Both Amir Qasim and Asma's expression visibly shifted as the Sultan emerged, stepping into the room with a salaam that was answered by the both of them in low tones, each for reasons known to them alone. Their earlier banter dissipated into thin air, and was instead replaced by something calmer, something more tense as they both shifted in their sitting positions, adjusting themselves in a more formal way.

The Sultan took his seat as well, and silence ensued as he looked at the two, both of them looking down. Amir Qasim looked up though for a split second as her uttered his greeting, Asma's following after his though she did not look up.

"Barka da dare, Baba." Amir Qasim greeted.

Asma bowed her head slightly, "Barka da dare, ranka ya dade."

His gaze shifted from Amir Qasim, to his wife, and then his lips slanted upwards into a small, warm, and welcoming smile. "Lafiya qalau," He said in response to both their greeting. "Asmau," He then called out, his voice through authoritative, was soft.

Asma blinked, looking up for a split second as her gaze found his, before she looked down once again. "Na'am?" Her voice came out low, and Amir Qasim nearly wondered if she was the same person pulling tricks on him just a few moments ago. The girl she is feigning to be right now, is not the same woman he knows.

Then again, why is he surprised? What should he expect from a Princess from Kubi Caliphate? Of course she knows how to pretend and play the role of someone weak if it so desires. He can see right through that. Still, he kept his words to himself, and simply watched the show unfold.

The Sultan's voice then came again. "Why are you being so formal?" He inquired. "You are now a part of my family, you have been for the longest time. Ke fa ya ta ce. Addressing me like everyone else is too formal, but I will not stop you if you are more comfortable with that."

Asma's lips curled into a small smile, still not looking up and not saying a thing.

Sultan then sighed, and instead chose to direct his words towards why he asked them there in the first place. "I am sure the both of you already have an idea of why I asked to see you here," he started, his gaze shifting between the two as he intertwined his fingers, his expression turning serious. "This is something I should have said to you two long ago, but due to one reason or another, we could not meet altogether like this. Until now." He paused, the silence dragging before he then fixated his gaze on his son. "Amir Qasim." He called out.

Amir Qasim looked up, his expression solemn. "Na'am, Baba?" His tone is not as cold as when he speaks to Giwa, but it was not as soft as he used to address the old man during his younger years as well. It was evident in the way he carried himself as well, not to even speak of how he talks.

Sultan Muhammad saw the change in his son, though he was not quite sure of whether the change is good or bad, yet.

"Asma is your wife," Sultan Muhammad breathed out, "And she is not in this family just as your wife, but as a daughter to me as well. They gave you a wife, and they gave me a daughter. So, we both have a responsibility of hers that lays on our shoulders. I know you are a responsible person, but I will never stop reminding you. Your wife has rights over you;

Of financial support, of kind and respectful treatment, of emotional support and consideration, protection of honor and privacy, fair and just treatment, to intimacy, and to spiritual and moral support.

You are a man with immense knowledge, both western and Islamic. And I am sure you know, in the hadith Sahih Bukhari 5186, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: "The best of you are those who are best to their wives, and I am the best of you to my wives."

In the Quran, "And among His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves so that you may find tranquility in them, and He has placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for people who reflect."

And in another hadith, Sahih Muslim 1468a: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "A believing man should not hate a believing woman; if he dislikes one of her characteristics, he will be pleased with another."

All of these are teachings that you already know, Amir Qasim, and I am merely reminding you as your father. Of course, no one is perfect, and I am not as well, but I do want to see you become a better man, starting with your home. In shaa Allah, you will one day be the one leading the people, and how will you be a just leader if you do not start from your own home?

Amir Qasim, kaji tsoron Allah, kaji tsoron Allah, kuma ka qara jin tsoron Allah. Do not play with the responsibilities you carry. Kana jina?"

Amir Qasim could only nod in response, the weight of his father's words pressing down heavily on his shoulders, more than he thought was ever possible.

