When the message reached Princess Ayat that the Lion King had summoned all the princesses of the Alhamra Kingdom, her heart sank heavily. When she heard that the reason for the meeting was the accusation that a security officer named Inuwa had entered Princess Maayah’s room, she felt as if the earth could open and swallow her.
She rushed back to her bedroom, locked the door, and paced restlessly. Her heart was beating wildly.
She spoke to herself in her thoughts:
“If I appear as Princess Ayat, I will sit safely on my royal seat, but Inuwa will become a fugitive hunted by thousands of officers. And if I appear as Inuwa, I will face my father’s anger before everyone!”
After thinking for a long time, Ayat realized that if Inuwa was missing during the security inspection, the investigation would spread throughout every corner of the palace. Inuwa had to appear to calm the king’s anger, and Princess Ayat also had to attend so she would not be accused of ignoring the royal gathering.
At that moment, Ayat formed a plan.
She decided that she would first appear at the meeting as Princess Ayat. Then, while the meeting was ongoing, she would ask permission to leave, secretly transform into Inuwa, and return to the palace court as the person who had come forward voluntarily.
✨
To answer the king’s call as an innocent princess, she wore her luxurious royal clothing and her secret veil. She arrived at the great palace where the other princesses were already seated. When she arrived, she pretended to feel unwell. She sat on her chair holding her head and told the king and the other princesses that she had a terrible headache and might not be able to endure the long meeting.
She did this so she could slip away later.
From the king’s throne, he nodded and said to her:
“Wait a little longer, because I see someone is trying to break my law.”
Ayat’s heart began pounding violently, and sweat formed on her body.
The king ordered that all security officers be summoned to the palace courtyard for inspection, and he demanded to see the young guard named Inuwa.
Seeing everyone’s attention turn to the arriving officers, Princess Ayat grew more nervous because she needed to leave. She asked the king for permission again in a gentle voice.
“Your Majesty, my dizziness is getting worse. I need to return to my chambers to rest before the meeting continues.”
As she spoke, she held her forehead while hot tears slipped down her face beneath her veil.
The Lion King, showing compassion for his daughter, allowed her to leave.
Ayat quickly left the palace. A car immediately drove her to her private residence. Once she reached her secret room, she removed her princess clothing, tied the cotton cloth tightly around her chest, placed her turban on her head, and attached her fake mustache and beard.
She hurried through her secret passage out of the palace. Seeing a horse nearby and fearing time was running out, she mounted it and rode straight toward the king’s palace courtyard.
Just as the security officers had begun forming lines in the courtyard and the name Inuwa was being called, she appeared among the guards. Her heart was pounding with fear.
She approached the king, knelt in the center of the courtyard, while all the eyes of the workers and the princesses turned toward her.
Ibrahim, standing nearby, watched as Inuwa voluntarily stepped forward. He noticed that the young guard showed no hesitation in admitting his crime, which surprised him.
The Lion King thundered while staring at Inuwa.
“Are you the one who claims your name is Inuwa? Are you the one who entered Princess Maayah’s room without permission? Do you know the punishment for breaking the sacred rules of the Alhamra Kingdom?”
Inuwa replied respectfully:
“I beg forgiveness, leader of warriors. I am Inuwa, who entered Princess Maayah’s room—not to break royal law, but to deliver an urgent message that I believed she needed to know.”
The entire court fell silent. Ibrahim stared at Inuwa, amazed by the courage of the young guard. Maayah could not take her eyes off him, feeling both jealousy and fear at the same time.
The Lion King stared deeply at Inuwa with frightening eyes, studying him carefully.
Ayat, realizing that she was under the king’s intense gaze, began to sweat heavily. Her body trembled as she swallowed nervously like someone awaiting execution. She knew that the king was extremely intelligent, and his natural eyes could easily detect someone hiding a secret.
