Then, he looked around and leaned in. "I can't meddle in true love. Besides, just as Prince Aladdin said, everything still depends on Princess Jasmine's decision. Nonetheless, I'll try my best to ensure that the imperial lineage doesn't die out this time around."
"Thank you," Rakim replied, nonetheless, sighing tiredly.
Genie withdrew his hand and gently patted Rakim's shoulder. "See you later, General."
Then he turned around, quickly gathering himself before leaping into the portal as gracefully as a diver entering water.
Carpet hugged green Carpet and waved goodbye at her before flying into the portal.
The portal swiftly shut.
Rakim walked out of the room and sealed it shut, with the green Carpet following behind him. He summoned two guards to stand guard beside the door, to await the Prince's return and prevent authorised entry.
On the other side of the portal, Jasmine grabbed Aladdin's wrist and pulled him towards her room.
"It seems the situation is not yet over. That was only the smoke; now we're about to see the real fire," Genie whispered to Carpet.
Abu wanted to follow them, but Jasmine suddenly shut the door behind her, causing him to slam his face against the door frame.
Abu shouted painfully as he held his nose and pulled back.
"No one is allowed to disturb us until we return," Jasmine's voice sounded from the other side of the door.
Abu banged his fist against the door frame angrily. First, it was Genie treating him without respect; now, it was Princess Jasmine. If she was angry at Aladdin, then how did that affect him?
All he wanted was to return to his room and continue being served by his servants. If they were going to continue treating him like this, then they might as well have left him in Ababwa.
It was unfair!
Abu's eyes turned red as he continued to scream sharply at the door with angry monkey sounds.
Suddenly, Genie appeared behind him, dressed in a suit with a pair of medicated glasses on, seated on a white couch. Another white couch was in front of him with a round wooden table at the centre.
They were all placed on top of a brown rug laid across the grass.
"It seems someone among us is having an emotional breakdown. Why don't you sit down and talk to me about it? I promise to listen to all your problems and give you the solution you desire," Genie spoke calmly as he sipped on some hot coffee and released a satisfied exhale.
He pointed at the badge on his breast pocket.
"I'm qualified for the job. And I might just be the right person you need."
Carpet flew down and rested on his tassels under his edges as though it were a chin, hovering in the air as he observed the unfolding scene before him.
Abu looked at Genie sceptically. He didn't believe that Genie would try to help him, especially since he was responsible for his current breakdown.
Suddenly, Abu lost control of his body and found himself floating in the air. He swiftly flew to the other couch and sat down.
A floating cup of hot tea on a saucer hovered before his face. His lips parted, and the tea slowly poured into his mouth before shifting away.
"Don't you feel better?" Genie asked with a gentle voice.
Abu wanted to scold Genie once more, but instead withdrew his hand and nodded. He gulped, causing his bloated stomach to deflate back to normal.
A mixture of satisfaction, tiredness and calmness appeared on his face.
"Good. Now, let's get down to business. Do you remember your time with your parents? How do you feel whenever you remember?" Genie asked, allowing the teacup to float beside him as he summoned a pen and notebook into his hand.
Abu became teary and responded in a slow, depressed voice.
In Jasmine's bedroom,
Jasmine dragged Aladdin inside her bedroom and locked the door behind her.
"Sit," Jasmine said, gesturing at a couch as her as she took her seat on the couch opposite him.
"Can you explain why you gave me the right to decide whether or not the Emperor of Ababwa gets to have a harem, rather than outright agreeing?" Jasmine asked calmly.
As a royal princess, she was well aware of the concept of a harem. She had friends from royal families whose mother was one of the King's harem members.
However, that didn't mean that she could accept a harem in her own home. Especially since her father, the sultan of one of the prosperous kingdoms in the seven deserts, had married one wife and loved her deeply.
So why should hers be any different now that she has found the love of her life?
Aladdin gulped.
