16 To become better for someone else

Scared or tensed Alisha wasn't sure what emotions were running within her . Zenia kept on talking with Zen as she observed them . She even gave him a hug which made Alisha furious and wondered why she was so intimate with him.

"Abhara ? Princess? ! " She exclaimed unable to accept the reality before her . Neil nodded and replied in a soft tone .

"Yes My lady that's right . She is His Majesty's Cousin and they both are close friends since childhood . I must warn you things won't go easy on you in her presence . I regret not informing you about her beforehand "

"Hn ... in other words My rival !" She murmurs to herself and began marching outside . Zen noticed her retreating figure and stopped his conversation.

"Alisha " He called loud enough for everyone to hear. She stopped but didn't look back . "Where are you going ? I haven't introduced you to Zenia yet " She couldn't move ahead and walked up to him . Zen pulled her slowly next to him .

"Zenia she is Alisha my soon to be wife since you weren't able to meet her I think you must know each other well. "

"Ah so it's you I thought you were one of Zen's secretaries anyways nice meeting you Lisha "

"It's Alisha ! " She corrected extending her hand . "Nice to meet you too Zenia "

"Ahaaan! It's princess Zenia . Only selected members of the family call me by my first name I think you should know that " She says releasing her hand from hers . Alisha frowned she wanted say something but chose to remain silent . " Anyways Zen let's have lunch together as long as I'm here you should be spending time with me "

"Yeah but ... let me finish the paperwork first " He hesitated .

"No excuses come on !" She dragged Zen along with her as Alisha stood still . She was unable to hold herself anymore .

"My lady I think you should join them as well "

"No need Neil I'm not hungry at all ! I think we will finish today's classes first "

"What ? Seriously ? .. Okay then as you wish ." Alisha then finishes all her daily work . After resting for sometime in her room she decides to walk around and as she was walking through the hallway she glanced out of the window to her right . One could easily see the view of garden from it and she loved watching but her eyebrows furrowed and fingers formed fists when she saw Zenia and Zen walking together . Alisha was angry but at the same time sad .

"He doesn't have time to spend for me but he can easily ditch work when he is with her . I honestly have my own doubts on him now . This is so unfair . Anyways why am I getting so hyped up for I think I should trust him a little it's just his cousin after all !" She says moving away but she sees Neil coming her way .

"Do you need anything my lady ?"

"No Neil I was just walking around what about you ?"

"I just came here to see His Majesty " He says and excuses himself . Zen goes along with him . Zenia notices Alisha and goes upto her .

"Oh hey good timing you know I was just about to meet you "

"And why would that be ?" She asks raising her eyebrow .

"To know for myself the reason Zen chose you . I really don't know what part of you interests him . "

"I don't know that myself to be honest but if you are so curious why don't you find out and let me know as well . " Folding her arms she says with a smirk changing Zenia's soft look .

"You are not even a princess do you know table manners ? I think I should test you out " Zenia drags Alisha and asks her to show her . Alisha does but it doesn't satisfy her . She then moves to the bookshelf and picks a book for her .

"Can you read this poem ?" She said giving her an ancient book .

"Which language is this ?"

"You are going to be the queen and you do not know  about the history of Isla what a shame ? "

"Oh common how would I ? When I came from a different land "

"That's not a good reason to escape anyways can you play the violin ?"

"No but that doesn't mean I'm not fit to be ...."

"Oh please you don't become a prestigious member of the family just like that . Since you are not from a royal family you will never understand what it is to be one . From my opinion Zen only sees you as a concubine and nothing more because as soon as I took birth I was destined to be Zen's wife and that is why my name is Zenia which has Zen in it what do you have ? You have nothing ! You don't even know Zen as much as I do You know nothing all you have is a seductive ability that lures men I'm sure you used that on Zen as well "

"Enough ! " Alisha screamed . She couldn't bear her insult any longer. She was almost in tears .

" You don't know anything at all may be you should ask your brother first and then talk to me . He forced me into this marriage I wasn't interested to marry him at all do you understand ? Dare you say any nonsense about me again !" Her forefinger warning Zenia Alisha leaves to her room. Zenia was happy as things went exactly as she planned . She could use Alisha's frustration as an advantage to her plan in order to separate those two . Alisha silently wept in her room. She even refused to have dinner when Reesha came to call her . Zenia sat on the place Alisha sits on the dining table before Zen pretending as if nothing happened.

"Where is Alisha ?"

"She said she won't have dinner tonight Your Majesty ! " Neil replied wondering what happened to her .