Inside her heart she prayed:
“Surely we belong to God and to Him we return… In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful… I know my fate is sealed now. The king has seen through me. I am finished…”
The king’s hand rested on the hilt of his sword. Just as he was about to order her arrest, the voice of Princess Maayah echoed across the court.
She adjusted her posture and spoke calmly to her father.
“Father, I ask your forgiveness for this boy. I was the one who requested the book he brought to me. I had a school assignment I needed to complete urgently. Since time was short, I asked the security officers to deliver it directly to my room.”
A long sigh of relief passed through the entire court. Ibrahim nodded with relief.
The king looked at Maayah, then at Inuwa who was still kneeling.
“If that is true, Maayah, why did he not report to the chief security officer? Why did he enter secretly and disappear from the list of palace guards?”
Maayah smiled confidently.
“Father, perhaps fear of your presence prevented him from speaking. But I am certain he delivered what I requested.”
The Lion King sighed and looked again at Inuwa.
“How did you become one of my guards when you do not even look like a warrior? You tiny mosquito—raise your head and look into my eyes.”
At that moment, Inuwa realized that this command could expose everything.
She remained trembling, unable to lift her head.
“I am speaking to you!” the king shouted. “Among my warriors there is no weakling as small as you. How did you enter my ranks when your name is not on the list of royal guards?”
Maayah clenched her hands nervously, unsure how to defend him.
Then the voice of Princess Zayana, the eldest princess, cut through the court.
“If that is the case, he deserves death. He broke the law and wore the warriors’ uniform without permission. That is a great crime.”
She stared at Inuwa with her sharp cat-like eyes and golden hair flowing down her back.
At that moment, Princess Yumna spoke nervously.
“No, that is too harsh. This is such a small matter—how can someone be executed for it?”
Zayana glared at her until she lowered her head.
Soon the king said:
“I have heard from Zayana, and from your younger sisters Maayah and Yumna. Since Ayat has returned to her chambers, I now wish to hear from my youngest daughter—Firdos.”
But Chingching (Firdos) was busy playing a shooting game on her phone, laughing, unaware of what had happened.
Zayana angrily said,
“What kind of advice can this crazy child give?”
The king shot her a sharp glance.
Then he gently called:
“My little one…”
But Chingching did not even hear him until one of the attendants took her phone.
She pouted and said,
“Give me back my phone!”
The king calmly pointed to Inuwa.
“Look at that one kneeling there. He is a deceptive guard who wore the warriors’ uniform without permission. What punishment should he receive?”
Chingching pouted and said,
“Well… let him raise his head and look at me.”
Slowly, Inuwa lifted her head.
Their eyes met.
Seeing her little sister filled Ayat’s heart with warmth.
But Chingching suddenly looked confused.
“Aunty?!”
Everyone in the court was shocked.
She quickly examined him again and then laughed.
“Oh… he’s a man. I thought it was my aunty because the eyes look the same.”
Everyone breathed in relief because they knew Chingching was childish.
She returned to her seat and said happily:
“I like this one. He looks good in the warriors’ uniform.”
The king turned away, not interested in hearing her childish talk.
Then he said to Inuwa:
“Stand up. Because of the princesses’ protection, I forgive you today. But from now on, your name will be recorded among the palace guards. You will be under the direct supervision of Ibrahim. He will watch your every move and train you properly.”
Ayat’s heart dropped again.
Being under Ibrahim’s supervision meant her secret was in danger.
Meanwhile, Maayah felt secretly happy. Now she had a reason to see Inuwa whenever she wanted.
✨
Later, when the meeting ended, Inuwa left the palace quickly, hoping to escape back to her residence and transform into Princess Ayat again.
But suddenly she felt Ibrahim’s large hand on her shoulder.
Lowering his voice, he said:
“You were lucky today, little weakling. Now you belong to me. Since your hands are soft like a woman’s, I won’t give you hard tasks. Your job will be to massage me, rub my back, and scratch my hair when I’m tired. I enjoy the softness of your hands.”
Ayat’s heart sank—but she had no choice except to agree.
