When Arta went back to her room that night, she could not believe that he had let Osman kissed her and now she had a bracelet on her wrist gifted by him.

She liked the bracelet, she touched it and smiled, but deep down she was feeling guilty. "This cannot happen, I should not have any feelings for him. Oh God please help me!" she threw herself on the bed, covered her face with her hand, and started crying.

She was exhausted from the constant battle of her mind and heart. She didn't know what to do and guilt was the only feeling that she had. She always knew that one day she would marry a prince or a king but this prince whose army had destroyed her country, her family and her life, how could she marry him? But her heart was telling her something else.

She had a terrible headache. She shut her eyes and tried to clear her mind "I'll think about it tomorrow." She took several deep breaths and tried to calm herself. She listened to the crickets singing outside till she fell asleep.

***

She was sitting in her favorite spot in the balcony watching the sun setting behind the mountains. She felt an arm wrapping around her shoulder. It was her father King Darian. He was smiling at her.

"baba?" she was surprised. She knew her father was dead. She started to cry. "How are you baba? Tell me how are you? are you alright?"

Her father kissed her head "Why are you crying my child? Didn't I told you several times that you become ugly when you cry?" he laughed, and she also laughed between her cries.

"Are you alright baba?"

"I'm fine Arta. Don't worry about me anymore, I'm in a better place." He looked happy, healthy, and slightly younger than the last time she met him on the battlefield.

She was not able to stop her tears from falling. "Baba why did you leave me?"

"I have not left you Arta. I'm here. I'm with you all the time, watching over you! Don't ever for a moment think that I have left you."

Arta war still crying and begging her father not to leave her.

"I want you to be strong Arta. Our people need you."

"What? What do you mean? I don't have any power, I'm practically a prisoner here."

"You can improve your situation. Be wise Arta and think of the people who I failed to protect. Help them."

"Baba don't leave me please baba." She was crying so hard and begging her father not to leave her.

***

"Baba, baba, please!" Ara was crying in her sleep.

"Princess wake up!" Khadijeh was shaking her shoulder.

"What..what happened?" Arta suddenly woke up. Her pillow was soaked with tears.

"You were dreaming princess."

"Why are you here?" she was still confused.

"I was turning off the lanterns on the corridor when I heard you cry. I knocked but you did not reply. So, I got worried and came in."

"Ah OK, thanks." She was still looking lost and distressed.

"Do you want me to stay for a bit with you princess?"

"No, you can leave."

Khadijeh poured her a glass of water and placed it in her hand. She bowed and left. When she closed the door, she walked straight to the other side of the corridor and knocked. She knocked again and finally, a sleepy voice said to come in.

"Sorry my prince for disturbing your sleep, but you ordered to inform you immediately if it was related to princess Arta."

Osman got out of the bed and wrapped a robe around his body. "What is it? Is she alright?"

"I was turning off the lanterns in the corridor when I heard her crying so I knocked and when she did not reply I went in. She was crying in her sleep. I woke her up, but she seemed not well. She was looking really distressed and unwell. I'm worried that her fever might come back again."

"I'll check on her. You can leave now."

Khadijeh bowed and left.

Osman tightened the robe around his body and walked toward Arta's room.

He lightly knocked on the door and when she did not reply he slowly went in. the room was empty and Arta was not in the bed. He saw his angelic figure in her silk sleeping gown from behind the curtains of the balcony.

Arta was sitting at the end of the couch in the balcony, hugging her kneed while her head was resting on her knees. She was crying and mumbling to herself. Osman could only figure out 'baba' from her mumbles.

He did not have the heart to see her crying like that but he knew she did not want him anywhere close as well. So, he sat on the ground and leaned his back against the wall, listening to her cries. He thought that it was because of him that she was suffering so much.

It was almost dawn when Arta stopped crying. Osman saw that she had fallen asleep. He grabbed a quilt from her bed and slowly walked into the balcony and put the quilt on Arta.

He left the room and went to prepare for the morning prayer. He was feeling guilty. He thought that he was pushing her too hard for the marriage. He decided to talk to his father to change his mind about marriage. He did not want to put Arta's health in danger. He was sure that she would never accept him in her life.

"How are you brother? You don't look well." Samir asked Osman when they were about to enter the hall for the morning prayer.

"I'm fine!"

Samir shrugged "If you say so." Then looked at Ahmad questionably to see if he knew anything, but Ahmad shrugged as well.

The hall was full of people standing in queues and praying behind Sultan. After the prayer Sultan climbed the steps to the pulpit so that everyone can see and hear him.

After talking about half an hour on the duties of a Muslim ruler and people's duty to accept his judgments and decisions he finally said "this week Prince Osman will marry Princess Arta." Osman was about to stand up and protest when Ahmad grabbed his arm and prevented him from moving.

