In the evening, after Gabriel bid farewell to Laila and they parted ways, he returned to his residence in the church.
Gabriel looked at his room with its dim candlelight in silence.
It was eight o'clock in the evening, and he had to sleep to wake up early.
His room had simple furniture befitting a monk who had dedicated his life to serving God without paying attention to worldly matters.
He unbuttoned his black monastic robe while looking at his appearance in the small mirror hanging next to the silver cross.
There was a clay dish filled with water, a piece of white cloth, and a hair comb on the wooden table below the mirror.
He had to change his clothes, clean his face and legs, and pray before sleeping.
With the efficiency that resulted from years of routine, Gabriel hung his monastic clothes after taking them off on the wooden handle of the hanger placed on the door to take his white nightclothes from the bed.
After putting on his nightclothes,
He grabbed the small clay bowl that was placed on the wooden desk filled with water The cold and began to clean his face and hands
His actions were precise and his thoughts were still revolving around the events of the day
Gabriel stopped for a moment as he looked at his reflection in the small mirror. He couldn't deny the way she had interfered in his thoughts. The princess had become an unwanted presence, but she continued to be in his mind
He looked at his reflection in the mirror carefully and scrutinized
He looked at his turquoise-green eyes and his soft, dusty gray hair and his masculine facial features
He instinctively touched his chin
"She likes men with beards..."
He muttered in a calm, masculine voice
He rubbed his smooth chin, which had not grown a single hair, in annoyance
(Very ugly, I didn't expect Europeans to look like women. You don't have a single hair on your chin)
(Oh, I'm sorry, I'm used to the masculine appearance of Arabs. Arab men usually grow beards at the age of thirteen)
Her arrogant words echoed in his mind in their first meeting
She really liked bearded men, not just any kind of men, but she especially preferred Arab men....
For some reason, when thinking about it, the discomfort in his heart increased
Come on, the princess of the Islamic Caliphate, there must be many sons of ministers and governors who have proposed to her at least, especially since she is the only daughter of the Caliph
After he finished washing his face and feet, he dried them with a piece of cloth
After he finished drying his face and feet, he grabbed the comb from the table to run it through his short locks of hair, trying to push those thoughts away
He needed to focus on his prayers, his faith, and his duty as a monk, yet the image of the princess's face kept coming to his mind annoyingly
Gabriel took a deep breath in an attempt to get rid of the unwanted distraction. He needed to regain control of his thoughts
He put the comb back in its place, then knelt in front of the small silver cross hanging on the wall and began his nightly prayers
While kneeling in front of the cross with his eyes closed, Prayer Her arrogant and contemptuous words about his lack of beard echoed in his mind again
"Arrogant… impudent… disrespectful…"
He muttered in a low voice as he bit his inner lips, his hands clasped tightly together
It was ridiculous for him to even care about the princess's opinion. It was ridiculous for him to let her words affect him in any way.
Gabriel continued to pray, trying his best to focus on his faith and banish her thoughts from his mind.
He continued to pray, his head bowed in the familiar prayer position, but despite his best efforts, the memory of their conversation continued to distract him.
Her preference for bearded men and her contemptuous words about his lack of facial hair were infuriating, and the fact that it bothered him so much was even more infuriating.
"Lord, give me strength and gifts."
He prayed silently, trying to regain control of his thoughts, but he found himself failing.
His fingers clenched tightly together as he knelt before the cross. He could Feeling his frustration growing and the conflicting feelings inside him raging
Suddenly an embarrassing and pitiful thought crossed his mind
"What if I grow a beard?"
The thought was pathetic and embarrassing. Just thinking that he had thought of it because of that arrogant princess's words made him feel self-conscious.
But a part of him kept thinking about the possibility…
The fact that he, a monk who had dedicated his life to serving God and the church, was seriously considering growing a beard to please a woman was kind of ridiculous.
But he couldn't stop a small part of his mind from thinking about it…
Holy shit on everything…
Gabriel cursed himself as he closed his eyes tightly, trying to push the ridiculous thought out of his mind.
