Golden Jasmine: The Ameer's concubine.

24. Battle of the heart.

Love comes with pain and sacrifice. Whatever you choose, is a stab in the heart. ❤️

Sultana paced into the hall with her chin up and eyes languid yet fierce as ever. Two elder servants stood behind her quietly and the original occupants of the room got ready for what was coming.

"Sabahul Khair Sultana Nafisah," Sultana Rasheeda tipped her head in greeting with a faint smile.

"Sabahul Noor," the Sultana returned with a nod and Arwa greeted her too together with Yasmine.

"Amira Arwa," she responded to her and turned her gaze to Yasmine who had her head lowered. "This is intriguing, a servant refusing to kneel to the Sultana," she hissed in a low voice and Yasmine's heart thumped fearfully.

Sultana Rasheeda immediately came to the rescue and stood beside Yasmine. "Even servants shouldn't kneel to the royals or anyone. I don't remember that being allowed in the Shariah law," she said pointedly.

Sultana Nafisah scoffed and said, "That's the rule of the empire not this harem. The servants are way below us do act unruly like this, especially...." she rolled her eyes and bore them into the young lady. "I heard that this lady here is from the brothel discovered lately but she is living in the palace, the Amira's chambers, in a special room. Amira Arwa, what behavior is this?"

"I was helping Yasmine because I had to," Arwa started only to be glared by the Sultana. "Did I ask you to answer?!" Arwa blinked in confusion, not knowing what to say anymore. Even she was scared of this woman.

"Wait," Sultana Rasheeda spoke out, making the Sultana turn her attention to her. "The women gotten from that place are being kept in a different palace, why can't Arwa do that and decide how she treats her companions?"

Sultana Rashida laughed sarcastically at this statement. "This lady here has been there from the first day and was brought in by my son."

Yasmine swallowed as what she dreaded was happening before her eyes. She didn't want Jaasir to be implicated but it seems impossible now.

"I don't have a problem with what Amira does for now but the Amir's actions and it would be better if you let me talk to her myself," she added, staring hard at Yasmine.

But Sultana Rasheeda won't let this happen so easily. "She is under me and in my palace now, so you can't take her away," she remarked. If Yasmine was taken away, who knows what the Sultana would say or do to her?

"I don't get why you are adamant in getting involved Sultana Rasheeda," Sultana Nafisah stated with clear anger. "This concerns my son, so stop acting like he is yours,"

Sultana Rasheeda frowned but didn't step back. "The person I am protecting here is Yasmine, not your son," she said passively.

"Come on, you don't want to be implicated in this because you have a lot on your plate already," Sultana Nafisah eyed her. "Your palace is a lockdown and your children can only come here once a week. Do you want to make it worse?"

What? Yasmine was alarmed as her fingers trembled and her palms got damper. She had no idea such a thing occurring in the palace. What would Sultanah Rasheeda do to deserve such treatment?

"You can't make my life worse than it is. Allah has been sustaining me, so what am I afraid of?" Sultana Rasheeda said fearlessly.

Sultana Nafisah knows how stubborn her counterpart can be, so she turned to Yasmine with a smirk. "You won't let her fall with you right?"

Yasmine raised her head as her golden eyes clashed with the Sultana, making her gasp inwardly. No wonder her son was enchanted. This woman is likely a seductress and she won't let her get any closer to her son.

"Don't get involved Yasmine," Sultana Rasheeda said to her but she was focused on the Sultana's facade. All she knows is that this is her problem and she can't let others suffer with her.

"I'll talk to her," she said in a low voice.

"Yasmine..." Arwa tried to stop her, but she shook her. She looked at Sultana Rasheeda who looked adamant about helping but she couldn't let this kind woman down because of her. She smiled and turned to the Sultana.

"Good girl," Sultana Nafisah smiled and briefly glanced at Rasheeda before walking out. Yasmine nodded at the mother and daughter duo and went after the Sultana.

"Ummi," Arwa looked worryingly at her mother who just shook her head with a thoughtful expression. She can only pray that Yasmine makes the right decision.

Yasmine stood at the end of the corridor and the Sultana turned to her.

"Kneel!" she ordered coldly and Yasmine could only comply.

"Now that's better. You should know your status," Sultana Nafisa began, feeling satisfied with the effect she had on the young lady.

"I know your origin girl and even your parents were crooked much less you. You lived in a brothel and who knows if that was your first time and you are here, using your flirting tactic on the future Sultan of the Qanasiyya Empire. Your dream is so wild of thinking that you can be the Suitana of this empire. Do you even have a fraction of what it takes?!" her words pierced daggers into Yamsine's heart, and she was finding it hard to hold her tears back.

The Sultana pointed up and continued harshly, "Do you know why we aim for the heavens in the sky? Because it's up and we are down. You have to accept your lowly status. Amir Jaasir is like the sky and you are nothing but mud before him. You can't stain him with your filth no matter how beautiful you think you are. The audacity of a servant to live with the rivals and even charm the Amir. Tsk, you are awfully ambitious!"

Was it anger or shame? Frustration or pain? Yasmine just knew that she was helplessly enduring this.

"I will advise you to stay away from Amir Jaasir and leave his life forever, if not...You have no idea what harm your presence will do to him," Sultana Nafisa stated and lowered her voice dangerously. "Amir Jaasir is already facing obstructions from his right and a scandal like you is already making things worse. He is going to be the Sultan of this empire and have a lot to take care of. You can't be his support but his downfall. You don't want that right? So, the decision is yours," She let her words sink before treading away.

Yasmine took in a panicked deep breath before cupping her mouth. "You are weak and stupid that's why they won't accept you. What dream were you having?" she cried inwardly as her hopes and feelings birthed, crushed like glasses. She limply stood up and what to do hurriedly played in her head.

She heard rushed footsteps and an arm wrapped around her. She turned around and it was Arwa, who was watching her worryingly. Yasmine's eyes were red but she wasn't weeping which made the Amira even more worried. Sultana Rasheeda arrived before them and watched Yasmine calmly and quietly.

"What did she say to you, Yasmine?" Arwa asked.

Yasmine just shook her head. "Nothing,"

"She might have said nothing but your eyes say everything," Sultana Rasheeda stated and Yasmine's lashes nervously fluttered.

"Listen to me Yasmine, a ruler needs a strong woman to support him through thick and thin until the end but without love, his life will never be complete. Stay with the man who loves you and you love him and support him even if it's from afar. If you leave him, you might regret that decision your whole life," she added and turned to leave.

Yasmine blinked her tears back, being put on a spot now. Arwa was holding her as they walked back to her chambers but her mind was saying thousands of words to her. Over the few days, if she asked her heart if it flutters for the Amir, then it was true. Does she feel like staying beside him and being his support even if it looks like a pipe dream? That was true too. She is not sure that she is in love with the Amir but the thought of being away from him was killing her from within. But can she endure the hardship of staying with him will come with?