Amir Qasim's steps carried his usual regal aura as he made his way further in the direction of Giwa's chambers, his expression blank as always. The guards situated at the entrance, immediately upon spotting the Crown Prince were quick to crouch low, their greetings spilling out instantly. But Amir Qasim did not spare them a glance much less reply their greeting, an act that had them exchanging looks between themselves, immediately sensing that something is off.

Despite the Prince being much different than he was before, he was not one to snub them like that, and whenever he does, it could only mean one thing. He is furious—and this time around his anger was evident in the softness of his steps as he made his way into the chamber.

The guards zipped their lips shut, already knowing something might happen once again between the mother and son—but no one will ever know the details, no one ever does.

Considering it was already late and beyond the time which the Queen would see anyone, Jakadiya who was in the living room, upon hearing the front door open then parted her lips to speak. "Was I not clear when I said Giwa does not want to see anyone again?" She asked as she made her way towards the entrance, intent on stopping whoever it is. "She has retired for the night and---Your Highness!" Her words came to an instant halt, matching her steps upon spotting the Prince—his pointed look making her swallow down her words.

Her knees weakened, and beyond that which is the usual courtesy, she found herself crouching down. "Ranka ya dade, barka da dare..." She greeted, her voice slightly shaky as she hung her head low. She could not help but be surprised herself by how much the Prince intimidates her now with his mere presence.

It was not like that before. Now though, his presence alone is enough to have her and everyone else cowering away, not to mention when his look becomes pointed—that is enough to kill.

Amir Qasim's steps did not halter as he parted his lips to speak, his voice a low grumble. "Where is she?" He needed not elaborate, there was only one person he was there to look for like that.

Jakadiya weighed her option for a second, torn between wanting to uphold Giwa's instruction of letting anyone in, and needing to cave in and give the Prince the answers he demands. She decided to go with the latter—she is sure Giwa would understand the urgency of the situation.

So, she parted her lips, and then answered. "She is in her room." She replied, her voice small.

Amir Qasim's steps remained steady as ever as he directed himself in the direction of his mother's bedroom, glad that his father is with his step mother today lest the old man witnesses the bad blood between the mother and son.

Stopping by the door, he knocked on it, once, twice, and then for the third time.

"Jakadiya, I told you I am not seeing anyone again." Giwa's voice came, holding its usual coldness.

Amir Qasim pushed past her words, and then took a hold of the handle and pushed the door open, before stepping in and closing the door behind him. The lights in the room had already been dimmed down, but he was certain she was not asleep then. She turns in early, but she does not sleep early. Giwa, wanting to know who dared to ignore her words and stepped in turned her head around from where she stood by the vanity table, removing the last bit of jewelry she had on for the day.

Her eyes found the culprit as Amir Qasim emerged from the dark corridors, stepping into the dim lights of the room, and her shoulders instantly stiffened upon sighting the look on his face. But, it was only for a second because she then turned her head around, putting the now removed jewelry back in place with practiced ease, as if unaware of the storm raging within her son.

Amir Qasim settled down on one of the couches there, the tension in his shoulders evident. Ever so calmly, he reached out to the pick the freshly brewed, and steaming kettle of calming tea she has every night before she sleeps, pouring it into one of the tea cups there, before placing the kettle aside. Picking up the tea cup, he leaned back on the couch, then took a few sips of the sea, a light and soft hum under his breath.

For the next fleeting seconds, no words were exchanged between them as the tension in the room grew on both ends. Till Amir Qasim broke it with a single statement.

"This time the maids returned in one piece," He paused, his voice dropping octaves lower when he then added. "Next time, I cannot promise so."

Giwa, unbothered by his words then parted her own lips to speak. "They are just maids after all," She said, "Do with them as you please."

"Really?" Amir Qasim arched a brow, before he turned his head around to settle his gaze on her, with her back now facing him. "Even if it is Jakadiya?"

Giwa's eyes found his through the mirror in front of her, a silent warning gesture exchange between the two of them, the brewing anger in she too evident, though it was nothing against the storm behind his orbs.

She did not say anything, but that was a loud enough answer. Amir Qasim knew she treasured her precious maid Jakadiya quite possibly more than anyone in the palace, even if she does not show it—he knows more than anyone.

A beat passed, then another—his finger tapping the tip of the tea cup with each second that passes before he suddenly exhaled a breath, his expression turning graver than earlier. "This is the last time I cover for you," He said, his gaze holding hers. "And the last time I will tolerate any of such."

