Zoain And Zubeda

The King's Chamber

The air in the king's chamber grew heavier as Noor Giza entered, carrying a delicate porcelain bowl filled with steaming medicine. The rich, herbal scent clung to the space, a calculated reminder of her supposed devotion. She placed the bowl gently on the lacquered table, then turned to the king with an almost shy smile, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Your Majesty, you are awake?" she said softly, feigning surprise. Her eyes flickered toward me. "Sefa is here too? This is the first time I've seen you visit since His Majesty fell ill."

I felt the weight of the king's gaze before he acted. He nudged me lightly with his elbow, his voice lowered yet firm.

"Consort Sefa, if there is nothing else, you may take your leave. Having Noor is quite enough."

The words were a dismissal, sharp and deliberate.

I stood up, masking the sting with a carefully measured expression. I took a few slow steps toward the door, letting silence stretch between us before I turned back to him, my voice steady yet laced with something deeper.

"I have never been afraid of death. I only wanted you to be happy. Which means, I wish you all the happiness."

I let the words settle in the air, watching the flicker of something unreadable pass over his features. Then, I turned and walked out.

Behind me, I heard a soft curse under Noor Giza's breath. "Damn it, that woman—"

The next moment, a gasp followed.

The scent of burning flesh filled the air as Noor Giza recoiled, her hand jerking back from the bowl. In her distraction, she had touched the scalding ceramic and burned herself.

The king's reaction was immediate. He swooped forward, catching her wrist in his grasp. "Are you alright?" His voice held concern, his fingers brushing over her reddened skin.

Noor Giza, ever the actress, bit her lip and nodded, blinking up at him as if she had just endured the greatest hardship for his sake.

I didn't need to see more. I had planted the seed, and now the game would unfold on its own.

---

Consort Sefa's Palace – A Night of Conspiracies

The fragrant scent of jasmine tea swirled in my cup as I took a slow sip, reclining against the cushioned divan. Kneeling before me was a familiar face—the palace maid who often served Noor Giza. The same one I had spared from the king's wrath, despite knowing she was a spy planted by my rival.

"Have you arranged everything?" I asked, swirling the tea in my cup.

The maid kept her head bowed low. "Yes. I have already sold the information to Consort Yahiya's maid of honor."

A slow smirk curved my lips. "Really? Well done. You may go now."

The maid hesitated for a moment before bowing deeply and retreating.

Mousy, ever my faithful companion, scampered onto the divan, his small paws resting on my arm. His golden eyes gleamed with curiosity.

"Host, what are we going to do now?"

I chuckled, stroking Mousy's soft head with a finger. "Do I really need to spell it out?"

He twitched his whiskers. "You're setting the stage for Consort Yahiya."

"Of course." My fingers traced the rim of my teacup. "And while we're at it, we'll prepare a final supper for Noor Giza."

The night stretched on, filled with whispers and plans.

---

The Royal Garden – A Dangerous Tale Unfolds

Morning arrived, and with it, the royal garden was alive with preparation. At the center of the lush courtyard, a makeshift stage had been erected. Silken drapes swayed in the gentle breeze as two actors performed for an audience of courtiers and nobles.

The male actor, dressed in tattered robes, symbolized a man of lowly status. His counterpart, a woman in elegant silk, played the role of a noble lady. Their voices carried across the garden as they acted out a forbidden love story.

"We're old friends, cherishing each other! The scent of rouge is no match for your charm!" the actor declared.

Their performance was captivating—until an unexpected guest arrived.

The king entered the royal garden, his heavy robes trailing behind him as he surveyed the scene. His sharp gaze landed on the stage, his expression darkening.

"What are they performing?" he demanded.

The eunuch at his side, well-prepared with his script, answered smoothly.

"They are enacting the story of Zoain Aziz and Zubeda Waqas from the past dynasty. Zubeda Waqas fell in love with Zoain Aziz behind Salim Khan's back, and in the end, they conspired to kill him. However…" The eunuch trailed off before adding, his voice light with false wisdom, "If you ask me, if Salim Khan had handled the situation more delicately, he might have survived and later helped Official Zoain raise his son."

The words hung in the air, their weight unmistakable.

The comparison was not lost on the king. His hands curled into fists, his jaw tightening.

Then, his voice cut through the garden like a blade.

"SHUT UP!"

The fury in his tone was enough to make the actors freeze mid-performance. The eunuch, realizing he had overplayed his part, dropped to his knees.

The king's nostrils flared. "From now on, no one is permitted to perform such outrageous dramas in the palace!"

The actors scrambled to bow deeply, pressing their foreheads to the ground. "Forgive us, Your Majesty!"

The eunuch quivered in place, his face pale. He had taken silver coins from Consort Yahiya, but it seemed he had underestimated the king's rage.

I watched from the sidelines, my lips curving into a knowing smile.

The seed of suspicion had been planted. Now, it would only take time for it to bloom into something far more dangerous.