ABDEEN PALACE, EGYPT.

"Hey, broth-" Farouk trailed off when he found out that his brother is not alone and that he has company with him who is none other than his younger sister.

He just came out from his mother's chamber and she is about to have her final bath, he couldn't stay there to see it so as soon as he saw his brother's message asking him to come to the backyard, he jumped at the chance to leave. He only told his father about the call from his older brother and left. He could not stomach the sympathetic glances and fake tears that could be seen right through. Some didn't even try concealing their joy about the matter. His mother don't have enemies but royalty made her get a lot of them, a whole lot more than she needs at the moment. Some think the royals did tamper with her health but they want her to rest in peace, they won't bring that up.

"Oh, hey! I just want to go and see how everything is going inside, can you take her back to her chamber? I'm afraid she won't know the way and she can't exactly go there alone." Aqeeb requested, his voice ever so strong and standing, something he always wants to learn. Maybe even the heavens knew that he won't ever be a Pharaoh and that is why he is timid and so alarmed.

Aqeeb on the other hand was really looking for a chance to talk to his beautiful sister whose eyes spell nothing but mischief. He could clearly remember what he's done her age those years ago. He was not innocent at all, nothing about innocence could describe the troubles he's caused and being the crowned prince, he always get away unscathed. They have it in their blood to cause trouble and leave the scene without as much as being reprimanded. There is nothing out there that could be a hindrance to them if they want something, he's seen that challenge and daring look in her eyes the moment she walked. It was like seeing the female younger version of him.

He's been hearing rumours about someone coming who looks exactly like the Great Royal Consort, he was restless to see someone who looks like his mother. He knew about his mother's twin sister but if she were the one, everyone would've known it was her and call her her twin but they were saying something about young. He was taking a bath when the maids arranging his room gossiped about it, he couldn't help eavesdropping on their conversation when he can demand what is going on and be told right away without him having to lean on his bathroom door all the while trying to be quite.

But who said eavesdropping is not fun?

"Have you seen her?" One of the maids had asked, her words really low but he caught the words just right. He is very sure she is using something to close her mouth, that is how they gossip around the palace as if the air don't have ears.

"Yes, she looks exactly like great royal consort, I swear. Even the way they speak, smile and do a lot of things is the same. When I first saw her as she came in, I thought it was great royal consort coming from hospital after surgery to remove both the disease and also have a younger face. It was uncanny, hmm.." The other one whispered back though her words are coming out louder as she talks. It's like she can't keep the words quite even though she tries well to do so.

"When we took food to them in the room, her husband couldn't stop staring at her while she was on phone and let me tell you, he is also drop dead handsome! He is a prince back in Nigeria as I heard and he came with his grandparents. He is also so rich, just perfect for one another. Their babies are definitely going to be cute." Another one gushed from somewhere faraway making him raise a brow. Are these maids checking out the men in the palace? He couldn't be more wrong...

"More handsome than prince Aqeeb?" Oh, they are talking about him too. That boost his ego a notch though, he likes being called handsome even after knowing he is handsome.

"They are all different in their own way. While prince Aqeeb is gorgeously handsome standing powerfully as the crowned prince but the other prince whom I think his name is Sa'eed is something else. He has this dangerous look around him that makes you want to recoil but also push yourself forward. I can't even explain!" Another one from another entire different place explained, her words shivery.

Oh, this Sa'eed of a prince is also handsome and they are comparing them? Well, he stands as the crowned prince powerfully so that is enough to nurse his ego for getting compared to a Nigerian. He actually hates them after finding out what has happened to his Aunt, his mother's twin sister when she married a Nigerian. People talk about how corrupt they are, he couldn't agree more to that knowing it has happened in their family. She even left her home because of him but the darn man just wants more.

"But she looks like she don't understand what is going on. Could it be coincidence and they don't share anything at all?" Another curious question from completely different maid again. Just how many maids arrange his room all the time? He never sees them.

"Yeah, she was looking around strangely. But trust me, she is extremely beautiful and have this fierce look prince Aqeeb has. There must be something relating them by blood, it's uncanny." Another argument from the other end of the room. Okay, when are they going to finish making his bed exactly? Three hours or more?

"Definitely." One agreed, he wanted to open the door and tell them to disappear but kept quite wanting to hear the next ones.

"What could it be? Is she maybe her Great Royal Consort's daughter? But how is that even possible?" She kept asking the questions she don't know the answers to while still answering them herself, whoever she is, she is dumb.

