In that luxurious room with luxurious and royal furniture, the young man opened his eyes to look at his surroundings calmly.
"This follower greets the great Kaiser of Germany."
The old man with brown hair wearing the silver armor of the Crusader knights spoke.
The young man looked at the man who spoke with his eyes while he was still silent.
"The Sea of Darkness and all the neighboring kingdoms have been taken over to be annexed under your esteemed rule. The great general of the empire, Arne Wolfro, informs you of the news of our great army's victory over the Arabs in the East. He tells your majesty that the Arabs are demanding a peace truce, ready to listen to all your esteemed requests."
"..."
What is this old man even saying??
The young man asked as he glanced at the imposing old man in bewilderment.
"Who would have thought that the great Arabs would descend to this embarrassing level of weakness after ruling the world for two centuries?"
The old man mocked with malice as he looked at his young Caesar with respect.
"..."
The Arabs????
Descend????
Weakness?????
Question marks invaded the young Caesar's mind
What is this old man even talking about??
Just at that moment Gabriel opened his eyes forcefully while panting with his body completely covered in cold sweat
"Jesus Christ my savior!!"
Gabriel said while holding his heart and panting violently
What in Christ's name was this dream?!!!
Caesar!!
The young man in the dream was called and addressed by the name of Caesar
This title was given to the great emperors of Rome in the distant past
The Kaiser of Germany??
What the hell is this?
Gabriel pushed his grey hair, now dripping with cold sweat, back nervously.
Sitting there in the darkness of his room, Gabriel tried to shake off the uneasy feeling that was creeping up on him.
He knew he should just ignore the dream and try to get some more rest, but his mind wouldn't let go of what he had been through.
The name Caesar… the title Caesar… all of this swirled through his mind like a whirlwind.
Gabriel closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.
It was just a dream… but it had a strange sense of familiarity…
He sat there for a few more moments, just trying to organize his thoughts and control his emotions.
But the more he thought about it, the less credible it seemed.
Could the dream have a deeper meaning?
Gabriel shivered slightly, the cold sweat on his skin making him feel cold.
He looked around his room as if he expected to find some kind of answer there.
But all he saw were the familiar shadows and shapes of his furniture, and it offered no clues to the confusing dream he had just experienced…
Maybe he was just hallucinating.
Gabriel thought seriously as he got out of bed, his body covered in cold sweat.
His simple, modest white linen pajamas were sticking to his body with sweat.
He walked over to his wooden table where he placed his silver cross necklace.
As Gabriel stood by his wooden table staring at his silver cross, he tried to convince himself that it was just a hallucination.
Maybe he had eaten something that made him sick, or maybe he was just tired and his mind was playing with it.
He raised his hand to touch the cross, and he felt the cold metal on his fingertips.
The familiar feeling of the sacred thing gave him some comfort, but the anxiety and confusion that came with it The dream still remains
He took a deep breath and left the cross
He looked at himself in the small mirror hanging on the wall
His face was pale, his hair disheveled, and cold sweat was still dripping down his forehead
Gabriel ran his hand through his gray hair, trying to calm himself down
"It was just a dream," he muttered to himself, as if saying it out loud would make it real
He needed to go back to sleep, he knew that in the morning this would all seem ridiculous
After taking another deep breath, Gabriel returned to his bed and lay down on it
The sheets were cold and damp from his sweat, but he ignored it and covered them himself
He closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind, but images of the dream still flashed through his mind
He tried to recite prayers and do anything to make his mind forget the strange dream... but nothing worked...
