Aria had heard of the East Wing before, but only that no one is allowed to speak of it. Even then, it was only while passing by it did she notice the number of guards in front of the chamber. From their number to how they all stood, it was impossible not to draw attention to themselves.

It was one of the days when Aali had been poisoned, and Aria had stepped out to get some fresh air when they walked by the path. Unlike the other chambers, the East Wing was sort of secluded. Aria still is unaware of how big the palace is and how many chambers there were considering she is yet to go around the whole place. All she could tell is that it's big.

Huge would fit in more.

Nonetheless, Aria could still remember how their conversation went vaguely.

"Salaha, what's that place?" Aria asked, pointing at the East wing. She had been to the Calipha's chamber before, and so knew that even his place doesn't have this much guards.

Salaha's eyes followed Aria's line of sight before they widened slightly. She thenswallowed hard, her eyes widening slightly. "That's the East Wing" She whispered almost too low, Aria was barely able to make out her words.

"What?"

Salaha moved her gaze away from the guards quickly, scared that if she stared for too long she might get in trouble. She then placed her hand on Aria's arm, pulling her away from the place gently. Once out of earshot, she spoke again; her voice low. "That is the East Wing" She repeated, though making sure only Aria could hear her.

Aria's brows furrowed, "What's that?" She has never heard of a place named like that in the palace. It was always addressed as the owner's chamber. "Why is it named that?" She asked again.

Salaha who barely knew anything regarding it shrugged. "I don't know honestly. But from what I've heard, it was named that after the incident twenty-fiveyeasr ago" That was a rumor she heard from other maids when they all return to their rooms to sleep. A couple of the maids who dared, talk about the East Wing every chance they get though they make sure no one hears them.

But she did. Yet she never showed it for the fear of her own life.

The girl's words intrigued and confused Aria more. A crease formed between her brows as she tilted her head to the side slightly. "Twenty-five years back?"

Salaha nodded, her eyes snapping to Aria's.

"Why...what happened then?" Aria knew it might be pointless to ask the girl that, considering not even she was born then. Yet, she hoped Salaha heard something about it.

Salaha released a shaky breath, before she looked around to make sure no one is staring at them. Once she is sure, she leaned closer to Aria and whispered. "Apparently, that was when the Calipha's first wife died"

Aria pulled away from her, eyes wide as saucers. The Calipha's first wife? "That means..." Her voice came out barely above a whisper.

Salaha nodded, already knowing what is on Aria's mind. "Yes. Queen Zarah is his second wife"

Aria blew out a low, shaky breath. That is news. She had never heard about it before, not from anyone.

"But" Salaha was quick to add, "No one is allowed to speak of her or the East Wing. It's strictly forbidden!"

"Not even Aali?" She was hoping otherwise, then maybe she can ask him of it when they are closer. It's not like she has anything that concerns her with it, but she knows that it might just help with her case. Who knows?

"Not even His Highness, the Prince"

Salaha's words were the reason why she didn't ask Aali more about it when he told her about the East Wing the night before. But his words only raised more questions in her because he said, he and her parents, including Hameed, were working with the owner of the East Wing.

But Salaha said the owner died 25 years ago? Without a doubt, from her husband's words, the woman is still alive. The question is how and where? Who else knew about that and why is it kept a secret.

But most importantly, Aria wanted to know what happened to the woman.

Aali refused to tell her a word more after that, and she didn't push it because she knew one way or the other, she would get what she wants to know from him. It was something that she only realized recently but she trusts Aali on that. She trusts that he would tell her the truth, and if he is hiding something from her then he has a good reason for it.

They spent the morning together, before he left letting her know that he would check up on his mother who he is yet to meet since he woke up. The mention of the woman had Aria's mood dampening but she masked it away with a smile that Aali luckily didn't pick up on.

When he left, she remained in the kitchen on a stool as she scrolled through her messages. Being married to Aali meant she has to quit working in her law firm, but since they have a branch in Nigeria, located in Hadewa luckily, she planned on asking him if she could continue working there.

Besides, she is working on her brother's murder case under the law firm. She hasn't left yet. She couldn't help but let her thoughts wander to why Eric would ever accuse her sister of killing Hameed. Eric had always been a good friend of her parents, since they had worked together on numerous cases.

She wasn't exactly close to him, but she always thought they were cool. Apparently, after what happened, it seemed not.

Lightly biting her thumb nail as she thought about the possibilities, she swiped across the screen of her phone and got into the contact log. She typed the name of the person she wanted to call then brought it to her ear.

"Hello, Ria?"

She let out a relieved sigh, removing her thumb as she parted her lips to speak. "Hey Delilah" Her lips curled into a small grin. Delilah is an old friend of hers that she attended the same high school with, who also happens to work with the Interpol just like Eric. She wasn't as high as the man, considering she is around Aria's age while Eric is clocking his mid-forties. But, Aria has no doubt that the woman would be of help.

"Where have you been girl? I heard you got married to a Nigerian Prince. Seriously? And you never told me about it" Delilah ranted, as the sound of papers being shuffled in the background was heard.

Aria released a small sigh, her lips curving into a smile. Despite the nature of their jobs, the two still kept in contact as Delilah is more or less like Aria's best friend. Aria isn't one to keep friends, so the closest one she has back home is the woman. "I'm sorry. I promise I'll tell you all about it later but right now I need a favor"

Delilah hummed. She knew from Aria's tone that she really does need her help, and she plans on offering it. "Sure, what is it?"

"Are you at work?" Aria asked, because of the sound she heard earlier.

