Royalty Gone Bad novel Chapter 88

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Asahd's POV:

I stirred in bed, feeling soft palms on my chest. Slowly, I opened my eyes, my vision adjusting gradually to the environment. I heard her soft voice that seemed to be only a dream. But then, it got clearer and clearer in my head, and then I realised it wasn't a dream.

"Asahd? Asahd? Wake up please," Saïda whispered aloud, worry evident in her voice.

I blinked several time and looked at her, sitting by me.

"I woke up late. It's six," she panicked.

"Six?" I asked sleepily, rubbing my eyes.

"Yes, it's morning. Almost seven," she whispered and my eyes opened completely. It was already clear outside.

"Oh crap," I sat up immediately. "Let's leave, darling."

We got off the bed and I searched about for my sweatpants and boxers. She did same, grabbing her nightie and robe. We could hear the employees already go about their activities, like they did every early morn.

"Have you seen my daughter? She isn't in her room."

Saïda and I froze when we heard Djafar's voice as he seemed to ask a servant at the far end of the corridor outside.

"No, Sir," we heard the servant reply.

Saïda and I stared at each other, listening carefully.

"Have you checked her room?" we heard the servant ask.

Saïda looked very worried and I immediately approached her, hugging her.

"Don't panic," I whispered and kissed her head. She nodded.

"Hopefully he doesn't come here," she whispered.

"He can't. The door's locked from inside."

"Oh, I forgot."

I looked at her face and smiled warmly at her. She smiled back shyly, her cheeks reddening. I kissed her forehead.

"Yesterday was just as amazing," I told her and she smiled again, hugging me tight and putting her head against my chest.

"Yes, it was. I love you so much."

"I love you even more, Saïda."

"I have. She's not in," we heard Djafar explain. "Let me go check the other part of the palace."

"Alright, Sir."

We silently waited for them to leave. Which they did and soon there was silence again.

"Okay," I looked at her. "You'll use the passage way through the library. If you come across your father or my parents, say you couldn't find sleep and so you went to the library and to read something but then you slept off."

"Alright," she kissed my chin. "And you?"

"I'll find a way. You go first."

"Okay," I kissed her forehead again.

We dressed up quickly and opened the door. Saïda poked her head out first.

"No one," she whispered and turned to me. "See you later."

"Alright, love."

She then rushed out and away. I decided to wait for some minutes before leaving too.

Saïda's POV:

My heart a little racy, I rushed down the corridor and into another. I made my way to the door that led into the library from behind a shelf.

I opened it and entered the library.

'Yes...'

I rushed through the huge library, adjusting my robe. I finally got to the door and stepped out.

Immediately I did, I came across my father and almost jumped.

"Saïda, dear??" he called confused, rushing to me. "I've been looking for you."

He noticed how I was dressed.

"Why are you still in a night robe??" he asked confused.

Just then, my heart skipped a beat when I spotted Asahd at a distance from over his shoulder. His eyes widened and he froze. I decided to distract my father and make sure he didn't turn.

"I wasn't feeling well yesterday, papa." I started

"Really?" he asked worried, touching my forehead to know if I had a fever.

"Yes, after dinner. But then I drank an aspirin and–"

With the corner of my eye, I watched Asahd sneak up to the huge stairway. As he did so, he put a finger against his lips and stared at the guards, present. Indirectly asking them to to pretend they had not seen him. Of course they couldn't go against his wishes. They didn't understand what going on and didn't care to. Plus, there was no way they could link his sneakiness to me, or having something to do with the both of us. Plus, he'd left his room the previous night, without anyone seeing him.

-

I watched him rush up the long stairway, three steps at a time and as fast and quietly as possible till he got to the top. I glanced quickly and on time to see him wink at me and disappear.

'Phew. Breathe.'

"I then went to the kitchen to get some milk," I said. "Unable to still find sleep, I went to read a little in the library. I guess I slept off." I ended.

'Oh gosh, I just lied to my father.

-Had no choice.'

"Okay my dear. Are you better now?"

"Yes, I am father," I cleared my throat. "Please if you'll excuse me, I have to go freshen up."

"Alright my dear. You do just that."

I excused myself and rushed away immediately.

'That was a close one.'

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Asahd's POV:

I buttoned my black shirt in front of the mirror, later that morning. My tummy started to rumble.

'I'm starving.

-Normal. You need some energy after the exercise of yesterday.'

I smiled at my reflection and sprayed some perfume at the back of each ear, then on my shirt.

'She literally drained me yesterday.

Coming that hard should be dangerous. I could hardly sit up or think straight.'

I mused at my thoughts.

There was a sudden knock at my door.

"Yes? Come in."

I turned to see who it was. The door opened and my father walked it.

"Father," I went to him and bent over to touch his feet. "Good morning."

"Bless you, my dear. Everything will be well with you."

"Inshallah. Thank you," I stood straight and smiled at him. He smiled back.

"How are you this morning?" he asked.

"I'm fine. Just very excited to finally settle with Saïda," I admitted and he chuckled.

"It's so evident. And it still makes me very happy," he laughed happily and hugged me. I hugged him back.

"I'll make sure your wedding is a memorable one for both of you as well as the people of Zagreh. The biggest of all time. Worthy of a wealthy Prince's and future sultan."

"Thank you very much, father," I said happily, hugging him again.

"You earned it dear," he smiled. "Are you done getting ready?"

"Yes, I am."

"Okay. Go meet your mother and Djafar downstairs. I'm going out and so I won't be present to announce it to the palace employees. I have to plan things for your engagement and wedding with the nobles. But I'll be back soon."

"Alright, father."

I hugged him one last time and we left my room.

--

We went downstairs and my father left. I then headed for the second living room where I met my mother, Saïda and Djafar.

I greeted them each and then went to Saïda, hugging her in a considerable, yet affectionate manner, and kissing her cheek like a perfect gentleman.

"Good morning, dear," I smirked at her and she reddened.

"Good morning, my Prince. Hope you had a wonderful night," she replied innocently.

"It was perfect," I smiled knowingly and I saw amusement linger in her beautiful eyes.

"We're still here," my mother mused and we finally turned to them, amused.

"Are you ready? We should do it before breakfast."

"Really? I'm starving," I mused, rubbing my tummy. "I've been exercising a lot lately and I need some energy."