Sultan continued "I know many of you may be against this marriage but we have to see what is best for Islam and Muslims. This marriage will strengthen our roots in Persia and among Persians." He paused and looked at the audience. Then he continued "Also, I'll return to Arabia after the marriage. I have decided to place Osman as the ruler of Persia as I cannot see anyone more suitable for this position than our crown prince."

Osman was shaking his head slowly. Now it was useless to talk with Sultan about canceling the marriage. Now that Sultan had spoken of his decisions there was no way back.

After Sultan announced the end of the prayer people started to come to Osman and congratulate him. He had nothing to say to them, he was not happy. He only shook people's hands with his usual cold and expressionless face.

After all the hassles and hand shakings he walked back to the east palace. He was feeling tired, he decided to rest while waiting for Arta to wake up. He had to talk to her and make things clear between them.

***

Arta woke up in the balcony and was wondering who put a quilt on her. She had a terrible headache. She decided to take a bath and then go and talk to Osman and inform him of her decision about the marriage.

When she went inside she saw Nahla sitting behind the table with the tray of breakfast in front of her.

"Oh thank God, finally you woke up. I was getting bored to death." Nahle said when she saw Arta.

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"Khadijeh told me not to. She said you have not slept well last night. And now I can see that from your puffy red eyes."

"I don't have an appetite for breakfast. I want to take a bath."

"No no no, I have direct orders to feed you breakfast no matter what you say. Now come and sit here."

"seriously Nahla you have to work on your skills, you are terrible as a servant."

"I know but I consider myself more as your friend than your servant. Don't you?" she raised up one of her eyebrows looking at Arta.

"Of course, you are my only friend. I meant for the future if you decided to switch your job or something."

"Why would I want to switch my job?" Nahla asked looking more suspicious.

"Oh forget about it Nahla. I have a terrible headache. Let's get over the forced breakfast."

Nahla didn't say anything else and she was silent the whole time Arta was eating breakfast. She was suspecting that Arta wants to change her for another maid because of her being talkative or too friendly. So, she decided to act more like a servant.

When Arta finished her breakfast Nahla said "I have already warmed up the bath my princess." And bowed.

"Oh my God Nahla. What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing my princess, I'm just a servant doing my job." She bowed again.

"Come on Nahla, Stop acting like this. I did not mean that. I like the way you were. I never had a friend in my life, don't take that from me. Please!"

After a few long seconds, Nahla said "Fine! but you should promise not to change me with another maid."

"What? Why would I do that? Where did that come from?"

"Well, I thought..."

"Well, you thought wrong." Arta interrupted her. "Now shall we?" Arta pointed to the dressing room where the stairs led to the bath hall.

Nahla took some cloth and they headed for the bath pool hall.

In the bath pool hall, Arta dismissed Nahla. She needed some alone time to think about the things that she wanted to tell Osman.

After a few minutes, she came out of the pool, wrapped herself in the cloths, and went upstairs to the dressing room. She randomly selected a dress and wore it.

When she walked to the room water was still dripping from her hair and she was drying her hair with the cloth in her hand.

"Hello"

Arta raised her head and find Osman standing by the window.

"Oh hi, what are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you." He did not look like Osman from last night. His eyes were cold and emotionless. Arta was wondering what was wrong with him.

"I also wanted to talk to you." Arta said trying to look cool and indifferent as well. Although she was a bit heartbroken by his cold expression.

"I know what you want to say so hear me first." Osman said coldheartedly.

"OK" Arta said and sat on the day bed by the window.

"I know our marriage is an absolute mistake. I know that you can never truly be my wife and give your heart to me. And I know that you will probably run away from me and here the first chance you get. Or you probably want to get your revenge or something. But don't worry, I myself don't want this marriage to happen anymore, But I don't have the power to stop it now. So, I promise to you that after this arranged marriage I will set you free as soon as I get the chance and power."

Arta was shocked. Her heart was beating with pain. Her mouth was dry and she was not able to say a word. She was just sitting and looking at Osman who had not even looked at her even once.

After a few silent seconds Osman said "So I guess everything is clear and you can sleep better at nights now."

Arta could not believe what she was hearing. Her heart was broken. This was not what she wanted. Tears were filling up her eyes. She wanted to tell him that she is going to try and make that marriage work for the sake of her people. She wanted to stay by Osman's side and rule the Persia. She wanted to tell him that she is going to open her heart to him.

"And I think this is yours." Osman took out a tiny silver box decorated with pearls out of his pocket and put it on the table.

Arta recognized that box. It was her father's gift to her on Mahregan day, containing her mother's necklace.

"How did you..."

"Goodbye Arta." And Osman left without even glancing at Arta and noticing her tearful eyes or her broken heart.