As the thoughts drifted through Aairah's mind, her bitterness grew.
Aariz though, smirked. Just a sardonic quirk of his lips. Yet it spoke volumes to Aairah. She wanted to glare at him and maybe shout like a banshee until her screams make his ears bleed.. Alas! She couldn't do any of the above.
He has her right where he wants her.
With his men encircling the entire area, escape is only a fool's dream. Yet Aairah wanted to be that fool but resignation is just logical and she couldn't risk any more humiliation.
As if he wasn't the one chasing after earlier, he turned around and left. Just like that!
Babu followed his highness and asked anxiously. "What should we do with her?"
Aariz did not look at him. A guard opened the car door for him as he arrived in front of his Limo which has been brought over during the course of the chase. He got in as if he wasn't going to reply to it. After relaxing back and twirling the Royal stick has had just picked up in his hand, he smirked, saying "take a guess" and then he relaxed back on the lush cushions, fighting to keep inside a positive expression which keeps battling to be set free.
A sort of peace he has long since forgotten, descended upon him. He sighed. At last, the chase is over.
Aariz is very satisfied.
And the only telltale is the twinkle that sharpened his irises.
....
Queen Neemah has been ill these past few days. But she didn't have time to rest because she is busy working on the annual FLC event, three balls from the Fillo clan and an array of dinners to welcome foreign dignitaries the Emir's office keeps inviting over for one thing or the other. It's not like she needed to organize everything personally. But as leader of the royal house, she needs to over see the preparations and make sure nothing is amiss. Or she will be shaming her husband, the emir.
She was in the middle of an inspection when she fainted. She was trying to get the kitchen to produce a dish that will be served to some guests from Eritrea. She has not been satisfied with the way it was being handled and had personally invested great effort in sampling any creation towards that effect.
On the other hand, Everyone refer to the Emir's mother as dowager. This is because she isn't the former queen. She used to be a fourth wife with a very small title. All the important titles have been snagged before by the previous wives and could only settle for what was possible. A feat, they soon come to realize is part of a truly grand plan.
This sparkly evening, she was dining with members of her book club, discussing a book one of them has published about the social fare in Maicki and how much should be improved, or modified, when her servant came to inform her that the queen has fainted.
The dowager had felt alarmed. She quickly dismissed everybody and went to see her daughter in law.
The doctor has arrived and has already concluded his business when she got there.
"What is wrong with her?" She asked anxiously. She is hoping the man would tell her that she is going to be a grandmother.
"She is just stressed" he explained. "You should make sure she does less. Make her rest a lot. She will be fine" he explained.
"Doc, is she pregnant?" She asked straightforwardly.
He looked startled for some very odd reason. His face flushed but he remained neutral. She could not read the expression on his face. She could clearly understand that he is not the Royal physician. The queen, always calls over her own family doctor, the Doctor of the Bini clan, to see to her health. When faced with scrutiny, she just waves it off as nothing. That she just prefers a man who knows her health records since from the day she was born.
Dowager knows something is wrong. This man is hiding something crucial about the queen's non pregnant state. Even though she cannot guess, she knows it is not the time to begin her search. So she awaited his answer with a dignified raise of her perfect brows.
"No. She is not pregnant. It's just stress. Like I said before" he finally answered. She saw the faint bead of sweat perspiring on his lined forehead and her eyes narrowed instinctively. She is very particular about people who lie to her. But she also has very good timing. The patient would always reap the unimaginable.
When she entered the room, she raised a dainty brow, a dark crease marred the juncture between her eyes. She studied the crying daughter of hers. Oh yes! She was crying so very badly. Her sobs could break the most frigid hearts. But unfortunately for her, the dowager is just a tiny bit impressed. If she dared to fall sick for just stress, then she should have the decency to cry for causing false alarm!
At this age in her marriage, it is a shame that she didnt even have a daughter to call her own. No one is saying she should give birth to a boy so soon. Though that would be too fine, a girl is fine just the same!
"Don't annoy people with crocodile tears, Queen" she snapped in an annoyed tone, stressing the queen for negative effect. "If you are stressed, just save us all this drama and go to sleep! Stop harassing my mind by trying to show the world you have some worries! Did anyone hurt you?" She demanded hotly.
Queen Neemah wiped at her tears and greeted the queen in an effort to assuage some of her anger.
"No matter how nice manners are, you need them to pass some values to your kids! If no one close enough looks up to you, maturity would just be a joke!" The dowager sneered with contempt. "I don't need your manners alone Queen. I need you with manners so my grandkids can have a role model! Otherwise, I won't bloody care!" She seems quite upset.
The queen remained silent, with her head bent.
"Well, since you are no longer causing a scene, tell me how you feel. Is it sleep?" She asked, just a tad bit softer. She was still glaring at her though, which made her seem like she is still angry.
"I am fine, mother. I would just take the medicine prescribed to me!" She assured humbly.
"Oh so you like making me seem like such a bad mother!" The dowager raged.
"No. I am just really fine. I will not deign to lie to you, I swear it!" She implored.
"I hope so" the dowager replied succinctly. Then she gave a dramatic sigh and said "well, I think it is time we see a doctor, don't you think?" She directed at the only person in the room.