HADEWA CALIPHATE,

NIGERIA.

The drive was long; a bit more than Aria would've liked but she didn't complain about it. Instead, she remained in her seat as Aali drove them off to Allah knows where. Throughout the drive, none of them spoke to the other, but there was also nothing awkward about the silence.

Aria felt like she needed the peace after the problems that she just keeps facing in the palace. And Aali thought the same thing, so he didn't push Aria into anything.

Aria didn't know how long it took, but sometime later, Aali pulled up in front of a stunning restaurant. She didn't know what to expect, but she definitely wasn't expecting it to be that fancy. Nonetheless, it didn't bother her because she was dressed up for it anyways.

Before Aali could step out and offer to open the door for her, she was already out. He gave her a look to which she just shrugged. Shaking his head, he knew it's pointless to try to talk to her about it so he just extended his hand out, to which she surprisingly, took; wordlessly.

He then led them inside the restaurant, where a man stood by the door with a book in his hand. After exchanging pleasantries with the man, Aali spoke.

"Reservation for Mr. and Mrs. Aali Bello II"

The man nodded, offering them a grin, "Follow me, Your Highness"

He led them over to a table on the other side of the restaurant which is open. Yet, it is just as stunning as the interior. The only difference is, unlike the inside, there weren't a lot of people there. Aria could only spot about two to three couple there, and each couple's table is far from the other to ensure enough privacy.

The man then showed them their table before he left. Aali pulled out a chair for his wife before she could do so herself, knowing she definitely would if he didn't move fast.

She hid her smile, as she settled on the chair muttering a 'Thank you' for him.

He simply offered her a smile back as he settled back on his chair.

"I have a question for you. It's been on my mind since we arrived" Aria spoke up, making his gaze snap to her.

"What is your question"

"What's your real name?" She asked, her larking tone disappearing.

His brows drew in, lips tugged into a slight frown. "Huh?"

She released a small sigh, "What's your real name?" She repeated. "The Calipha has the same name as your grandfather. Shouldn't you have the same name and be..."

"Bello III" He completed the sentence that she trailed off. Only now that she had explained did he understand what she meant earlier. As the supposed eldest son of the Calipha he should be named Bello too. It's must not be like that but it would've made sense either. Her facial expression made him chuckle slightly. "That's not my name though. My mother named me Aali so..." He offered her a small shrug.

She nodded, "I get it" She moved her gaze from him to the menu that is beside her. Her eyes flickering over the what's written on it.

"But--"

That had her looking up again, a brow raised at him. Judging from the smile on his face, she has an idea that she wouldn't like what he would say. If there's something she certain of when it comes to him, thenit's that smile of his. There's always something behind it.

It may look innocent and everything else in between, but the man has one complex mind that she really can't tell what's going on in his head.

"—you can name our first son that. I wouldn't mind"

There it is. The slip from his 'innocent' look.

She rolled her eyes, giving him an unimpressed look. "Do not get ahead of yourself Prince"She let out an annoyed scoff, "It's not happening"

He looked like he wanted to say more but he simply shrugged, "We'll see" He muttered. "I mean, it's not like you saw the marriage happening either, right? But you offered that we just get married instead of eloping like I originally planned"

She tapped her fingers on the table, nodding slightly. "About that, don't you understand what a joke is? I was joking"

"Yet you still called and agreed to the wedding" He threw it right back at her, his tone playful but his intent behind it anything but. He really does plan on addressing that issue, because it has been on his mind though he already knew the answer. "Why?" He asked; giving her the chance to be honest with him.

She maintained eye contact with him, face turning blank but she said nothing to him. Instead of answering his question, she looked away and moved her gaze back to the menu. She then rose her hand up slightly to gain the attention of the waiter that quickly made his way over to her, before she told him her order.

That was her way of effectively ending the conversation. But Aali is stubborn, and he does not plan on keeping it away. This dinner is his way of making their marriage work, on trust. He planned on being honest with her about everything, but she needs to give him the same amount to trust too.

The waiter turned to him, and he ordered what he wanted without so much as paying the waiter or the menu a glance. He had been there enough times to know what he wanted. But unlike his gaze that remained on his wife, she refused to spare him a glance.

So he dropped the topic, for the moment.

Silence engulfed the two up until the point that their food was brought to them, and even then, no words were exchanged between the two. They ate their food, and occasionally, Aali found himself staring at the woman that refused to spare him a glance. Her eyes were either on her food, or taking in the surrounding.

Soft music played in the background, and Aali saw Aria singing to some of them subtly, probably thinking he didn't notice it. Or maybe, she knew that he was listening and she just didn't care.

Eventually, they were done eating and were waiting for their dessert.

His gaze moved from her to the other people in the place, one of the couples there had left already and the ones remaining were quietly dancing together. Aria followed his line of sight, before turning back to him. "Do you want to dance?" She asked.

Surprised that she was actually speaking to him, he turned around. "Huh?"

"I said, do you want to dance?" She repeated, much slower this time. She felt bad for ignoring him, but she did not regret not giving him an answer to his earlier question.

Yes, she could tell that Aali is a good man.

But she doesn't trust him to that extent. Besides, she's sure he is keeping secrets from her too. How can she be honest with him if he's not being honest with her?

Aali chuckled, relieved that she was finally talking to him again. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" He asked, raising a brow.

She shrugged, "Well, I just did the honor this time" She tried to hold back the smile but it came either-ways.

