by Leslie North
“What is the meaning of all this?” the King roared as he entered her quarters and saw Tiana and Amira hitting Zara. James had gone to see him after breaking the news to them. He had warned him that the two of them were furious and out for blood. It was wise to guess that they were going after Zara.
“Your Majesty, this filthy bitch has bewitched you and needs to be discarded immediately,” the queen said.
“No, you are the filthy one. The two of you! How dare you touch her when I warned you not to?” The King was furious. He walked over to Zara and helped her to her feet. He asked her if she was okay. Even though she nodded and told him that she was fine, he was not convinced. He looked at Tiana and Amira with such anger. He was disgusted at their behaviour. He had never seen them like that.
“You are meant to be royalty but right now you are acting like you're from the gutter. This impetuous and repulsive behaviour is only one reason why I am done with the both of you. Get out of my sight this instant!” the King roared.
“But your Majesty-” Tiana said but the King cut her off.
“I said, GET OUT!”
Tiana's eyes widened. He had never spoken to her like that. She was huffing with anger, and at the same time, she wanted to cry. The queen stormed out followed by Tiana. Zara was looking at the ground. She was shocked at the situation; she felt awkward and wanted to escape the room. She touched the King's arm. “Please calm yourself, your Majesty,” she said softly.
The King turned to face her. “I apologise. I brought you here too soon, but I simply couldn’t wait any longer,” he said to her and held her waist. She moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around him. He was surprised at her response. She was usually so shy. It didn't matter, he liked the pleasant surprise as he pulled her closer to him and kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him and smiled. “I'm fine,” she said. He dipped his head and kissed her. The maids turned their backs to give them privacy.
Within hours, there were petitions from the queen's family. When the King finally emerged from Zara's quarters, he made sure that her quarters were heavily guarded. He walked into his office and found James and Basil waiting for him.
“Brother, what brings you by?” The King was pleasantly surprised to see his younger brother.
“Oh Sofian, what have you done? A third woman?” Basil asked. The King could not help but laugh.
“Princess Zara is unlike any woman I’ve ever met. You will like her. Of that, I am sure.”
“Princess? But I thought she was a maid.”
“She was.”
The three of them sat down while the King and James brought Basil up to speed on everything that had transpired. When the King brought up his poisoning and Zara’s quick reaction, Basil couldn’t help but smile as she sounded so much like his Saja. As the men discussed dethroning the queen, they all felt that it was the right thing to do. While Basil was surprised that Tiana would resort to drugs to prevent the King and queen from having sex, he was even more surprised that the queen would attempt to drug the King with something so offensive as a date rape drug. Given the circumstances, they were attempting to avoid any bad publicity associated with the queen’s behaviour. Many people were going to be against the dethronement and it was going to cause chaos within the kingdom, but it was better than the alternative.
Saja walked into Zara's quarters. The maids quickly bowed to her as they recognised the princess. Zara sprung to her feet and bowed her head. Everything was getting more and more real by the second. It had been feeling like a dream. Now the princess was standing before her eyes.
“What's with all the guards?” Saja asked.
“Your highness. A pleasure to meet you,” Zara said with a smile.
Chapter 14
Saja analysed Zara as they were sitting across from each other. She was beautiful, different from the queen and the concubine.
“You look scared, don't be,” Saja smiled at Zara.
“It's all been so overwhelming,” Zara replied.
“I can imagine. The queen and Lady Tiana must not have been happy but we can talk about that later. Tell me about yourself.”
The two of them talked over refreshments. The more they spoke, the more she could see why the King liked her. She was sweet and genuine. Saja had more in common with her than Amira and Tiana and she loved that she too was interested in medicine. Finally, she asked what had happened between her and the King's women. Zara took a deep breath before replying. She told her everything from the start. Saja had her mouth wide open. She closed her eyes and covered her face and couldn’t help laughing.
“I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh but this is worse than a soap opera. How are you handling your newfound royalty?” Saja asked. The whole situation was crazy and she couldn’t help but sympathise with her.
“I still don’t know what to think about that. I’ve been trying to remember what life was like with my father, but I don’t remember seeing him much. The only thing I remember is the horses,” Zara said with a smile.
“So tell me about the two of you.”
Zara just sat there turning red. She had no idea what to say or where to begin. Saja's eyes widened and she laughed. “You like him that much,” she said. It was a good thing. The King needed someone who liked him, someone who would be good to him.