When the message reached Princess Ayat that the Lion King had summoned all the princesses of the Alhamra Kingdom, her heart sank heavily. When she heard that the reason for the meeting was the accusation that a security officer named Inuwa had entered Princess Maayah’s room, she felt as if the earth could open and swallow her.
She rushed back to her bedroom, locked the door, and paced restlessly. Her heart was beating wildly.
She spoke to herself in her thoughts:
“If I appear as Princess Ayat, I will sit safely on my royal seat, but Inuwa will become a fugitive hunted by thousands of officers. And if I appear as Inuwa, I will face my father’s anger before everyone!”
After thinking for a long time, Ayat realized that if Inuwa was missing during the security inspection, the investigation would spread throughout every corner of the palace. Inuwa had to appear to calm the king’s anger, and Princess Ayat also had to attend so she would not be accused of ignoring the royal gathering.
At that moment, Ayat formed a plan.
She decided that she would first appear at the meeting as Princess Ayat. Then, while the meeting was ongoing, she would ask permission to leave, secretly transform into Inuwa, and return to the palace court as the person who had come forward voluntarily.
✨
To answer the king’s call as an innocent princess, she wore her luxurious royal clothing and her secret veil. She arrived at the great palace where the other princesses were already seated. When she arrived, she pretended to feel unwell. She sat on her chair holding her head and told the king and the other princesses that she had a terrible headache and might not be able to endure the long meeting.
She did this so she could slip away later.
From the king’s throne, he nodded and said to her:
“Wait a little longer, because I see someone is trying to break my law.”
Ayat’s heart began pounding violently, and sweat formed on her body.
The king ordered that all security officers be summoned to the palace courtyard for inspection, and he demanded to see the young guard named Inuwa.
Seeing everyone’s attention turn to the arriving officers, Princess Ayat grew more nervous because she needed to leave. She asked the king for permission again in a gentle voice.
“Your Majesty, my dizziness is getting worse. I need to return to my chambers to rest before the meeting continues.”
As she spoke, she held her forehead while hot tears slipped down her face beneath her veil.
The Lion King, showing compassion for his daughter, allowed her to leave.
Ayat quickly left the palace. A car immediately drove her to her private residence. Once she reached her secret room, she removed her princess clothing, tied the cotton cloth tightly around her chest, placed her turban on her head, and attached her fake mustache and beard.
She hurried through her secret passage out of the palace. Seeing a horse nearby and fearing time was running out, she mounted it and rode straight toward the king’s palace courtyard.
Just as the security officers had begun forming lines in the courtyard and the name Inuwa was being called, she appeared among the guards. Her heart was pounding with fear.
She approached the king, knelt in the center of the courtyard, while all the eyes of the workers and the princesses turned toward her.
Ibrahim, standing nearby, watched as Inuwa voluntarily stepped forward. He noticed that the young guard showed no hesitation in admitting his crime, which surprised him.
The Lion King thundered while staring at Inuwa.
“Are you the one who claims your name is Inuwa? Are you the one who entered Princess Maayah’s room without permission? Do you know the punishment for breaking the sacred rules of the Alhamra Kingdom?”
Inuwa replied respectfully:
“I beg forgiveness, leader of warriors. I am Inuwa, who entered Princess Maayah’s room—not to break royal law, but to deliver an urgent message that I believed she needed to know.”
The entire court fell silent. Ibrahim stared at Inuwa, amazed by the courage of the young guard. Maayah could not take her eyes off him, feeling both jealousy and fear at the same time.
The Lion King stared deeply at Inuwa with frightening eyes, studying him carefully.
Ayat, realizing that she was under the king’s intense gaze, began to sweat heavily. Her body trembled as she swallowed nervously like someone awaiting execution. She knew that the king was extremely intelligent, and his natural eyes could easily detect someone hiding a secret.
