The Lost Fruits

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Agrabah - Royal Palace

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The problem with Jafar has already been settled...by burning Jafar into dust. To the three people present for that, it wasn't a pretty sight, to say the least.

"Once again I apologize for troubling you, Lord Portgas." Again. The Sultan bowed in apology. You may think he was that much grateful to Ace, true, part of him is...but keep in mind he is a Sultan and wouldn't bow to just anyone.

The Sultan realizes who Ace is and how much of an impact he has caused for his country. A double-edged sword.

After listening to Ace explanation about why he let Queen Jamila rule Jahilon, he was impressed by his thinking so he approved without thinking. Sultan already realized that the peace they will be having now is only because of Ace, after thinking for some time, he clearly understood that the war would have been lost if not for him. The last thing he wants now is for Ace to feel disrespected and leaving their kingdom, and then, he, their best defense and offense will be lost and they will soon return to war. They secured Queen Jamila, but not the nobles of Jahilon, once they heard that the man who killed their army is not here, they will wage war again for revenge. And Jamila will not hold them back, it won't be long until they realize she is nothing but a puppet.

"No need for that," Ace spoke. He, the Sultan, and Jasmine are in the Sultan's won chamber, Jafar's treachery was kept secret, the only people who know what happened are the three in this room and Dalia. "He wanted to frame and I wanted justice and I got it...with fire."

Jasmine sighed "I have always had a hunch about Jafar, though A part of me wanted to believe that he had our family's best interest in mind since father saved him when he was young."

Ace looked at the Sultan "You saved him? from what?"

The Sultan shook his head "It is a long story, but the short version is that Jafar is a deserter of the Magic Academy from The EverLasing Winter Lands, they don't take such matters kindly, I met him when I was out of the country to attend a banquet in the West, he asked for my help, I saw he was talented in Magic and I wanted to used him for my country since we don't have any magicians. I faked his death as I have executed a prisoner as him after staging him attacking me. Once his pursuers arrived, all they saw is a body split into small pieces. They left and Jafar lived...But this how it ended."

Ace tilted his head. From his point of view, The Sultan did the right thing to strengthen his country. But his plan was solely built on Jafar feeling grateful and serving him honestly. Flawed, but it works on most people.

Jasmine seeing the heavy atmosphere around the two men, she took a cup of tea and spoke "Let us talk about something else...What about Lord Ace's reward, he sure worked hard, don't you think so too father?"

"Ah, yes!" Sultan looked at Ace smiled "This time around, please speak your wish, if it is in my power, i will for sure make it true." he said.

Ace chuckled "I let that for princess Dalia to take care of!" He said. Jasmine chucked on her tea while the Sultan looked confused. Dal- I mean Jasmine looked embarrassed with a red face as she remembered what happened.

"Dalia? but my daughter's name is Jasmine?" Sultan Hamed Said.

"Eh? But I have met h--"

"AAAhhh!!! Father!! didn't you have a meeting with the city council today, you're late, I will take care of Lord Portgas reward!!" She jumped and escorted her father out "Bye-Bye, see you later!!" she shut the door behind him and looked at Ace.

"What are you doing?" She leaned close to him and asked.

"But I was saying the truth, the princess is you, and your name is Dalia. Isn't it?" Ace said in an obvious tone, Jasmine's eyes couldn't focus as she wanted to bury herself in the ground.

"Kahaha!! I am sorry, I just had to, you should have seen yourself that day, months of hiding your identity and then you bomb it in a morning rush!" Ace laughed, he waited months for this very moment, and he wasn't disappointed.

Jasmine looked at him with a cute pouting red face "Fine, fine, I will stop!" he raised his hands in peace.

Jasmine took a deep breath and sat on her chair again "Anyway, For your reward I have been thinking about it for some time now." she said.

"I am listening..." Ace took some biscuit to eat while waiting for Jasmine to speak.

"How about a promotion?" she said.

"Very original..." Ace smiled. Knowing her, he thought she had some grand scheme but it turned out to be just a promotion, can't say he is not disappointed. Maybe they spent too much time japing at each other so he started thinking that she is a natural schemer.

Seeing the disappointment "Indeed, no lord ever was granted the statue of an Amir before." she said.

Ace tilted his head "Amir? what is that?" he asked.

Jasmine smiled at him with happiness, she is one stop close to her greater goal "Congratulations...You have just become a Royal Prince!" she said.

Ace froze in his place, Amir in Arabic means Princen he didn't pay attention to it at first but now "...Are you for real?" he spoke.

"Have I lied to you before?" she asked.

"Just rewind your memory a few seconds back." Ace laughed. Jasmine cringed; she was just exposed earlier for lying about her identity and now she is saying she never lied 'It physically hurts!' she thought.

"Okay, but that was in the past, I am not playing around this time."

"Will your father even accept such thing" Ace leaned on the chair lazily and spoke.

"He already did, I spoke to him about it a week after you went to war, it was a private thing." She said.

Ace thought about it for a moment "I guess this prince thing is not as equal as a real blood prince, right?"

Jasmine nodded her head "Yes, but; you still represent our royal family, of course, your duties will increase too. Equal to the Sultan's."

From the sound of it, Ace realized that he will be doing a lot of work, for a moment he started regretting letting Jasmine take care of it. It is not that he hates work, it is one of the few joys in his life. It keeps him busy from his burning his enemies' tendency.

But, no matter what he couldn't shake this feeling "Just what are you going with this?" he asked Jasmine with his eyes narrowed.

Jasmine tilted her head "What?"

"You have been bringing me up in the kingdom's social hierarchy, what will you benefit from this?" he asked. Normally he would be very suspicious of her, but he spent months together with her. She was a kind girl, beautiful and smart, sometimes a cunning girl but still, she was kind that is for sure.

"That is for me to know, and for you to guess." Jasmine smiled sweetly "But all I have to say is...You will never regret this." She spoke.

Jasmine's plan was in its final stages. There were three stages 'First make him enter the court, second make him reach the prince rank no matter what, and third...' Jasmine smiled and raised herself for coming this far 'All that is left is convincing her father.

Though, Jasmine smirked as she knows what will make him submit to her wishes 'At the end of the day, father is a Sultan and the kingdom's best interest is his priority...Surely he will agree with me.'

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