<p>AROUND 8 PM</p><p>In a spacious dining room, a magnificent white dining table with twelve matching white chairs was set, exuding elegance. The table was laden with a variety of dishes and fruits, enough to feed ten families, leaving leftovers for breakfast.</p><p>Seated at the table were six people—four women and two men. AMIR NAWFEL sat with an older man, clearly the king, MALIK, given their striking resemblance, including their hazel eyes.</p><p>MALIK sat in the central chair, with RIANNA and MALIKAT INAS, who looked very much like RIANNA, on his right. On his left were AMIR NAWFEL and TESNIM, followed by MALIKAT AL’UMU, who bore some resemblance to AMIR NAWFEL but not as strongly.</p><p>MALIK glanced at AMIR, who had his head lowered, eating reluctantly, as though he had no appetite. MALIK smiled faintly before turning to the girl beside him, saying, “TESNIM, when will you travel to the Ottoman Empire? I spoke with your grandfather, and he said he has prepared a special gift for you.”</p><p>TESNIM pouted, pushing her lips forward in a slight frown, and replied, “Abbi, I told AMIR when we’re going, but he said he won’t go with me.”</p><p>AMIR slowly raised his head and glanced at her, speaking softly, “Do you need me to accompany you because you don’t know the way?”</p><p>"MALIKAT, what has she done wrong for you not to accompany her?" MALIK asked, looking at AMIR.</p><p>With a small sigh, AMIR stood up calmly and began walking away.</p><p>"NAWFEL, where are you going? You haven’t finished your meal," RIANNA said.</p><p>He ignored her and continued walking. After he left, RIANNA turned to MALIK, pleading, “Abbi, please drop this matter about AMIR taking the throne. He doesn’t want it.”</p><p>MALIK raised his hand to silence her before saying, “RIANNA, you and NAWFEL seem to be of one mind. If he doesn’t take the throne after me, who will? He is the only prince I have. Has he been filling your ears with complaints? Feeding you the same childish tantrums he always does?”</p><p>RIANNA frowned and pleaded, “Please, Daddy, let him choose his own path. Don’t force him into something he has no interest in. If he truly doesn’t want the throne, even if he takes it, he won’t care for Saudi Arabia as you do.”</p><p>“RIANNA, leave my sight immediately and follow him. Go calm him down, and tell him to prepare to join me in the court tomorrow.”</p><p>“Abbi…”</p><p>Malik raised his hand again, stopping her mid-sentence. She got up reluctantly, muttering under her breath as she followed AMIR. She left the dining room completely, heading toward his quarters.</p><p> </p><p>—</p><p>In a luxurious parlor, AMIR was seated on MALIK’s golden throne, one leg crossed over the other, staring intently at the TV.</p><p>RIANNA, shocked, exclaimed as she rushed toward him, “AMIR! You’re sitting on Malik’s chair? Get up before he sees you! You know no one else is allowed to sit there!”</p><p>Slowly, AMIR turned to look at her, his eyes half-closed as if sleepy. With calm authority, he said, "From today onward, it’s mine." Then, he turned his attention back to the TV.</p><p>RIANNA stood frozen, wide-eyed, staring at him. She had never seen him exude such dominance before. Just as she was about to speak, she heard MALIK’s voice from behind her, “Now get up, it’s time for its rightful owner to sit.”</p><p>Her heart skipped a beat as she turned to see MALIK behind her, his expression unreadable. AMIR, however, remained unmoved, still focused on the TV.</p><p>Malik approached him, but AMIR did not acknowledge his presence. Frustrated, MALIK tapped AMIR’s leg, causing it to fall to the ground.</p><p>AMIR slowly blinked, looked up at him, and simply said, “What?”</p><p>Both RIANNA and MALIK were shocked by his audacity.</p><p>"NAWFEL, get off my chair!" MALIK commanded with authority.</p><p>After a moment of silence, AMIR returned his gaze to the TV without saying a word.</p><p>“Akhie…”</p><p>RIANNA’s voice was cut off by MALIK’s raised hand.</p><p>"If you want to sit on this chair, you must accept your title as Crown Prince, join me in the court, and learn how to govern this kingdom. Only then will you deserve to sit here," MALIK said firmly.</p><p>Slowly, AMIR stood up and walked calmly toward MALIK. Standing face-to-face, he looked him in the eye and said, “It’s just a chair, and I will sit on it. I will not attend court, and I don’t need anyone’s advice. The day I’m crowned king, I’ll govern in my own way. Stop trying to drag me into something I want no part of.”</p><p>With that, he turned and sat back down on the golden throne, crossing his legs again and resuming watching the TV.</p><p>MALIK and RIANNA stood stunned. After a moment, MALIK dismissed RIANNA, who left without protest.</p><p> </p><p>—</p><p>Once alone, MALIK moved to a nearby sofa and sat, watching AMIR.</p><p>Without turning, AMIR said, “Why are you staring at me like that?”</p><p>MALIK shook his head with a small smile. “Leadership suits you, AMIR. Why do you always act so soft? Even learning to use a sword took RIANNA’s persuasion. Without that, you wouldn’t even be able to defend yourself against an enemy.”</p><p>AMIR stayed silent.</p><p>MALIK chuckled, tossing a pillow at AMIR, who dodged it effortlessly.</p><p>Smirking slightly, AMIR replied, “Abbi, fighting with weapons doesn’t interest me. I prefer hand-to-hand combat.”</p><p>“Hmm, but that’s not enough. You should master all weapons. You never know how an enemy might come at you, especially as someone in the royal family.”</p><p>Calmly, AMIR interrupted, “And if the enemy comes from behind?”</p><p>MALIK fell silent, unsure how to respond.</p><p>AMIR turned to face him, smirking faintly. “You’ll never know how an enemy will strike. But I know one thing—anyone who truly wants to see your downfall will never attack from the front. They’ll come from behind because they know you’re stronger head-on.”</p><p>"What are you even talking about?" MALIK asked, confused.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
