“Mother, Midnight prefers trousers,” Junayd protested.
Ihab waved that aside. “Nonsense. She is going to be a princess. She deserves to have something befitting such a special occasion.”
“No, she doesn’t," Midnight said darkly, "because she never agreed—”
Junayd wrapped a tight arm around her waist and pulled her aside with an apologetic smile to his parents. Midnight didn’t care that his eyes were wide with panic. He deserved to be panicking right now.
“My mother has been ill recently and I don’t want to upset her," Junayd hurriedly murmured in her ear. "I will explain everything. This… I was not expecting this to happen.”
She frowned and tried to look around his broad shoulders at Ihab. Junayd’s mother looked the picture of health. Midnight scowled up at him in disbelief.
“Kalil, please get a seat for her Highness. We should have Junayd check on you while we're here,” Melik said, his voice dropping deeper with concern.
“I’m fine. Junayd is busy. Doctor Fuah oversees my recovery and I'm doing very well,” Ihab replied with a wave of her hand.
Ok, fine so she is sick, she silently groused.
She felt a flash of guilt, but she wasn’t going to let his mom sway her. The fact was he had neveraskedher to marry him! He just assumed that she would.
“You can wear whatever you want," Junayd hurriedly whispered. "I just ask that you say yes. Will you do me the honor of marrying me, Midnight Rain?”
She shook her head in disbelief.
“Are you on something?” she demanded in hushed outrage.
He frowned in confusion. “What?”
She poked him in the chest. “Have you been dipping into the medicine cabinet?”
“No! Why would you think that?” he asked.
“Because you have gone totally mad!" she snapped under her breath. "You don't listen! I already told you that I don't want to be married!”
“What if you are pregnant? What about the baby?” he growled back at her.
“I told you that you don't have to worry about the baby!” she retorted loudly.
Silence descended over the room. All eyes were glued on her. Midnight felt her face heat under the unexpected attention. She reluctantly looked at everyone. A groan filled the air and she realized it was from her.
“Oh, my dear, you have truly made us so happy! Congratulations! Aimee and now you! Melik…,” Ihab whispered, her eyes shimmering with tears.
“I’m not…. We don’t know yet….”
Midnight gave up because it was obvious from the slaps Junayd was receiving from his father on the shoulder and the proud grin on Kalil’s face that no one was going to listen. She turned when Ashar touched her arm.
“What?” she tiredly asked.
“Can you please sign right here?” Ashar asked, holding out a pen to her.
“What is it?” she muttered.
“It is a standard contract between you and his Highness,” Ashar said.
“A standard contract?” she repeated.
“Yes. I apologize, your Highness, for the rush, but of course you know that the contract is just a formality, there will be—"
The rest of his words were lost in an especially loud wave of the room's overlapping conversations, but a second later she was able to hear him say, "It’s my granddaughter’s birthday and IpromisedI would be at her party this evening,” Ashar added in a hushed tone and with an apologetic expression.