For once, he wished he were dealing with one of those princesses who didn't know their left from right, because then this situation would be easier to handle.
He realised that anything he said right now could be used against him, whether at the moment or later on. Jasmine was, after all, a woman who knew how to get what she wanted and how to get it, even in front of vicious villains like Jafar.
He had thought that he would be able to shift the pressure away from himself by allowing her to make that decision, but it seemed that she had seen right through it. And now he had jumped into the frying pan and was halfway into the fire.
"Why are you silent? I'm not putting you in a difficult spot, am I?" Jasmine asked with a frown.
Suddenly, she stood up and calmly walked towards Aladdin and sat on the couch beside him. She leaned on his shoulders, trailing her fingers against his chest. "If you don't want to talk, that's fine. I only wanted to know why you would leave such an important decision to me."
'This is a trap!!' Aladdin's mind raced. Still, he had no choice but to respond.
He breathed out silently. "I did it because I will never let a group of women whom I've never met or known come between you and me."
"But aren't you worried that your Empire will not have enough heirs to withstand an event like the Witches of the Sand attacking again?" Jasmine spoke softly.
"Genie truly went into detail to ensure that you got your dream empire, and it would be horrific if the empire collapses after your reign or only a few generations later. Besides, I still need to rule Agrabah once my father is prepared to step down from the throne."
She looked up at Aladdin with a coquettish gaze, blinking several times before shifting her expression into one resembling fake anger.
'It's a trap! It's a trap!!'' Aladdin's mind raced once more. But he knew that he had no other choice but to continue responding.
"If an event like the Witches of the Sand happens again, then I'm confident that I'll be able to protect my empire with help from Genie," Aladdin responded, gently combing her hair with his hand.
He could tell that she was trying to sense his heartbeat, her ear pressed tightly against his chest, picking up any signs of nervousness or lies.
"I'm also not afraid of the continuation of my empire after my reign. Though I doubt that I would leave this world without putting up a decent fight, if such a thing does happen, as you said, there's still Agrabah, where our children can return to rule," Aladdin continued.
"And your harem… if I do decide to agree to it, what would happen to them? Will they also come to rule Agrabah with our children?" Jasmine asked.
"That would never happen…" Before Aladdin could continue his words, Jasmine sat up straight and asked,
"So you want me to agree to your harem?" She asked sharply, narrowing her eyes at Aladdin.
Aladdin gulped. "Jasmine…" He attempted to say, but was simply interrupted.
"What? Aren't I enough for you? How dare you say such words to me?" Jasmine asked, beads of tears falling down her cheeks. "Fine. If you want a harem, go have a harem! Get out of my room!" She shouted and pointed at the door.
"Jasmine, that wasn't what I meant to say…" Aladdin attempted to say, but was interrupted once more.
"Get out! Or I'll throw you out myself!" Jasmine shouted, her tears increasingly falling down her cheeks.
Aladdin stretched his hand forward to get a hold of her, but before he could, she slapped his hand away. He sighed, seeing her emotions growing increasingly worse.
"No. I'm staying until you calm down so we can talk about this calmly and as adults."
Aladdin folded his arms and remained in his position.
"Fine. I'll be taking my leave then," Jasmine said, standing up from her seat.
But before she could walk towards the door, Aladdin, who was supposed to be seated beside her, suddenly appeared in front of the door, causing her to freeze as a mixture of surprise, shock, and confusion appeared on her face.
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Author's note:It would've been easy for me to write:
Aladdin: Jasmine, I'm thinking of having a harem.
Jasmine: I don't think I like such an idea. But I know that the only solution to restoring the Imperial bloodline, so I'll support your desire. I'll do anything to make you happy.
But that doesn't fit her character. Where's the emotion? Where's the cohesion?
There will be a harem, but it won't come easy. However, I promise that it will be satisfying. I do love a challenge that's worthwhile.
The main character and his love interests are 19 and above.
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