Yousif's Confession
Yousif stood silently in the grand hallway of the palace, just a few steps away from princess Maryam's chamber. The heavy silence around him felt heavier than the armored guards stationed nearby. He took a long breath, his hands trembling slightly—not out of fear, but from the weight of the truth he was about to reveal.
He knocked once.
"Come in," came the familiar soft voice from inside.
Yousif pushed the door open slowly. The room, bathed in golden candlelight, carried the subtle scent of roses and sandalwood. There she sat—Shehzadi Maryam—by the window, looking out at the starry sky, her delicate fingers resting gently on the edge of her diary.
She turned when she heard the door creak. Her eyes met his, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.
"I need to tell you something," Yousif said, stepping forward, his voice calm but thick with emotion. "Something important. Something I should've told you long ago."
She raised her eyebrows slightly, sensing the seriousness in his tone, but she said nothing—just nodded, silently inviting him to continue.
"I've never wanted to lie to you," he began slowly, every word measured, heavy. "Not even once. I swear on everything I hold dear… whatever I say now will be the truth. I just can't carry this weight anymore. I can't keep pretending."
Maryam's gaze didn't shift. She listened intently.
"My name," he said after a long pause, "is not Yousif."
She blinked, just once, but still said nothing.
He looked down, took a deep breath, and then looked back into her eyes.
"That's not the only lie," he continued. His hand slowly reached for the mask covering the right side of his face—something he had worn ever since they had met. A symbol of mystery. Of pain. Of secrets.
In one slow, decisive motion, he removed it.
The skin beneath was flawless—smooth, unscarred, untouched by any injury. There was no deformity, no burn. Nothing but the face of a man who had hidden for too long.
"I'm not who I said I was. And this… this mask was never needed. It was just a cover. A wall."
He braced himself for anger, for disappointment, for betrayal.
But Princess Maryam didn't flinch. She didn't look away in disgust or rage. Instead, her lips curled into a gentle smile. A smile so pure, it almost broke him.
"You told me the truth," she said softly, "that's all that matters to me."
He was stunned.
"You're not angry?" he asked, confused.
"No," she said, standing up and walking closer. "Because in a world full of liars, you chose to tell the truth—even if it came late. That takes courage."
Her grace, her calmness—it was too much. His chest ached with emotions he had buried deep.
"But… don't you want to know why I did it?" he asked, eyes glistening.
She nodded. "I do."
Yousif looked away for a moment, gathering the storm of words within him.
"I did it… for my children," he whispered. "For my orphaned children."
Her eyes widened slightly, the only indication of surprise.
"They needed me. They had no one else. Their mother died years ago. I couldn't let them suffer anymore. They've seen too many nights without food, too many days without laughter. They lost their childhood in the blink of an eye. And I… I lost everything that once made me whole."
He stepped closer to the window, the moonlight now casting shadows on his real face.
"I needed money. Dinars. Not for myself… but for them. To give them a life worth living. To make them feel human again. To show them joy after all that pain. That's why I lied. That's why I wore a mask. That's why I created 'Yousif.'"
He turned to her again.
"You and I… we come from two different worlds. You're a princess. A symbol of elegance, of nobility. You were raised in a palace, among silk and gold. And me? I come from the dust. From broken homes and broken hopes."
His voice cracked. "I never deserved to even speak with someone like you. But still, somehow… every time I talked to you, it felt like I belonged. Like, for once in my life, someone understood me. Someone saw through me."
Maryam's eyes softened. She listened, every word etched into her heart.
"I didn't plan to fall in love with you," he admitted, a broken smile on his face. "But how could I not? You're kind. You're wise. And you… you looked at me as if I was more than a lie."
He chuckled weakly. "Whenever I spoke to you, I felt like I could laugh. Like I could be myself. Like maybe… just maybe, there was a future where someone like me could have someone like you."
He looked down again, unable to meet her gaze now. "But the truth is, I am no prince. No hero. Just a father who lied, who stole moments of happiness from the shadows, all to light up the dark world his children lived in."
There was silence.
Long. Still. Heavy.
Then Maryam took a step closer.
"You say we're different," she began softly. "That I'm from a palace and you're from dust. But do you know what I see when I look at you?"
He didn't answer.
"I see a man who carries his pain with grace. A man who chose love over pride. A man who could have stayed hidden… but didn't. You took off your mask, even when you thought it might cost you everything."
She reached out and touched his cheek—the one he had hidden for so long.
"You're not who you pretend to be," she whispered, "but you are exactly who I want in my life."
His breath caught.
"You mean that?"
"I do," she said, her voice unwavering. "Because the world doesn't need another perfect prince. It needs someone real. Someone brave enough to admit he's been broken… and still stands tall."
Yousif couldn't hold back the tears now. They flowed silently, his shoulders shaking from the storm he had held back for years.
"I've never felt this seen before," he said, wiping his eyes.
Maryam smiled. "Then let this be your new beginning. Not as Yousif. Not as a lie. But as the man you are… and the father you've fought so hard to be."
He nodded, overwhelmed.
"And if your children have even half the heart you do," she added, "then they are the richest souls alive."
They stood in silence again, but this time it wasn't heavy. It was comforting. Healing.
In that palace chamber, beneath stars and surrounded by truths once hidden in the dark, two souls met—not as a princess and a pretender, but as two humans bound by honesty, love, and a future unwritten.
Question For reader's:
What did you think of Yousif's confession?
In this chapter, Yousif finally removes his mask—both literally and emotionally—and reveals the truth about his identity, his past, and his reason for living a lie. His love for his orphaned children and his silent admiration for Shehzadi Maryam make this moment deeply emotional. Despite the risk of losing her, he chooses honesty. Surprisingly, instead of anger, Maryam responds with understanding and kindness.
This scene shows us how powerful truth can be when spoken from the heart. Yousif's vulnerability gives us a glimpse into the sacrifices people make for those they love. And Maryam's reaction reminds us that real connection is built not on status, but on honesty and trust.
After that he goes away from there
Now I want to hear from you!
Did this chapter change the way you see Yousif?
Do you think Shehzadi Maryam made the right decision by accepting him?
What would you have done if you were in her place?
Written By
Sabir Ali
Thanks For reading