Chapter 7: Chapter 7

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SARAFINA

It was past evening when I finished cleaning, the night was already drawing near.

My stomach growled loudly and placed my hands on it, I didn't want to get in trouble with the palace maids because they obviously didn't like me.

Though Terai had told me that I would be staying in the palace till my punishment is over. I just hope they let me stay here in peace.

I sat at the doorstep waiting for Terai, I didn't know the way to the maid quarters, so she promised to come get me before nightfall. She wasn't here yet maybe something held her up.

"Sarafina" I heard a voice call from afar.

I stood up, Prince Jafar was coming towards me. He finally got to my front smiling widely.

"Prince Jafar" I said, bowing slightly in courtesy.

"My maiden, Ashra really wants us to see again" he said still smiling.

He dragged my hand down and sat down beside me. I shifted putting a little space between us.

"Why are you still here? It is almost Eight already" he asked after long minutes of silence.

I shrugged. "I only wanted to finish this work so that it wouldn't be added to that of tomorrow"

"That's very thoughtful of you"

I smiled. "Anybody will do it"

He shook his head. "I don't think so, some will prefer leaving it, considering how large it is"

I shrugged again. "Well... "

" So.... Why don't you tell me about yourself Sarafina"

As I wanted to talk, my traitorous stomach chose that time to growl. I covered my mouth in embarrassment.

He laughed. "You haven't eaten?"

I pouted, scratching my neck. "Ehm.. "

"Sarafina, you haven't eaten" he asked again this time with a really stern voice.

"I think so" I muttered.

"You think so? Why won't you eat anything since morning" he suddenly yelled.

"But I ate before coming" I replied, confused about his sudden outburst. Why is he acting as if I'm his wife?

"Get up"

"What?"

"I said get up, let me get you something to eat" he said and pulled me up.

"But.... " I started to say.

"Sarafina shut up and let me help you.

"Where are we going to" I asked him as we took a left bending"

"My chambers" he replied curtly.

"Your what!" I almost yelled, I covered my mouth and snatched my hand away from his grip.

"Why will you take me to your chambers?, I'm only a commoner"

"Do I look like I care" he held my hands again and practically pulled me with him.

My heart started beating fast, what if I get caught? What if the palace maids saw me? What if is father sees me.

A lot of what ifs filled my mind and I bit my lips to prevent me from panicking.

We got to his chambers and my eyes almost fell to the ground as I took in my surroundings.

Light glittered on the building, giving it a sparkling appearance.

"You like it" Jafar asked.

I gulped, embarrassed that he had caught me staring.

"Its beautiful" I managed to croak out.

"You can live here one day" He said, staring at me with a strange expression.

I laughed nervously, fiddling with my fingers. "I hope so" I muttered.

"I can make it happen" he whispered, he was suddenly so close to me, I moved back only to find my back pressed to the wall.

"What if I kiss you now Sarafina" he said in a quiet tone, I barely heard him.

"Sarafina!" I heard Terai's voice. He moved away from me. I quickly shifted some meters away.

"The head maid his here for me" I said.

He smiled and kissed my fingers. "I will see you again Sarafina"

"Sara!" Terai's voice came again.

"I have to go now" I told him.

He kept smiling. "Good night" he finally said.

I nodded and ran to Terai.

She looked at me suspiciously when I got to her. "Where did you go to? And why are you coming from the Prince's quarters?"

I rubbed my neck. "Here and there" I muttered, I wasn't making any sense with my words but I didn't want to lie either.

She smiled at my words. "Just tread carefully in the royal villa, words travel really fast especially among the maids.

I nodded and followed her.

Prince Jafar's words still ringing in my ears.

What if I kiss you now Sarafina?

We got to the maid quarters and I practically shivered in fear.

"Just be yourself okay, don't mind anything they say" Terai told me as if sensing my fear.

I nodded as she led me to my room. It was a big room and five other maids were already there making me the sixth person.

"Good evening Terai" They greeted.

"Good evening girls, this is your new roommate, Sarafina"

"We know her before Terai, isn't she the witch charming the royal villa?" One of the maids said.

"Ah, the one Peri was talking about" another one added.

"Shut up girls, why will you believe rumors about someone you haven't met" Terai scolded.

"And didn't the queen mother warn you all of false rumors?" She added.

The first one snorted. "It's not a rumor Terai, it is the fact, she is not even denying it"

I blinked back my tears, what did I do to deserve hate like this?

"Talk Sarafina" Terai urged.

I shook my head, what's the use? Nothing I say will make them think otherwise.

"Can I get something to eat" I asked instead.

"There is no food" one of them said as she was laying her bed.

"Zareen!" Terai yelled.

"What is it" the girl called Zareen said.

"We are here to serve the palace not make food for a criminal like her, right girls"

The girls agreed, I bit my lips helplessly. How will I cope with these girls now.

"You would have to wait till tomorrow morning, I don't have extra food in my quarters" Terai told me.

I nodded. 'Yet another night sleeping on an empty stomach' I thought.

"Good night Terai" I told her as she made her way out of the room.

She smiled at me. "Kismata, Fate" she whispered.

I sighed.

Kismata, Fate.

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"How was your trip my king" Mila asked her husband as they retired to their chambers for the night. He had just returned from his trip to the Pecan province.

"Good and bad" he replied weakly.

Mila narrowed her eyes. "How good? How bad" she asked.

"We have to form an alliance with Pecan or else they will go to war with us"

"What! Why will they go to war with us?" Mila asked in a panicked tone.

Forbes sighed. "You know how things are in this province, once a city gets stronger, they start to war with weaker cities"

"What kind of alliance are we talking about here?"

"Marriage"

"Marriage?" Mila asked in a mazed voice.

"Jamal has to marry the princess of Pecan, princess Ditya"

Mila stood up. "What! Jamal can't get married and you know it, we can't risk anyone finding out the truth about him! " she yelled.

"We can't go to war with Pecan either, that's the only solution"

"Forbes, we can't do this to our son" Mila said pleadingly.

"Princess Ditya is arriving in the next three days, I will talk to the council about it and a ceremony will be organized to welcome her" Forbes said with a note of finality.

Queen Mila sighed. She had three days.

Just three days to find the cure for Jamal's curse.

The Sheba.

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They sat again, in a deep discussion. The three older men and the young

one.

"Change of plans" The first older man who appeared to be the leader said.

"What are you talking about?"

"We need accomplices from Pecan, we can't possibly do this on our own"

"So what's the plan?"

"The King of Pecan is sending his daughter in the next three days"

"How will that help?"

"She is to marry Jamal"

"I still don't get".

"Well, we do the unthinkable, no lady wants to marry a monster"

"So?"

The older man smirked. "We reveal his secret."

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