Aabdeen paused in his action and looked at the Sultan like the man was out of his mind. But then, he remembered the weird way he had behaved towards her and realized that if anyone was to interpret the act, they would think that he was in love with the princess. He cleared his throat. He was just about to reply when the maid he hated opened the door and rushed in.

Seyiddah had rushed over to the scene as soon as she heard about what had happened. What she hadn't expected was to see the ...