It seemed like an internal battle between his mind and his emotions. The idea of growing a beard to please the princess wasn't supposed to be anything more than a funny passing thought, but it refused to go away.
He kept finding himself thinking about it and the image of himself with a beard forming in his mind.
He was crazy…
How could a monk think about changing his appearance for a woman?
However… the thought stuck in his mind annoyingly
After he finished praying tonight he sat on the edge of his small bed with his eyes fixed on the silver cross hanging on the wall
Why was this on his mind in the first place??
He felt an overwhelming urge to slap himself to stop thinking about this seriously
This was ridiculous for Jesus Christ!!!
What was happening to him?
A rational part of his mind told him that this was crazy as a monk whose appearance was not something he cared about at all and yet…
Here he was seriously thinking about changing himself and his appearance for a woman
Holy shit on me!!
Gabriel reached out to slap him hard in the face
Gabriel's hand stuck to his face and the slap echoed in the silent room
A stinging sensation spread across his cheek from the slap reminding him of how ridiculous his actions were
* Growing a beard just because the princess likes beards? Totally crazy crazy *
His thoughts were in a chaotic mess, the pull between reason and... something else, something he couldn't explain. He buried his face in his hands, feeling frustrated and confused.
He was a monk in the service of the Lord! His appearance shouldn't matter and certainly shouldn't be affected by a woman's preference
But the image kept forming in his mind, his reflection with a beard…
He sighed deeply as he began to feel the headache starting to form. It was as if his mind was no longer under his control…
He rubbed his cheek, red from the strong slap, burying his face in his hard pillow
As if he needed to sleep…
He had to sleep so he could get up early for the early morning prayer
He tossed and turned in the simple, hard wooden bed
He tried to force his mind to calm down so he could at least close his eyes
_____
{Early in the morning…}
The first light of dawn began to creep in through Gabriel's window, the warm rays of the sun hitting his handsome, masculine face
The sunlight caused Gabriel to instinctively close his eyes
"For Jesus Christ's sake…."
He grumbled in annoyance as he rubbed his eyes tiredly
He hadn't slept all night
No matter how hard he tried to close his eyes and sleep, The image of his face with a heavy beard appeared in his mind in a way that made him go crazy
He couldn't sleep, his mind was thinking about the damn beard and the princess's reaction when she saw him with a thick beard
He pushed his gray hair back nervously as he got up from his bed in annoyance
He was in a bad mood because of his inability to sleep
He got up and walked towards the mirror with slow steps
When he raised his head and looked at his reflection in the mirror, Gabriel gasped in astonishment
"Oh my God, why do I look like someone who was hit in the eyes?"
He said in a hoarse male voice as he looked at the eerie dark circles under his eyes in awe.
There were dark circles swollen under his eyes which made him look like a cemetery undertaker especially since he had pale white skin.
His appearance looked like a ghoul....
He cursed silently as he bit his dry red lips in a bad mood.
Gabriel continued to study his reflection in the mirror and his mood became even darker.
He was so pale, so emaciated, he really looked like he had been struck by some kind of black magic curse...
His lips were dry and cracked and his hair looked disheveled. His usually elegant appearance was in disarray and it was all because he hadn't gotten a single minute of sleep.
Gabriel put his hand to his face and sighed in annoyance before looking out the window of the room.
He had to wash his face, get dressed, and pray before leaving the church to check on the princess before returning to the church before noon to pray, check on the church visitors, and do his duty as a monk.
He was busy Really...
"Holy shit on everything"
He said in a hoarse male voice as he rubbed his eyes
Gabriel suddenly thought of appearing like this to the princess
She would scream in horror at seeing him like this, thinking he was some kind of evil spirit
He literally looked like a walking corpse at this moment...
He cursed silently once again, frustrated at not being able to get a good night's sleep
He couldn't appear like this to the princess
With a sigh of resignation, he turned away from the mirror to look towards the clay basin. He splashed cold water on his face, trying to wake himself up and make himself look more beautiful
The cold water was a harsh wake-up call and he winced slightly when it hit his skin. His eyes were still heavy and tired, and the dark circles under them refused to even look a little lighter
*He really should have gotten at least a few hours of sleep...*
He quickly dried his face with the white cloth
The dark circles under his eyes were still prominent on his pale skin His hair was still a mess but he didn't bother trying to fix it. What was the point? He looked like a fool and wasn't going to change anytime soon
His thoughts returned to the princess and the thought of her seeing him in this state was enough to make him shiver slightly.
