After Jameela and the abbot left, Saeed returned to the prince, kissed his hands, and praised his generosity, then stood awaiting his orders. The prince asked what skills he had, and Saeed replied that he was fluent in Turkish, both spoken and written, and also proficient in Arabic.
So the Emir ordered that Saeed be appointed to his service. Saeed thanked him and left.
As for Jameela, she exited the hall into the inner courtyard, where she saw beside the hall a large door inlaid with beautiful mosaics leading to a smaller wing and a corridor that ended at the harem quarters. The man escorted her to the first room and handed her over to the eunuchs, who led her to the reception room ... furnished with fine carpets and walls adorned with exquisite decorations.
One of the eunuchs went to inform the prince's wife, who came accompanied by several women of the palace to greet and welcome Jameela. When the Emir's wife looked at her, tears streamed down her cheeks despite herself. Then she took the child Ghareeb, gazing at him and kissing him because of his striking beauty. One by one, the palace women took turns holding and kissing him, praying for his long life and invoking God's protection against the evil eye.
Jameela found comfort in the presence of these women, but she did not smile, for her heart had no joy left in it ... after losing her husband and son and enduring the hardship and torment she had suffered. No gesture of kindness could console her for her sorrow, despite the warm welcome and good treatment she received from the prince's wife and the other women in the household.
That evening, the prince came to the harem quarters and asked his wife about Jameela. She told him:
"I found her to be a virtuous and complete woman, without fault."
The prince then told her how he had come across Jameela, and ended by saying:
"What also moved me to show this lady kindness ... aside from her broken heart and the grace she displays ... is that I saw in her a remarkable resemblance to you, in features, expression, and character. Glory be to the Creator!
That's why, the moment I saw her, I felt at ease with her and treated her as if she were a close relative, and I have felt a genuine affection toward her."
His wife responded:
"You are right, my lord. She truly resembles a cousin of mine whom I knew since childhood ...may God rest her soul. When I saw Jameela today, I kissed her and felt great closeness to her, and I couldn't stop myself from crying, as I remembered that poor girl, who became a victim of her father's fanaticism."
Then the prince called for Jameela. As she entered, she made to kiss his hand, but he gently stopped her, saying:
"Look, my lady, it was God's will that brought you to us, and your arrival has brought joy to our hearts ... especially since the lady of the house has grown fond of you and feels at ease with you.
From now on, you may ask for anything you desire, and know that I am fully ready..."
"…to provide you with everything you may need, willingly and gladly ... for it seems to me that you come from noble people. And I do not need to know your lineage, for I understood this morning that you don't wish to disclose it. I only ask that you let me know anything you may want."
Throughout his words, Jameela's face alternated between pale and flushed, until tears choked her and she let out a light sigh. When the prince finished speaking, she said with her eyes lowered to the ground:
"I have no request or recommendation except that you care for my son Ghareeb, for he is my only consolation in this world."
The Emir replied:
"Take heart and rest assured ... I will treat him as if he were my son."
Then she continued:
"And I also beg my lord — if his generosity would permit — to allow me from time to time to see that faithful servant, that true friend, Saeed. He was the reason I survived and has endured great hardships for my sake."
The Emir agreed and ordered that Saeed be allowed to visit her once a week. She praised his kindness and bent to kiss his hand, but he stopped her.
Jameela remained in the household of prince Bishr as one of its own — honored and respected. Saeed would visit her from time to time, and she found comfort in his presence, speaking with him about matters that only the abbot of the monastery knew. Saeed took every opportunity to visit and console her, and she continued to thank him, knowing he had been the reason she reached her current state.
As for Ghareeb, he continued to grow and mature swiftly ... both in body and mind ... until he reached the age of eight. But anyone who saw him would have thought he was fifteen, and he believed that Prince Bishr was his father, since his mother had concealed from him all knowledge about his real father.
The prince had entrusted Ghareeb's education and upbringing to his personal companion and tutor, Master Boutros Karameh, a learned man from Homs, well-versed in language and poetry, who also tutored the prince's, own son, Ameen. Master Boutros quickly recognized Ghareeb's sharp intelligence and lively imagination, and grew very fond of him, devoting himself even more to his instruction.
In truth, this boy ... due to his keen mind and gentle nature ... won the affection of everyone who met him. He was tall for his age, with wide, sharp eyes, a broad forehead, graceful movement, and a composed demeanor despite his youth. His mind was sharp and his attention swift.
There's no need to mention how much joy he brought to his mother ... though she never showed him outward praise. Instead, she behaved as if she expected even more from him.
As for Prince Bishr, he loved Ghareeb deeply and treated him like his own son. And although his duties required him to be away from Beit ed-Dine frequently, he always asked about Ghareeb upon his return, inquiring after his well-being and greeting him with a kiss.
Ghareeb loved Prince Bishr deeply, with a love mixed with great respect. As for Saeed, he greatly admired Prince Bishr, for he had never seen a man like him in his life. Even though Saeed had spent a long time among the Mamluks, Arna'uts (Albanians), Maghrebis, and Janissaries, he had never encountered anyone with the same commanding presence as this man.
Whenever he spoke to him about any matter, Saeed felt as though he were addressing someone of a rank higher than human, and could only speak while lowering his gaze ... especially when he entered his majlis (council) and saw, despite the presence of many princes and sheikhs, that silence reigned, and the only voice to be heard was the prince's deep, commanding tone ... giving orders or forbidding actions.