The Red Rose

7. Garden

When two know the crime, one of them is always the criminal.

The same mornings and same routines. Alijah was deep inside tired of it,of everything. Her royalty, her position, her lifestyle, everything was a boundary. Agrabah was filled with the hustle of merchants and traders, shopkeepers loudly speaking, selling their goods when Alijah roamed in the  main bazaar of the city.

Today, she requested her father to go out of the palace, so she can have a breath of satisfaction. Even though he resisted a lot but agreed because it was about his daughter. Alijah looked here and there, at the textiles and jewelleries, mesmerized by the beauty. It was odd for a princess to roam in the bazaars of a city as the royal people can get anything they want in front of their eyes, thus she decided to dress simply today.

Rehman and Kareem were walking by her side, she decided to bring her brother along as it has been days they talked because of his busy routines.

"Akhi, look at these anklets, can I get them?" She pointed enthusiastically at a stall filled with jewelleries and other ornaments.

"No Amira, you can tell me how you want your anklets to be, we will ask our jeweler to make one for you"

"But I like these, specifically" she said, forcing the last word.

"No." And he kept on moving forward.

"Don't worry, I'll buy them for you Amira." Rehman interrupted.

"That's so nice of you Rehman, but it's ok. Not your fault that my brother is so annoying." She said making an irritated face at his brother, whose back was now facing them.

Listening to her Rehman just let's out a chuckle making Alijah look at him.

"You should laugh more." She comments and continuous her search leaving Rehman who stood there dumb.

After getting nothing from the bazaar Alijah returned to the palace, blaming her brother for being this much selective that she end up returning empty. But she was satisfied that she went out at least.

After eating her meal she sat on her bed reading an old tale when Rubina entered the room to pick up the utensils when suddenly Alijah remembers something.

"Rubina." She says softly.

"Ji, Amira"

"You were given the position of being my maid last year, right?"

"Ji."

"And for how long are you working in this palace."

"It's been an year and a half, Amira"

"Can you tell me if you know anyone that's been working here from last 3-4 years?"

"No Amira, but I can advise that you should check the old records that the ministry hold."

"And by any chance do you know who has these records?"

"I guess the general, yeah. The  general has all the records for now"

"Ok, you can leave"

Rubina nodded in respect and left the chamber, leaving Alijah again in her thoughts. Remembering her last encounter with the general, meeting him was the last thing in her list. But she has to, she should meet him to unpuzzle her thoughts. Therefore without thinking twice she leaves her chamber. Rehman follows her silently like a tail. Noticing the way to the general's chamber he speaks.

"Princess, you shouldn't visit him often. It's not good for both of you,  and your image" he speaks intentionally.

Alijah halts in her footsteps in the garden of his chamber. "You stand here." Ignoring his previous comment, she orders him authoritatively, leaving no space for Rehman's reply.

The less number of guards was beneficial for her. She made her way straight to Arfan's room when she stops a little. Seeing the door already open a little, she peaks inside. Seeing no one she was about to turn when she heard him talking, to someone.

He wasn't alone and curiosity took the best of her as she walked a little closer to the door, ignoring her values. She peaked a little more and saw Arfan talking to an elderly lady, probably in her mid 50s as she sat on a chair, while Arfan was leaning on the table, looking at some papers. As she spoke he nod cautiously, listening to her with a frown on his face.
The lady looked poor from her clothes, more like a middle class. By their expressions Alijah could clearly say that they were talking about something serious, more like planning.

Before someone could see her Alijah made her way outside the chamber as she stopped by his gardens, Rehman was already standing there. Without thinking much she made her way towards the rose bushes, tenderly tracing them as a sweet smile crawled on her lips. She noticed the woman coming outside as she stopped in her way noticing Alijah. As the princess turned at her the old lady was already smiling.

"You are beautiful, darling" the old lady said lightly patting her cheeks and left before hearing or saying anything else. Alijah looks at her leaving and soon shifts her focus again to the flowers.

"We should leave, princess" Rehman says.

"I kn-"

"What brings you here, princess" before Alijah could complete her sentence she hears Arfan's voice and she turns immediately.

With a calculated pause she replies with a smile.

"Hello, general"

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