He glanced at the wooden hair comb that was sitting on the table and picked it up to at least try to make his disheveled gray hair look acceptable.
The wooden comb looked familiar in his hand and he ran it through his hair in a desperate attempt to tame the restless strands.
The comb moved smoothly through his hair trying to make it look less like a bird's nest. However, when he looked back in the mirror he could tell that it didn't make much of a difference.
His hair still looked messy and the dark circles under his eyes seemed to be getting darker with each passing minute.
"For Jesus Christ's sake why is this stupid hair not calming down!!"
Gabriel grumbled sharply and nervously as he combed his hair more roughly.
The more he ran the comb through his hair, the more his gray hair became tangled.
It was as if his hair became a representation of his inner turmoil. The more he tried to tame it, the more wild it seemed. The dark circles under his eyes were just another reminder of his sleepless night.
He put the comb aside with a violent shudder, feeling a mixture of anger and annoyance. He was supposed to look neat and presentable for the princess, but at this rate, he looked like a shabby beggar.
He clenched his hands in annoyance, trying to control his frustration, but it was like a fire that refused to be extinguished. The thought of the princess seeing him in this state was like a dagger to the heart.
He wanted to look good for her. He wanted to make a good impression. He wanted her to see him as a handsome and charming monk.
But how could he do that when he looked like a mortician walking through graves??
Another frustrated noise escaped him as he turned away from the mirror, unable to bear to look at his tired and worn appearance for another second.
He had to get dressed and go see the princess but the thought of seeing her in this state made him feel even more frustrated and anxious.
What if she was disappointed with his appearance?
What if she thinks he's ugly and unattractive? Gabriel began to feel so anxious that he didn't even notice himself as he nervously walked around the small room.
While he was immersed in his fears, he didn't notice the door to his room that suddenly opened.
"You're awake, my son."
Father Otar looked at Gabriel with a gentle and cheerful smile.
Only at that moment did Gabriel come to his senses and look towards Father Otar who suddenly entered his room with embarrassment and confusion like someone who was caught doing something bad.
He looked towards the father with the cheerful and gentle features with great embarrassment.
"I..."
He began to feel a little shy about his appearance.
He hadn't yet put on his monastic clothes and his hair was still disheveled. His eyes had dark circles under them and he knew that he looked in a mess.
"I apologize, Father. I was... lost in thought."
He said, trying to sound normal despite the internal panic he was suffering from.
Father Otar noticed him with a calm and compassionate expression. The annoyance on Gabriel's tired face
It was obvious that this little prince was upset
He didn't need to be a genius to figure that out
"Are you okay, my son?"
He asked gently as he took a few steps into the room
"Yes, I'm fine. I'll finish getting dressed right away..."
Gabriel said nervously as he looked at his monastic robes hanging by the door nervously before quickly moving to get his clothes
Father Otar's smile faded as he noticed Gabriel's speed in getting dressed
He could tell that there was something weighing on the young man but he decided not to pressure him to say what was bothering him yet
"Take your time, Gabriel. There's no need to rush."
He said in a calm tone as he sat on the edge of Gabriel's messy bed
"....."
Gabriel's hands shook as he hurriedly reached for his clothes. He could feel Father Otar's gaze on him and he was sure that the high priest could see how anxious and upset he was
He tried to act nonchalant as he started to get dressed but the tension in his body was clear
After putting on his monastic robes in a hurry, Gabriel turned to look at Father Otar who was sitting on the edge His messy bed with embarrassment
He said hurriedly as he put his silver cross necklace around his neck
"My room is a bit of a mess, sorry father for having to see such a sight"
Father Otar laughed softly, his eyes looking around the small room. It wasn't as if the room was that messy
"Don't worry son, I've seen worse"
He said with a gentle smile
He patted the bed beside him and motioned for Gabriel to sit down
"Come sit down, let's talk"
Hearing that, Gabriel felt a bit nervous and hesitant but he quickly obeyed his father to sit on the bed with stiff shoulders
Father Otar noticed Gabriel's stiff shoulders and the worry in his expression. He could tell that the young man was hiding something and knew it was time to dig into it
"Tell me son, what's been bothering you lately?"