"Yeah, work has been crazy lately since Eric Moyers is working on some secret project so we, as his teammates and juniors, are left to handle all the other work that pops up. And trust me, there are a lot" Delilah released a long, exasperated breath.

The mention of Eric had Aria's brows drawing in. "Eric? Do you know who he is working with or what he is working on?"

"No, not that I know of" Delilah mumbled, wondering why Aria asked her that. "Wait..." Her words trailed off as realization dawned on her, "Does Eric have anything to do with the favor you want?"

"Actually, it is about him. I need to know who he is working with, D" While Delilah calls Aria 'Ria', the woman calls her 'D'. It's their nickname for each other. "He came all the way here, accusing Maya of murdering Hameed"

"What?" Delilah didn't bother to hide the surprise in her tone. She was with Aria then so she knew how the girl took the loss of her brother. But that also meant she knew how Maya and Hameed were too. The two are close considering the age difference between them is only a year with Hameed being a year older. Just as Maya is only a year older than Aria.

Maya couldn't have done it. It doesn't even make sense because Maya is his sister.

"He can't possibly accuse her of that. It's ridiculous" Delilah added, "Maya wasn't even in Nigeria when it happened"

"Actually..." Aria cut her off, "She was. It was the first time she came here but none of us knew why" That was what worried her the most. Considering the fact that neither her parents nor she was with Maya then, it would be hard for them to prove her innocence by claiming they were with her then.

"Still..." Delilah interjected, "Maya couldn't have done it. Besides, I thought it was ruled out as timely death. It wasn't a murder"

Aria took in a deep breath, mentally preparing herself before she told Delilah all about what she found and the reason why she married Aali. She knew her sister is innocent, but she needs to prove that and get Eric off her back so she could work on something else.

By the end, Delilah released a long breath. "Well, you can get him off the case, right? Since you are the Attorney in charge?" She knew Eric, having to be a teammate of his. The man does not give up easily. It would be better for everyone if he is gotten off the case. At least then he would give up or at least stop any advances he has towards the girl.

"I already spoke to the higher ups about it and they assured me he will be taken off the case. But I still need to know who tipped him on that so I can protect Maya on what might pop-up" She made a mental note to speak to Maya and ask her if anyone can testify to being with her around the time Hameed died. It might help them if her case is so ever brought up.But it's also crucial to know who tipped Eric off, the person might be the answer to all her questions.

Aali can help, and Aria trusts him to do so. But they are yet to talk about Hameed's death and her case, as they had dropped the topic the night before after the east Wing was brought up.

However, Aria knew that Aali would bring it up sooner or later, and if he did, they would talk about it and maybe, he might know something about it.

"Don't worry. I'll look after it and I will let you know whatever I find out as soon as possible"

Aria released a breath of relief, as her shoulders slumped. "Alright. Thank you D, I really appreciate it"

"Don't mention it"

Just as Aria brought the phone down, a voice from behind had her looking up. She turned around in the stool, her gaze falling on the owner of the voice.

"Aunty Aya"

Aria fixated her gaze on Salaha who stood a couple of feet away from her. "Yes?"

Salaha fiddled with her fingers. She isn't sure if she is supposed to tell Aria what she just heard but it seems to entertain everyone else and she thought the woman might want to know too. "Hafsa is throwing a fit and breaking everything in her chamber" She knew Aria enough to know that the news will entertain her.

And she was right because a grin made its way on Aria's face, making her earlier worries disappear as a look of amusement took over her features. "Oh really now? I wonder why" She feigned innocence despite fully knowing why.

Salaha who is dumbfounded on the matter added, "It's because of the rumor spreading round the palace" The girl is unaware that Aria started the rumor, considering IyaZulai didn't allow her to stay with them when Aria visited. The only person that knew she started the rumor is IyaZulai, and even she took it as a casual talk that she thought is rumor worthy. And she is right. "Everyone is speaking about it" She added.

"That's sad" Aria mumbled, once again feigning innocence. She really didn't feel bad for starting it, and she certainly didn't feel bad that she picked Hafsa to be her victim. Of all the people giving her a hard time in the palace, the woman contributed a lot and she kept getting on Aria's nerves. Besides, she is the easiest target for Aria to pick.

But it wasn't just that. Hudayya told Aria of her former relationship with the woman and being the good friend that she is, Aria thought a little payback for herself and what Hafsa did to Hudayya wouldn't be that bad

What everyone is yet to find out though is that the rumor is not just a rumor though. It's a fact that Aria came to know of during the week.

Hasnain is getting married again that same week. And she may or may not have influenced him to do so.

She didn't ask him to remarry. She simply bumped into him during one of her numerous walks to clear her mind and the two got talking. Sure, Hasnain has his bad sides but Aria could see that he has his good sides too.

Hafsa did not deserve a man like him because despite everything, he genuinely loved her which was why he married her despite the bad reputation she has on her former marriage and the disagreement from most of his family members.

He still loved and protected her but the woman did nothing but give him pure headache. So when he told Aria that he is considering to take a second wife, she told him to do whatever will bring him happiness and peace of mind and if that meant him remarrying, then he should do so.

Her advice earned her a spot on his good side, and she might even consider them good friends or more like an ally. The man even asked her to be amongst the women that will take the bridal gifts to the new bride's house and she agreed without an ounce of hesitation. She would still ask Aali's permission, but she is sure he won't be against it.

Nonetheless, she loved the fact that the rumor about her is long forgotten and a new one is in. That's just the game though. It's the survival of the fittest. You play or you get played. Simple.

If they all wanted to pick a fight with Aria, she was willing to give them war. It depends on if they can handle her.