The next morning
Gabriel emerged from his prayer room in his black monkish garb, nervously rubbing the silver cross necklace wrapped around his neck
There were eerie dark circles under his beautiful turquoise-green eyes, as he looked His short gray hair was messily disheveled this morning
He tried to hide his fatigue and discomfort behind a stern expression but it was difficult
Gabriel felt anxious physically and mentally and it showed in his eyes
He hoped that the other monks wouldn't notice or at least not ask questions
As he walked through the monastery he tried to focus on his tasks and responsibilities but his mind kept wandering back to the dream from the night before
He had to resume his usual routine after morning prayers by going to the princess at the Dresden Royal Palace
He had to see Layla
He wanted to see her so badly for some reason
He felt that seeing her beautiful face might calm his troubled mind a little
He reached out to touch the white embroidered handkerchief in his pocket out of instinct
The handkerchief he should have returned to her a long time ago
Gabriel's feet moved outside the church
As he stepped outside the church he was greeted by the sight of the crowded capital of Urbanach
Business was at its peak in The Testament of King Gunther the Holy
As Gabriel walked through the capital in his black monastic garb, the people and common folk looked at him from afar with respect as one of the men of God in the church
His feet moved towards the royal palace
The walk to the palace seemed to take a long time, but finally the huge and impressive building appeared
The heavy, imposing stone walls, the tall towers, and the grandeur of the place were in stark contrast to the humble and modest monastery
As he stood in front of the palace, Gabriel took a deep breath and reminded himself of his duty
He came here to see Layla to fulfill his mission as a cleric and a friend
With this thought in his mind, he entered through the heavy wooden doors of the palace
He headed towards the corridor that was supposed to be the princess's confined room
He walked through the stone corridors of the palace
As he walked through the cold, dark corridors, the sound of his footsteps echoed on the stone walls
The atmosphere of the palace was heavy and gloomy, but Gabriel tried to ignore it
He focused on the task at hand, on the reason Who made him here... to see Laila
He continued walking in the corridor, his senses alert and his mind in a whirl of thoughts
Finally, he reached the door leading to Laila's room
The guards had gotten used to him coming almost daily in the past months, so they only gave him nods of respect
Gabriel looked at the door of the room silently
Wondering if Laila was in her room at this time or if she was sitting in the palace garden reading books
His intuition told him that she was in her room for a reason
As he was about to knock on the door, he heard sharp female voices
"You are so ugly, how can a woman your age have this kind of body? Could it be that you are just a whore??"
"An ugly-faced whore seducing knights with her body"
"Infidel, ugly, and a whore, your place will be only in hellfire"
The strong German voices and language definitely did not belong to Laila!!
Gabriel's mind was filled with a mixture of anxiety and confusion
Who was saying those harsh, insulting words full of contempt??
Gabriel opened the door harshly
The sight that greeted his eyes was that of five maids gathered around Laila
When the door opened, the five maids stood in amazement and shock
Each one of them was carrying different pieces of clothing, makeup, and hygiene products, all of which looked like accessories for Laila
However, their expressions quickly turned to fear when they saw Gabriel standing angrily in the doorway
Gabriel's eyes swept across the group of maids in the room, his expression a mixture of anger and worry
Seeing Laila sitting among the maids looking sad and crying only served to fuel his anger
"For God's sake what are you doing!!!"
Gabriel said in a loud, masculine voice that showed how angry he was feeling at this moment
His turquoise-green eyes were fixed on Laila who was sitting in the middle surrounded by those maids
Those captivating brown eyes were drowned in tears!!!!
Her long, beautiful black hair was disheveled at this moment as if someone had pulled her hair forcefully while the soft white dress she was wearing at this moment was torn from the chest.
Layla was covering her chest with extreme shyness while tears were streaming from her eyes profusely.
The sight of Layla sitting there surrounded by the five maids with her disheveled hair and torn dress filled Gabrielle with a mixture of anger, worry and protection.
The tears streaming down her face, the weakness in her eyes and the way she was trying to cover her chest with her hands made his heart clench.
He couldn't understand what had happened but seeing Layla in such a state angered him.
He took another step into the room and his turquoise eyes were hard and filled with anger.
He looked at the five maids whose faces had turned pale upon hearing his angry voice.
It was clear that they were doing something to Layla, something that left her in a state of distress and annoyance.
She turned to Gabrielle's eyes fell on the torn dress, disheveled hair, and tear-stained face...
With his clenched jaw, he addressed the maids in an angry and sharp tone.
"What does this mean? What did you do to her? Explain yourselves now!!"
The five maids recoiled from Gabrielle's anger, clearly frightened by his violent behavior.
They exchanged nervous glances among themselves, none of them wanting to speak first.
Finally, one of them, the oldest of the group, stepped forward, her voice trembling as she spoke.
"We were just trying to dress her up...to make her look more elegant, Your Highness."