Aali nodded, grinning slightly. "You're one of a kind woman, you know that right?" He stated, even though it came out as a question. He pushed his chair back, standing up while he offered her his hand.

She nodded, grinning slightly. "I know" She placed her hand in his. Somehow, she had gotten accustomed to small acts like holding hands with him or him randomly kissing her forehead. She still throws a fit when she felt like looking for trouble, but other than that, she had no problem with it.

Aali led her away from the table slightly, before the two started swaying to the song. Aria, just like earlier continued to sing along, only this time around, she did so while looking at him. She wanted to look away, but it would be weird while they were dancing.

What would she look at? His shoes? Or the other couples that seemed too caught up in their little bubble?

"What if we rewrite the stars?" Aria muttered along with the song just like she had been doing since.

"Say you were made to be mine?" Aali piqued in for the first time, taking her off guard.

Her eyes widen slightly, a brow raised. "You know the song?"

He nodded. "Hudayya was obsessed with it"

She nodded, not saying a word more about it. Somehow, the way he said it showed that there's more to the story that he's letting on. But, she couldn't blame him for doing that so she dropped it.

This had Aali sighing. He leaned down, flickering his eyes closed as his forehead meet hers catching her off guard once again. He had stopped dancing, with his hands resting on her waist while hers remain around his neck. "I hate this" He muttered.

"What?" Her voice came out barely above a whisper. He had never been this close to her before. Not even when he randomly kisses her on the forehead. And because of that, her breath got caught.

Aali rose his head up, opening his eyes to stare down at hers. Given Aria was not short. No, the woman is quite tall, especially when she has on her heels. But, she couldn't catch up to his height. Though he is only slightly taller. "I hate how keep stuff from each other. I hate how you see our marriage as nothing more than just..." He released a loud sigh, "...honestly Aria, I don't even know what you take it as"

Aria's breath hitched once again. That was the topic she was avoiding earlier. And she should've known that he would bring it up again when he assumed she let her walls down around him. Aali doesn't seem to be the type that will drop a topic like he did earlier. He was bound to bring it up. And that is a fact.

She swallowed hard, attempting to step out of his hold but he wasn't willing to let her go. "Aali..." Her tone came out as a warning. But warning for what actually? It's not like she can do anything.

"Aria" He answered back, using the same tone as hers. Clearly he meant business because he didn't call her Askim like he used to. "What is our marriage to you?"

She looked away, taking in a long breath before she turned around to look at him, eyes slightly narrowed. "What is our marriage to you?" She threw back his question at him, "Tell me Aali, why did you ask to marry me when we only met twice before the whole marriage took place? I know it's not love" She scoffed when she said the last part. Her eyes remained narrowed at him, her face hard and tone cold. "What am I to you?"

He had to admit, her words got him. And that is why he found himself letting her go as he thought of the right words to use. How could he tell her that he knows the reason why she agreed to marry him? And that he married her to keep her safe as he had promised.

But that wasn't the only reason he married her.

Aria used that opportunity to put a safe distance between them. "You don't have an answer do you, Aali?" She kept her voice low enough so only he can hear her.

"You want to know the truth?" He asked, his face hard just like hers. "Do you really want to, Aria?"

She resisted the urge to scoff. "I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know Aali"

He stepped close to her again and leaned close to her ear. This time around, she didn't move away. And when he spoke, his voice came out low. "I will tell you. But first, you need to keep in mind that you will not get anywhere without help, Aria. You can keep working alone, trying to uncover the truth you want to find out but you will keep hitting a dead end" He pulled back to meet her narrowed eyes.

She didn't know how he knew that. But she definitely didn't like it.

"You need my help" He stated, "And I need your help. Neither of us can do this alone. We can only get what we want, together" He wasn't lying. They both need each other. He can only go so far without her. He needs her by his side so that when the truth comes out, they can handle it together.

Aria maintained his gaze wordlessly. Eventually, she scoffed. "I don't need you" Her words came out slow and low. She made sure to stress each word as if it would engrave itself in Aali's head. "I don't need your help. I will get what I want on my own. Like I've always done" She released a breath.

Aali scoffed. For the first time since he married Aria, he is starting to get annoyed at the woman. She's just too stubborn. "Trust me--"

"I don't trust you" She cut him off before he could go any further. "So stop wasting your time" Without waiting for a response from him, she turned around, picked up her clutch and started making her way out.

She doesn't care that he might not bother to take her home. She would just take a uber there or call Amadu whom she's sure is somewhere outside watching them from afar. The man would always be there to protect the Prince if the need would come. And with the recent threats Aali is getting, along with the problems sprouting out of nowhere, he's always around to protect the Prince.

Aali made a move to follow her, but stopped when his gaze suddenly became blurry. He staggered, hand holding onto a chair tightly as a ringing went off in his head. He clenched his eyes shut, willing for it to go away but it didn't.

Instead, his gaze turned blank and he found himself collapsing on the floor.

Aria turned around when she heard people screaming from behind her. Her eyes widened as she took in the situation, her feet moving on their own accord as she all but ran over to her husband. Placing his head on her thigh, she shook him, her hand on his cheek as she pleaded with him to open his eyes.

But he didn't. No matter how hard she tried to wake him up, he didn't move one bit. And when she checked whether he's breathing, she realized that he was not.His skin was slowly turning pale and his body cold.

She didn't care about the people crowding over them. All she kept doing was holding his limp body and praying to Allah to save him.