Page 48 of Dirty Wild Sultan

“No, I… it’s not like that. I have never felt like this before. I don’t know what to do,” I said, pacing around the hallway that looked over the garden. The same garden where I had argued with Nasrin. “Even those flowers and the sun and moon remind me of her. Is this normal?”

My sister kept giggling while Grandma chuckled and asked me to lean down. She ruffled my hair and said, “You are in love, boy. Only love can turn rulers like you into a fool.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that?” I grumbled, “I am not a fool.”

“A handsome, lovely fool, Zain,” she smiled. “When your father first saw your mother in the market, he rushed to me in the evening and announced that he was going to marry her.”

Zara stopped smiling and looked away.

I clenched my fists. “I am not like him.”

* * *

“Zain,”I heard Nasrin call out and quickly stood up, hiding my shaking hands in my pants. “Where are you?”

“I am here on the balcony,” I said, looking around and making sure everything was perfect.

After my confession to Grandma and Zara, I decided to do something special and spend time with Nasrin. I had asked the cooks to make a delicious lamb steak with spiced yogurt for dinner and decorated the sitting area in the balcony of our room. The sky was turning darker, and the pool had fresh water running, which gleamed in the moonlight with candles surrounding it. The dining table was set up with all the plates and glasses with jasmine, her favorite flowers, in the middle.

I hope she likes it.

“Zain… what is all this?” She was gaping, her eyes flickering between me and her surroundings.

“I thought we could have dinner together.” I scratched my neck nervously. “Why? Is something wrong? Are jasmine not your favorite flowers?”

Nasrin let out a soft chuckle, her honeyed eyes sparkling. “No, no, it’s perfect.” Leaning on her toes, she pressed her lips against mine. “I love it, Zain.”

I love you.

I blinked at her and tried to smile when my heart thudded loudly against my ribs. I did not just think that, did I? Could it be possible for me, of all people, to be in love? With Nasrin?

“Why don’t we freshen up and you can tell me all about your day. There’s still some time before dinner,” I said, leading her inside the room.

When she was getting ready, I changed into a crisp white shirt, pants, and suit jacket. I couldn’t help but shamelessly stare at her when she stepped out onto the balcony wearing a dark satin dress that hugged her curves, accentuating them.

“You look stunning, Nasrin. Forgive me, but I don’t think I will be able to keep my hands to myself tonight.”

Her cheeks turned pink, tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. Our knees touched as we sat on the seating of the low table. The staff served our food. Her eyes brightened when she noticed it was her favorite dish with white wine.

When they left, we started our dinner. I listened to her talk about the urgent care one dog needed and how she helped the doctor with the case. I was relieved to know that the dog would be okay and be with his owner in no time. I was proud of her work, saving animals’ lives and taking care of them.

I asked her for her guidance with the women’s council, asking if she would be a part of it. Her input could help make Azmia a better country for all genders.

“I tried to look for a way to dethrone Sadiq and let Imran be the Sultan of Maahnoor,” I said. “But there’s no way unless he rejects the crown or… dies.”

Nasrin winced hearing me. I covered her hand. “I knew it wouldn’t be possible. That was a silly thought.”

I didn’t want to see her lose hope in her own country just because Sadiq Elbaz was not the sultan that Maahnoor deserved. “You and I will make changes, Nasrin.”

She smiled, her eyes soft, “I believe you, Sultan.”

“I don’t want to be rude, but I wanted to know why you, Zara or Khalid, act differently whenever someone mentions your father?” Nasrin asked when the maids cleared our plates after our dinner.

I took a big gulp of the white wine, knowing I needed the sweet burning taste to tell her the truth of what had happened all those years ago. She was our family. She was my family and needed to know the truth.

“When we were little, our father used to dote on me and Khalid. He loved our mother because she had blessed him with two sons and for a ruler like him, there was nothing better than having two male heirs. Then he met Zara’s mother, daughter of an English nobleman, in London and he brought her here, announcing that he would get married to her.”

Nasrin took a small sip of her wine, listening to me.

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