He asked in a gentle but firm tone
"Is it bothering me?... Nothing is bothering me, Father."
Gabriel replied nervously while deliberately avoiding eye contact with the priest
The only thing that this young man had done differently recently was to watch over the Arab princess who was imprisoned by the king's orders and since then he has been acting strangely
Father Otar's smile faded slightly when he noticed Gabriel's nervous behavior. He knew that the young man was not being completely honest and he was determined to get to the bottom of the matter
"Are you sure? You know that you can tell me anything, my son."
He said
His eyes were still fixed on Gabriel's face trying to read his expression
"I'm really fine, Father."
Gabriel felt even more nervous upon hearing his father's insistent tone
Father Otar sighed softly as he watched Gabriel's anxiety increase. It was clear that the young man was hiding something but he decided to try a different approach
"If you insist on it."
He said with a slight hint of disappointment in his voice
"But you know you can always trust me, I'm always here to listen and help."
Gabriel felt hesitant
He felt ashamed and embarrassed to reveal his complicated and strange feelings to Father Otar
"....."
Father Otar suddenly said
"Then did you tell me about the imprisoned Arab princess, my son? Since the king appointed you to be responsible for her?" "
Hearing the father talking about the princess suddenly, Gabriel suppressed the panic that began to sweep through his heart as if he was caught red-handed.
He cleared his throat with difficulty to ask in a stuttering voice while trying as much as possible not to look into Father Otar's eyes.
"The princess?.....What...what about her?"
Seeing the young man's reaction in front of him, Father Otar smiled stealthily to say in a gentle and somewhat sarcastic tone.
"Well, people naturally talk about her. It is said that she has exceptional and rare beauty."
When he heard Father Otar's words, Gabriel felt his heart pound violently inside his chest. He knew what people were saying about the princess and the idea of others noticing her beauty made him feel strange feelings.
He tried to maintain his composure but just mentioning her features made his mind spin with conflicting feelings.
"Yes, yes, I heard that too."
He muttered, his voice sounding tense and defensive unintentionally.
"I heard that she has beautiful, long black hair and wheatish skin. Attractive and captivating facial features. It is said that her eyes were so captivating that when looking at them, it is difficult for a person to take his eyes off them. Is this true?"
Father Otar asked in a calm tone while feigning ignorance
He was secretly watching the young prince's reaction
As Father Otar described the princess in such detail, Gabriel's mind conjured up an image of her in his head. His heart was pounding in his chest and his hands were clenched into fists
He didn't want to admit it but Father Otar's description was accurate. The princess was truly enchanting. Her appearance left an indelible impression on him and the more he thought about it the more he struggled to control his emotions
He forced himself to reply indifferently
"Yes, that's right. Her beauty is absolutely stunning."
"Really??"
Father Otar asked as he tried to suppress a small smile.
"Yes indeed."
Gabriel confirmed with a slightly stiff voice.
He could feel Father Otar's slight amusement at seeing his reaction.
This made him feel even more self-conscious. The high priest was clearly enjoying teasing him a little.
"Really?? Really?? I doubt it. Rumors are exaggerated sometimes."
Father Otar said with a mischievous side smile.
Gabriel's cheeks flushed slightly as he heard Father Otar's skeptical tone. He knew the high priest was teasing him and he found it a little annoying.
"No, that's not an exaggeration."
He replied, trying his best to sound calm and collected.
"She is... actually beautiful."
There was a moment of silence as Father Otar watched Gabriel's expression with keen interest. He could tell that the young man was struggling to contain his emotions.
He decided to push a little further.
"Is she so beautiful that you can't To take your eyes off her?"
He asked, trying to hide his smile.
