Alibaba's POV
"Ali," calls out my mother, her voice gentle but perceptive. "Something on your mind?"
"What makes you think so, Mother?" I ask, attempting to sound casual.
"You have been writing that same letter ten times now," she says, her eyes lifting from her book to meet mine. I glance down at the paper, noticing that the ink has torn through it, some of it now staining my fingers. Quickly, I get up and grab a cloth to wipe my hands.
"Take a walk, child. I will finish the letter myself," says Mother, pointing towards the door. Reluctantly, I put on my bisht and head out. My brain feels sluggish today, and I can't shake the feeling that something is off.
As I walk through the garden, I see Daniella speaking to Sinbad across the hallway. I watch as their conversation ends and Sinbad heads towards the courtroom, leaving Daniella alone. Curious, I follow him to the courtroom and firmly close the door behind me.
"Stalker," says Sinbad, seated on one of the chairs high up on the third row. I move up the stairs and take the seat right next to him.
"So, what's your plan now that she's accepted?" I ask.
"I see your lip-reading is getting better," he says, patting my shoulder. I give him a serious glare, and he smiles, looking forward.
"I promise Daniella will be safe," he says.
"And the rest?" I ask. The question hangs in the air for a moment.
"We shall see," he says. "Now, my turn for a question."
"What?" I ask, more irritated.
"You know where Flora is," he says, his tone probing.
"Well," I say, "it's none of your business."
Sinbad leans back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You always manage to avoid direct answers."
I shrug. "And you always manage to be infuriatingly cryptic."
He chuckles. "It's part of my charm."
"Is that what you call it?" I retort, crossing my arms. "What's your real motive with Daniella?"
"Undying loyalty and an heir," he says simply. "It's not that complicated."
"You're playing with fire," I say, shaking my head. "And you know it."
"I thrive on it," he replies with a smirk. "And you know that."
We sit in silence for a moment, the weight of our unspoken words filling the room. Despite our bickering, there's an unspoken understanding between us.
"Just don't mess this up," I finally say. "For her sake and ours."
"Wouldn't dream of it," he replies, his tone suddenly serious. "I know what's at stake."
"Good," I say, standing up. "Because if you do, you'll have more than just the royals to worry about."
He nods, his expression unreadable. "Noted."
As I leave the courtroom, I can't help but feel a little more at ease. Sinbad might be unpredictable, but in this twisted world of politics and power, he's one of the few people I can trust—at least, for now.
As I stand up to leave the courtroom, Sinbad rises too, his eyes following me with a curious intensity. "I've always wondered," he says, "why you stay politically neutral. You could easily stop Daniella's kingdom from being dissolved considering your resources."
I pause, turning back to face him. "Because neutrality keeps my kingdom safe," I reply. "We don't get pulled into wars that aren't ours, and we don't make enemies unnecessarily."
Sinbad leans against the back of his chair, his arms crossed. "But isn't that just another way of saying you're afraid to take a stand?"
I glare at him, the tension between us palpable. "You know better than anyone that it's not about fear. It's about survival."
He chuckles, a low, knowing sound. "Survival at the cost of watching others suffer? You could be a hero, Alibaba."
"Or I could be a target," I counter. "The moment we pick a side, we lose the advantage of being untouchable. Everyone wants something from us."
"And yet," Sinbad says, stepping closer, "you're willing to risk everything for Daniella. Why?"
His question catches me off guard, ''man, I can read you like a book,'' he says casually fixing my bisht.
''And what do you know,'' I ask.
''She reminds you of her,'' he says with the cockiest smile ever. Mymind spirals through memories of her. Now I remember why things felt off this was the day she died. I put some space between us.
''Am helping Daniella as an individual,'' I say,'' my kingdom won't be invovled.''
Sinbad's eyes narrow slightly, studying me. "You can lie to yourself, but you can't lie to me, Alibaba. There's more to this than just helping a friend."
"It's none of your business," I snap, feeling my irritation rise.
He shrugs, unbothered by my tone. "Maybe not. But it will be everyone's business soon enough if you're not careful. Playing both sides is a dangerous game."
"I know the risks," I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel.
Sinbad steps back, giving me a once-over. "Just remember, when you're done playing the hero, you might not have a kingdom left to be neutral in."
His words hang in the air as I leave the courtroom. I need to clear my head, but Sinbad's probing has stirred up more questions than answers. Walking through the gardens, I can't help but think of her and how much she influenced my choices. Daniella's situation brings it all back, and I know I need to keep a level head if I'm going to help her without losing everything I've built.
As I walk back to my chambers, I pass by Daniella again. She's deep in conversation with one of her maids, looking more determined than I've ever seen her. She catches my eye and gives a small nod. I return the gesture, silently promising her that I'll do everything I can to help, even if it means walking a fine line between neutrality and action.