**
Next day
/Pecan Province/
DITYA
I twirled around in front of my mirror.
Finally, I'm going to get married to my long time crush.
You don't know me.
I'm princess Ditya of Pecan province and today I'm going to the city of Zedora to meet my betrothed, Prince Jamal.
I've been in love with Jamal since I was fifteen, I had seen him with his father king Forbes when they had come for a ceremony in our kingdom.
I had told father about it and he had promised to do something about it.
And just like my father ... He had done something about it.
"Insia!" I yelled at my personal maid.
"Yes my princess" she answered scurrying into the room.
"Pack my bags... And tell Guddu to take it to the carriage"
"Yes my princess" she replied bowing.
I scoffed and dismissed her with a wave of my fingers.
Oh Zedora..
Here I come!
SARAFINA
I felt someone tapping my back. I blinked as I fluttered my eyelids open, it was Pooja.
"You better get your ass up, sleepy head" she said as she stared down at me.
I sat up, a smile crept to my lips as I remembered the time I spent with Jamal yesterday.
I placed my palms on my cheeks, recalling how he cupped them yesterday.
"If you keep smiling like that, I'm going to assume you are running mad" Pooja huffed snapping me out of my train of thoughts.
I slapped her hands. "Who is running mad, it's like you are not okay"
"Says the girl who wakes up and the first thing she does is to start smiling like a maniac, it is you who is not okay"
I scowled at her. "Where are the others?" I asked.
"Preparing for the arrival of Jamal's betrothed" she replied with a scoff.
My smile vanished. And here I am, fantasizing about someone who is already betrothed to a princess for that matter.
Why would I even think he would have any interest in a commoner like me.
"What's wrong?" Pooja asked.
I shook my head negatively. "Nothing, why did you wake me up"
She narrowed her eyes at me. "What are you not telling me, Fina?"
"What are you talking about" I asked with an indifferent tone.
"Stop trying to act ignorant" She said and sat down. "Besides I know you went out with Jamal yesterday" she added.
My eyes widened and I clamped my hands over her mouth, looking around to be sure there is no one in sight.
"Pooja, keep your voice down. Why are you trying to talk plenty" I whispered fearfully.
A grin splashed across her face. "See, I knew you were hiding something. Tell me what I don't know"
I rolled my eyes and stood up. "You are only making a fuss out of nothing" I stated.
She hissed playfully, laying her back on the bed. "You are so annoying, because I was already imagining the beauty if the gossip I would have heard"
I laughed. "You are crazy" I muttered and made my way into the bathroom.
"You had better wash up fast, the queen wants to see you in the next one hour"
"What! Why didn't you tell me" I yelled.
"I was expecting gossips first" she yelled back.
I shook my head. "You are an hopeless case" I muttered.
"I heard that!"
JAMAL
"Mother why are you here this morning?" I asked her as she entered my room.
"Jamal, you are meeting your betrothed today, aren't you nervous" she asked, closing the door.
I put on my robe and smiled, only that I wasn't smiling because of what Mother just said but because of a certain someone... Sarafina.
"Jamal" I blinked and looked at her, still smiling.
"Yes Mother" I answered. She was looking at me strangely, her lip was quivering.
"Mother, are you okay?" I asked.
"Jamal, did you just smile?" She asked, tears falling from her eyes.
I touched my lips and sat down. "Is that the cause of your tears?, its not a big deal"
"Jamal you've never smiled in tour entire life! Of course it's a big deal" she replied with a shaky voice.
"Well.." I shrugged. "People change"
"If this is a change, then does that mean..." She paused. "Does that mean you can...you can feel?" She asked unsurely.
I looked at her, contemplating on whether to tell her about the thing with Sarafina. I decided not too.
"Time will tell" I said instead.
She sighed. "I'm this close to finding your cure" she said.
"Keep looking for her, you will find her" I stated blankly. "I need my privacy" I added.
"I will see you at the party, Mother" I said while she nodded and made her way out.
SARAFINA
After taking my bath, I followed Pooja to the Queen chambers.
"Make sure you come for the party" Pooja said when we got to the front of the Queen's chambers.
I rolled my eyes. "You wish" I said with an hint of jealousy. I quickly cleared my throat so that Pooja won't notice.
"You are stupid" she said laughingly. "You had better not bail on me"
"You wish" I muttered as she left.
"The queen sent for me" I told one of the maid who was standing at the front of the room.
"You can go in now" one of them said.
I nodded and entered, placing my feets gingerly on the ground.
She was sitting on a chair, facing the window. I closed the door softly clasping my hands together, I waited.
"Sarafina, you are here" she said without looking back.
"Good morning my queen" I greeted as she finally turned to face me.
"How are you coping with your loss"she asked and I blinked.
"People come and people go, it's a circle of life" I replied.
She smiled. "You are one smart girl, have you gotten a hang on what I asked you to do"
I shook my head. "Not really, but I will try to find her for the...."
"There is no need for that" she said cutting me off.
"What?"
"You don't have to look for her anymore, I know who she is already"
My heart lept, does that mean she has found a cure for Jamal's curse?
I almost asked but I pressed my lips to keep quiet.
"My punishment continues then?" I asked, fiddling with my fingers.
"Of course not, I've already promised to lift it up.. I don't go back on my promises." She said.
I went on my knees immediately. "Thank you.. Thank you so much my queen" I said tearfully.
She smiled. "Stand up girl, you have been chosen as part of the maids that will be assigned to Ditya, my son's betrothed"
I winced inwardly, but I smiled nodding my head frantically.
"You are dismissed"
I nodded and made my way outside.
I am really going to serve Jamal's betrothed. I thought as I walked to the maid quarters.
I was so deep in thought that I didn't know when I bumped into someone.
I looked up as the person's hand steadied me by holding my waist.
"Jafar?" I said as I looked at me.
He gave me a weird smile. "My maiden"