"Is that so ? "

"Is this the same deal everyday ? I mean she is supposed to be eating with you spending time with you but I don't see any kind of interest in her for you Zen . Are you sure you chose the right woman ?" Zenia says picking her fork and taking a bite of the soft chicken with cottage cheese curry . Zen didn't answer her . Neil realised Zenia's intentions . Everyone go back to their rooms after dinner but Alisha couldn't get any sleep . She curled under her covers left to right but she couldn't bring herself to sleep . Her stomach began to growl which she couldn't ignore .

"Damn it ! Why did I refuse to eat ? I'm so hungry but what if there is nothing in the kitchen may be I'll just check and have some fruits atleast . It's 1:15 everyone must be asleep by now . " Saying that she tiptoed her way to the kitchen . She poured some milk into her glass and searched for food luckily there was some on the kitchen counters .

"Ah ! It smells good Mihaya is such a skilled chef .Silver head is the only one I don't want seeing me like this " She murmurs but gets startled when she picks a plate for herself .

"I think you need to heat it a little before having "

"Argh ! You ?"

"Shshshshhhhh better not wake up people who are sleeping ! " He whispers placing his palm on her mouth but she removes it and takes a deep breath .

"What are you doing here this late ?"

"I should be the one asking you anyways you should thank me I knew you wouldn't sleep without food so I asked Mihaya to keep something for us ." He says folding his arms around his chest .

"Whatever ? " She rolls her eyes and heats the food . She then brings everything on table .

"You won't ask me to eat ?" Zen says dragging a chair for himself .

"You had your dinner didn't you ?"

"Yeah but I couldn't eat for some reason and may be I wanted to share with you "

"As if !" She rolled her eyes again .

"What's wrong with you ? You are ignoring me for some reason didn't you say you wanted to be with me know me better and bla bla bla .."

"Oh please I know very well who you give time and when so I no longer need to know you may be I know you better than you could ever know yourself "

"What ?" Zen frowned he couldn't comprehend her . She didn't speak after that and Zen went back to his room after sometime . The next day Alisha woke up early and asked Neil to take her First lady training so that she won't lose to Zenia anymore . She was undoubtedly good at almost everything which Alisha couldn't accept .

Neil and Alisha were practicing their dance to the piano . It was formal dance mandatory for the royal members to know . Their steps needed to be elegant and people admired watching the dance .

"I'm glad you are taking your lessons seriously My Lady ! "

"I don't really have a choice Neil "

"Well it's because you ignored your lessons that you are being humiliated but don't worry you will catch up to her in no time although you still step on my foot once in a while . "

"Yeah yeah .... I'm doing it right so stop complaining ..." She was doing it well but then stepped on Neil's foot again .

"Ouch !" He yelled .

"I'm sorry sorry !! I did it again .." Alisha stopped as Neil was trying to stay calm but right at that moment Zenia entered the hall with Zen

"Hahaha .... what was that ? You call that dancing ? You really do have to learn a lot Alisha ." Zenia mocked . " Come on Zen let's dance it's been so long "

"What ? No way I have to attend a meeting "

"Its alright ! Ease up a little ..come on " She drags him with his arm. They both begin to dance amd everyone gather around to watch them dance . Zen's father , Rajhi and all ministers assembled as well . Alisha didn't want to admit but it couldn't be helped .Zenia was graceful and elegant with her dance patterns and Zen was too . It was true people did want them to be together , people believed they make a good pair but the fact how things were different between her and Zen was eating Alisha inside her .

Wow ! Leave to his Majesty and Princess Zenia they never fail to mesmerise us . They look so perfect Ofcourse none could beat them !

Lady Alisha could never do it . It will take ages for her to master those steps or probably she might never .

"She isn't suitable to stand on the position of a queen . His Majesty must have realised it" . Said someone

"Yeah you are right ! I think she will be his concubine . She is an outsider after all who would prefer her when we have Princess Zenia in whom the royal blood flows "

"She shouldn't have been brought here in the first place "murmured another

Alisha stood there looking downwards . She heard every word every praise and every insult thrown towards her . Unable to stand and watch she went to the assemble hall and silently wept to herself . Everyone appreciate their dance and the hall echoes with a round of applause. Zen gets worried and leaves to see Alisha with Neil . She was sitting in front on the long wooden chairs . Zen calls and walks upto her but she refuses to see him . The hall was dull with the light only emerging from the candles places at one corner .

" What happened Alisha ? Is everything okay ?"

" It's nothing ...I'm going to sleep . I'm tired " She said walking out of the room . Neil stood and watches her . He was feeling bad for her but he was in no position to blame a princess for her condition so he chose to remain quiet .Zen had a meting to attend so he left .

******