Chapter 1

• Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government, and its economic and political capital is Kuwait City. The country is considered one of the most liberal in the region.
• This government has the fifth-largest oil reserves in the world, a natural resource that currently accounts for 87% of its exports and 75% of its government income, thanks to which its citizens enjoy the eighth largest income globally. The World Bank ranks Kuwait as a high-income state and the United States has designated it as a major non-NATO ally. Its diminutive is al-kūt: "the fortress"
• As it is a constitutional monarchy, it has been governed by the Al-amad dynasty since the 18th century. The Emir or Sheikh is the head of state, who represents the executive power. The current Emir, Saeed Abdullah Al-amad, ascended the throne on August 25, 2020, following the esoteric assassination of his father, Hamad Abdullah.
• There is the figure of the prime minister, who is usually a member of the royal family. The legislative power is represented by the National Assembly (Majlis al-Umma).
• The assembly has 65 seats: 50 are elected by popular vote every four years, and 15 ministers, who are chosen by the Emir and make up his cabinet. Despite this, the functions of the Emir are always accompanied by his prime minister, Nasser Abdullah, his cousin.
• This country has a higher democracy index than the rest of the Arab monarchies. The ministers who occupy the most important positions generally belong to the royal family. Before the assassination of the late Emir, the country regularly experienced political crises in the context of corruption cases.
• Saeed Abdullah ruled alongside his father despite the fact they had many contrasts in their opinions. But what happened to his father an hour after the meeting remained a mystery, and the existing Emir can't seem to let go of it.
• He knows that he must make a profound restructuring of his governance, and at this point in his life, he is unable to trust his own shadow. That, added to the fact that the wars in the desert, and the enemies behind him, leave him completely shattered, from which he has not been able to recover.
• A great secret that his father took to his grave, and that same secret that can end his rule in a matter of seconds...
• “So, you're going to Riyadh?” Nasser asked Saeed as he walked into his huge office where all government business was handled.
• Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia, a country where high-ranking rulers almost always met to make alliances, and agreements and to set conditions in all the Arab Emirates. Kuwait is bordered by the northeast of that country.
• Saeed raised his serious face, meanwhile signing hundreds of sheets to get some work ready since he would be absent from his country for about three days. It wasn't the best time to travel, but he had no choice.
• Nasser was trusted by him, a bit cynical for his taste, but he had always been his right-hand, and one of the few people he could blindly trust.
• “I'll go for a few days, and you'll be here in charge of everything. We need to make it clear that my father's negotiations are still on. And also I urgently need to find a professional person who handles international trade and public relations.”
• “Are you still with that?” Nasser wasn't a fan of this idea and Saeed was quick to notice it.” Why not look for a professional from here? We don't have to trust a foreigner...”
• At that moment Saeed's smile widened, but it was precise to make Nasser's body tense, as he always hated when his cousin smiled like that. That made him feel like complete shit. “We won't talk about that, am I right?”
• “I don't desire to recall the unresolved issue of my father's murder, and all the funds that swing around without end.”
• Nasser bowed his head somewhat worriedly, tucking both of his hands behind his head to nod. “This Bedouin war is a disaster.”
• “It's not just the Bedouins, we are part of them, and they are one of us, they have poisoned a particular group, and I am sure that this traitor is within the assembly.” Said Saeed to make his point clear to his cousin.
• Nasser raised his head with confidence. “I'll report everything to my father, we'll be more careful than usual. My uncle's death will not go unjust, I promise you.”
• Saeed nodded, feeling temporary relief.
• Khalifa, his uncle, and his father's only brother was in charge of the order and affairs of the assembly. Since the tragic incident of the murder, he meandered a little from his commitments and duties, but Saeed never intended to burden him, knowing that everything had been very painful for the whole family, even though four months have passed since the incident.
• Suddenly, the door opened unexpectedly. He hated the fact that Rosheen never knocked to come in, despite being asked many times, But she kept doing whatever she wanted.
• “Your flight is ready. The private jet is waiting for you at five in the afternoon, of course, it will pick you up here at the palace, and you also have reservations in Riyadh. Everything is set.” She announced.
• Saeed picked up the schedule she had printed out and began flipping through it.
• “It's in your mail, too...” Rosheen added.
• “Thank you,” he stated without looking at her as she crossed her arms giving her brother Nasser a long look.
• Rosheen was the third daughter of Uncle Khalifa, her youngest at 22 years old, and the one who was always hopelessly in love with his cousin Saeed Abdullah. And now, she was practically his assistant. Of course, everything stayed in the family.
• Women in Kuwait used to wear the hijab in public places, but when they were in intimate places, such as family homes, they used to take it off. Rosheen followed the culture and beliefs. In addition to her elegant ankle-length dress, she was also adorning her head, with a beautiful golden hijab, since this palace was her workplace too, and people other than family were present.
• “Tarha…” the woman mentioned slowly and instantly Saeed raised his face saying, “She will stay here.”
• “I'll keep an eye on her. Maybe she doesn't require it, she has final exams...” Nasser assured, then shook his head. Rosheen was hopeless, and unflagging when it came to wanting to get onto his cousin's nerves.
• “Okay, call me if you need anything.” She turned glumly on her heels and then left waving goodbye to her brother.
• Saeed's hand got tired of signing all the documents and he decided to get up and put on his jacket. “I'll go to rest before the flight… at night I'll arrive directly to a meeting and I want you to be attentive to all the details.”
• Adjusting his jacket they followed her steps as they left the main office, of the palace in Bayán. The actual place, where the whole family lived.
• “Emir, there are some matters that...” Some commissioners waited for him outside the room and attacked him with questions, but Nasser was quick to raise his hand to dismiss them. “Not now…”
• Saeed walked quickly and crossed several wings of the palace, he was finally leaving the government part to reach the upper wing the area which he called home was located, and he turned to stop his cousin.
• “I will go to my room, I want to be alone.”
• “Of course…”
• Retiring, Saeed let out a long sigh and walked a little further to cross gardens and artificial waterfalls that made the palace a royal sight. The decoration was outlandish, extravagant, and shiny, gold was the color that he most enhanced and the clothing, with large crystal chandeliers, left no shadow in any corner.
• Saeed didn't even know how many rooms, halls, meeting places, and parties the palace had. And although he had been raised in these expensive walls, he was not addicted to admiring this kind of synthetic beauty.
• He liked more the landscapes of his country, the colors of nature, and of course, his beloved desert, where he mostly spent time with his father.
• Walking up to the last and furthest rooms, he didn't even have to touch a switch, with his mere presence the doors opened upon recognizing his face in the cameras, and when he was inside the spacious room, they closed behind him.
• He took off his tie and got rid of his shirt. This was the moment that he enjoyed the most, exactly when he was alone, and when he got into that pool that was next to his room.
• The cold water caressed his naked body, and he tried to swim as fast as he could, while he fine-tuned his thoughts. He was at his breaking point, where he couldn't solve his father's murder no matter how hard he tried, where he couldn't give all the protection he wanted to his only sister Tarha, and exactly the fact that he couldn't bring an heir to this kingdom.
• He felt frustrated, overwhelmed, and with a thousand stabs in his body knowing that his monarchy, the one for which his father worked so hard, was crumbling at his own hands...
• ***
• Hijab: is a veil that covers the head and chest that can be worn by Muslim women from the time they have their first menstruation, in the presence of adult males who are not members of their immediate family.