SShahzain tried waking up Seher but to no avail. Shahzain tried ringing the bell, shaking her, but he couldn't do anything to wake his sleeping beauty up. He then saw her shivering. It was usually cold in this palace at night as it was above sea level. Shazain waited a few minutes thinking that she would wake up, but instead, she curled up in her sleep. When he went into this small room he wanted to fulfil his needs but was disappointed. He left seething in anger.

Seher felt warm from the heat emitting next to her. She moved closer to the heat source but felt something very hard. She quickly opened her eyes and saw herself sleeping next to Shazain snuggled into his bare chest. She hastily got down from the bed and ran to her room. She could hear her heartbeat. She looked around, her room was very cold with no wood to heat the room.

Maybe I sleepwalked to his chamber because of the cold. Oh God, what would have happened if he got up before me? Abi Salah always used to say that I sleepwalk if there was something going on in my mind. The first thing I am going to do this morning is to ask for a few extra blankets and wood from AuntyGulab. God has saved me today and I cannot take the risk.

She looked out the window. It was still time for her morning prayer. She quickly went to her small bathroom and washed her face with freezing cold water and then started praying. She prayed for a long time, then she started reading the Quran, unaware that Shazain was listening to her intently standing at the entrance.

She looked like an angel from paradise. Absolutely divine

She felt someone's presence and saw Shazain. Fear erupted in her heart. What if he came to know that I slept in his bed? I will apologize.

She was observing him but did not see any signs.

Maybe he is not aware. Good Seher you woke up early

Shazain greeted her. she replied.

"There is a well-equipped small kitchen at the end of the corridor. The servants might not be awake quickly go and cook something for me to eat. I am hungry " he ordered.

Seher stepped out of the room and looked around. Not a single soul was present there.

How come there are no guards or maids here? She thought to herself as she walked along the big hallway. She saw a small kitchen but fully functional. She quickly made breakfast of eggs and flatbread with available ingredients.

She put it all on a tray and walked back. Even though she was hungry she did not touch anything. Shazain saw her with food and gestured her to sit next to him.

"Are you always this slow? Come on now and feed me quickly. I don't have time to waste. Stop this act of timidity."

"Why do you always have to speak harshly, Physco" Seher mumbled.

"Did you say something?" Shazain asked.

Seher shook her head. She gave him the plate of food.

"I told you to feed me. Get one thing in that thick skull. You are my personal maid, you have to give me a bath, feed me and do every little thing related to me"

Seher wanted to give him a reply, Physco monster, I am not your maid. I am your wife, who you married forcefully.

words were just stuck inside her. She started feeding him and he deliberately licked her fingers, sending shivers down her spine.

"Yuck, what kind of food is this? Did your mother not raise you correctly, or is it all fake that Great Fakhrudding raised his family in a simple way?"

"What is the problem with it, Sultan? I sometimes usually cook for my father. It never went wrong."

" You mean to say I am lying?" he shoved it in Seher's mouth.

"It is good, I think it is not according to your taste. Ask your cooks to cook for you", Seher replied.

Stupid monster realized that food is not good after eating nearly half

Seher was hungry, she completely ignored Shazain and started eating. He kept quiet for a while. He knew she was hungry and in the night he ordered the servants to clean a spare room upstairs and turn it into a small kitchen.

"I will rip your tongue if you talk too much. Now listen carefully, I want you to get ready and wait for me like a good wife in the night. "

He got closer to her.

"Don't you think you are talking too much nowadays? Even yesterday you slept without waiting for me."

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Najma Begum was very strict with Seher. She punished her for every little mistake. She insulted her and her mother openly. The only thing Seher could not understand was why she had so much hatred for her mother. Definitely, it was not because of Sultan Shazaeb loving her. There was so much more to the story. When Seher called her grandmother, she was very furious.

"Call me Queen mother, I am not your grandmother. I don't consider you as Shazain's wife, only my true granddaughter and Shazain's real wife will get the honour." Seher did not utter a single word.

On the other hand, Najma Begum was surprised by Seher's tolerance. Never once answered her back. Her ice-cold heart was melting towards Seher slowly. The other night, Seher fell asleep massaging her feet. Najma begum woke up and saw her beautiful face.

I always wanted a daughter-in-law like you, obedient, timid, and beautiful. She was stroking Seher's hair with love. Why did you have to be Anjum Ara's granddaughter? Anjum Ara, the name itself, filled her heart with immense hatred.

She took the glass and poured water on Seher. Seher woke up with a jolt.

"I told you to massage my feet and you slept like a log. Get your lazy ass off and go back to your room"

Seher had never in her life seen any woman so harsh. Both her grandmother Aimen and Hajra were very soft-spoken. She came to know that Najma Begum was a young widow and never liked her mother. Her upbringing was very traditional and she saw her mother and aunty respecting their in-laws. That's why Seher kept quiet. Sometimes Najma Begum was polite, but the next moment she turned into an angry witch.

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When Seher entered her chamber after serving Najma's chamber, she found Shazain was waiting for her.

"What took you so long, dear wife?"