Gabrielle's eyes narrowed at the maid's explanation.
"Decorate her?"
He couldn't believe that they would go to this extent just to make Layla look "presentable"
He looked at Layla who was still sitting on the chair with her face stained with tears and her dress torn
"And how exactly are you going to dress her up? What explains you tearing her dress and pulling her hair?"
The maid stumbled over her words, her expression tense and uncomfortable
"Well she was resisting us… She didn't want to wear the clothes we picked out for her. We had to be a little harsh."
"...."
Hearing the maid's words, Gabriel felt his nerves start to fray just from the intensity of his anger
Despite being a robot monk, he was still the third prince of this kingdom
He had the right to punish the disobedient palace servants in the way he saw fit
His turquoise eyes were shining with anger as he stepped forward
"By force? Ripping her dress and pulling her hair just because she resisted your choice of clothing?!"
He said sharply, his voice filled with anger at this moment
The maid stepped back, her eyes wide with fear
The other four servants looked equally anxious, clearly afraid of Gabriel's wrath
Gabriel's gaze swept over everyone, his expression stern and unforgiving
He said in a low and dangerous tone
"Servants who are disobedient and rude to their masters must be punished."
The young prince said his sentence with extreme coldness
"Guards!!!"
Gabriel called the guards indifferently
The guards' call echoed through the palace corridors and within moments two guards appeared
At the door
They looked at the scene and contemplated the princess with her dress torn and her face stained with tears and the five nervous maids and the angry man in front of them
"Yes, Your Highness"
One of the guards stepped forward
Gabriel's face was tense with anger as he addressed the guard
"These disobedient servants mistreated the princess. They caused her physical harm and emotional distress"
He pointed to Laila who was still sitting on the chair. The torn dress and red marks on her wrists and forearms were clearly visible
He said firmly, his voice cold and uncompromising
"They will be punished for this"
The guards nodded their heads and their expressions were grim as they contemplated the evidence in front of them
They quickly entered the room and approached the five maids
The guard said sternly, his voice leaving no room for argument
"You're coming with us"
The five maids didn't dare protest. They knew they were in serious trouble.
But before they could be led away, one of them dared to raise her voice in a pleading tone.
"But Your Highness… we were… we were just doing our duties…"
The maid's pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears.
Gabriel's anger was too intense and his protective instinct towards Layla too strong.
Seeing her sad state stirred something primal within him that needed to defend and protect her.
His turquoise eyes shone coldly as he responded to the maid's words with a harsh, uncompromising command.
"Flog them 20 times with a whip. I want them to learn a lesson they and anyone else who dares to think about attacking the princess will never forget."
The guard nodded, his expression serious.
He said with a grim face.
"Yes, under your orders, Your Highness."
Then the guards led the five maids away, their faces pale with fear.
"Your Highness, please forgive this maid."
"Your Highness, for Jesus' sake, please noooo."
"Oh God, I don't want to be flogged."
The terrified voices of the maids rose as the guards led them out of the room.
Now that the maids were dealt with, Gabriel's attention turned back to Laila, who was still sitting on the chair.
The sight of Laila's torn dress and tear-stained face sent a pang of pain through his heart.
He wanted nothing more than to comfort her and erase the pain and misery she had endured.
Gabriel approached her, his anger replaced by a mixture of worry. And tenderness
He knelt before her, his eyes fixed on her tear-stained face
"Laila"
He whispered in a low, quiet voice
He wanted to reach out to her, touch her, embrace her in his arms, and comfort her, but he held back, respecting her space and not wanting to cross the line and commit a great sin against himself as a monk and against Laila as a Muslim woman
"Are you hurt?" Did they hurt you in any way?"
He asked her, his eyes scanning her face.
"Isn't it...that obvious?"
She opened her mouth to say in a hoarse, tired feminine voice and eyes puffy from crying as she covered her dress that was torn from the chest with her fists, not wanting to reveal her skin as she resisted her great feeling of shame.
Her hoarse, tired voice, along with the sight of her torn dress and puffy eyes, caused Gabriel to become even more anxious.
His heart ached for her and his protective instincts were screaming at him to hold her in his arms and protect her from any harm.