This time around, it was Giwa's turn to arch a brow, and then she slowly turned around, so they were facing each other. There was no ounce of regret on her expression whatsoever as she responded. "She is not dead, is she?" It was a rhetorical question—they both knew it. When he did not reply, she then added, "I merely taught her a lesson. I was not after her life."

Amir Qasim's eyes narrowed. "You never learn, do you?"

"And why are you upset?" She asked, showing no signs of backing down. Letting out a huff of disbelief, she then said. "Last time I checked you were both at odds as well. I merely did you a favor and put her in her place lest she goes around and keeps messing with everyone here." She was not going to deny it, she was never one to deny the things she has done.

Amir Qasim should not be surprised by her actions—after all, he had seen her done the worst. And yet, a part of him, deep down as her son, actually hoped she is not that bad. But she just keeps proving him wrong by the dawn of each day.

But then at the same time, he would not defend Asma either. He told her the first they met, did he not? There are more people after her in the palace than him—those that would not mind putting her six feet below. He warned her to stay out of other's matters, but she just had to parade around the palace like that digging her own grave.

Truthfully, he was not aware of the poisoning initially, and when she started to react, thought it was one of her many shenanigans to get under his nerves. He had his own beef against her with the Imam Hamza issue—but he was not going to pursue it—for the sake of the same man he brought Imam Hamza into the palace.

If he would fight everyone in court blood and battered, it would not be with Imam Hamza. He would not get messy with the man so he was not planning on pursuing his issue with her, hence why he did not tell Khalifa and the rest despite being aware of it. Anything else but that.

When he realized what was going on though, he already knew who was behind it—but did not quite feel like helping the girl outright. She needed to learn her lesson sooner or later, lest she digs an even bigger grave.

Just because he took the blame in her eyes though does not mean he would not settle scores with the real culprit.

"Everyone knows, Qasim." Giwa's voice came again, her eyes holding his, and her expression cold as ever. "You are at odds with the girl. Today, it is I. Tomorrow and the days after, there will be others after her as well. Will you always be there to save her when we are all merely doing what you cannot bring yourself to do?"

Amir Qasim held her gaze for a second longer, before he suddenly released a humorless chuckle. Dropping the tea cup back on the coffee table there, he got on his feet, then trudged in her direction, closing the space between them until he was towering over her petite figure.

Then, his voice came, cold, and losing any bit of softness it had in it. "I do not care if it is you, or anyone else," he started, his voice dropping with each word he utters. "If anyone ever lays a finger on my wife again..." A flash of an emotion she could not recognize flicked in his eyes, and then he added. "...I will pay you back tenfold. And that is a promise."

"You wouldn't..." Giwa shook her head, tilting her head up as she held his gaze. "...you of all people want her gone the most."

"Of course," He did not deny that. "But if anyone is to do anything to her, it would be I. No one else is allowed to touch my people. And if you think I will not dare...try me."

Giwa could only hold his gaze, wanting to see whether she could spot a crack in his façade and words, but there was none.

Amir Qasim once certain he had sent his message across then took a step back from her. "It is late already..." he said calmly, as if he was not the one throwing threats just a few seconds ago. "...you should get a good night sleep and," He paused, his lips curling into a smile. "Be wary of the things you eat from now on, lest someone poisons you as well. After all, you have quite a number of enemies as well, right?"

Giwa swallowed down a lump, her hands curling into a tight fist by her side, and subconsciously, took a step back from him, her knees weakening as she beheld the intensity behind his gaze and the gravity of his words.

Amir Qasim flashed her one last smile. "Good night," He side stepped her, his smile disappearing as he made his way out of the room, deeming his work done. He was certain he has gotten his point across, and God help whoever thinks he is just saying empty words.

By the time Amir Qasim returned to his home, it was a little past nine pm. He had gone straight to Giwa's place after praying Isha, and before returning home, he stayed a bit outside to calm himself down. Considering it was already late, everyone in the house has retired already for the night.

And the only person he spotted was when he made his way upstairs, and decided to stop by Asma's room before heading to his room. He remembered the report Sakina gave him an hour ago before she left with Khalifa, right before he went to Giwa's.

"She is still unconscious," Sakina said with a sigh and slumped shoulders. "The doctor said she will be awake by tomorrow morning though hopefully in shaa Allah. I have left her maid, Karima to stay with her." She then added, to which she was waved off by Amir Qasim, who acted not to care in the slightest bit about what goes on with the woman.

As if he was not the one that called up a doctor immediately he left the dinning room. No one needs to know that though—he needs to keep his reputation. He does not mind being the bad person in the slightest in the eyes of everyone, he prefers it that way.

