Khalil Al-Farsi's POV

I had a very busy morning reading document after document before signing them. I barely had time to breathe since I came to my office here in the palace's east wing and started working.

A knock sounded on the doorway. I looked up to see my late father's advisor entering my office with a stack of papers in his hands.

I looked at him flatly when he placed the documents in his hands on my table. "Seriously, Omar? Are you trying to kill me?"

"Your Majesty..." Omar Hadi looked at me with pleading eyes. "...this paperwork is important for our country. It would help us prosper even more."

"I'm getting tired of this," I muttered under my breath as I continued to read the document in my hand.

"You need to sign these treaties for our neighboring countries, Your Majesty," he pointed out the new documents on my table.

I threw a dark look at my father's trusted advisor, who was now serving me. "What's with the 'Your Majesty' thing, Omar? Can you just drop it?"

"But, sire..." the traditional older man sighed deeply, staring at my eyes for a moment before looking away. "I cannot disrespect you. I must address you formally, Your Majesty."

I exhaled loudly, looking at him with a resigned look without bothering to argue with him when I knew that it would only end the same way as before when I brought up the topic of how I wanted him to address me less formally. I am not yet crowned king, but they already address me like one, which bothers me more than it should.

"After signing these documents, the officials request an audience with you, sire," Omar started narrating my schedule for the rest of the day. "Then, you'll meet with the councils for your upcoming coronation. After that, we need to prepare for the opening of the new hospital in the capital. You need to be there for the ribbon-cutting—"

I looked at him dryly. "Do I have time to breathe in my schedule for today?"

The advisor smiled understandingly in my direction. If he heard the sarcasm in my voice, he just let it pass. "Of course, sire."

I focused my attention on the papers in my hands. The sooner I finished reviewing these things, the better, so I could move on with my next scheduled appointment for the day.

I heard Omar discreetly clear his throat beside my table. I looked up at him questioningly. "Now we are at the subject of your coronation, sire. Maybe this is the perfect time to discuss this matter."

I frowned at him when I didn't understand what he was saying. "What do you mean?"

He placed a photograph of a beautiful woman on my table. "That's Princess Amina Kouri, Your Majesty. She's fit to be your chosen bride."

"Bride?"

The advisor nodded with a slight smile on his face. I was surprised to see that this man knew how to smile. "Yes, sir. She comes from a good family, and your marriage to her will strengthen our connection to their country. I already arranged her arrival in the coming days before your coronation, sire."

I threw a dark glare in his direction. I could feel my jaw clenched at his words. "What makes you think you can arrange my marriage without my consent and invite this woman here to the palace?"

"But, sire..." the older man protested. "We need this union so our people will be at ease knowing there will be an heir to the throne soon. After your father's sudden death, the public was less keen to take the unmarried heir as their king."

I sat back in my chair and stared at the advisor with an unamused expression. "So this marriage is all about politics and not about my happiness then?"

"Sire..."

I sighed angrily. I knew sooner or later that this inevitable conversation would happen. Of course, I knew damn well that when it's time for me to marry, it's not about the matters of the heart but more about politics and connections.

So why the hell do I feel so irritated at the thought that these people have already arranged my nuptial to this Princess of our neighboring country?

"She's the perfect choice to be your bride," I heard Omar continue to inform me why I should continue with the arranged marriage to this woman. "She comes from a pure lineage of royalties dating back centuries. She will be the finest queen Saqr will ever have."

"Don't you think that I'm still too young to settle down, Omar?"

"But you're already turning thirty next year, Your Majesty!"

I gave my vizier a sarcastic look. "Geez. Thanks for reminding me."

"Sire..."

I gave a humorless laugh. "I can't believe that I have to sacrifice my bachelorhood for this crown when I don't even want it in the first place."

"You are the late king's heir, Your Majesty," Omar said matter-of-factly. "Whether you like it or not, you are bound by your duty to serve this country."

"By marrying this princess and siring an heir as soon as possible?" I asked him dryly while looking at him with bored eyes.

"Yes, sire."

I sighed deeply. I closed my eyes while I rubbed my temple to ease my growing headache. I tried to calm my irritation and stopped listening to the advisor. I should get going with my busy schedule for today instead of listening to him, but I cannot help it.

"...are you listening to me, sire?"

"Of course," I lied smoothly while my eyes remained closed.

I took a deep breath as I picked up my pen from my table and started working again with these papers. The sooner I finish these treaties and new laws that need my signature, the better.

As I resumed working, Omar remained silent near my table as if he was making sure I was working my ass off.

A knock sounded on the doorway again, but I didn't pay attention and continued to read the documents in my hand. From the corner of my eyes, I saw a young man bow in my direction before whispering something in Omar's ear.

"What?!" The advisor stiffened in his place. "How did that happen?" he asked the man who brought the news to him.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked them while my eyes were still fixed on the papers I had been reading. 

"Sire," Omar started. I glanced briefly in his direction before looking down at the papers. "There's a slight mishap."

"What is it?"

Omar shook his head. "You don't need to worry about it, sire. I will take care of it."

I looked up at him with a scowl on my face. "What's wrong? Tell me."

The straight-laced advisor swallowed hard before informing me about the 'slight mishap' they were talking about. "Sire...Kamal Said robbed and kidnapped the American crew who were having a photoshoot in the desert a few hours ago."

"Oh really?" I asked with a grimace. Damn that group of thieves. I hope they will be put in jail after this incident. The last thing I want is for Saqr to be put in a bad light because of what happened to these foreign nationals. "Do the authorities know about this? I want immediate action about this, Omar."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

"Be sure that everyone they abducted will be unharmed, or you will be accountable for it," I threatened him darkly.