But he stepped back and his fingers gripped the edge of the chair to prevent her from reaching her.
He asked, his voice reflecting the mixture of anger and anxiety that filled his being.
"Where does it hurt?" Would you allow me to examine your forearm?"
Hearing that, Laila covered her hand with the sleeve of her dress while looking away with a great sense of shame and self-consciousness.
"I don't want to… get away from me… don't look at me."
The sight of her covering her arm and turning her gaze away from her face sparked a wave of protection in Gabriel's heart.
He desperately wanted to help her to ensure her safety and comfort, but her pleas not to look at her and to stay away from her made his heart tremble.
He was hesitant between respecting her wishes and wanting to comfort her.
"Laila please… please don't hide."
He pleaded in a soft and gentle voice.
"I want to help you, but I can't if you don't let me."
Despite his pleas, Laila continued to look away while biting her lips in shyness.
He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady and reassuring.
"Look at me, please."
Pleading
"I just want to make sure you're not hurt. I won't touch you unless you let me, I promise."
"..."
His turquoise eyes searched her face, hoping to connect with his gaze to allow her to see the concern and sincerity in his expression.
He could see the mix of emotions on her face, humiliation, shame, and vulnerability.
It was clear that what had happened had deeply hurt her, both physically and emotionally.
"Please, Layla."
He continued in a calm, reassuring voice.
"Let me help you. I just want to make sure you're not hurt. Nothing more. I won't do anything you don't want me to do. I promise… just let me check your arm."
"..."
The silence that hung over the air seemed to stretch on forever as each second felt like an eternity as Layla continued to look away, her body tense and defensive.
Gabriel could see the struggle inside her, the struggle between her need for comfort and her desire to hide.
His heart ached. For her sake and the need to communicate with her and calm her down was overwhelming
He wanted to reassure her...
He wanted to comfort her...
But he stuck to his position and gave her space but he begged her silently
Finally after a long silence Laila opened her mouth to say in a shaky voice while suppressing the tears that gathered in her charming brown eyes
"Excuse me...I allow you to see my hand"
She extended her trembling arm to him while biting her lips tightly
She felt a strong sense of shame about herself
She had been exposed to this situation repeatedly and intermittently since her imprisonment in this palace
Her pride did not allow her to tell anyone about being bullied but the fact that she, the daughter of the Caliph of the world, the spoiled princess of the Caliphate, had been humiliated by mere lowly servants in the enemy kingdom had wounded her pride and shattered her self-esteem, especially since the monk prince had seen her in this embarrassing situation
He knew that He couldn't let this go unpunished. These servants had crossed the line and they would pay for it.
But first, he had to take care of Layla…
His fingers were gentle and his touch was feather-light as he traced the red and blue marks on her arm, his eyes filled with pity and anger.
"You'll be fine."
"Just a few scratches and bruises, nothing serious," he reassured her in his soft, soothing voice.
"But the fact that she had been physically harmed by the palace staff was unacceptable. That, coupled with the emotional trauma she had clearly endured, was enough to make his blood boil.
His jaw clenched as he finished examining her arm, his eyes narrowing in a cold, cruel gaze.
"These servants will pay for what they did."
A dangerous tone crept into his voice.
"They will pay for hurting you like this…"
He released her wrist and reluctantly let go of her hand, but his gaze remained fixed on her.
He could see the shame and embarrassment in her eyes, and the sight only strengthened his resolve to protect her.
He said calmly In a voice full of concern and sympathy
"Layla"
"They have no right to treat you this way. You are a princess, the daughter of the Caliph. You are not a lowly peasant who can be mocked and humiliated."
Despite his hatred for the way she had previously talked arrogantly about being the daughter of the Caliph of this world, he found himself reminding her of this fact.
He did not like the broken look in her eyes.
Gabriel hated seeing her like this.
He bit his lip and clenched his hands into fists, resisting the urge to pull her into his arms.
"I will follow them. I will show them real hell. I swear in the name of Jesus Christ that I will do so."
"The more...the more I get to know you, the more you show me a strange side of your personality. Are you really a monk?"
Laila opened her mouth to speak in a hoarse, husky voice.
Her words had taken him by surprise, her hoarse voice a direct reminder of the emotional and physical toll she had taken.
