42

"Wow. This is so pwetty" Zada gushed looking at her new tiara.

Ava smiled seeing her little girl's excitement.

Her babies' minor coronation is going to happen today.

That's what His Highness Salim Ahmed al Zidra said to her last night.

For every generation, the next heir to the throne will be mini crowned at the age of five.

Since, the kids turned five a few months ago, Salim said, it would be wonderful to do the coronation along with introducing the heir to the throne.

Ava is not very happy about this either. She didn't want any discrimination between her children. They are all the same for her.

But, according to the laws of Zidra, the first born

of that particular generation would be the next King.

And as per the laws and customs, Zahir will be crowned with a bigger crown compared to his siblings'. And Ava is worried if that would hurt her other two children.

But, Ava put on a smile for her children's benefit. They always pick up on her moods and she does not want to upset them in any way.

Ava closed the lid containing Zada's tiara. Her mother in law had bought that a few minutes ago, because Zada had begged her grandmother to show her her new tiara.

And Rosaline Ahmed, went against protocol and bowed down to the whims of her granddaughter.

"This is going back, Zada. You will get it in a few hours" Ava said

"Oh. I don't want it to go back momma. I love it"

Zada said, her lips trembling lightly

Ava kneeled down in front of her daughter and cupped her face.

"I know, baby. And it is yours. Uncle Salim wants to give it to you in front of everyone. He wants to announce it to the world that you are the little princess of this country" Ava said

"Pinky Promise?" Zada asked, extending her pinky finger towards her momma. Something her Aunt Camille taught her.

Ava smiled emotionally seeing that gesture. Her estranged sister used to do this when they were younger.

It has been years since Ava had heard anything about her sister.

And she never had the finance to search for her sister either.

"You are sad, momma?" Zian asked looking at his mother's sad face anxiously

Ava looked up at Zian, who had walked in wearing the little traditional arabian robe.

He looked so handsome in it.

"No baby." Ava said, shaking her head in denial.

"Then why are you crying? I don't like you crying momma" Zian said as he wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes.

"They are tears of happiness. Today my babies are becoming princes and princesses. I am so happy" Ava said hugging two kids close to her bosom and the kids instinctively wrapped their arms around their mother.

Crown Prince Zahir Ahmed al Zidra, who walked in at that moment, turned green with jealousy.

He loves his momma to bits. He loves his siblings to the moon and back.

But he is very possessive about them all.

He wants to be the first priority in all their lives.

"Momma," he called out loudly, earning the attention of all three.

Ava shook her head knowing what was running through her first born's head.

"Come here" she called out and he rushed to her and hugged her tight, slightly pushing his sibling to either side, making them frown.

Ava roller her eyes and opened her arms wide enough to engulf all three in her embrace.

Zahir made a face at that, but decided to be generous for a few minutes.

Zayed stared at the four people who owned his heart. He so wished, he could go and embrace

them all in his arms.

Cocoon them into his protective embrace.

Oh! How he missed six beautiful years of this love and peace.

All because he was a thick headed jerk, who couldn't understand what a gift he had been given.

And now!! He has them all at a hand distance and yet he can't reach them fully.

His life seems to be a constant test.

Now with Brianna's arrival, he doesn't understand what is going to happen to their life.

"Aveline" he called out softly and all four of them looked up at him.

Zahir and Zian were wearing similar traditional robes and they were looking so darn cute in it.

Zada was wearing a traditional kaftan, with a small scarf draped around her head.

"Yes?" Aveline asked

"It's time for the official function" Zayed said and Aveline nodded

"Yeah. Let's go. Let me just get my clutch"


****

The official ceremony got over an hour later.

It began with the speech of King Salim, followed by that of the previous King Karim.

"Now it is time for the coronation. And as the head of the country and King of my people, I have made a slight change in the rules of succession" King Salim announced and people began murmuring to each other.

Zayed could see his father bristling with anger, probably thinking that Salim was doing something that would affect Karim's bloodline continuing the rule.

"According to Zidran laws, the first born of that generation is supposed to rule. And I, as the authority, has made a slight change to the rule." Salim continued without heeding any regards to the murmurs

"As you all have seen, the next in line to the throne are a set of triplets. And they deserve the title equally. So, as per the new law, all three of them are eligible to the crown, if the younger ones want to contest the will. Prince Zahir will inherit the crown, only if Prince Zian and Princess Zada abdicate it wholeheartedly. If not, a contest will be held, when they turn twenty one, to decide who the next ruler is. As it is the twenty-first century, I would like to take our country forward by embracing progressive and modern thoughts. And if, Princess Zada wins the contest, Zidra will be ruled by their Sheikha,

instead of a Sheikh" Salim announced, shocking everyone gathered there.

Zayed saw that his father was stunned, but didn't seem very averse to the idea of a Sheikha ruling the country.

He felt Aveline stiffening beside him and he wondered what she was thinking.

As the voices of the council men started rising, Salim raised a hand silencing them all.

"This decision is mine. And it was a request from Sheikh Zayed. As he reminded me two days ago, all his children are equal in his eyes. There is no heir and spare when it comes to his children. All of them deserve to be treated equally" Salim said and Zayed heard Aveline sucking in a sharp breath.

He looked beside him and saw her looking at him with her heart in her eyes.

He felt himself drowning in her hazel orbs.

The coronation happened in the next hour and Zayed could feel Aveline's eyes on him.

And he understood, she had been worried about this. About this discrimination between her children. And she hadn't expected him to feel the same way.

Well, he never did anything to make her trust in him, so he can't really blame her. But it didn't hurt any less.