At that moment, I realized that I should at least use the engagement period to talk to my cousin, but he refused. I went downstairs, and my grandfather was very angry with me. After that, he took measurements of my hand and asked the jeweler to design a special piece for me. Then he brought me some dresses to try on, but none fit my small size, so my grandfather ordered a dress to be made within two days. I returned to my room crying, and all that time, my cousin had not appeared—even after the two days had passed.
The fateful day came early in the morning, and my grandfather told me I had to go with him to the grand palace where the celebrations were prepared. My mother asked to come with me, and he reluctantly allowed it. I rode with my grandfather along with my mother. He said: "Why these miserable faces? Are you welcoming joy?" His words were directed at my mother. He added: "Your daughter will marry the future ruler of this family, so be happy about it. Be grateful to me." My mother did not utter a word.
We arrived at the palace, and I was fully prepared. I did not stop crying for a moment until the woman responsible for dressing me said: "If you stay like this, everything will be ruined." But I didn't care. They asked my mother to step aside, and I had been dressed in the best possible way. Then everyone left for a few seconds, and the door opened to reveal that tall, dark-skinned young man, with a cold, sharp, intimidating demeanor. His hair was as black as night, soft and neatly styled, elegant as always. He entered and said, "Ready?" I looked at him and said, "Yes, but I do not want this marriage."
He replied calmly, "Neither do I, but these are my grandfather's orders, and no one says no to him." He whispered in my ear: "Whatever you do, I will be your husband. This is a settled matter." He took my hand, and we went out to greet the guests. Everyone seemed astonished—a young girl marrying a man much older than her. Afterward, the marriage contract was signed, the ring he chose was placed on my hand, and I put my ring on his. My hand was trembling. They asked us to exchange kisses. He kissed my head first, and I thanked God that the moment was over.
Then the guests had dinner. Before the event ended, my grandfather asked us to step outside—my fiancé and I—to get to know each other. I was not shocked; I did not know my cousin, and he did not know me. He held my hand, and I got into the car with him. I was scared, and he said coldly: "I'll take you home, but by a longer route so grandfather won't suspect." I felt slightly relieved, but I was crying silently. Tears ran down my cheeks. He noticed and handed me a tissue, saying: "Wipe your tears; they are useless. Take your time later."
I shouted at him, "I do not want you, I hate you!" He looked at me calmly and said: "What's the use of words? You are now my fiancée and my wife. By the end of the month, you will be my wife." I said to him, "Over my dead body." We arrived home, and I got out quickly, crying, went to my room, and slept in my clothes. I woke up to pray and begged God to save me from this hell.
The next morning, my grandfather was present and said: "The marriage will be at the end of this month. Prepare your belongings. From today, you will live in the side palace of my mansion." My father said: "Father, my daughter is still young." My grandfather replied: "I know, and I know what you mean, but it's not a problem. Your mother married me at her age, and she was healthy." Before leaving, he said: "Get ready; after Asr prayer, your husband will take you to dinner, and the palace preparations will be discussed."
I was stunned by his words. I threw myself into my father's arms crying; he had no way to intervene, no escape. I prepared myself, wearing black, but my grandfather had another opinion. He chose a pink French-style dress for me, with light accessories and low-heeled shoes. I got ready again, and he asked the girl to prepare my face and hide my swollen eyes with light makeup.
Qais came. I got into the car; he didn't say a word except to the driver to start. He was cold and tired, not looking at me. I stared out the window. We arrived at the palace, and my grandfather was waiting for us. Seeing us apart, he said: "Is this how fiancés behave these days?" Then he added: "Walk around the palace and choose the new designs."
Qais said, "I don't want this palace; I want my current home." My grandfather asked, "Why?" He said, "This is my life, and it belongs to me now. I am responsible for it." Then he said: "Come on, Miss Leil, let's see the second palace." He took me without caring about my grandfather's opinion. When we got in the car, he said: "Don't dream of changing anything in the palace, and don't dream of having any say in my life." I said: "It's fine as long as I don't see or hear you and don't want anything from you. Take me back home now." He said, "Before that, you must see my house." I said, "What's the point? I don't want to."
He told the driver: "Turn around and go to my uncle's house." We arrived, I got out, and he didn't say a single word or even look at me. I thanked God that he didn't care about me. I told myself: "This is a marriage of convenience, and it will end eventually." My heart felt some relief, and I explained the details to my mother. She relaxed a little, and I slept feeling a bit at ease.
I woke up to my grandfather saying: "It's one o'clock in the afternoon. Married women should not rise late. Get ready for lunch." He said it sarcastically. I said, "Good morning, grandfather. I'm on vacation and still unmarried." He said hastily: "Get ready; I brought you some simple clothes. Follow me." I wore a simple dress, quickly brushed my hair, and went out.
I found my grandfather saying: "I will take her on a trip, and her fiancé will escort her." I rode with my grandfather, and he interrogated me: "What did you do with the new palace?" I said: "Nothing. It's beautiful and will stay as it is." He said angrily: "How can it stay as it is?" We went to the palace, and Qais was at work. When he realized that my grandfather and I were there, he came quickly. He greeted me while my grandfather was walking around, and I was sitting. He asked, "Where is grandfather?" I said, "He's walking around." He thought he had already walked, so he started walking alone.
He took my hand, and I said, "Don't touch me." He said, "I don't like this, but with grandfather present…" My grandfather came and said, "I like changing some things." He became very upset. My grandfather said, "Don't interfere in my matters." My grandfather said, "These matters must be handled by the elder, and the wife must change some things." I told my grandfather: "No need to get angry." He said, "This is none of your business." My fiancé said, "And none of yours either." My grandfather left angrily, saying, "Take your fiancée to the meeting."
Qais looked at me coldly and said: "No one has the right to interfere in our affairs." I said to him: "Your affairs are my affairs; it's my responsibility." He looked at me and said: "Not yet. By the end of the month."
The maid brought juice, and I said: "I don't want it. I want to go home; I haven't had breakfast yet." My grandfather woke me hastily and laughed: "Lazy too." It was two o'clock in the afternoon. I looked at him and said: "From the moment you entered my life!"