Royalty Gone Bad novel Chapter 28

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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.

“Oh my, you’re so tall.”

“And you’re so short,” I mocked. “You’re so tiny, too. You weigh almost nothing.”

“The perfect team,” she joked

“Oh, yes we are,” I crossed the street with her.

Saïda’s POV:

As he walked down the sidewalks 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 smell some strands of my hair. But whenever I did, it made me think of Asahd, instead.

“You should buy me shampoo, for wasting my other one,” I mused.

“Why? I said you could use mine.”

“Yours is great and smells so gooood. And I’m tempted to smell my hair whenever I use it.”

“Where’s the problem?”

“When I do smell it, I automatically think of you. It’s your personalised scent and I don’t want it. I don’t want your annoying face, popping into my head whenever I smell my hair.” I laughed.

“Plus, your shampoo will finish real soon 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 effect the others might have on your hair.”

“You should be a politician. Or lawyer,” he chuckled and I laughed a little.

“Fine. Tomorrow.”

“Good. So, are you starting to like Allison or?”

“For the moment, I like her as a nice person.”

“And what if she confesses some crush or feeling to you?”

“Like I’d said before, I might accept but I’ll let her know 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, I’ll definitely end it.”

“That’s a good idea. I already like her. She’s always rosy and smiley. I do hope you eventually fall for 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 be great! She’d make a perfect future queen, you know.”

“The hell?? You’re already talking about marriage with her??” he mused and I laughed.

“Why not? Remember you have a few months to your 23rd birthday. And according to tradition, you have to get married at that age, two years before your supposed enthronement. So at 25, you take over the throne.”

“Saïda, even if I eventually love Allison, which I kinda doubt. I don’t know why. Will the people of Zagreh accept her? You know how tradition is. Have you forgotten that 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 marry a girl from the lower or middle class. Then you think they’ll allow me to marry a foreigner?”

“Asahd, you have the power to decide whom you want to get married to. You’re the heir and the sultan’s advisers and nobles have no right to tell you what to do. They can, but the final decision’s always yours.”