A few moments later, they were before the palace. Imaad dismounted, handing over the reigns of his horse to a guard.
As he did, an aged women dressed in maroon stepped towards him before curtsying. "Prince Imaad."
"Zubaida Hatun, how are you doing?" Questioned Imaad warmly.
Zubaida Hatun gave a slight nod. "Praise be to the Lord."
"Has the King demanded an audience with me?" He inquired.
"No, my prince. He has insisted that you rest. You will meet him in court on Thursday."
Imaad raised his brows. "Three days? Is he unwell again?"
"Slightly under the weather. That is all," Zubaida Hatun replied hesitantly.
Of course Imaad knew that was not the case. The King's health had been decline for a while now, and it was known to pretty much everyone that he was not going to make it till next Summer.
"May the Lord grant him a speedy recovery," said Imaad with a slight hint of mockery.
"Ameen."
Imaad straightened his back. "I will take my leave then."
"My prince!" Zubaid Hatun spoke as he turned to leav.
Imaad looked back. "Yes?"
"Princess Unaiza and Samina Begum have requested to have dinner with you."
"What? Princess Unaiza?" He questioned incredulously.
"Yes, she organised it."
Imaad paused for a moment, biting the inside of his lip. Then, he nodded. "I see. I'll be there shortly then." Zubaida Hatun looked relieved.
As she was about to leave, Imaad spoke, "Zubaida Hatun?"
She looked back. "Yes, my prince?"
He reached forward his hand opening his palm. "Place this in one of the flower pots on my balcony, will you?"
Zubaida Hatun looked at the little pink flower in the palm of his hand for a while before taking it from him. "Of course, your highness."
"Your highness."
Imaad curtsied before Princess Unaiza, placing his right hand to his chest.
"Welcome back my prince!" Exclaimed Princess Unaiza cheerfully.
Imaad looked up and gave her a tight smile, trying his best to hide his annoyance. Ever since he was born, the royal family had treated him as an outsider, and now such respect?
"Congratulations on the victory, Imaad," said Samina Begum.
Imaad curtsied. "Thank you, Samina Begum."
Princess Unaiza, Samina Begum, Haleema Begum and her daughter in laws were assembled in the dining area of Princess Unaiza's chambers. And if course, Zarnab was there too. Muaaz and Fateh, the son of Haleema Begum had entered along with him. Of course, they hadn't been soared any of the Princess' attention.
As he turned his face, he saw Zarnab. She smiled at him, yet he gave no response before turning back. From the periphery of his eye, he could see her face fall. Their eyes had met just for a moment, and he knew she had seen him loom at her.
Then Zarnab moved forward, gesturing for him to give her his hand to kiss it, a common custom in their kingdom, one she had never followed.
For a moment he glanced at her, a mix of surprise, annoyance and disgust flashing across his face, then he turned to Princess Unaiza ignoring Zarnab completely. "There was really no need for this."
An awkward moment of silence stretched in the hall before Princess Unaiza spoke, "Of course there was! Come on now, let us sit."
Imaad nodded, following her to the table spread along with the others. As they sat down to eat, Fardeen spoke, "Congratulations General."
"Thank you Princess," Imaad replied.
"Congratulations General," said Maheen. Fateh turned his head to glare at her, and she instinctively dropped her gaze to her food.
"Thank you Princess."
Zarnab, who was sitting next to Maheen, spoke cautiously, "I am glad you... returned home safe, General."
Imaad didn't look at her, giving an ever so subtle nod before taking a bite of his food. It was weird seeing the arrogant woman stammer and stutter; of course, he didn't care anymore.
But Princess Unaiza seemed to have no intention of eating. "Although we have gotten used to your wins, it's become a custom for the city to erupt into celebrations upon hearing of your victory."
"The Lord has graced me that the people have shown me so much love, Princess," Imaad replied, taking a sip of water.
"Indeed He has," replied Samina Begum as she glanced over at Haleema Begum who was barely containing her rage. "And we are blessed to have someone like you protecting our borders. Hopefully we won't be having anymore threats anytime soon."
"InshaAllah Sultana," Imaad replied.
"We certainly won't. We have a commander who has been fighting since he was eleven. All of our enemies fear him now," chimed in Princess Unaiza.
"A good commander is he who acknowledges the wins of others as well," interrupted Haleema Begum who had had enough of the praises. "And doesn't take the full credit himself,"
To everyone's surprise, Imaad nodded. "Indeed. Everyone fought with great vigour, Sultana. I am blessed to have such talented subordinates."
Subordinates.
Fateh stopped eating for a moment, reaching for his glass and holding it for a moment too long.Muaz exchanged a glance with his mother whose face had twisted into an ugly expression. Scoffing, he went back to his meal.
"And we are blessed to have a commander who can command those subordinates so well," added Samina Begum, shooting Haleema Begum a look.
"JazakAllah Sultana," Imaad replied.
The rest of the dinner was a mix of Princess Unaiza fawning over and passive agressive remarks between Samina Begum and Haleema Begum.
Throughout the night, he could feel Zarnab's eyes on him. Yearning, begging him to notice her. He couldn't deny that jevwas surprised. The woman who could make him feel invisible even when it was just the two of them in a room was suddenly so desperate for his attention.
Of course, it didn't matter anymore, not in the least.