"I was with the Queen Mother"

"What about your husband then? I was waiting for you and you know very well I hate waiting. "

"It is not my fault, your grandmother assigned work"

"That's not my problem. Seher, now stop crying like a baby"

"I will never cry for you, Sultan, I am just fulfilling my duty as a wife."

" OK dear wife, go and close the curtains" his voice was very gentle.

She quickly went and closed the curtains. Her heart was beating fast when she turned around and she saw Shazain in front of her. He picked her up and went straight to bed without giving her any chance to protest.

"Kiss me Seher" he was staring straight into her innocent eyes. They were so mesmerizing. His soul was lost in them. His breathing got heavy.

Seher was hesitant. She blushed at his stare and closed her eyes. He pulled her closer and placed his rough lips on her soft ones and his hands touched her everywhere. She trembled in his arms.

Greed took over for Shahzain and Seher lost herself in the heat of the moment. The whole night, she was controlled by Shahzain.

In the morning, Seher was woken up by the sunlight coming through gaps in the curtains. She opened her eyes and there was no sign of Shahzain. She recalled the events last night. This was completely different from her first night with him. She looked down and her body was covered with marks displaying his sovereignty over her.

For the first time she missed her prayer. She quickly got up and went to her bathroom. The water was very cold. She was tempted to go to the bathroom next door, but what if Najma Begum saw her? Just then she saw Shazain entering.

"You can take a bath in Hamam in the mornings. Nobody will know." He lifted her up and took her to his room.

Things with Shazain were completely different. He was insatiable in bed. Seher was always reluctant but Shazain knew where to pull her cords and, in the end, she always gave in to her physical desires.

He is a complete mystery to me. I don't understand his mood swings. He was gentle at night. As soon as sunrise, he turned into a cold-hearted monster just like the fairytales of my Grandmother Hajra. He was never polite with anyone, not even Gulab the head maid, who was quite old. Everyone feared him, even his grandmother Najma Begum.

But what I saw was loneliness and sadness in his brown orbs. I saw him many times sitting near the rocks and watching the sunset. Common who watches sunset it so depressing. Once or twice, I heard him crying in his sleep calling his Ummi. I did soothe him in his sleep once or twice, massaging his scalp, patting his back as if consoling a baby. Oh yes, he looked like a baby in his sleep. Maybe he is not a monster.

Are you falling for him, Seher? No, never, I just pity him, she thought to herself.

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Seher was not allowed to speak to anyone except Gulab, who was always busy but sometimes sneaked in a few things for Seher. She never saw Shazain's stepmothers or step-siblings in the palace. Her mother did tell her about Aunty Seema and sister Kulsum but there was no sign of them. She knew that Kulsum was married to some ruler from Hind.

Seher started doing all his work inside the chambers. His impudence did not affect her much now. Just when Seher saw hope that things would be better, she again fell into a dark abyss.

Seher was in Najma begum's chambers oiling her hair when a young gentleman came in screaming.

"Grandmother"

"Abasi, what a surprise. How are you?"

"I am good, grandmother, but you forgot all of us. You did not come to visit us, so I came."

His eyes fell on Seher, who was looking at the ground, not even giving him a single glance.

"Who is she?, Grandmother?" Abasi pointed at Seher.

"She is the Maid of your brother Shahzain."

As soon as Seher heard the word maid, she looked up. Abasi was smitten by this golden-eyed young girl. He enjoyed many beauties but she was something else.

"Beautiful" he muttered.

"Grandmother, she looks like a princess, not a maid. Where did Brother get her from? Is she a war captive?"

Seher was unable to tolerate any more insults and the lustful gaze of the stranger. She asked Najma Begum's permission to leave and she was granted her wish.

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Shahzain, who was out on important work throughout the day, had just returned to the Palace and met Abasi, who was going to his chambers. Shahzain stopped him.

"Abasi, I think I made it clear that my chambers are off-limits for anyone."

"Come on Brother, I am your family."

"That includes family as well, Abasi, and what brings your gracious presence here in this palace?"

"I came to visit you and grandmother. I was missing you"

"Really Abasi! Cut this crap"

" I am going out, Brother Shahzain. I came to inform you that grandmother needs your presence."

Shahzain saw Abasi looking at the entrance of his chamber.

"Don't even think about entering my personal space, Abasi."

"I heard that you have hidden a fallen angel."

"Get lost, Abasi, before I kill you."

"Calm down, Brother. I am leaving, " Abasi left.

Shazain stood there for a few minutes calming down his anger.

"Guards". He shouted "Make sure none enter beyond this point, even if it is family members, otherwise I will rip your heads off."

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"May I come in, Grandmother?"

"I was waiting for you, Shahzain."

"Anything important"

"Yes, Shahzain, you are not getting any younger and there is pressure from the Ministers to get you married. This kingdom needs an Heir Shahzain.

Here are a few portraits of eligible girls. Select one"

"I am not marrying anyone, Grandmother, not at the moment."

"Is it because of that Filthy girl?"

"No, did you forget Ariana, grandmother?"

"Shazain, people will not accept Heir from that greek woman."

"Grandmother, I gave my word to her father, King Christos."