Cora slowly opened her eyes only to find Amal staring at her without blinking. "Sultan?" She asked. Amal quickly got up and checked up on her. "How are you? You got me so worried you know that? So as a punishment, you are going to be on bed rest for two weeks."
She glared at him,"what? You can't do that. I can't be in bed for two weeks without doing anything." Amal glared back at her. "I'm your Sultan." Cora hissed, hating the truth.
Just then, Samira entered the chamber. Amal saw how the woman glared at Cora, as if she wanted to just kill her. A wicked thought filled Amal's head. He took the food from Samira and sat beside Cora. "I never said that you could leave." Amal spoke when she attempted to leave.
Samira stood back, filled with too much fury and jealousy, Cora thought that she would burst. Amal began to feed Cora. "I'm fine, Sultan." Cora protested but Amal forced the soup into her mouth. "That's like a good girl, Princess." He grinned teasingly at her while she glared at him.
"Come and massage her feet." Amal ordered Samira. Cora's eyes widened,"what? Sultan,no! Please I am okay." Amal chuckled. "First, my name is Mudhin Amal, not Sultan. It's just a title. Secondly, with the position you have since birth, it's very natural that the maid serves you even if she has to kiss your feet before she seeks blessings from Allah," Amal spoke nonchalantly.
"The next time, you glare at the princess, you will walk on hot coals. Hurry up and massage her feet and don't you dare try anything that will cost your worthless life." Amal warned.
"Amal." Cora hissed at him for disrespecting the lady. "What? Mention my name again." Amal whispered gently, the coldness suddenly vanished. Samira reluctantly began to massage Cora's feet. This insult was beyond imagination.
"You shouldn't insult a woman like that. Please apologize to her." Amal blinked while Samira gritted her teeth in anger. Amal looked at the maid at Cora's feet. He didn't know why he wanted to impress Cora but he did as told anyway. "I am sorry,lady."
Samira looked up in shock. Did the Sultan just apologize to her? Samira nodded. After she had been dismissed, Amal looked at Cora. "Where is Khadijah?" Cora asked. Amal clenched his jaw at first before he managed to squeeze a small smile onto his face.
"She is resting in her new chamber." Amal's words had a double meaning and Cora knew it very much. "Amal-" she began but he already knew what she was about to say so he also said,"Cora, I know what you want to do right now but it won't work. Besides, I was considerate this time around. We will be observing Ramadan very soon but she has started hers. She is in her chamber, water will be given once a day for an entire week of her rest. No food allowed for her."
Cora frowned,"that's cruel house arrest. Amal." Amal chuckled and spoke,"get some rest, Princess." With that, he stormed out, leaving Cora helpless.
Two weeks passed too quickly for Amal but too long for Cora. Amal enjoyed it when he got to see Cora every day,feed her her meals and have long chats with her. However, Cora was always bored when Humera or Amal was not around to keep her company.
"Hey," Cora stopped following Amal and walked to Sidik while Amal looked at them. They were having a walk in the sunny yet cool moments of the day.
"Who are you?" Sidik asked sternly. "My name is Jane. I am Sultan's new personal attendant." Cora replied meekly. "Cora", Amal called. Cora bowed and walked back to Amal. Sidik glared at Cora and stormed off.
"Today, I will be teaching you how to bake. Sultan loves baked foods and so you have to make them perfectly." Humera said.
"Okay", Cora replied. Humera taught Cora how to make bread and some biscuits. Cora was a fast learner so she was able to learn everything perfectly. Amal loved the food and gifted Cora a golden bracelet.
With time, the other maids started calling her the "Sultan's woman." Amal only caused more havoc in the harem by always doting on Cora. Even the elders knew that Amal had a thing for the princess and he did nothing to leave a doubt or even try to deny it.
Cora and Amal were now friends. Cora found out that Amal was a very friendly person only when he wished to be and he made sure that she was always comfortable around him. He respected her boundaries as well.
Cora liked the warm version of Amal but sadly, she came to know that she and Razak were the only ones he was very friendly with.
She had to do something about it.