The Sultan did not stop there. His gaze slanted in the direction of the lady beside Amir Qasim, and then he parted his lips. "And you as well, Asmau. He is your husband, and he has rights over you; to obedience in matters of good, protecting his honor and privacy, to companionship and intimacy, to be respected and not undermined, to household management, and so on.

These are all matters that I am sure you are aware of as well, but it would not hurt to remind you either.

In Sahih Muslim 1436a: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The best of women are those who, when you look at them, please you; when you order them, they obey you; and when you are absent, they guard in your absence what you would have them guard."

I know you are both very different from each other, and you have your short comings regarding each other as well. But, you two are a married couple now, and that is not something you should play around with for any reason at all.

You two still have a long way to go, and you will have to figure out the journey as you continue together..." The Sultan went on for about an hour, advising the two and offering blessings to them and their marital home. By the time he was done, and he dismissed them so they could go ahead and rest for the night, he thought he had managed to put them on the right track and remind them of the gravity of the responsibilities on their shoulders.

If only he knew, neither of them carried his words home, far too gone in their own minds and thoughts.

~*~

"It has been a long day for you, I know, but I have some interesting news for you that might pique your interest," Khalifa, Amir Qasim's right hand man and Sakina's husband stated, his tone laced with amusement as the two made their way into the study in Amir Qasim's home.

The Prince made a beeline to the swivel chair behind the mahogany table, settling down on it. A slight sigh of exhaustion escaped his lips, after the long day of activities that just does not seem to have an end in sight. The entire day has been filled with one task after the other, and only now is he finally getting some chance to rest.

As much as he can get in this moment that is before the men officially call it a night anyways. He and Asma had just returned from his father's chambers, with no words exchanged between them, not that he had any intention of speaking to her in the first place. He desired not even to spare her a glance, and had it been she had stirred up a conversation on the way, she could have been ignored but it seemed she knew what was good for her as well because she did not bring up anything of that sort.

And the moment they arrived back home, she made a beeline straight to her room while he stopped to converse with Khalifa who was waiting for him outside. So, he led him to his private study so they could have their conversation without anyone intervening.

Amir Qasim had a long day, and he could feel a dull ache beginning to form in his head, but he was curious as to what knew Khalifa had to deliver to come at this time. So, he grumbled out. "What is it?" He inquired. "What did you find out?"

Khalifa hummed, settling down on the chair opposite Amir Qasim, his gaze finding the man before he then stated. "It appears no one in court is influencing Imam Hamza," He stated, his voice certain. "I have looked into it, and his relationship with every one there. He truly does not have a connection with anyone."

"Even Giwa?" Amir Qasim asked, because Khalifa just said he does not have a connection with any one in court, and he trusts him knowing whatever news he gets from Khalifa has to be legit. However, his words only rule out those in court. What of the ones pulling the strings behind the curtain?

Khalifa sighed, then nodded. "Even Giwa." He stated. "She has tried to reach out to him, but from what I found out, he turned her down each and every time. I feel it is understandable on his side since she never got along with his mentor back in the day. I guess it makes sense that he does not wish to align with her."

This time around, it was Amir Qasim's turn to sigh, his throbbing headache growing. He reached his fingers out "He truly is Malam Tukur's student after all," He said in a low voice, though Khalifa could already decipher what his words were. All Amir Qasim could think of in that moment is exactly what he has been trying to avoid thinking of, his past, but it seems from the very moment he stepped foot in Sokoto again, there is no escaping it.

"What should we do about Imam Hamza?" Khalifa asked after a moment of silence, deducing that the Prince must have come to a conclusion in those past elusive minutes. "Him opposing you in court today is just the beginning. If we let him be, he might become a thorn in our way. Should I make him leave court on his own?" He could think of numerous ways to get the man to leave on his own without them forcing it upon him directly.

