Fickle

Chapter 26

Othman sat alone in his office late at night, a dimly lit space adorned with maps of the kingdom and important documents scattered across his desk. The palace had grown quieter in Abdullah's absence, but the tension in the air was palpable. Behind closed doors, the whispers of a potential shift in the balance of power were becoming louder.

His brother, Abdullah, was still in Minnesota, working to rebuild the pieces of his fractured family, unaware of the political storm brewing in Daura. Othman had been managing the kingdom in his stead, carefully navigating through the delicate political landscape, but his anxiety for the future was growing with each passing day.

Othman had always been the supportive brother, the one who ensured that the royal family remained steady, even in the darkest times. But now, as he listened to the murmurs of unrest within the palace, he could not shake the feeling that the stability of the kingdom was hanging by a thread.

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Back in Minnesota, Abdullah was absorbed in the difficult work of trying to mend his relationship with Kulthum, while reintroducing himself into the lives of his children. There were moments of hope—Jenna had accepted him without hesitation, calling him "Daddy," and Kulthum seemed to soften in his presence, though she was still guarded. But despite the progress, Abdullah was unaware of the political tension mounting in Daura, his attention fully absorbed by the demands of his personal life.

Every now and then, he would receive brief updates from Othman, reassuring him that everything in the kingdom was "under control." But Othman was careful in his messages, never mentioning the growing unrest in the palace or the ambitious maneuvers of Hanifah and Neil. He knew his brother had enough to handle, and he didn’t want to burden him with matters of state that he couldn’t resolve from thousands of miles away.

While Abdullah remained focused on his family, Othman was working tirelessly behind the scenes. He had begun to notice subtle shifts in the court—Hanifah’s influence growing stronger, her speeches more persuasive, and her dealings with the nobles more frequent. Othman knew that his half-sister had long harbored ambitions, but now her plans were becoming too obvious to ignore.

Othman understood the threat she posed. She had already begun making private alliances with key figures in the court, quietly undermining Abdullah’s authority. She wasn’t overt in her actions, but she didn’t need to be. Her manipulation was subtle—convincing the court that Abdullah's return wasn’t enough to guarantee stability, and that perhaps it was time for a change in leadership.

And there was Neil, too. Othman had always known there was something off about the relationship between Neil and Hanifah. The two of them together—each with their own personal ambitions—could spell disaster for Abdullah and the kingdom. But Othman was no fool. He wasn’t going to let the throne slip away from his brother, no matter how well they hid their plotting.

Othman’s most trusted ally in this fight was General Mustapha, a loyal and seasoned leader who had been serving the royal family for years. Mustapha had a network of informants, and he kept Othman well-informed about everything happening at the palace. Whether it was a conversation in the royal dining hall, a secret meeting held in the courtyard, or even the rumors circulating among the palace staff, Mustapha made sure Othman knew every detail.

One late evening, Othman sat with Mustapha in the quiet of the palace courtyard, away from prying eyes. The general had just returned from a covert meeting with one of his sources within the palace.

“Your Highness,” Mustapha began, his voice low but urgent. “The court is growing restless. Hanifah has been meeting with several high-ranking nobles in secret. She’s convinced them that Abdullah’s absence has left a power vacuum, and she’s positioning herself as the solution.”