Omar nodded in my direction as he started to call someone on his phone. "Leave it to me, sire. We cannot let this slide, not when the company is pretty famous in America."

"Oh yeah? What company is it, by the way?"

"The St. Clair Diamonds, Your Majesty," the young aid who reported the incident to Omar has answered.

I was about to sign the paper in my hand when the pen I was holding dropped on the floor. "W-What did you say...? What company is it again?"

The man beside Omar looked at me for a moment before avoiding my gaze out of fear. He looked at the carpeted floor beneath his feet. "The St. Clair Diamonds, sire. I heard they took the entire crew because Kamal Said took a fancy to the red-haired American woman who was the model at the photo shoot."

I abruptly stood from my chair, making Omar and the young man beside him look at me questioningly. "Saddle a horse for me, Omar. I'm going to see Kamal Said."

The advisor's mouth hung open in my direction. "Your Majesty..."

I threw a menacing look in his direction. Right now, my heart was pounding so hard in my chest. "Didn't you hear what I said? Do you want me to repeat it for you?"

"But sire..." Omar protested, giving me a pleading look. "You don't need to endanger yourself because of this group of Americans. Let the authorities handle this—"

I closed the distance that separated me from my father's trusted advisor. I grabbed the upper part of his thobe and hissed at him. "I said, saddle a horse for me. Which part of my command you don't understand?"

"Your Majesty. Be reasonable, I beg you. I cannot let you endanger yourself like this..."

"I'll take two guards with me," I said, refusing to let go of his clothes. "If no horse is waiting for me outside this instant, I will throw your ass in the dungeon. I'm warning you, Omar."

"Sire...I beg you..."

I didn't bother to answer him. Instead, I pushed him away, making him temporarily lose his balance as I walked out of my office.

"You can't leave, Your Majesty," Omar ran after me. "You have meetings with the government official in one hour, and then there's the ribbon-cutting—"

"Shut up!" I seethed at him with the fury that poured out of me as seconds passed. "If you don't shut your mouth, I will cut your tongue."

"Sire!"

I didn't listen to him as I continued to march toward the palace entrance. Right now, my mind was filled with scenarios on how to kill Kamal Said with my bare hands...

If he dares to touch Emerald inappropriately I will not hesitate to end his life. I knew she was that model they were talking about since she was the face of St. Clair Diamonds, for god's sake!

Thank goodness Omar heeded my request when I saw my stallion waiting for me at the palace entrance with two competent bodyguards with rifle slings on their shoulders.

"Let's go," I said as I mounted the horse. The two men followed my lead as we went where Kamal Said and his group lived.

I kept my horse at its maximum speed. I wanted to arrive as soon as possible. My jaw clenched at the thought that...

No. I would not entertain such wayward thoughts. Emerald would be safe. I would make sure of that. I tightened my hold on the rein of my horse.

Damn it. Almost there.

We took shortcuts on the old road going to the desert to arrive faster at the camp of Kamal Said.

Finally, after almost half an hour of traveling, we arrived at the Bedouin tent of Kamal.

I grimaced when his guards outside the tent pointed their guns in our direction as soon as they saw us approaching.

The two men with me prepared to aim back at the guards with their rifles, but the men outside Kamal's house lowered their ammunition as soon as they saw me.

"Your Majesty..." the men bowed as I went down to my horse. My bodyguard's rifle was still pointed at them.

"Where is your boss?" I snarled at him. By now, the fury inside me was about to burst out.

One of Kamal's men went inside the tent and I didn't bother to wait for him as I went inside. My gaze filled with a red haze when I saw the woman standing next to Kamal and her hands were tied up behind her.

Suddenly, I feel like I am no longer a civilized person and have become barbaric like my ancestors who were out for blood by these bastards who did this thing to my Emerald.

"Your Majesty..." the men inside the room bowed in my direction. They should be because I already spared their lives once a long time ago in this very desert. Now I don't think I can do the same in this situation.

"You better have a good explanation about this, Kamal," I said calmly, belying all the emotion I felt right then.

My gaze rested on her bound hands behind her. All of a sudden, I felt an unexplainable anger bubble inside me. "Untie that woman's hand this instant before I murder you all."

"Do it," Kamal instructed his men.

I exhaled an angry sigh as I walked toward where she was standing. I could see the fear in her pretty green eyes as she stared back at me. How I wanted to wipe away the fear in her eyes right this moment.

"Now tell me why I should spare you with your life after what you did to her?" I pointedly look at Kamal while giving him a murderous glare.

"Your Majesty..." he started. "...that woman—"

"This woman is mine. This is my bride-to-be." I lied smoothly. I could feel the way Emerald stiffened beside me at my brass announcement. "And whoever touches her, even just the hemline of her dress, will all die today."

Before they could recover from their shock, I swung Emerald in my arms and walked out of the tent.

Once outside, she didn't protest when I put her on my colt's back. I hid my smile. Maybe she was still in a state of shock to start to push me away like she always does at every opportunity.

I mount my horse behind her. Before we could get away, the authorities finally arrived.

"Bring the other Americans into the palace and capture everyone involved in this thing."

"Yes, Your Majesty," one of the police officers answered.

I gave a short nod before summoning my stallion to move forward. I looked down at the woman with me, who remained silent.

She was still probably in a state of shock after what happened to her. My nostrils filled with her natural scent, making me want to press down my face in her flaming red hair and inhale her flowery scent.

Good God, what's wrong with me?

"Are you okay?" I asked her to be sure, trying to tame the uncivilized thought circulating inside my head right now.

She only managed to give me a short nod and didn't say anything else. My lips curved with a smile, savoring the moment she was finally in my arms and not protesting.

Now that you are in my arms, what should I do to keep you here, habibti? I mused silently as we traveled back to the palace.