Chapter 72 - Twisting

Jasmine

"Everything." He declared.

I sighed heavily and pouted my lips. "I don't really want to." His eyes were a million different colors of hazel. It was golden and red.

I tried to escape his gaze, but I was caught. I shook my head. "Naïma is coming back from her honeymoon." I said meaningfully. "That will be this afternoon." He raised one eyebrow.

A smile twitched on the edge of his lips. "I don't like how you affect my emotions." I admitted. His smile deepened. The dimple on his cheek appeared.

"No." I whispered.

Benjamin cocked his head. "Yes." He breathed. My heart dropped. "I really don't want to." I mumbled. He reached for one of my curls. I held still, unable to breathe. "Yes you do." He became more confident, I could hear it in his voice.

I wanted to flee. I quickly turned away from him.

"Maybe Benjamin can go as your spokesperson." I uttered to the Sultan. "Jasmine." Benjamin hissed. He would be miles and miles away from me. I liked this idea more and more.

The Sultan seemed to ponder my suggestion, because he did not react immediately. I saw that Benjamin and his grandfather were communication with their eyes. They seemed to be teaming up.

"That's a very fine idea." Benjamin faked a smile. "Indeed it is." His grandfather agreed. "I might as well tell you all now, as we are gathered as a family." The Sultan stood up in front of us all.

"I have decided that Benjamin will be crown prince and will lead our family and country from next year on. He then will have finished his studies and will be ready to take over." There were a lot of whispers starting to rise in the room.

My eyes immediately flew to Benjamin. He winked at me.

"But he hasn't grown up here." One of the family members grumbled. "He is too young." Another said. "He isn't a real Saudi prince." Someone said.

"Oh." The Sultan said thoughtfully. "You are telling me something I have never known. Please enlighten me, why a son of my bloodline isn't a real prince of the house of Saud." I wondered how the Sultan could remain this calm.

Reya kept quiet. He was Benjamin's 40 year old uncle. 'He is corrupted with Western ideas." Someone else suggested.

"Or I simply have the knowledge to speak to world leaders, know how their legislature and systems work." Benjamin simply stated. "As well as ours." He added without a whim.

"So, my beloved Jasmine, it is settled. You will accompany your husband on his task and advise him, as you would me." The Sultan slightly lowered his face, looking at me, to make sure I knew he was serious and I should not try to object in the presence of our family.

"Yes, your highness." I said.

"She is a woman." Reya roared. All whispered eased. No one dared to speak.

The Sultan did not seem intimidated. "I am sure father means, Jasmine will accompany her husband on the trip, and talk to her husband in private."

I rolled my eyes a little, but bit my tongue.

We were all served tea. "Was this what you wanted to talk to me about?" I whispered to Benjamin. That would explain why he suddenly showed up here. I hadn't seen him for weeks. "No." He shook his head. He ran his hand through his hair.

"Let's meet under our willow." He said. I cocked my head to the side and studied him. His stubble beard had lost it's sharp edges, his hazel eyes seemed wary. "Are you tired?" I asked.

He narrowed his eyes. "Are you concerned for me?" He said as he scratched his forehead. I sighed. "No." I simply said. I stood up, wanting to leave the room.

Benjamin caught my wrist.

"Let's finish our tea first." Benjamin said calmly. I could easily see his grandfather in him. His face seemed soft, but he spoke with a certain authority.

"Of course my dear." I said, realizing his status on this table had changed and I could not disgrace him.

I sat back down and kissed Benjamin's cheek for everyone to see. Benjamin took my hand and rubbed my knuckles. I tried to play my role as good as I could. Benjamin held a speech in front of his family.

It was important that he gained their respect.

After we were all done, Benjamin stood up and reached for my hand. "My wife." He said looking into my eyes. I took his hand and we left the family dining hall together.

In one of the big hallways, I let go of his hand. I wanted to enter the hall on the left, which led to the harem. "Where are you going." Benjamin's voice was even. "To my room." I said indifferent. "Our wing is the other way." He simply stated.

"Well, then you can continue your way then." I said as I continued walking. "Habibie, come I need to talk to you."

"I told you I did not want to." I refused. Benjamin stood there, motionless. Although I could swear I saw a hint of a smile.

"Ten minutes under the old willow." He ordered.

"Or else?" I dared him.

He did not react to that and just walked away.

Unbelievable. He had ignored me for weeks, not once had he contacted me. Not once did he come to any of our daily family dinners.

Benjamin, Sultan of Saudi-Arabia. How would he feel about that? Ugh. He was probably disappointed that he had to give up his 'free' live in the States.

I walked into my room and I froze in place. Everything was gone.

I ran through the hallways. When I finally reached Benjamin's wing, I was out of breath.

"Ah, there you are." Benjamin mused. I saw maids unpacking all my stuff. "What are you doing?!" I said raising my voice. "Jasmine habibie, I'll be with you under the willow in a bit." Benjamin said meaningfully.

"Ugh." I groaned.

I stomped out of the room and took the grand stairs to one of the palace gardens. There was a light morning breeze. I walked up and down the garden, Until he finally came out.

Saphira

It was raining today and I didn't feel like going out. If I was really honest with myself it was because I knew Sierra had been with Ben these last few weeks.

When we were together, he never took me to go to his grandfather in Saudi, who lived in a small village and he never took me to Boston. She was allowed to come over any time, as she had done recently.

That meant he loved her more than he ever cared for me. I had to face it.

When she ran to him at the airport he caught her with his arms, holding her tight. He never looked back... Not even once. I promised myself I wouldn't give up. I would hold on to the memories of what could have been. I would never let go.

It was stupid to think that by just believing in our fairy tale, it would make it come true someday. He was charming, but not MY prince.

He would never give me a true loves kiss. There was no happily ever after for us. The only words on the last page of our book said THE END.

I had to let go.

The thought of it made me feel like I was chocking. I would start with getting rid of the stuff he left here in my room, when he went to Saudi-Arabia.

He had left some things as a reminder of him he had said. I took a box out the garage and started filling it. I took the shirt he left me. I had slept in this so many nights. I smelled it one last time and threw it in.

When the box was almost full I remembered he had also left me a DVD I had never watched yet. I've always found it so silly he watched Disney movies. I couldn't understand what he liked about them. I looked at the DVD and sighed. 'Princess and the frog' it said. He told me once this was his favorite.

Should I – Was it okay for me to watch it now?

Finally I decided I didn't have anything to lose. I already loosed everything, didn't I?! I placed the DVD in the DVD player and hit play.

Why would he want me to see this? It started out being about two girls. One was raised in a rich family and the other had to work hard for what she earned. She dreamed big though. The rich kid dreamed of being a princess and wanted to marry a prince and it looked like she got her way when the prince showed up.

Then the plot changed. Both the hard working girl and the prince turned into frogs. Interesting I thought. I laughed at myself, I found myself getting caught up in a fairy tale. How silly of me.

Then as shock washed over me. I held the necklace with the star shaped diamond and Safire pendant he gave me in one hand. And my other hand was on my mouth now. I couldn't breathe. As it turned out the fire fly was in love with a star! Ma Belle Evangeline. It represented true love.

I was his true love!