Khalil Al-Farsi's POV

I was busy finalizing everything before Emerald and I left for New York tomorrow. She told me yesterday that she needs to fly back to New York as soon as possible because of her work. She even has the nerve to tell me that she will leave Saqr even without me if necessary!

That woman was impossible!

How can she do that to her boyfriend? I thought furiously. Does she know how insulting it was to tell me straight in the eyes without even flinching that she would leave me here if I didn't finish sorting out my work until today?

If I didn't know better, I would assume that she's not so keen on bringing me along back to New York to meet her infamous family and introduce me as her 'boyfriend.' Well, I would not let that happen. I will come with her even if I need to work my ass off to finish my work so I can be free for a few weeks and play her boyfriend and stake my presence around, especially to the man her grandfather had chosen to be her 'fiancé.'

My mouth twisted with distaste. As if I would let any man who would claim Emerald as his other than me. I will kill the bastard first before he can claim anything on her...

Omar discreetly cleared his throat beside me. I reluctantly looked at him with curious eyes. "What is it?"

The elderly advisor looked at me for a moment before looking away. "Sire, if I may be so bold to tell you about something..."

I took a deep breath, frowning at him. "Just spill it out, Omar. I don't have the whole day to play riddles with you. I need to complete this paperwork as soon as I can." So I can be in New York in two days. I added privately.

He looked at me with exasperating eyes. "Your Majesty, this is about Princess Amina. I think it's rather rude to the Princess that you never even once spent time with her since she arrived in the palace a few days ago."

I exhaled a loud breath. I have forgotten about that princess, to be honest. My mind was filled with that red-haired beauty who was busy roasting me with her furious gaze whenever I spent time with her.

"So, what are you suggesting then?" I asked dryly when I already had some idea of what he wanted me to do with this princess. And I am not going to like it.

"May I suggest that you visit her today?" he proposed hopefully. "The last thing we want is to have a bad impression of being unwelcoming to the princess. Forgive me for saying, sire, but the last thing we want is an unwanted scandal if Princess Amina keeps on seeing you spend time with Miss St. Clair."

I eyed him laconically and sat back in my chair. "What do you want me to do? Emerald is my guest and a long-time friend of mine. Everyone should expect that I am spending time with her because of that simple reason."

"If you can only spare some of your time with the princess the way you spend it with Miss St. Clair, it will be pleasurable," he said with desperation in his voice, his emotionless eyes bored into me. "It's for the good image of our country in their country, sire. She might be your intended bride with her perfect lineage and all."

No, she isn't. I thought silently. But I didn't bother to share my sentiment with this advisor, for I knew he would not appreciate it since they were still determined to follow the old customs when it came to choosing the bride for their unmarried king.

"If I meet this princess, will you stop pestering me for a few weeks of my stay in America?" I asked with a pleasant tone in my voice.

"Sire, about that—"

I raised an eyebrow in his direction. "A fair trade, wouldn't you say? I will spend time with this princess now, as you wish, and you will let me spend a few weeks in America without plaguing me with political stuff."

I could almost see the internal debate Omar Hadi was having inside his head right this moment. I hid my smile while watching him weigh his options. I knew he didn't want me to leave the country now that everyone was so busy with my coronation, and then there was the issue about my marriage.

I grimaced. I don't understand why the councils were so eager to see me get married as soon as I took the throne. Why were they so impatient to have an heir to the throne?

An image of a certain red-haired woman heavy with my child crossed my mind—Nope. You're thinking ahead of yourself, Khalil. Before you entertain such thoughts inside your head, you need to melt the ice that surrounds her heart.

Oh, I intend to do just that once we arrive in New York.

I prevented a smile from slipping on my face as I faced Oman with a pleasing look. "What do you think, Omar?"

The elderly advisor sighed deeply. "Very well, sire."

"Good," I answered vaguely, biting back the victorious smile that wanted to escape my lips at the moment. Now I would be sure that no state matters would mess up my time with Emerald in New York. "Now, tell this princess that I will join her for tea."

Omar looked at me helplessly. "She has a name, sire. She's Princess Amina Kouri. It would be nice if you remember her name while—"

"Yeah. Yeah. Princess Amina, I know..." I waved my hand dismissively.

"Very well, Your Majesty." He said again. "I will inform Princess Amina that you will visit her later for tea."

Omar excused himself as he went out of my office. I didn't bother to answer and just focused my eyes on the papers I needed to finish before Emerald left tomorrow without me because of this damn paperwork that needs my attention.

