18 Elena

18

Elena

Everyone stood up from their plush seats made of expensive silk when the guard announced the entrance of Sultan Zain in The Court Room. Everyone was dressed in their royal thwab, white cotton, embroidered silk and intricate designs were glimmering in the hall full of people who bowed when he walked by us. Even Zayed, who shouldn’t look as handsome as he did in white thwab, bowed down without any comment.

The air was tense and serious. Sunlight poured through the transparent dome above the obsidian throne as he sat down, staring at us all. Sultana Nasrin was announced last, our heads still bowed when she walked past us in black and golden gown with her chin high and took the place beside Zain in a similar throne.

He never wanted her to stand beside him, wanted her as his equal partner. If he hadn’t, I would have threatened to shoot him that day when he came to confess his feelings to her in Maahnoor.

When the guards commanded to relax, we all took our places in the assigned