Gabriel's heartbeat quickened when he heard Father Otar's question.
He could hear the subtle hint of sarcasm in the older man's tone, which made him flustered and embarrassed.
He hesitated for a moment before replying, trying his best to sound calm.
"Yes, she is…very charming."
He muttered, feeling his cheeks warm slightly.
Father Otar laughed softly, clearly amused by Gabriel's strange behavior. He could sense the young man's inner struggle and found it somewhat amusing.
"Charming, huh?"
He said with a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Does she have a charming personality to match her appearance?"
"No, she has a dirty, arrogant, violent, moody personality."
Gabriel suddenly said automatically.
While Gabriel was talking sharply about the imprisoned Arab princess, Father Awtar raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised and not expecting such a harsh description from the young man.
"She... all of that?"
He asked, a tone of surprise in his voice
"Then why do you keep visiting her? There's no need to if her personality is so bad."
"Come on, just a girl with a sharp tongue keeps pushing me away."
Gabriel grumbled in annoyance as he gripped his black monastic robes so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Father Otar noticed Gabriel's reaction as he noticed the young man's clenched fists and white knuckles. It was clear that Gabriel was feeling very emotionally conflicted.
"So you're upset by her behavior and yet you choose to visit her."
Father said thoughtfully.
"Why do you keep dealing with her when she treats you so badly?"
"I am forced to obey the king's orders and watch over her."
Gabriel said in a low voice.
Despite his status as the third prince with no real political influence, this did not change his status as a royal prince who was directly descended from the king and who was legally recognized as the king's son.
If Gabriel really did not want to watch over the imprisoned princess anymore, the king would not force him to do so…
"I see…"
Father Otar nodded
"Obeying the king's orders… I understand that, but dealing with someone like that must be boring."
He looked at Gabriel closely and noticed how the young man's expression changed when he mentioned the princess. It was clear that there was more going on in his mind than he was letting on.
"Come on, you like beards."
Gabriel suddenly said.
"Excuse me?"
Father Otar looked at Gabriel in confusion.
"Am I ugly? Honestly, Father?"
Gabriel asked nervously.
Father Otar was surprised by the sudden question, but he quickly pulled himself together and looked at Gabriel carefully for a moment.
"No, my son, your appearance is not ugly at all. You are actually very handsome. Why do you even ask??"
"Would I look more handsome with a beard?"
Gabriel said trying to suppress the blush in his cheeks
The father noticed the young man's reddened cheekbones and smiled slightly. He could tell that Gabriel was quite aware of his appearance
"A beard can add a certain charm to a man's appearance."
He replied trying to sound diplomatic
"If you think it will make you look more handsome then why don't you try growing one?"
Hearing that Gabriel bit his inner lip while looking directly into the father's eyes and said with great embarrassment
"Is it...is it forbidden for me to grow a beard then...if my intention was to satisfy a female's preference in me...will God punish me for that?"
Gabriel's entire face turned red at the question that had worried him and kept him awake last night.
Father Otar's expression softened when he noticed the young man's obvious embarrassment. He could see the inner struggle and guilt Gabriel felt at such a simple question.
He gently placed his hand on Gabriel's shoulder and spoke in a gentle tone.
"My son, you must understand that it is not forbidden to care about your appearance or want to make a good impression on others, including women. God wants us to love and appreciate the material world in all its beauty. Growing a beard just because you think it will make you more attractive to someone is not a sin."
"But I am a monk who has dedicated his life to serving the Lord Jesus Christ. So growing a beard for the purpose of impressing someone, wouldn't that be considered a betrayal of the vows I made? Wouldn't that be considered caring about something worldly and worthless?"
He said as he rubbed his silver cross necklace around his neck nervously
Father Otar smiled kindly at Gabriel and spoke with understanding
"My dear son, you do not betray your vows by simply growing a beard. The Lord understands that we are human beings with natural desires and drives. It is not a sin to look good or be attractive to others. As long as you remain true to your faith and values, you are not doing anything wrong."
He patted Gabriel on the shoulder, trying to ease his anxiety.
"Growing a beard doesn't make you worldly or impure. It's just a simple change in appearance."