"Or maybe her twin's daughter? You know she has a twin who ran away some years ago so this should be her." One with sense answered but she still sounded not sure of her words unlike how confidently she said them. He wished he could see their faces at that time.

"We shall find out whatever it is. I just want to hear her name and I'll see whether her name suits her or not, hahaha." One giggled lightly from the other end. What will she gain from hearing the name? Such fucked up brain those maids have, really!

"Her name is Suhayr!" One called out from another end in the room. Suhayr, wow, the name is amazing but he is tired of staying in the bathroom and their gossip is not juicy anymore so he turned the knob and before he could enter, each one of them have disappeared.

He didn't like that she is married to a Nigerian even though she looks to be not grown from there. When he searched up for Suhayr on internet the night before after she's disappeared from their dinner with his mother. He didn't come up with anything except bunch of photos of several women and the meaning of the name so he went to his other social media accounts starting from Instagram where anyone can find everyone. He found her there but her account is private so he followed waiting for her to accept his request, she didn't. His account is even verified, there is no way she won't find out he was the one.

All he wants to do is protect the sister he didn't get to be with because of his father. From what was said on the dining table, he knew his younger sister is definitely going to hate their father for what he did which is why he took her away from him before she creates a scene. The man does not have the right to hold her in his arms like this and if not for the death of their mother, she wouldn't have let him do that. He himself hated his father at that moment, he don't like the mere sight of him. He wouldn't have done that if it were him, even if his throne will be at risk.

She is going to be more devastated than ever. She found out that her father and grandmother forced her mother's twin to leave the country with her because he wants to make sure his throne is secured and protected by using her. And after finding her biological mother, she died right in front of her eyes. He can't imagine just how much emotionally defeated and disabled she would be later on. She is not even crying, she just calmly lie down on him sinking into the support, consolation and comfort he is giving her.

"Okay." His brother's words brought him out from his reverie so he stood up with her still in his arms.

"I'll be right back with you later on if everything is settled. Farouk will take you to your chamber." Aqeeb gave her gently to his younger brother whose body started to shake slightly. He don't understand what is going on between his siblings but they already look close.

Suhayr only nodded, allowing herself to be transfered from father to one brothers and then the other. She is allowing physical contacts like that, something she has never permitted. Seeing as this is the timid brother her mother wants her to bring out of her shell, she will stay there with him and try getting him out. But can she do that after her mother's death, definitely after everything wears off if it ever does. For now, she wants a new coping mechanise that will erase some of the grief from her chest. Does that thing even exists for she needs it more than anyone at the moment.

Someone might think she is being irrational because she's only met her mother for a day and now she is being grievous or hypocritical? She has every right to be heartbroken after losing her real mother just when she thought another relationship, a beautiful one is sprouting out for them. She thought that this is her second chance to show her real mother how affectionate she could be since she couldn't show it to her foster one. This wasn't what she has planned for herself when she heard about them going to Egypt for two whole weeks. She never expected to find out her true self and her family.

She thought they were going to come to Egypt and tour around it without any trouble hindering their way. She never thought they were going to stay there in Abdeen Palace and get to see the royals the night she got there without hassle. And then she found out about who her real parents are, the royals of Egypt. How crazy is her life going to be? She don't think it'd be crazier than it is at the moment, nothing could surpass that but she didn't think about the ones to come in future. She just needs to deal with it like every other.

"Can you tell me about her? I mean, our mother?" She requested Farouk as he gently guide her inside the palace, his hands shaking ever so slightly around her shoulder. She don't want to make him uncomfortable and the tension between them is palpable.

"Why not..." He also narrates his part of experience with their mother till they reach her chamber and his story is a lot more different than Aqeeb's but interesting.

"Thank you." Her eyes widen sensing that that was the first time she genuinely thanked someone her whole life. What is Suhayr Imraan Khalid's life becoming in just a matter of two weeks? Who in their right sense of mind is trying to mess with her now?

"Don't mention. It was great talking to you, I hope to do that again soon." And he turned around then dematerialized like she's just imagined him. Did her timid older brother just said he wants to talk to her again? Whoa, she can finally fulfill a promise of a dying woman after all.

"I heard what happened, how are you?" She was bombarded by the Shehu of Borno, his wife and her husband inside their chamber. She thought she was only going to meet Sa'eed inside and help sought more comfort from him but they are waiting anxiously for her on the couches looking concerned.

