Saja walked into Zara's quarters. The maids quickly bowed to her as they recognised the princess. Zara sprung to her feet and bowed her head. Everything was getting more and more real by the second. It had been feeling like a dream. Now the princess was standing before her eyes.
“What's with all the guards?” Saja asked.
“Your highness. A pleasure to meet you,” Zara said with a smile.
Chapter 14
Saja analysed Zara as they were sitting across from each other. She was beautiful, different from the queen and the concubine.
“You look scared, don't be,” Saja smiled at Zara.
“It's all been so overwhelming,” Zara replied.
“I can imagine. The queen and Lady Tiana must not have been happy but we can talk about that later. Tell me about yourself.”
The two of them talked over refreshments. The more they spoke, the more she could see why the King liked her. She was sweet and genuine. Saja had more in common with her than Amira and Tiana and she loved that she too was interested in medicine. Finally, she asked what had happened between her and the King's women. Zara took a deep breath before replying. She told her everything from the start. Saja had her mouth wide open. She closed her eyes and covered her face and couldn’t help laughing.
“I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh but this is worse than a soap opera. How are you handling your newfound royalty?” Saja asked. The whole situation was crazy and she couldn’t help but sympathise with her.
“I still don’t know what to think about that. I’ve been trying to remember what life was like with my father, but I don’t remember seeing him much. The only thing I remember is the horses,” Zara said with a smile.
“So tell me about the two of you.”
Zara just sat there turning red. She had no idea what to say or where to begin. Saja's eyes widened and she laughed. “You like him that much,” she said. It was a good thing. The King needed someone who liked him, someone who would be good to him.
Oo00oO
Zara heard her bedroom door opening. She opened her eyes and saw the King walking in. He wore a t-shirt and slacks. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the clock. It was only six in the morning. “Your Majesty, what's going on?” she asked. He crawled into bed with her and wrapped his arms around her. Zara panicked slightly. She had never been in bed with him or any other man for that matter. The only comfort she had was that he was behind her. She would be shyer had he embraced her from the front.
“Couldn't sleep,” the King said and kissed her head.
“What's the matter?”
“You are too far away from me.”
Zara giggled. “How did you survive your other nights without me?”
“It was not easy,” he said with a mock groan.
Zara told him that he was exaggerating. The two of them lay in bed together talking for hours. It was as if there was no madness going on in the palace. They laughed and joked together. The King was tickling Zara and she was laughing and screaming loudly. A knock sounded on the door.
“Your Majesty, I hate to interrupt,” Maria said.
“Then don't,” the King shouted.
“What is it?” Zara called out.
“Her Majesty, the queen mother is here,” Maria said.
“Oh dear,” the King said and sat up. His mother had come sooner than he had anticipated. Zara panicked. It was the first time she was meeting the King's mother. She leaped out of bed and quickly ran to the closet to change. The King told her she looked fine as she brushed her hair. He took her hand and led her to the living room where his mother waited. He kissed her on both cheeks. Zara gave her a deep bow.
The King introduced them to each other over breakfast. The queen mother analysed Zara for a moment. “Now, you know that I never liked Tiana or Amira,” she said.
“Yes, mother, we all knew.”
“But what makes you think that she is better?”
“I know she is better. She is kinder, not materialistic, she is not malicious, she is more humble-” Before the King finished speaking his mother cut him off.