Father Otar continued in a more sympathetic and gentle tone.
"More importantly, my son, why do you want to grow a beard in the first place? Is it to please a woman's preference, as you said before?"
Gabriel's cheeks grew even redder and he struggled to find the right words to say. He rolled his eyes and fidgeted with the silver cross necklace that had been given to him the day he became a monk.
He wanted to tell Father Otar the truth, but the words stuck in his throat. He felt so ashamed and guilty about his thoughts and feelings. After a few moments of hesitation, he mumbled.
"Yes, Father… I want to grow a beard because of… a woman."
Father Otar noticed Gabriel's inner struggle and gently encouraged him to continue.
"I see… and who is this woman you want to please so badly?"
He asked in a soft and understanding voice
"I... I really don't want to reveal her name"
He said with great embarrassment
The father saw the strings of extreme shyness written on the young man's face and guessed that his feelings for this mysterious woman were not just superficial
"It's okay, son, you don't have to reveal her name if you're not ready for it"
He said in his gentle and reassuring tone
"But can you tell me what attracted you to her?"
Gabriel took a deep breath and tried to calm his racing heart as he spoke.
"I... I don't know exactly."
He said with a trembling voice.
"It's hard to explain, Father. I just... I can't get my mind off her. Every time I see her, I feel this connection between us. This intense attraction that I can't control. It's like my soul is drawn to her."
"I see."
The father said with understanding as he looked at Gabriel with a bit of firmness.
"You can feel these feelings towards her. Humans are unable to control their emotions. But my son, be careful not to get carried away by your feelings and don't forget that you have dedicated your life to serving God in the end."
"Yes."
Gabriel replied in a concise way.
The father's words were true.
He had to make sure that his feelings did not overwhelm his duty as a monk serving God.
_____
After talking with Father Otar, Gabriel felt a little relieved and went to the church's apple orchard after performing For early morning prayer at the altar
Gabriel walked through the quiet churchyard and made his way to the orchard
The early morning sun cast a soft glow on everything
The quiet rustle of the leaves and the gentle chirping of the birds added to the beauty and sweetness of this orchard
He stood among the apple trees enjoying the serenity and simple beauty of nature. The peaceful environment gave him a sense of solace and helped him clear his mind even if only for a moment
He was planning to pick some apples before visiting the princess
That fierce woman loved apples after all…
Taking a small basket in his hand, Gabriel began to pick some ripe red apples from the trees and carefully put them in his basket
"She is more fond of these apples than I am"
He muttered in a sarcastic voice as he looked at the ripe red apples in his basket
Gabriel laughed quietly, enjoying his sarcastic remark as he looked at his basket full of red fruits
He can imagine the princess's reaction when she sees the fruits. Will she be surprised that he brought her the exact fruit she loves? Or will she continue to act indifferent? Either way, he was prepared to face her usual sharp remarks and fiery temper.
With his basket of apples in hand, Gabriel left the apple orchard to head to the royal palace to meet the princess.
As he walked through the corridors of the castle, he held the basket of apples tightly in his hand.
Gabriel felt a mixture of nervousness and anticipation. He knew that the princess could be difficult and unpredictable, but for some reason, he was still drawn to her.
He reached the room where the princess was being held and took a deep breath before knocking on the door.
The guards had already become accustomed to his daily visit, so they greeted him silently while standing in their strict military stance.
"Jesus Christ bless you," Gabriel said with a gentle side smile as he looked at the guards.
The guards nodded in a friendly gesture at the young prince's invitation while still standing in their strict military stance, raising their spears in their hands.
At that moment, the princess finally answered, allowing him to enter with her sweet feminine voice.
"Come in"
Gabriel was surprised for a moment by the princess's sweet and feminine tone. It was unusual for him.
He got rid of his surprise and carefully turned the doorknob to open the door.
When he entered the room, he extended the apple basket towards her, his voice a little shaky.
"I... I brought you the apples."
He said simply.
In that spacious room that contained luxurious luxuries, the beautiful girl with black hair sat near the window while holding a thick book in her hand.