And that is the peaceful way. If he chooses otherwise, Khalifa, despite how clean Imam Hamza claims to be, can dig up more than enough on the man to force him to leave the royal court, and it will not be a pleasant sight. There is a reason why Khalifa is known as Amir Qasim's right-hand man after all—he gets the job done, always.

Amir Qasim's finger tapped the table in front of him once, then twice, and then for the third time before his eyes flicked open again. "No," He breathed out calmly. "Let him be."

Khalifa's brows drew in, "But, if we leave him he will truly cause you trouble by the looks of it. I am sure someone strongly against you is behind is. How ungrateful. If it were not for you he would only dream of becoming a council member and now he against you."

Amir Qasim found Khalifa's gaze, and then offered him a small smile before he shook his head. "Imam Hamza is not one to be bought by anyone." He stated, almost way too certain. "If he does criticize me, then I deserve it."

Khalifa could only stare at the Prince with lips set into a tight line. He knows Amir Qasim is a decisive man, especially when handling those against him, but here he is, being lenient with Imam Hamza. He knew why, it is solely because the man is a student of Malam Tukur's, thus earning him a soft spot in the Prince's heart else by tomorrow, the man would cease to be a council member as a whole.

So, knowing this, Khalifa kept his lips sealed, not wanting to say anything and cross the line that shall never be crossed on Amir Qasim's page, simply leaving the topic to die there.

What they do not know however, was that Asma stood outside the door of the study, hearing just enough to grasp what the conversation is about. And after hearing that last statement, she turned around and made her way over to her room, closing the door behind her a she deemed the conversation just about enough for her.

Reaching the bedside cabinet, she unplugged her phone that is now fully charged just in time for a phone to come through, the caller ID being a private number. But, she did not hesitate to answer it. Swiping the answer button, she brought the phone to her ear.

"Ranki ya dade," Imam Hamza's unmistakable gravely voice came from the other end, "What do you think of today's performance?"

Asma's lips formed a small, ghost like smile. "You did well, I appreciate it," She stated, the words escaping her lips ever so cooly. "But, you were too soft. You know what to do from now on."

"Of course," It was evident in the change of tone in his voice that he would not make the Prince's life any easier from this point onwards. "But, this will not be enough. The Prince is powerful."

"Not powerful enough," Asma breathed out, unbothered. "I will handle this, worry not. Corner him. This is just the beginning. I have more coming his way." A slight smirk made its way on her lips, her words carrying a dark aura with a promise of unseen chaos carefully curated for the Prince, and every one else in the palace truly.

"I will let you know if anything comes up."

"I appreciate that," With that said, they ended the phone call, and Asma erased the private number from her call history entirely before she dropped her hands by her side, her smirk disappearing as a grim expression took over her face. "That is where you are wrong, Amir Qasim," She breathed out lowly under her breath. "Anyone can be bought...at the right price."

If Amir Qasim thought he was going to have it easy with her, then he really does not know who is up against. She is his greatest foe...has been for the longest time and she is not going to make his life easy in the slightest, nor any one else in the palace.

Slowly, but surely, she was going to ruin them all, and she is going to enjoy every single second of it, revere it even.

~*~

I cannot even promise consistent updates now because LIFE IS LIFING!! I am too occupied right now that this book is barely on my mind again, but as always, I will try to give you guys what I can.

But i told you guys Asma is not here to play. You thought she is just a Princess in title? Oh, you all got a lot coming your way from this, especially the royal from Sokoto. 

Is this mutual hatred? Amir Qasim hates Kubi while Asma hates the people of Sokoto.

Tohhhh oya you both should come and give us your reasons let us decide who we should support and who we should leave.

Ni like this na Sultan I pity. After all thst surutu and waazi, these two no understand it again. They just dropped your nasiha like that. Okay now, we will see if they will come back to use it later on or not. Allah dai ya shirya.

Toh, I have nothing more to say.

Stay safe and single as always,

Love, Jannah Mia.