A few hours later, I was finally done with my work, and Omar kept on reminding me that the princess was already patiently waiting for me. I stood from my chair and forced myself to meet the princess.

I walked to where her room was located. Omar informed me a while ago where her room was since I didn't bother to know where they put her once she arrived a few days ago. Once I stood outside her door, I took a deep breath before knocking.

A woman with downcast eyes opened the door. One of her ladies-in-waiting, I guess. She stepped aside and curtsied in my direction.

At the center of the room, women were standing on the carpeted floor with pillows scattered around them and curtsied in front of me.

"Your Majesty..." The princess supplied with a regal smile on her face.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Your Highness," I uttered an apology.

She lowered her eyes to the carpeted floor. "There's nothing to apologize for, Your Majesty. I know you are busy with your impending coronation."

I nodded as I walked even further inside the room. From the corner of my eye, I saw two of her ladies-in-waiting going out of the room, probably to get some fresh hot tea. I sat on the carpeted floor across from her while she did the same.

We remained silent until the tea arrived with some pastries. I silently watched one of her ladies-in-waiting pour our teacups full of aromatic tea. After that, I saw them exit the room with knowing grins on their faces while leaving me alone with their princess.

An awkward silence filled the room once we were alone. The princess's eyes were focused on the well-laid table filled with sweet pastries before lifting her dark eyes to my face. "Thank you for spending time with me, Your Majesty."

"I hope you are enjoying your time here in our country, Your Highness," I said nonchalantly, sipping my unsweetened tea.

"Yes, thank you for inviting me," she said, putting sugar lumps in her teacup. "Your palace grounds here are one of a kind. Once I get home, I will tell the royal horticulturalists to build a rose garden in our palace that's like yours."

"I am sure the gardener will be pleased to hear your compliments," I stated with a slight smile on my mouth.

"Would you like some, Your Majesty?" She offered the sweet pastries on the silver plate in my direction.

"No. Thank you." I answered, shaking my head. "I don't like anything sweet."

She nodded, taking one of the sweet pastries on the plate. "Yes, I have heard that, but I thought you'd make an exception with me today."

I chose not to answer her. Was she talking about the time she saw me having tea with my Emerald?

I tried not to show a hint of emotion on my face. "When are you planning to go home?"

A small smile fitted her mouth. "Excited to get rid of me?"

I tried to stop the scowl that wanted to form on my forehead at the moment. "Forgive me," I spoke stiffly. "I didn't mean to sound rude about it, Your Highness. I am merely just inquiring about your plans."

"May I be frank with you, Your Majesty?" she asked after a moment of studying my face.

"Of course."

She eyed me for a moment, her dark eyes gauging my reaction. "You do not approve of this match, do you?"

I let the question float in the air for a moment before answering. I permitted myself to smile slightly in her direction. "What would you do if I said yes?"

She gave me an eloquent smile in return. "I still want this union to proceed, Your Majesty."

I frowned at her. "Why?"

"Because our countries will benefit greatly from this marriage," she responded seriously. "But more importantly, I will have the honor of becoming your wife, and queen of this beautiful nation."

My jaw clenched at her words. I never expected that she would be so eager for this union. I thought they were also forcing her into this marriage, like me. Now I think I will have a hard time persuading her why this marriage shouldn't take place.

"I shocked you, didn't I?" Princess Amina queried, her eyes studying me intently.

"May I be frank with you?" I echoed her earlier question when I pointedly didn't answer her last inquiry.

There was a reluctant smile on her face. "I don't see why not, Your Majesty."

"Why are you so eager to marry me?"

"The truth?"

"If you don't mind."

A shy smile fitted her face while looking straight into my eyes. "Because I have been in love with you for a very long time, Your Majesty."

My eyes widened in her direction. I didn't expect such an answer from her. "You're kidding, right?"

She shook her head regretfully. "No. I am not."

"So that's you're the reason why you want this union to take place?" I asked indecorously. "What if I can't reciprocate your feelings? What if I fancy another woman?"

"I know."

"You know?" I couldn't help but gape at her.

She smiled at me, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I am fully aware that you cannot feel in return the feelings I have for you. I saw with my very own eyes the way you look at her. The way you gaze at her with emotions on your face, unlike now, your face remained blank from the moment you entered my bedchamber. But with her, it's out of the ordinary. It's as if you're an entirely different person."

"Then why are you still willing to enter this marriage knowing your groom might be yearning for another woman? Don't you think you deserve a man who will love you for all your worth? Not just because he is bound to marry you because of connections and politics?"