Knocking on the door, he waited as he heard the sound of shuffling from the other side of the room. Then a few seconds later, the door was pulled open to reveal the face of the maid Asma brought along with her—the only person aside from Sakina Amir Qasim trusted to take care of the Princess in such a vulnerable state.

"Ranka ya dade," Karima crouched down lowly, "Barka da dare."

"How is she?" Amir Qasim asked instead, his voice low and his expression unreadable.

Karima sighed, her shoulders slumping, "She still has not gained consciousness," She said in a small voice, almost cracking as if she is seconds away from breaking down.

Amir Qasim glanced behind her, his gaze falling on the lady on the bed before his voice came. "You can go and rest then return in the morning."

Karima looked up, a look of wanting to argue with him on it and insist on staying crossing her features. "But--" She parted her lips to speak, but upon seeing the look on Amir Qasim's face, she swallowed down her words. Then, nodded dejectedly. "Alright." Ducking her head low, she made her way out of the room, though her heart was heavy and not in the slightest bit at ease about leaving the Princess with him.

For all she is aware, he is behind this. And as much as she wanted to stay and take care of her, to protect her, she is powerless against the man. So, she could only hope he would not do anything further.

Amir Qasim waited until the girl was out of sight, before he stepped foot inside Asma's room, for the first time since she arrived, slowly making his way over to the bed where she laid. He came to a stand beside her, staring down at her, helpless, and losing the color to her. In that moment, he saw a side of her he never saw before—vulnerability.

She did not look like the girl that would give him a snarky remark, or challenge his authority. No, this time around, there was not a single reaction from her, nothing aside from the soft rise and fall of her chest—the sign of her still breathing. For a moment, Amir Qasim only stared, not making any move. And then, he suddenly reached his hand out as he bent down, his palm getting in contact with her forehead, his lips curling downwards into a slight frown upon noticing how it felt heated underneath his touch, clearly, she is running down with a fever.

His frown only deepened as he pulled back. Then, without so much as a second thought, he reached out and pushed away the blanket covering her, before his arms went around her, and he picked her in his arms—her body limp in his arms unaware of what is happening lest he knows hell would have raised if she were awake, not that he would bother to pick her up if she were conscious.

Turning around with her in his arms, he made his way out of her room, then trudged down the hall to the master bedroom, pushing it open before kicking the door closed behind him. He did not stop until he reached the bed, the side where she slept the night before, and then carefully placed her down on it, before using the duvet to cover her again. She did not even shift in the slightest, not even a flick of her finger as Amir Qasim tucked her in bed again.

Picking up the air conditioner remote, he turned up a bit, keeping the room cool so it was not freezing. Once certain he had gotten the right temperature, he then made his way over to the bathroom, where he later on returned with a bowl of lukewarm water and a small towel.

He took the spot beside her on the bed again, before dipping the towel in the water, and then placing it on her forehead, hoping to get the fever down. He repeated the same action for a short while, until the water began to turn cold, and he deemed it enough already, discarding both the water and the towel back in place.

When he returned and placed his palm on her forehead again to check her temperature again, she still had the fever, but not as bad as it was earlier, making him release a sigh of relief as he retracted his hand. But then he found himself staring at her, and then his voice came in a low tone.

"I really do prefer you when you are quiet like this," He muttered to himself, knowing if she was awake, she would have gotten on his nerves so many times already. He reached out to fix the duvet to cover her up properly one last time, before rounding the bed to move to his side.

But, he did not get in. Instead, he picked up his pillow, and then made his way over to the chaise lounge by the other side of the room, then settled down on it. After changing his outfit and having gotten ready for bed, he returned to the chaise lounge with a small blanket, which he used to cover himself up as he then drifted to sleep as well, calling it a day.

There was only one thought in Amir Qasim's mind as he drifted to sleep. Just because he does not like the girl does not mean he would allow his family to walk over her. From then on henceforth, anyone that wants to get to her, must go through him.

~*~

You lots owe me comments for this chapter really, and YOU OWE KASSIM AN APOLOGY!

You really thought my man was that bad? AS IF I WOULD EVER WRITE A MALE CHARACTER THAT BAD, if so then the redemption arc must be damn good or our revenge go shock everyone.

Yanxun ma no one i safe. Allow my girl to wake up, ai sai mun rama.

But wait ooooo, Kassim, KASSIMMM!! What is this you are doing like this? You are making me blush lowkey. Bros it is like we would lose you first fa, okay and i am so seated for this.

These two are giving me what they are supposed to be giving really. 

Tih my people this is where i leave you, i don fulfill my promise.

Stay safe and in LOVE!

Yes, love. Kassim is making my heart flutter.

Love always, Jannah Mia.