He paused for a moment, his mind racing, trying to understand her point.
Strange aspect? He had always considered himself to be the same, calm and collected, so what did she mean by that?
And her question about his personality and his being a monk...
He laughed quietly, a hint of bitterness in his voice.
"What makes you think I'm not a monk?" he asked, his gaze meeting hers.
"Your eyes just now looked… like the eyes of someone about to kill someone"
Layla couldn't describe his bloodshot look just now
Her statement hung in the air and her words pierced the silence
His eyes… looked like the eyes of someone about to kill?
Gabriel paused for a moment and his mind recollected the events of the past few minutes
He felt an intense surge of anger, a wave of anger so intense that he was surprised he hadn't let it out in front of her
His jaw clenched and a flash of guilt appeared in his eyes
"I-"
He started but his voice died in his throat
What could he say?
He couldn't deny the truth of her words. He didn't realize that his eyes looked cold and harsh.
A stark contrast to his usual gentle and honest expression.
But that was only because seeing her so hurt, humiliated, wounded, and ashamed made the anger inside him boil to a boiling point.
It was a side of himself that he usually kept under tight control, but Layla brought it to the surface.
He swallowed hard and looked at her body, which was still covered in her torn dress. The red and blue marks on her wrists were still visible, a clear sign of the physical abuse she had endured.
He clenched his hands again, and the anger inside him flared up again, before he could suppress it.
He finally said, his voice quieter now, trying to hide the lingering anger.
"Can I ask you something?"
"I ask"
She replied calmly while her hand was still covering the torn part of her dress on the chest
He needed to know how this situation happened, how the maids were so bold and so impudent to lay their hands on the princess of the caliphate?
And why didn't she resist?
He tried to keep his voice calm and focused his eyes on her face
"Why didn't you try to defend yourself?"
"I'm a prisoner here, of course I won't defend myself because that will only make matters worse and as you told me before, no one likes me here because I'm an Arab Muslim and the daughter of the Caliph, the enemy of this kingdom."
He said coldly
Her words were stinging
She was right, he had mentioned these facts himself, she was a prisoner, an Arab Muslim, the enemy of this kingdom
But the reminder did nothing to calm the anger and desire for protection that flared up inside him
"That may be true but that doesn't mean they have the right to mistreat you this way"
He said in a sharp voice
"Then address them for what you're addressing me"
Layla said with similar sharpness as she looked at him with her brown eyes that exuded pure resentment
He swallowed his saliva with difficulty and his eyes were still fixed on her face
He said firmly and his voice had a hint of anger
"I promise I won't let them hurt you like that again I will do whatever it takes to prevent that"
"Okay... can you bring me the blue dress that's lying on the floor? I'm tired of covering my chest with my hands like that"
She pointed to one of the dresses lying on the floor
He followed her gaze and his eyes fell on a blue dress lying on the floor
Her request made sense as she continued to cover her chest with her hands The scene sparked a spark of possessiveness inside him but he managed to suppress it
Without saying a word he walked towards the dress and picked it up and held it out to her
Layla could see his neck and ears that were very red when he held the dress out to her
He couldn't help but realize his reaction The redness in his neck and ears and the slight fluttering in his heart
He silently cursed himself for letting her influence him this way
He was a monk for god's sake he should be above such responses
"If you need help call me I'll be outside until you finish changing your clothes"
He said in a shy tone as he quickly handed her the blue dress before he hurriedly walked out of the room
He leaned against the door and took a deep breath as he tried to collect himself
What's happening to him? This was not his habit
His heart was pounding in his chest, his skin was hot, and his mind was spinning with conflicting emotions
He was a monk, a disciplined, calm, spiritual man
But there was something about her about Layla that threatened to tear him apart
He closed his eyes and took another deep breath, trying to calm himself
He couldn't allow himself to be affected by his emotions. He had to stay still, focused, and disciplined
After a while of waiting, he heard a soft, feminine voice address him from behind the door
"I'm done, come in."
