipping it she folded her leg and rested her back on the wall opposite Mila's chair. "So like you to be always impatient Milanie" She stated. Mila flinched at the use of her full name. Only Naja ever called her that.

"But you're right, let's get it over and done with" Kayla added sipping her tea.

"How do you want to go about it" Mila asked.

Kayla smiled and dropped her cup. "Naja is arriving the province tonight, we only need an order from the palace to kill her and it's all over"

"But I can't make decisions like this on my own, it has to be signed by Forbes" Mila lied shakily.

"No not really, as long as it's from the palace it does not matter from who it was signed" Mila blinked, how did Kayla know she was lying.

Kayla smirked as she brought out a document and placed it on the table. She gave Mila a pen and tapped on the paper. "Sign it" she said.

With trembling hands, Kayla signed it. Naja's death warrant. Looking at the paper she was suddenly regretting her decision, but it was done already. She dropped the pen and stood.

"I'll leave now" she said to Kayla.

"Thanks for your help, Milanie" Kayla said with a fake grin plastered on her face.

Mila had no idea of that she had just helped them take a step into dethroning her husband. 'Such a fool' Kayla thought as Mila walked out.