"Yes, Your Majesty," Razoul said, bowing respectfully.
He quickly exited the throne room with the items.
"I know that you two want to continue helping me, but I suggest that you go out and spend the rest of the day enjoying the city and getting to know more about each other. You're about to get married, after all. I can handle everything from here," the Sultan said, solemnly.
"Are you sure, Father?" Jasmine asked.
"Yes. Now get going," the Sultan responded, waving his hands at them.
"We'll be taking our leave then, Your Majesty," Aladdin replied, standing from his seat. He took Jasmine's hand and led her down the stairs.
"You too, Genie. I hope that you can watch over them and protect them from danger. In return, you can ask me for whatever you desire, and as long as it doesn't harm my kingdom, or Jasmine and Aladdin, I'll do my best to fulfil it," the Sultan said, looking at Genie solemnly.
Even though his understanding of people's true nature wasn't as clear as he had once imagined, he was still a ruler who had governed Agrabah, maintaining its prosperity for several decades within the tumultuous Seven Deserts.
So he didn't command Genie, even though he knew Genie would likely follow out of goodwill, but instead offered him a reward he believed would be enticing. And what better reward could he offer than fulfilling a request as a ruler?
"I assure you that there's nothing you have that I desire, Your Majesty. I already have my greatest wish," Genie replied with a respectful bow. "But I'll still take you up on that offer." He transformed into a Great Dane.
"Scooby-Dooby-Doo!" he barked wildly, chasing after Aladdin and Jasmine.
"What an eccentric being," the Sultan said to himself, before returning to the piles of documents before him.
***
Aladdin led Jasmine to her room.
Jasmine sat on the bed and calmly rubbed Rajah's head as he lay on her lap.
Aladdin lay on the bed beside her. The room smelled of perfumes and fragrances, nicer than anything he had ever encountered in his entire life.
"So what do you suggest we do today?" Jasmine asked, looking at Aladdin.
"I was planning to visit my empire," Aladdin replied.
"Do you want to come along with me?" he asked.
As a former street rat, he had already explored everything there was to explore in Agrabah, except for the hidden underground lairs used by various ruthless criminals. So he had no reason to wander the streets again, especially now that he was a Prince.
He wanted to use this time to visit his empire and test out his new abilities. Since he couldn't do so here in Agrabah without causing a ruckus.
"Oh, I thought you would head over there once we're done with the wedding," Jasmine said.
"How far is it?"
Although she had suggested that Aladdin check on his empire, it had only been to keep him grounded so he wouldn't become too complacent and not ruin what he had wished for. So she was a little surprised to learn that he suddenly wanted to visit it now.
"I'm not certain. But I know a shortcut. We don't need Carpet to get there," Aladdin said, bringing out a golden key wrapped around his neck with a golden thread from within his attire and holding it out to Jasmine.
"Okay. I guess it's time for an adventure. Can I change into something else?" Jasmine asked cheerfully.
Since she was going to an empire which was supposedly grander than Agrabah, she wanted to try out her other attire so as not to embarrass Aladdin.
"You don't need to change. You're perfect the way you are," Aladdin replied, holding her in place.
Perhaps it was because this was a fully living world, but Jasmine wasn't wearing the same attire she wore yesterday. Although it was of the same design, the colour scheme of her outfit was green, with golden bracelets around her wrists and trinkets on her legs. Her off-shoulder purple blouse had additional strands that clung to her shoulders, and her harem pants were slightly more fitted.
It suited her perfectly, just like her other dresses.
As for him, his clothes were created out of magic, so they didn't need to be washed or taken care of. He had wanted to ask Genie if he could create more, but decided not to.
After all, he and Genie had only known each other for the past forty-eight hours, and even if their relationship had deepened as though they had known each other for years, he still didn't want to push his luck by turning him into a wishing lamp over something so trivial.
Aladdin decided to wait until he visited his empire to see if he could get an outfit like this.
"Are you sure? I don't want to embarrass you on your grand entrance into your empire," Jasmine tilted her head to the side and asked, staring intently at Aladdin with a hypnotic gaze.
