<p> </p><p>AROUND 8 PM</p><p>A spacious dining room was furnished with an elegant white dining table surrounded by twelve matching white chairs, beautifully arranged. The table was laden with an array of dishes and fruits—enough to feed ten families to satisfaction and still leave food for breakfast.</p><p>Seated around the table were six family members: four women and two men. AMIR NAWFEL sat alongside an older man, clearly his father, MALIK, as their resemblance was striking, down to their identical hazel eyes.</p><p>MALIK sat at the central chair, with RIANNA and MALIKAT INAS to his right, the latter a perfect replica of RIANNA. On his left sat AMIR NAWFEL and TESNIM, while MALIKAT AL'UMU, though somewhat resembling AMIR, lacked his striking features.</p><p>MALIK glanced at AMIR, who was eating in silence. From his demeanor, it was obvious he wasn’t eating out of hunger but out of necessity. With a small smile, MALIK turned to TESNIM and asked, “TESNIM, when will you travel to the Ottoman Empire? Your grandfather mentioned he’s prepared a special gift for you.”</p><p>TESNIM pouted, pushing her lips forward. "Daddy, I told AMIR to tell me when we’d go, but he said he isn’t coming," she complained.</p><p>AMIR looked up briefly and replied softly, “Do you need me to accompany you because you don’t know the way?”</p><p>MALIK interjected, “NAWFEL, what has she done to you for you to refuse to escort her?”</p><p>AMIR let out a faint hiss, rose from his seat, and began walking away deliberately.</p><p>"NAWFEL, where are you going? You haven’t finished your meal," RIANNA called out.</p><p>He didn’t reply, disappearing from the room. After a moment, RIANNA turned to MALIK and pleaded, “Daddy, please abandon this idea of making AMIR the heir to the throne. He doesn’t want it.”</p><p>MALIK raised his hand to silence her. “RIANNA, you and NAWFEL seem to share the same sentiments. If he isn’t made heir, who will take the throne? You know as well as I do that he’s the only prince I’ve designated. Don’t tell me he’s whispered in your ear and convinced you to support him in this!”</p><p>"Daddy, please," RIANNA implored, “let him choose his own path. Forcing this responsibility on him will only lead to neglect of the kingdom. He’s shown no interest in ruling.”</p><p>MALIK cut her off again with a sharp gesture. “Enough! Leave my sight and tell NAWFEL to prepare for court tomorrow!”</p><p>“Father—”</p><p>"Leave!" MALIK ordered firmly. RIANNA had no choice but to rise and leave, muttering under her breath as she exited. The other women at the table exchanged glances, knowing full well that MALIK was a man of unshakable resolve. Once he made up his mind, no one could persuade him otherwise.</p><p> </p><p>—</p><p>LATER THAT NIGHT</p><p>RIANNA found AMIR seated in a luxurious parlor, legs crossed, watching the surveillance footage of the palace displayed on a large screen.</p><p>"AMIR!" RIANNA exclaimed, shocked. “You’re sitting in MALIK’s chair? Get up before he sees you! You know no one’s allowed to sit there but him.”</p><p>Slowly, AMIR turned to her with a calm but authoritative gaze. "From now on, it’s mine," he declared before turning back to the screen.</p><p>RIANNA’s jaw dropped in disbelief. She had never seen this side of AMIR before. As she was about to protest further, MALIK’s voice boomed from behind her, “Get up and leave my chair now!”</p><p>Even then, AMIR remained unfazed. Instead of responding, he leaned back, his gaze still fixed on the screen.</p><p>"NAWFEL," MALIK’s voice hardened, “if you want that chair, you must first accept your role as crown prince, learn how to govern the kingdom, and earn your place!”</p><p>Standing up slowly, AMIR approached MALIK, looked him straight in the eye, and said, “It’s just a chair, and I’ll sit on it. But don’t talk to me about the court or ruling. When the time comes, I’ll lead my way. Until then, don’t bring it up again.”</p><p>With that, he returned to the chair and sat down, completely ignoring the stunned expressions of MALIK and RIANNA.</p><p> </p><p>—</p><p> </p><p> </p>