The gentle and warm rays of the sun hit her dark black locks.
On this day, the princess was wearing a beautiful light blue dress with a beautiful white belt that defined her feminine body in a charming way
Her black hair this time was braided in the German style until the end of her waist.
The sun's rays cast their light on the princess's attractive wheat-colored skin.
Her long black eyelashes fluttered as she lifted her eyes from the book in her hand to look at him with a pair of captivating brown eyes.
She opened her mouth to say in a gentle tone.
"Did you bring me apples?"
Her eyes fell directly on the basket containing those delicious red fruits.
When those captivating brown eyes looked at him, Gabriel felt his breath stop for a moment.
"..."
He quickly regained himself to say in a hoarse male voice.
"Yes...yes, I brought you apples."
"....."
"You liked them last time, so I brought you more this time."
Her silence worried him.
Will she reject him and treat him coldly??
He kept his eyes down, unable to bear to look at her for more than a few moments.
Would she make fun of him? Would she call him an idiot for bringing her a basket of apples?
He wanted to say something, anything, to break the tense silence, but his mouth was dry and his mind was blank
He was also worried about his scary appearance and dark circles due to his lack of sleep last night
Although his gray hair had barely calmed down a bit, his appearance was still disheveled
"Thank you, the apples I brought you yesterday were so delicious"
Layla said in a soft tone as she closed the book in her hand and stood up from the chair and walked towards him with steady steps
"I... I'm glad you liked them"
He stammered and his voice revealed a hint of nervousness
Gabriel stood there holding the apple basket tighter as the princess came to stand in front of him, her closeness to her heightened his senses
Which made his heart beat violently and tiredly inside his chest
He could smell a faint scent of her perfume, a delicate blend of musk and jasmine, which made his head spin
Layla looked into his turquoise-green eyes that were looking at the grounds of the room
"Monk, why aren't you looking at me?"
She said calmly as she nonchalantly picked up a red apple from his basket.
Gabriel felt his cheeks burn as Layla commented on his lack of eye contact.
He couldn't help but look at the plush carpet beneath his feet, feeling embarrassed and weak.
As she picked up the red apple from his basket, he forced himself to meet her gaze.
"I'm sorry."
He mumbled, his voice revealing his nervousness.
"I'm just… a little…"
"You're just a little… What, monk? And why are you even apologizing?"
Layla said in a sarcastic feminine tone as she ate the apple with relish, her captivating brown eyes fixed on Gabriel's form.
Gabriel swallowed his dry saliva as Layla's sarcastic tone made him squirm inside. He knew he was making a fool of himself, and his tongue was tied in knots.
"I…I…I just…"
He stumbled over his words trying to find the right thing to say but failed miserably.
He watched her eat the apple, her enchanting eyes fixed on him with an almost predatory gaze that made him feel like prey surrounded by a hungry lioness.
His masculine Adam's apple shook nervously on his neck.
Since he couldn't make eye contact with her at the moment, his eyes were focused on the gold necklace wrapped around her neck.
It was the necklace she had kissed and worn in front of him earlier.
It was the necklace that had the word Allah on it.
"Why is there a scary blackness under your eyes?"
Laila asked with her mouth full while chewing the apple with enjoyment
When Laila asked about the dark circles under his eyes, he felt embarrassed and weak. He hoped that she wouldn't notice, but she did so quickly
"I didn't sleep well."
He muttered, his voice barely above a whisper
"Your gray hair also looks disheveled like a crow's nest."
She said sarcastically as she unconsciously reached out to touch one of his frizzy locks of hair
"I tried to comb it, I swear in the name of Jesus Christ, but this ugly hair refused to calm down."
Gabriel said somewhat excitedly
"Hahaha, oh my God."
Laila removed her hand from her messy locks of hair to laugh loudly at his reaction
She was about to choke on the apple in her mouth
The sound of her soft feminine laughter rang throughout the room
He said with a hint of annoyance in his voice as he crossed his arms over his chest Defensively
"That's not funny"
"You have no idea how much effort it takes to look good when you have naughty hair like that"
Hearing that, Laila tried to stop laughing and looked at him with flushed cheeks and a mischievous smile appearing at the corner of her mouth
"Then how about I brush your crow's nest hair?" "You can consider that the price of the apples you brought me"
Gabriel couldn't help but bristle a little at Laila's description of his hair as "like a crow's nest"
But he tried to control his nerves. He considered her offer for a moment, not sure if she was being sincere or mocking him.