Her words sent a shiver down his spine and his heart fluttered
For a moment, he stood frozen, his body filled with a mixture of fear and anticipation, then he swallowed hard and gripped the doorknob with his fingers before opening it
The sight that greeted him took his breath away
Layla stood there, wearing her simple blue dress, her hair still a little disheveled from the previous ordeal
But his eyes didn't He couldn't take his eyes off them.
The weakness and fragility he saw there stirred something inside him.
"Layla... I... I have a medicinal herb that will help ease the pain of the bruises on your wrists."
He stammered for some reason as he took out the small wooden box that was the size of a finger from the pocket of his black monk's robe.
"Give it to me, I'll apply it to my wrists with my hand."
Layla said as she sat back down on the chair near the window.
He handed her the box, his fingers touching hers, the brief touch sending a strange shiver through his body.
He warned her softly.
"Be gentle."
His eyes were fixed on her as she sat on the chair near the window.
He watched her carefully, the way she placed the medicinal herbs on her wrists with her slender hands.
Her every movement seemed to captivate him. There was something almost magical about her.
"Of course I'll be gentle. This is my wrist after all."
She said coldly.
She was simply in a bad mood.
Her cold response surprised him, her bad mood evident in her tone, but he couldn't blame her given the shock she had just endured.
He watched her place the medicinal herbs on her wrist, his eyes following the movement of her fingers.
He felt the need to reach out and touch her to calm her down and offer her comfort, but he resisted, knowing that it would be inappropriate.
His eyes fell on the wooden hair comb on the dressing table, and an idea crossed his mind.
He asked her in a calm, gentle voice.
"Do you "Would you let me try to comb your hair?" She paused for a moment then her eyes flickered to meet his. She seemed a little surprised by the request but after a moment she nodded slightly.
He sighed silently in relief as she nodded in agreement.
He took the comb from the table and approached her. He stood behind her, his hands shaking slightly as he began to comb her hair.
His fingers brushed through her soft locks and his body was filled with a mixture of tension and tenderness.
Each stroke of the comb on her hair sent a small shiver down his spine. He never lost sight of the intimacy of the act.
"Be careful not to ruin my hair, monk."
Layla said dryly as she closed the small box of medicinal herbs and put it aside.
He laughed softly at her dry warning, his voice low and velvety.
He replied in a light but respectful tone.
"I will do my best not to ruin your hair, my princess."
He continued to comb her hair carefully and gently. He found himself captivated by the feel of her silky hair and the delicate scent of her perfume. Every part of her seemed to be Attracted
He continued to comb her hair, his fingers sliding through the dark strands. This simple act suddenly carried an unexpected tenderness. At one point, he muttered in a low, almost unconscious note.
"Your hair is so black it's like coal."
He didn't mean for her to hear the comment, but the words just slipped out and his thoughts unintentionally escaped. He felt slightly embarrassed and immediately regretted the unintended comparison.
"Is he ugly?"
Laila asked in a calm voice
He stopped, his hand still holding the comb while combing her hair
Her question surprised him, her voice was so calm and indifferent that he wasn't sure he heard her correctly
He asked in a confused tone trying to understand what exactly she was referring to
"What is ugly?"
"Do you think my hair is ugly? As far as I know, here in the West, people prefer blonde hair."
His hand moved again through her hair and his expression became contemplative as he thought about her question
He said firmly, his voice low
"I don't think your hair is ugly."
He continued to stroke her hair, his fingers combing through her silky locks
"I've always preferred dark hair, actually."
Hearing his answer, Laila suddenly laughed out loud
Her laughter echoed in the spacious room
When he turned her head to meet her kohl-lined brown eyes and his captivating turquoise ones The green smiled Layla with an extremely attractive smile showing off her pearly white teeth
"Well, thank you for the compliment, my prince monk."
She had attractive and strong dimples on her chin, which added an amazing charm to her smile
As soon as he saw her smile, Gabriel felt his entire body freeze
This was the first time she actually laughed in his face
He felt his heart skip a beat as his face and neck gradually grew hot
His hand holding the wooden comb that was combing her thick and long black hair trembled
"Jesus Christ, my savior...."
He bit his inner lip very hard as he looked away, unable to see her beautiful and heart-wrenching smile any longer
Gabriel did not realize at this moment that he had forgotten about the strange dream he had last night. His mind was about to explode with Laila alone at this moment.