"It's all okay." She forced a smile and sat down on the bed facing them. Sa'eed stood up from where he is and move to her side on the bed, his arms coming around to give her a hug and at that moment, she didn't care who is watching them, she let herself get cocooned in his comforting arms, she needed that.

"We shall be there now." She heard the Shehu's distant voice from the background after awhile. Everyone was quite, helping her grieve in her sorrowful, forlorn and cheerless time like any supporting and caring person would.

"What is it?" Her majesty asked her husband quietly, the duo are still hearing them though. She understands where the woman is coming from, she is really concerned about Suhayr but she is no fragile porcelain, she can take another death.

Or not!

"I think the prayer will be conducted any minute from now and they want to know if Suhayr wants to say her final goodbye." His words were clear to her ears but Suhayr can't see her mother wrapped in that hideous white clothe. She didn't even see her foster mother's and she won't see her biological mother's, the pain will intensify. Now, her chest is only tightening but if she sees that white clothing, she is not sure what she will do. She'd probably stop them from taking her away or try getting herself inside the casket.

"You go ahead, I'll be fine here." She gave another faint fraudulent smile which a small baby won't believe is a smile but she need to reassure them in some way. She could only hope her mother won't be mad at her for this but she genuinely can't see her being taken away from her, never.

"Okay, dear. Please take care!" The Shehu and his wife left the room for the duo and she sighed, she don't know why she felt suffocated in their presence. Because she won't be able to relax her shoulders?

"Are you sure?" Sa'eed queried again from atop her head, his hands soothing her back down to her spine in a really pleasant want. She don't want him to stop but he needs to attend her mother's funeral prayer.

"Yes." She breathed out, suddenly angry when he stood up to leave, "Be back soon please." She begged, holding his hand in hers when he was about to pass by.

Sa'eed stared at her shiny eyes that refuse to let go of the tears but this great pain, he himself won't be able to shelve like that. There is no doubt about the name he gave her Leontios. She is fearless and a powerful individual who stand alone like a lion, that is Suhayr. He can't imagine what she is going through but he hopes to help her overcome such grievous moment when he comes back, he hates seeing her like this. He wants the Suhayr that will sarcastically tell him to leave her alone when she really wants him to stay. The one that would slap him, push him away, defy him or even roll her eyes at him. Not this fragileone, it feel weird.

"I promise." He kissed her temple before leaving the room knowing another minute with that puppy eyes of hers, he'd stay there without any thought. He has performed his ablution so he asked one of the guards to take him to the mosque. And there were thousands of people in such short notice, Allah is great!

She kept staring into space not knowing when the door opened and Sa'eed sauntered in quietly so as to not ruin her thoughts. He sat down beside her on the bed while staring at her as if he is seeing her for the first time. He is just taking in her features, her beautiful face, down to her slender neck to her chest. Aroused, that is what he felt as soon as his eyes landed on her cleavage. It is very wrong of him to think about that at the moment but he can't help it, he is a man after all.

"Can you make me forget? I want to forget everything and everyone! I just want to be in another world, help me forget please." She suddenly turned around and climb on his thigh like a baby would their mother. She don't care if she sounds clingy and desperate, she is. She needs her husband, she wants him now!

"What are you saying? No, I can't take advantage of you. We can stroll, go to dinner or something but I can't do th-" She cut him off when she closed his moist lips with her equally saturated ones in a fierce demanding kiss that he can't help returning for a while then pulled away to make her see sense.

"Don't push me away too, I will definitely lose it. Just make me forget, I know what I'm doing and I know what I want. I want you," She grind up against him, eliciting a loud growl from his lips as he clench his teeth, jaw and eyes shut before he does something ludicrous, she isn't helping.

"You are not in the right state of mind. Please listen to me, don't do this." She cut him off again when she took a hold of her shirt and threw it away where it hit a lamp and fortunately, it didn't fall, the same fate happened to her bra.

"I am alright, I just want to be intimate with my husband. I have the right, don't I?" Her eyes are searching for his, he let her do that because he don't want to stare down below. He needs to make her see sense no matter what.

He wants her more than he needs oxygen but this is like taking advantage of a wounded girl for his selfish motives.

He can see that she is really in her sense but that is what she wants so he took a hold of her and place her mildly on the bed. He trailed kisses from her eyes to her nose then stopped across her lips, his breath fanning hers. "There is no going back." He whispered just before his lips descend on hers like molten lava, burning her whole body.

And for the next long hours, they were only two lovers in great love affair. Steam rise above, love was made and feelings were shared. It was a day to remember for both, a day they sought out for each other soul and became one.