Oo00oO
Zara heard her bedroom door opening. She opened her eyes and saw the King walking in. He wore a t-shirt and slacks. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the clock. It was only six in the morning. “Your Majesty, what's going on?” she asked. He crawled into bed with her and wrapped his arms around her. Zara panicked slightly. She had never been in bed with him or any other man for that matter. The only comfort she had was that he was behind her. She would be shyer had he embraced her from the front.
“Couldn't sleep,” the King said and kissed her head.
“What's the matter?”
“You are too far away from me.”
Zara giggled. “How did you survive your other nights without me?”
“It was not easy,” he said with a mock groan.
Zara told him that he was exaggerating. The two of them lay in bed together talking for hours. It was as if there was no madness going on in the palace. They laughed and joked together. The King was tickling Zara and she was laughing and screaming loudly. A knock sounded on the door.
“Your Majesty, I hate to interrupt,” Maria said.
“Then don't,” the King shouted.
“What is it?” Zara called out.
“Her Majesty, the queen mother is here,” Maria said.
“Oh dear,” the King said and sat up. His mother had come sooner than he had anticipated. Zara panicked. It was the first time she was meeting the King's mother. She leaped out of bed and quickly ran to the closet to change. The King told her she looked fine as she brushed her hair. He took her hand and led her to the living room where his mother waited. He kissed her on both cheeks. Zara gave her a deep bow.
The King introduced them to each other over breakfast. The queen mother analysed Zara for a moment. “Now, you know that I never liked Tiana or Amira,” she said.
“Yes, mother, we all knew.”
“But what makes you think that she is better?”
“I know she is better. She is kinder, not materialistic, she is not malicious, she is more humble-” Before the King finished speaking his mother cut him off.
“I get it, you love her. Just say that. I don’t need a list of her attributes.” The King narrowed his gaze. His mother was always straight to the point. She took Zara's hand. “I will accept her if it's what you truly want,” she said. The King gasped.
“Mother, you are accepting her this easily? Old age has softened you.”
His mother stretched her arm and whacked him on the head. “Never call a woman old!” she scolded. “Besides, Basil and Saja have already spoken to me about her. Apparently, she made quite the impression on Saja. And it will make all this much easier for others to acce
pt knowing that she’s a princess.” She gave Zara a warm smile. Zara smiled back. She was glad to see that his mother was playful and that she was willing to accept her. The last thing she needed was for his family not to like her.
“I appreciate you giving me a chance. I will not let you down,” Zara said. The King sat there rubbing his head where his mother hit him. He watched the two conversing with each other. It made him smile and feel at ease.
After breakfast, the King had to go to a meeting. The queen's family and other sheiks had come for an explanation. They did not understand why the King wanted to divorce her. Lucky for the King, his brother had come to support him. The meeting lasted for hours. The queen's family along with other sheiks protested the dethronement. They agreed with him about removing Tiana but not the queen.
“Up until now, she has not even provided the King with an heir,” Basil interjected.
“That was because his majesty found more comfort in the bed of another,” the queen's brother said.
“She no longer carried herself like a queen, she disobeyed me and she was full of greed,” the King said. “Surely those aren't qualities of a queen.”
“But your Majesty, you must forgive,” a sheik said.
“You do not have all the information nor do I plan to share it. Understand that all this is for the best. I will not remain married to her and that is my final answer. Now if you will excuse me, I have other matters to attend to.” The queen's followers tried to fight for her case long after the King had adjourned the meeting.
Oo00oO
The King had arranged to meet with both Amira and Tiana at the same time. He had arranged for the women and their personal staff to meet him in the ballroom. When he arrived, everyone was already present. Both Tiana and Amira jumped up to come to him, but he stayed them with his hand.
“Sit down, both of you,” he ordered. As both women attempted to speak, “Be silent,” he ordered. “There are things that I must tell you.” As he waited, both women sat back down. “As you are aware, some weeks ago, I collapsed while in my suite. If it was not for the quick thinking of Zara, I would not be alive.”
“What happened,” Amira asked with a gasp, as Tiana remained silent.
“I’m getting to that,” the King responded. “It seems that someone laced our dessert with poppy and since I am allergic, I went into anaphylaxis. Luckily, Zara was with me, she figured it out and was quick to take the necessary action. I am alive because of her.”
“But, but, who would do such a thing?” asked Amira.
“After the incident, James and a small group of trusted security thoroughly searched the palace as well as conducted background checks on everyone here. We found a small mortar and pestle with poppy residue in your quarters, Tiana.” As Amira started to speak, the King stopped her. “I’m not done. During the search of the palace, a bottle of Rohypnol was found in your quarters, Amira.”
