Chapter 68：Issues With Noure

***

Saïda's POV:

At four that evening, I was sitting outside in the front lawn of the palace and thinking of what had happened earlier in the afternoon.

'That was a close one...'

I bit the tip of my thumb nervously.

'Asahd was so angry. I could actually see it in his eyes and through his sarcastic smiles.

Oh gawd. I hope he isn't angry with me.

I told Noure not to come! I told him not to!'

As I thought, I saw Asahd step out of the palace and down the stairs. He was dressed in his sport attire and I could tell he was going to the gym.

He was frowning as he entered one of the Royal cars, joined by a guard and a driver. They drove off.

'He's probably angry with me.'

I watched them drive out of the property. He had his own personal gym in the palace yet if he decided to go to the public one, then it meant he wanted to be away from the palace people.

'From me?'

--

I was chatting with my friends in the garden. It was already six PM.

'That's nice of him.'

"Honestly," Aya started with a giggle, "I don't care about the apologies because I was never offended. If he asks me to massage him again, I would!"

"We all would. That's no secret." Aisha added and they laughed.

"Have you noticed that he doesn't bring all these strange and shameless woman back to the palace, anymore?" Leila asked.

"True."

"He's changed." I told them, "He's actually become the type to grow true feelings."

"Sweet. That means he'll find a wife soon. His birthday is fast approaching, he has to be married then. He'll soon be 23 and needs to fine a wife before 24." Salma said.

"He has a year to do that. He'll have time." I replied.

"True, true."

Just then, the Queen stepped out of the palace and we all stood and curtseyed.

"Saïda, dear?" she called, coming closer.

"Yes, my Queen?"

"My son isn't back yet?"

"No, my Queen."

"It's six already. Get a driver and go get him, please."

"Yes, your Majesty."

I did as told, immediately.

*

We arrived the gym and I told the driver to wait. I entered the building and went up the stairs to the private section where the nobles and sometimes the Prince, always trained.

I approached the door and realised it was a little open. I peeped in through the crack. He was alone and had taken his T-shirt off. He was so fine and I admired his svelte structure. But that wasn't the only thing I noticed. I noticed he was still frowning...even as he lifted his weights. I swallowed a little. He was definitely not in his mood.

I took a deep breath and stepped into the room.

"My Prince." I curtseyed and he looked at me. He put the weight down. "The Queen, your mother, has requested that I come get you."

He was silent, his frown still on. He stared straight at me and I flinched. I decided to speak again. He was definitely still angry with me. There was the guard with him, standing at the other end of the room. I turned to him.

"Please, leave. I have something private and important to tell the Prince." I said and he nodded a little before leaving.

I closed the door and looked at Asahd who was still silent and frowning.

"Asahd," I started lowly, "I'd asked him not to come. I promise I did."

"Saïda, it seems like you don't understand my feelings for you." he finally muttered.

"Asahd, I do but I don't know what to do. You need to understand that Noure is my betrothed partner. I have to marry him."

"Do you love him?" he asked to my surprise.

"Asahd, you know I do."

"And me? Do you even feel something for me?" he asked.

"Y– yes." I admitted, "I have deep feelings for you, Asahd. So deep that my thoughts are messed up. So deep that I can't resist you most of the time. This has never happened to me. I'm sorry you think I'm playing with your feelings, but I'm not! My feelings are playing with me." my eyes prickled a little, "I want to be with you, Asahd. But I also want to be with Noure. I don't understand what's happening to me."

There. I'd admitted it. I wanted to be with Asahd. So bad. But another part of me wanted to be with Noure.

I saw his expression softened after I'd spoken.

"You want to be with me?" he asked softly.

"Yes. So bad." my eyes watered and I felt so frustrated and confused. "I don't understand my own self, Asahd. I don't understand and control my own feelings. I'm so confused because I know I want to be with you but I also know that I want to be with Noure."

He approached me and held my hands in his.

"Saïda, you know you want to be with me and you know you have to be with Noure. They're to different things. You want to be with me but you feel like you have to be with Noure because that's what you grew up, thinking. Being betrothed to him."

I shut my eyes and tears rolled down my cheeks.

"It's not that easy, Asahd."

"Yes, it is. Leave him."

"I can't." I sobbed and stepped away from his grip, burying my face in my hands. I was so unsure of what I was feeling. I was tired.

"Alright." he stated firmly and I looked up at him. "Then I'm never leaving you alone until you leave him. Noure was lucky today because my mother appeared. The next time, he won't be. You saw that even you can't stop me from facing him, my love. The only day that you can stop me from hurting him is the day that you leave him for me."

He grabbed his T-shirt and walked past me.

"Let's go."

***

Another week passed and I'd succeeded in keeping Noure away from the palace.

One evening, I was with Noure in his parents house. They were out and we decided to have some private time with each other. We were discussing in his room when suddenly, things got quite steamy between us. We started to kiss.

Writer's POV:

Their kiss seemed to get hotter with each second. Noure was loving the way Saïda kissed him with such 'cravings'  like she was trying to attain some level of satisfaction she hadn't got to yet. It surprised him very much from a usually shy and contained Saïda, but he let it be. While he was liking it, Saïda wasn't getting what she wanted. She kissed him deep in frustration, trying to feel something special but she was getting nothing. It started to irritate her a little, the way he did nothing else but wrap his arms around her waist.

Oh, Saïda was finished. Asahd had completely influenced her. She expected more from Noure, the more Asahd always gave her. She hoped Noure would do the same thing. She believed that if he did, she would eventually get over Asahd whom she believed was impossible to be with due to her status. She was trying to turn Noure into Asahd without even realising it! Asahd was beginning to obsess her in every little thing she did. She tried to run but to no avail.

She wrapped her arms around Noure's neck and kissed him deeper, surprising him. And then she did something unexpected, she unconsciously grabbed his hand and slid it down to the top of her butt and whispered:

"Do something, Noure, do something. Touch me."

It shocked the 'good boy' who broke the kiss and stared at Saïda. She stared back, shameless for the first time.

"Saïda, what is wrong with you?" he asked with a little frown, "My dear you've been acting strangely since your return? Are you alright? You've changed."

"How?" she frowned a little and raised a brow at him.

"You're becoming shameless, my love. You've been acting strangely and have been asking me to do unusual, inappropriate things. We're not even engaged yet."

Saïda felt attacked and became annoyed.

"Because I asked you to touch me?" she retorted, "That's what the fuss is about, Noure?"

Noure stared in surprise. Saïda rolled her eyes and stood.

"I'm leaving. I'll call you. Bye." before he could say something, she stormed out.

**

Saïda arrived the palace at 7 that night. Still irritated yet confused about her early behavior with Noure. As she walked down the main hall, she met with the Prince. He was frowning just like her.

"My Prince." she bowed a little, changing her expression so he wouldn't ask what was wrong.

"Where were you?" he asked but she didn't reply and so he understood she'd been with Noure. He took a deep breath. "Meet me in my room, after dinner."

"I–"

"It's a plea." he rubbed her cheek but she stepped back and looked around to make sure there was no one around. "Please, meet me in my room after dinner. I don't want to give you orders. I want you to come because you want to."

Saïda was silent, her breath hitching. His eyes dropped to her lips.

"I know you will come. I'll be waiting." he whispered lastly before walking past her and away.

Saïda closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.