"Follow me this way," The Sultan said to "Prince Ali" as he led Aladdin into the dining hall.
Aladdin had never seen a room like it before. The dining hall had high ceilings decorated with ornate paintings and carvings. The Sultan sat the young man at the head of the table opposite where he and Jasmine sat. Aladdin felt like everyone would be able to watch him from that seat. Now everyone can watch me screw up, Aladdin thought to himself.
The genie in disguise, was seated next to him, "You doin' ok buddy?" He whispered to the fake prince. Aladdin nodded awkwardly.
The servants started the meal by bringing everyone goblets of wine. The Sultan picked up his glass, Aladdin copied when he saw the rest of the guests doing the same. Aladdin took a large drink from his goblet. He gagged as the red liquid went down his throat. Being very poor he had never really had any wine before. He had to rely exclusively on the local well for hydration.
"Feeling ill, Prince?" Jafar asked him creepily. Aladdin realized he must have made a face after he took his drink.
"Um, I'm just not a fan of alcoholic beverages," Aladdin explained trying to save himself from his slip up, "may I have a glass of water please?"
A servant girl nodded and left the room to fetch his drink.
The next course of the meal was salad and soup. Aladdin politely waited for Jasmine to start eating before he took his first bite. As he went to grab his fork, when he realized he had three different sizes of forks. The fake prince grabbed the largest one, the biggest fork is probably the most used one he assumed. But before he picked it up , the Genie leaned in.
"Hey, Al," the magical being whispered, "That's the dinner fork. The middle fork is your salad fork, and that small one there, that is your fish fork."
"Thanks," Aladdin whispered.
After salad and soup the main course was brought out, which was beef shish-kabob and vegetables. Aladdin had never seen so much food at once. It was so overwhelming, he started to feel sick to his stomach, and because he was already feeling full, was only able to eat half his serving.
Noticing he had only eaten half his dinner; a motherly attendant came up to Aladdin. "Do you need anything else?" she asked him.
"Just some more water please," Aladdin replied honestly.
After what felt like forever dinner was finally over. As he started to leave the room, Aladdin started to regret all the water he had drunk. He awkwardly made his way his way to the attendant who had been so nice to him earlier. "Can I ask for your help on something," he said in a low voice, "I don't know my way around the palace, and I really need to know where the privy is."
The attendant looked very surprised, "I guess Ababwa, is very behind in the times, but in this palace, we have the most cutting edge plumbing from Rome. You will be able to find the toilet through that door." She said pointing down the hall to a turquoise door.
The street boy never knew a room like this could exist. He had only been acquainted with the public privy's in the city, were you had stand in a long line and it was often dirty and smelly. The cleanliness, and privacy of the room amazed him. There was even a basin of water with a mirror for washing his hands and checking on his hair. He left the washroom feeling much better.
He continued down the hall to join the others in the garden for the Harvest Dance.
After the dance, Aladdin was tired and felt like he needed to sleep for a whole week before he would be able to partake in anymore palace activities.
When Aladdin and Genie made it back to "Prince Ali's" room, a servant greeted him. "Prince Ali, would you like me to draw your bath?" the servent asked Aladdin.
"Um, yes," Aladdin answered awkwardly. He didn't realize that as a prince that he would get to bathe every day.
"I'll get you when the water is good and hot." The servant told him.
As he waited on his bath. Aladdin flopped on his bed. He never imagined that a bed could be so big, so soft, and have so many ornate pillows and blankets. The street boy was afraid that he might mess it up, he immediately jumped off it and sat down in the chair by the desk.
"Your bath is ready, your highness," the servant informed Aladdin.
"Thank you," Aladdin replied. The servant followed him into the washroom off to the side of the room. "Um, what are you doing?" he asked uncomfortably.
The servant looked puzzled, "I'm going to help you undress, and assist you with your bath," he explained.
A look of horror came on Aladdin's face, the thought of someone else seeing him naked caused him to freak out.
"Is something wrong?" the servant inquired.
"I'm not comfortable with that," Aladdin admitted.
"Is this not also the custom in Ababwa?"
"Um, yes, it is, but I just really like my privacy." Aladdin explained.
"Very well, I'll come back later with your night clothes. Your towel and shaving kit are next to the basin." The servant said as he left the room.
Aladdin let out a sigh of relief, what was is it with Royals and their weird need for avoidable uncomfortable situations.
The warm bath felt amazing, that was something Aladdin could get used to. He stayed in the tub until the water became cold, back on the streets he hardly ever got to take a true bath. The last one he remembered was when he was being chased by some guards, and while trying to escape he jumped through a window and fell into what was turned out to be a bathhouse. Landing right into the middle of pool full of girl causing them to scream from the trauma. Aladdin hated that experience just as much as the girls did. He shuddered just thinking about it.
Aladdin wrapped himself in the Egyptian cotton towel. It was superior to anything like it he owned. The novelty of being able to have a thorough shave made him feel spoiled. He was hardly ever able to shave living on the streets.
A knock rang on the door. "Would you like your night clothes, your highness?" Aladdin recognized the voice as the same male servant from earlier.
"Um, yes please," Aladdin answered and slowly started to open the door.
"For you master," the servant held out some clothing and slippers.
"Thank you," Aladdin answered as he accepted the bundle. The bundle contained a yellow silk night shirt, and yellow silk loose pants, some new underwear, and pair of matching slippers. He waited until the servant left, then put them on. Back on the streets he had to sleep in the same clothes he wore every day, and never got any new underwear. Maybe palace life wasn't that bad after all.
Now in his nightclothes Aladdin climbed into his bed. It felt like being swallowed by a giant cloud. When he was about to turn his lamp off for the night, the Genie suddenly appeared in his room, causing Aladdin to bolt upright from under the covers.
"Don't scare me like that," Aladdin scolded playfully.
"I just came into see how my prince is doing. Adjusting to palace life?" the magical being explained.
"It's going good," Aladdin started, "it's an adjustment, but I think I'm finally getting the hang of palace life."