"Yes, I'm sure. Not even a peacock dressed in its finest beauty could stand against your splendour," Aladdin responded, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Oh, stop it. You don't need to go that far," Jasmine replied with a light chuckle.
"Are you sure you were just a street rat? Now that I think about it, your words are far more finely crafted than those of any royalty I've met in the past. And trust me, I've met a lot," she asked in an alluring voice.
Because he came from the 21st century and was far more educated…
But Aladdin wasn't just going to say that.
"What's good for the birds might not be good for the swans. What's good for others might not be good for my Princess. But it just so happens that what is good for me is also good for you," Aladdin responded with a grin.
"And it just so happens that what's good for me is also good for you," Jasmine replied, placing her hand against Aladdin's cheek.
"You goo sweethearts," Genie suddenly appeared, seated on the bed with his legs crossed and said, a low growl escaping his lips as his hands stretched into claws, grabbing at the air.
His appearance shattered the romantic atmosphere that had filled the room moments earlier.
Rajah roared at Genie in anger, startled by his sudden appearance.
"Slow down, kittten," Genie leapt from the bed and hid behind Aladdin and Jasmine, pretending that he was afraid of Rajah while raising a white handkerchief in surrender.
Jasmine chuckled as she went to calm startled Rajah.
Aladdin looked at Genie and said, "We're planning to go to Ababwa. Do you want to come along?"
"Of course I do. There's nothing to do here, and I've already made a promise to the Sultan to watch over you guys in exchange for a wish," Genie replied, wrapping his arms around Aladdin's shoulders.
Aladdin nodded, neither surprised that the Sultan had made such a request nor at the fact that Genie had accepted it.
"Let's get Abu first," he responded.
"Abu? He's right here," Genie stretched out his hand, and Abu, lying mid-air with his mouth wide open, appeared above his arms.
Abu opened his eyes, stunned by his sudden change in environment. His expression slowly turned into anger as he looked at Genie. He leapt straight at him with sharp monkey sounds, but surprisingly passed through Genie as though moving through a blue cloud of smoke.
"Now, now… monkey, you need some exercise. Sitting down all day, eating bananas, and staying out of the sun is bad for your health," Genie turned and lectured him sternly.
But that only seemed to anger Abu more. Before he could charge at Genie again, Aladdin quickly caught him by the neck of his attire.
"Enough! Genie is right. Locking yourself in and eating all day is bad for your health. Besides, we're going to Ababwa, and it will be a good opportunity for you to get some fresh air," Aladdin said.
Abu folded his arms and grumbled.
"Also, who knows what kind of delicacies we might find there," Aladdin added.
Abu's expression lit up, and he nodded in agreement. Once he was free from Aladdin's grip, he climbed onto his shoulders and sat there.
Aladdin and the others walked towards Princess Jasmine's garden. Once they arrived, Aladdin pulled out his golden key and pointed it at the air. As he turned it, a blue portal, wide enough for all of them to walk through at once, opened instantly before them.
"We'll go first," Aladdin said, holding Jasmine as they walked through the portal.
Genie whistled loudly.
Instantly, Carpet soared down from the skies and followed him as he jumped into the portal as though diving into a river.
Just as the portal was about to close, Rajah raced into the garden and leapt through it.
The garden grew silent, except for the sound of birds chirping across the skies.
Aladdin and the others appeared before a giant fortress.
All around them was a vast desert, illuminated by the scorching sun.
///////
I've lines, and I'm not afraid to use them. If you're cringing out, that's your business!
As always, no chapter on Saturdays and Sundays.
I wanted to announce my Discord group today because I've got a surprise for you guys for the next chapter. It's really important that you see it before you read the next chapter to make it all the more exciting. But i couldn't finish setting up the group in a day.
So, I'll post it during the next chapter.
I've republished my novel so I can get a contract and participate in the WSA 2026. Do you know the last person who added it to their library, gifted their powerstones, and checked it out, won a mega lottery? They are currently living their happily ever after.
Here's your chance to try your luck. Don't miss this opportunity!