Inside her heart she prayed:
“Surely we belong to God and to Him we return… In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful… I know my fate is sealed now. The king has seen through me. I am finished…”
The king’s hand rested on the hilt of his sword. Just as he was about to order her arrest, the voice of Princess Maayah echoed across the court.
She adjusted her posture and spoke calmly to her father.
“Father, I ask your forgiveness for this boy. I was the one who requested the book he brought to me. I had a school assignment I needed to complete urgently. Since time was short, I asked the security officers to deliver it directly to my room.”
A long sigh of relief passed through the entire court. Ibrahim nodded with relief.
The king looked at Maayah, then at Inuwa who was still kneeling.
“If that is true, Maayah, why did he not report to the chief security officer? Why did he enter secretly and disappear from the list of palace guards?”
Maayah smiled confidently.
“Father, perhaps fear of your presence prevented him from speaking. But I am certain he delivered what I requested.”
The Lion King sighed and looked again at Inuwa.
“How did you become one of my guards when you do not even look like a warrior? You tiny mosquito—raise your head and look into my eyes.”
At that moment, Inuwa realized that this command could expose everything.
She remained trembling, unable to lift her head.
“I am speaking to you!” the king shouted. “Among my warriors there is no weakling as small as you. How did you enter my ranks when your name is not on the list of royal guards?”
Maayah clenched her hands nervously, unsure how to defend him.
Then the voice of Princess Zayana, the eldest princess, cut through the court.
“If that is the case, he deserves death. He broke the law and wore the warriors’ uniform without permission. That is a great crime.”
She stared at Inuwa with her sharp cat-like eyes and golden hair flowing down her back.
At that moment, Princess Yumna spoke nervously.
“No, that is too harsh. This is such a small matter—how can someone be executed for it?”
Zayana glared at her until she lowered her head.
Soon the king said:
“I have heard from Zayana, and from your younger sisters Maayah and Yumna. Since Ayat has returned to her chambers, I now wish to hear from my youngest daughter—Firdos.”
But Chingching (Firdos) was busy playing a shooting game on her phone, laughing, unaware of what had happened.
Zayana angrily said,
“What kind of advice can this crazy child give?”
The king shot her a sharp glance.
Then he gently called:
“My little one…”
But Chingching did not even hear him until one of the attendants took her phone.
She pouted and said,
“Give me back my phone!”
The king calmly pointed to Inuwa.
“Look at that one kneeling there. He is a deceptive guard who wore the warriors’ uniform without permission. What punishment should he receive?”
Chingching pouted and said,
“Well… let him raise his head and look at me.”
Slowly, Inuwa lifted her head.
Their eyes met.
Seeing her little sister filled Ayat’s heart with warmth.
But Chingching suddenly looked confused.
“Aunty?!”
Everyone in the court was shocked.
She quickly examined him again and then laughed.
“Oh… he’s a man. I thought it was my aunty because the eyes look the same.”
Everyone breathed in relief because they knew Chingching was childish.
She returned to her seat and said happily:
“I like this one. He looks good in the warriors’ uniform.”
The king turned away, not interested in hearing her childish talk.
Then he said to Inuwa:
“Stand up. Because of the princesses’ protection, I forgive you today. But from now on, your name will be recorded among the palace guards. You will be under the direct supervision of Ibrahim. He will watch your every move and train you properly.”
Ayat’s heart dropped again.
Being under Ibrahim’s supervision meant her secret was in danger.
Meanwhile, Maayah felt secretly happy. Now she had a reason to see Inuwa whenever she wanted.
✨
Later, when the meeting ended, Inuwa left the palace quickly, hoping to escape back to her residence and transform into Princess Ayat again.
But suddenly she felt Ibrahim’s large hand on her shoulder.
Lowering his voice, he said:
“You were lucky today, little weakling. Now you belong to me. Since your hands are soft like a woman’s, I won’t give you hard tasks. Your job will be to massage me, rub my back, and scratch my hair when I’m tired. I enjoy the softness of your hands.”
Ayat’s heart sank—but she had no choice except to agree.