She shook her head resolutely. "It doesn't matter to me. Since I was young, I knew that I must marry for political reasons, and I am just lucky that my bridegroom happens to be you. The man I've secretly loved for years now."

I eyed her dryly. I stopped the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose for my growing headache. This woman just added to the list of people who were making my life more miserable. "You'll still be willing to marry me knowing I will never love you?"

She nodded with a smile. "As long as I am on your side, I'm fine with that set-up, Your Majesty."

I laughed humorlessly. "Then, I guess we're on opposing sides in this political merger, Your Highness." I eyed her without a hint of emotion on my face. "Because I also intend for this union not to happen. If the council forces me to marry, I might as well marry the woman I craved for a very long time. You see, just like you, I also have a person I've desired for years. Now she's within my reach. I cannot let the opportunity slip away. Not this time."

I saw the hurt in her eyes before she blinked it away. I felt like an ass for hurting her unintentionally. But the sooner we established where we stood in this political marriage, the better.

"Now, if you will excuse me, Princess." I stood from the carpeted floor and curtly bowed slightly in her direction. I was about to reach the doorway when she spoke again.

"I will not give you up, Your Majesty."

I looked back at her over my shoulder with a sly smile. "Neither will I, Princess. Come hell or high water, I will not give her up."

It was rude of me, but I didn't wait for her answer as I went out of her room. Instead of going back to my office, I went straight to Emerald's bedroom.

It didn't take long before I arrived at her bedroom in the west wing of the palace. I didn't bother to knock at her door, I just entered. I saw her already packing her things inside her luggage.

"What are you doing here?" Her green eyes were wintry, just like how they dubbed her in the fashion industry, as they turned their attention to me.

"I see you're getting ready for our flight tomorrow," I said sanguinely, closing the door firmly behind me.

"You are not coming with me!" she snapped angrily. "You will be staying here."

I frowned at her, advancing inside her room. "What's with irate mood, habibti? I thought we'd already established that we're going to New York together and meeting your grandfather?"

"I have changed my mind about that setup," she said, throwing an icy glare in my direction. "Daniel is too cunning to fall for such pretense. I don't need you to play with my fake boyfriend anymore."

I couldn't help the grimace on my face. Amazing, I thought with a lack of enthusiasm. That woman I left in her bedroom a while ago just confessed her feelings for me, and yet this woman—this temperamental American woman— disparages me as if I am not a king of a prosperous country.

It was fucking insulting, and yet, I had to accept all of it if I want her chained to my side. I would use every little dirty tactic I knew to keep her by my side.

"What's with the change of heart, ya amar?" I took a deep breath. I need to keep my temper in check. I need to be patient with this woman as I never did with any other human being in the past.

She threw a glare frostily at me. "Why don't you just stay here and entertain your future bride, Al-Farsi? I don't need you anyway."

I gaped at her, unable to utter a single word. I just stared at her dumbfounded. Good Lord! Is she jealous? Of course, she probably heard that I visited Princess Amina so Oman would not bother me while I was in New York.

Is she jealous of that princess? I suddenly wanted to laugh out loud, but I knew she wouldn't appreciate it at this moment. So, I tried to stop the smile from slipping off my face at the moment. I carefully moved to where she was standing next to her bed. It took every ounce of my self-control not to throw her to the bed and ravish her.

Nope. When I take her to bed...

I sighed deeply. Let's not get there first. I need to keep my desire in check here. I can't lose everything, so I just yielded to the temptation.

"W-What are you doing?" she asked nervously when I was standing next to her. "Back off, you bastard."

"Are you jealous, ya helo?" I whispered in her ear softly, enjoying the way the softness of her body pressed against mine. This was where this woman belonged, in my arms. "Are you jealous of her?"

She pushed me back while looking at me with furious green globes. "Fuck you! Why the hell would I be jealous of her? Because of you? Are you nuts? You can marry her right this moment for all I care!"

Her words dripped with so much anger, but my heart was busy doing a happy dance inside my chest right now. She was jealous of Princess Amina. Maybe that princess did me a favor after all. Maybe I should thank her for this later.

"There's no need to be jealous, my love," I muttered with such happiness. Taking her hand in mine while looking at the slowly fading henna in her hand. Should I ask someone to retouch her henna before our trip tomorrow?

"Don't touch me!"

I kissed the back of her hands. "You're still jealous?" Before she had the chance to answer I kissed her mouth briefly once, twice before locking my mouth against hers.

You're mine now, Emerald St. Clair.