As both Tiana and Amira began to protest their innocence, the King held up his hand to silence the women. “While I will readily admit that I contributed to many of our problems, you both understood that our unions were for political purposes only. I have never once expressed love for either of you. I realize that to some, that may be viewed as heartless, but you were aware of the nature of the relationship prior to agreeing. Yet, you both persisted in trying to make more out of our unions than existed, and while I cannot fault you for that, I will not stand by while you both resort to drugs simply to outdo one another. Did I even matter to you or were you both more concerned about procuring an heir ahead of the other?”
As Tiana and Amira looked at each other, both finally realized that they had the same agreement with the King. All this time, their own jealousies and insecurities over being left behind had clouded their judgment and both behaved irrationally.
“Now, do either of you have anything to say?”
As Tiana looked down, “It was supposed to be the queen’s night for dinner with you, your Majesty, I had no idea you were allergic to poppy, I merely wanted to make you both sleepy so nothing would happen after dinner and the queen would not have opportunity to get pregnant,” said Tiana tearfully. “I crushed up some of the poppy and Miriam added it into the dessert ingredients while your maids were busy.”
“We had no idea this would happen, your Majesty. Please believe us. We merely wanted you both to sleep,” added Miriam.
“And you?” the King asked Amira.
Amira shrugged, “Did you really think that I would continue the way things were? I had no idea that you were not sexually active with Tiana and she was undermining me every chance she had. I would not…I could not simply sit by and allow that woman to become the mother of the next king. I had to do something. The Rohypnol would have made things easier had they worked.”
“Penalty for attempted regicide is death. You do understand this? And while there is no direct proof of your actions, your confessions here now would implicate all of you. If word got out, this could cause massive uprisings in Quabeca as well as calls for all your deaths.” At the women’s collective gasps, the King continued. “In order to avoid further controversy and your deaths, you are all ordered to leave the palace. Amira, you and I will divorce. Quietly and amicably. You will not contest anything and I will be more than fair despite your poor behaviour. Tiana, you will be given money to start elsewhere, but once that is gone, you will be on your own. Your behaviours have all been deplorable. What has taken place is completely unacceptable and I will not tolerate your presence any longer.”
As Tiana finally found her voice, she couldn’t resist asking. “And Zara? The laundry maid? She gets to stay?”
Turning on her, the King stared down at Tiana. “Princess Zara will remain here in the palace with me. Once all this-” But the queen interrupted him.
“Princess? What nonsense do you speak?”
“When James was conducting the background checks, he discovered that Zara is none other than the lost princess of el-Quadeem. Thought to have been killed long ago with her mother during a coup in her country, she has been living here in Quabeca all this time.”
“Well, isn’t that convenient,” interjected Tiana.
“Enough,” ordered the King. “Even now, you two can’t be civil. Go to your quarters, take what belongings you will need immediately and get out. Take your staff with you, as none of them is welcome here. Your remaining belongs will be sent to you once you are settled. And if you value your lives, I suggest that no one speaks of what took place, as I cannot and will not guarantee your safety should word of this get out. Am I clear?” At their respective nods, the King stepped back.
As Amira rose, she attempted to speak to the King one last time, but he held up his hand. Tiana, seeing that Amira was unsuccessful, turned quickly and left with her maids following behind her.
Oo00oO
As both Amira and Tiana finally left the palace along with their maids, the King went to seek out Zara's comfort. He wondered if he had handled it well. “What does your heart tell you?” Zara asked him as she stroked his head.
“That all I want is you. I would even give up my throne if I had to,” he replied. Zara smiled but she felt guilty. She felt responsible for what had happened to Tiana and Amira.
“It is not your fault. You are the only faultless one here. The women connived to create mayhem and I almost died. In fact, I would have if it wasn’t for you. This is the kindest thing that I could do. If word got out or anyone even suspected that members of either retinue had attempted to kill me, they would be blamed and their lives would be forfeit. This is for the best.”
“You must promise never to speak negatively about them in public.”
The King smiled and nodded. Even after what they had done, she still worried for them. He leaned in and kissed her. “I wish I met you first,” the King said to her. Things would have been different. “Princess Zara, will you consent to my queen? My one and only woman?”
With all the things going on, Zara had
not stopped to think about what any of this meant. She had only just found out that she was a princess. Now here he was asking her to be the queen. How could she be the queen when she had yet to figure out what being a princess meant?
“I'm not good enough,” Zara replied.
“You're more than good enough,” the King replied as he stroked her face and kissed her. Zara nervously nodded. She could not think about the future. All she knew was now, the present. She wanted to be with the King and that was all her heart desired. The rest, she was going to deal with when the time came.
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