The princess of Ajmal braced herself as she sat in the duke's office waiting for him. Her leg crossed elegantly over the other and her peach dress flowed daintily over her hips. She was void of any makeup, she needed to be in her most natural state with her vulnerability having a blank canvas to show properly.

"What is it, Amaani? I'm in rush," Daman drawled out impatiently as he hurriedly took a seat in his chair.

"Daman," the princess sobbed out immediately with her voice intentionally cracking, "I-I, uhm, I..."

Concerned, the duke stood up and handed her a bottle of water. It was unlike her to be sad. He took a seat on the adjacent chair and looked at her. "What's the matter?"

Taking a few deep pretentious breaths, Amaani composed herself. "I'm in a mess, Daman. A big mess. If dad finds out he'll disown me, or kill me. I'm sure of it. I just don't know what to do!" she sobbed some more.

"I'm so scared. So so scared." Amaani quickly took hold of Daman's hands in her own and held on tightly. "Please help me Daman. I have no one else to ask for help. I'm sorry! Dad will kill me!"

Her wailing was unsettling and disturbing. Evidently, Daman was stunned at her, he'd never seen her like this. Quickly, he kneeled in front of her trying to comfort her from the distress she was in. "What's wrong, Amaani? You're scaring me."

The princess of Ajmal stared deep into the duke's eyes. "I'm pregnant," she said softly.

The look that took over Daman's face was no less than terror. Fuck, he cursed internally.

Swallowing loudly, he asked, "Who is the father?"

Once again, Amaani let her waterworks do the talking. "It doesn't matter, Daman. He doesn't want to be in the baby's life. It's just going to be me and you know how my father will react. I don't want to kill my baby. I can't. I won't!" Albeit for the fact that she wasn't even really pregnant.

"Hey," he gently cooed as he saw Amaani begin to lose her composure even more than she already had. "It's going to be alright. It will be fine."

"You need to marry me, Daman," Amaani spurted out frantically. "If my father believes that you're the father I will be alright. Please Daman. Please don't let me down."

Unable to react to that, all Daman could do was reach up and hug the princess.

"Please, do it for the baby, please," Amaani choked out. "Surely you don't want his life to turn out like how yours did. I don't want my baby to face any hardships."

* * *

Queen Donia handed the bundle of notes to the wedding planner. It came as a huge shock to Hera when she got home to find a wedding planning crowd gathered at the lounge. The queen's mood was deflated noted Amaani when she saw her return from whatever she had to do. Then, suddenly announcing to both Hera and her that there was a change of plans.

It was after all going to be a proper wedding. An intimate one based in London. Call it a destination wedding if you could, however it made sense for the time being.

"Pardon me," Hera called out to the queen after handing her guests list to the wedding coordinator which only consisted of her parents and their significant others along with all of her siblings and the staff help that looked father her in her childhood. She couldn't help that she had a big family but she was also sure that majority of them wouldn't attend.

"But why the sudden change?"

Queen Donia suddenly faltered in her seat choosing her words carefully. "Daman is my only grandson, therefore it is my privilege to see him get married the proper way."

All Hera did was grimace at Donia's sternness.

Meanwhile, Amaani rolled her eyes at that. She couldn't stand Donia at the moment. Why in the world was she rushing these things. Daman needed to come home fast, she thought. Amaani was practically dying to know if Daman had listened to the voice notes. Plus, she wanted to know Daman's take on the situation. Would he even want to marry Hera now? Nevertheless, the princess had one more trick up her sleeve.

"Habibi!" Amaani screeched when Daman walked in the lounge room with his blazer in hand. "Welcome home," she chimed and stood up to embrace him in a hug. The duke's scowl was not gone unnoticed by a worried Hera. She was left stuck in the mud as to why he was so moody with her.

Amaani latched onto Daman's arm attempting to take his blazer and set it down but as usual he shrugged her off.

"Daman-" Hera tenderly began only to get rudely cut off by the duke himself.

"Who were all those people that just left?" He asked his question directed at his grandmother who reclined ever so smoothly in her single lounge chair.

"Amaani, Hera, please leave us in private," said Donia gracefully yet commandingly.

Daman went over to the lounge bar and poured himself a double. He needed it after the excruciating day he has had.

"Tell me, Daman," Donia replied in a no nonsense tone, "Do you really plan on marrying Hera?"

Donia could sense some underlying tension between them but she needed to know Daman's answer before things escalated. She wanted this wedding to happen properly and fast, she wanted to witness her loving grandchild getting married and she wanted to apart of that day. However, she wouldn't be made a fool of if Daman intended to play a game here.

"Is it Hera or Amaani that you want? I need an answer now."

Daman sighed deeply as he longingly looked at his grandmother with a confused mind.

However, the question was heard clearly as Hera peeked from the dividing wall. She took note of how Daman was confused and it made her blood boil. He was the one persuading her to marry him and now he was unsure? Just when she thought she'd wholeheartedly agree to be his.