"You... do you want to comb my hair?"
He asked hesitantly, raising an eyebrow.
"And all I have to offer you is... apples?"
Laila smiled a mischievous, childish smile as she suddenly grabbed Gabriel's hand and led him towards the wooden dressing table in the room.
As Laila grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the wooden dressing table, Gabriel stumbled a little and was surprised by her sudden, firm grip. He followed her.
His mind was still clouded with confusion.
"Where... where are you taking me?"
He stuttered, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"Don't worry, I won't kidnap you, I'm not I have a hobby of kidnapping monks"
"Just sit down and let me play with your hair," Layla said sarcastically as she forced him onto the wooden vanity chair.
"Just sit down and let me play with your hair."
Gabriel felt a bit foolish as he was forced onto the chair. This whole situation was so ridiculous and he wasn't sure what she was going to do with it.
He watched Layla stand behind him with a forced smile on her face as she started to run her hands through his hair.
"And what exactly are you going to do with my hair?"
He asked trying to maintain a calm demeanor despite her touch.
"I'm going to shave it!!"
Layla said with a wickedly scary smile as she took a large bite of the apple in her hand in a harsh manner.
Gabriel's eyes widened in horror at Layla's malicious reaction.
The thought of her shaving his head sent shivers down his spine and he could feel a wave of panic rising inside him.
He sat nervously on the chair with his hands clenched tightly in his fists on his lap.
"No!!"
He objected, his voice carrying a hint of panic
"You promised to comb it, not shave it."
Layla laughed out loud at his reaction.
She clearly enjoyed his discomfort. She seemed to derive some perverse pleasure from playing with him.
"Relax, monk."
She said with a sly smile, still chewing on the apple.
"I was just kidding. I won't shave your head. I'm not that cruel."
Gabriel let out a sigh of relief, the tension in his body slowly settling.
"You really do like torturing me, don't you?"
He said in annoyance.
He still felt uncomfortable sitting there, weak and at her mercy, as she continued to play with his hair.
"I like torturing you, monk, so shut up and look in the mirror."
She said sarcastically, reaching out to force him to look in the mirror
Gabriel obeyed her command and looked at his reflection in the mirror. He couldn't help but flinch at the sight of his messy, disheveled hair and the way Layla was pulling and petting it didn't help.
"Can't you be a little gentler?"
He groaned and felt a little embarrassed
"Just shut up"
She said as she put her half-eaten apple aside to take the wooden comb from the table and start combing his hair
Gabriel stifled a sigh but held his tongue and surrendered to let Laila do whatever she wanted with his hair
He focused on controlling his reactions and keeping his emotions in check even as her combing of his hair sent tingles down his spine
As she carefully combed his hair with the wooden comb made of ebony, Laila began to sing in a sweet feminine voice while combing his hair with concentration
"My tormentor came in the dark of dusk
As if she were the brightest planet on the horizon
So I said you have enlightened me, O best visitor
As for I was afraid of the guards on the roads
So she answered me, and tears preceded her
He who rides the sea does not fear drowning"
She was humming an Arabic poem in her soft feminine voice
Gabriel felt a shiver run down his spine as Laila's melodious voice filled the air
And her words were like intoxicating music wrapping around him
The combination of the gentle touch of her graceful fingers combing his hair and the sweetness of her voice made his heart flutter in his chest
He sat in silence, unable to take his eyes off her image in the mirror in front of him, amazed by the sight of her taking care of his hair
The reflection in the mirror was of a beautiful Arab woman in a captivating blue dress combing the hair of a monk wearing black monastic clothes while a silver cross was wrapped around his neck
The reflection looked so surreal and fantastic.
Gabriel felt his heart pound violently as he looked at the reflection in the mirror