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“I am sorry, I am not feeling well,” I mumbled, standing up from the low seating. “I will be in my room. Thank you for the breakfast, it was really lovely.”
I bowed and hastily left the dinner hall, mentally thanking Zara for walking with me yesterday. I had mapped out the route from my room to the hall, remembering the right number of steps. I closed the door behind me and sighed, swiping my hand across my face.
Fool, I was acting like a complete fool.
Oh, God, what have I done?
Someone knocked on the door and thinking it must be Khalid, I opened it and blurted, “I am so sorry, I shouldn’t have rushed to my room like that, Khalid. I didn’t know—”
A soft feminine laugh echoed in my ears. I flushed when the woman walked inside the room, closing the door behind her. By the exotic floral scent, I knew that it was Zara. Her voice was husky and sultry.
“My brother is too naïve to come after you when Zain mentioned Elena,” Zara calmly explained. “Forgive him, he truly thinks that you have a headache and will visit you soon to give you proper medicine.”
“Oh, I don’t have a headache.”
“I know, Valeria. Come sit down with me.”
Both women sat side by side on the low sitting area in the balcony, warm sunlight caressing their skin. They looked total opposites, sitting like that. One had bright long red hair while the other had pixie platinum white hair. One was wearing neutral-colored clothes while one was in dark clothes, just like her brothers.
“I know you must be thinking about Elena, his friend, but I want to ease your worry and tell you that there’s nothing between them.” Zara took a deep breath. “When Zain became the Sultan at the age of twenty, many rulers wanted their daughters to get married to him and Khalid for power. Elena’s father was one of them.”
I listened to her words carefully, wondering what it must have been like to be in their place. To rule over a golden country instead of going to college and focusing on growing into a better person.
“He is a nice man, but at that time, Azmia needed the support of a neighboring country. Khalid and Elena met, and they were too young, so when she turned eighteen, they were announced to get married for the benefit of both the countries.”
My heart crushed hearing that. He was betrothed to her, he still might be.
Oh, God.
Zara held my arm. “Valeria, they were betrothed. But the arrangement ended when Khalid didn’t want to marry his friend. Neither did Elena. By then, Azmia had good connections with the neighbors, so the marriage wasn’t needed. They are still good friends and that’s all I know. I don’t think my brother ever found someone to love… untilnow.”
Even though I was relieved hearing that Khalid wasn’t betrothed to anyone, my heart clenched hearing Zara’s last words.
“What do you mean?”
I felt Zara stand up. “I think you know what I mean, Valeria. Khalid has feelings for you. I have never seen him so content and relaxed. The way he talked about you… it felt special. And by the look of your flushed face, I know that you do too.”
I was shocked that my attraction and affection towards Khalid was easily noticed.
“My sweet, can I come in?”
Both the women shared a knowing smile, hearing the muffled, husky voice of Khalid. Zara squeezed her shoulder and opened the door, winking at her brother’s shocked face when she passed by him. Khalid was more surprised when his sister whispered, “If you don’t confess your feelings towards her, then I will.”