The Palace was no longer as quiet and tranquil as before. Now, the children ran in different directions, were always wanting to be taken on walks, and liked to climb on people's knees. Even though Genie tried to keep them entertained, Aida's father did a better job than Genie at keeping them entertained.

"Well, now I feel sheepish"he said.

"Oh, just don't try to compel them in anything, Genie."said Francisco.

"Don't tell me you were just like that when you were a child?"asked Aida.

"Well, I don't really remember. My father always said I had a lot of energy, though. All of my other relatives, too. From what I know, I was a handful."

"I bet your mother loved that."

"I guess so."

Aida and Jasmine also liked to spend time with Francisco's oldest sisters, Teresa, Adriana, and Josefina. Josefina was the only one of them who wasn't married.

"Why aren't you married, yet?"

"Oh,"Josefina blushed, and looked away. "I'm not exactly a belle, am I?"she said.

"A beauty, you mean?"

"Well, yes."

"Why do you say that?"

"It's the truth. Isn't it?"

"Well…"

Aida looked at Josefina closely. It was true that she did look somewhat older than her age. She looked more her mother's age.

"Wouldn't you like to be married?"Aida asked her.

"Oh, yes!"

"Why don't you just resolute to get a husband! Just set your mind to it! My sister didn't want to marry a prince, and see, she didn't have to."

"I don't think I would have been capable of doing such a thing! Not marrying whom I'm expected to marry."

"Why not? You would have preferred to marry someone you didn't love?"

"Well, if I didn't have any other choice, I'd have to, wouldn't I?"

"You're too much of a conformist."

"What else can I be?"

Meanwhile, Esther still tried to convince Francisco to change his mind about the wedding.

"It would be right, you see. My son, not married by the laws of the Church!"she said, holding the sleeping Rosa Izela in her arms.

"It's too late, Mother. My mind's made up."

"What will we tell everyone? What if your younger brothers and sisters ask questions? What kind of example is this to set for them?"

"I think, maybe a good example."

"Oh, you…how could you say that!"

"There's nothing anyone can do. Not anymore."

"If it does happen, at least it won't be for my lack of trying. I tried. I really, really did. And what, I suppose, about Aida's dowry?"

"I don't know, and I don't care. Even if she wasn't given a dowry, I would still marry her."

"Where did you get such revolutionary ideas, Francisco! From those books you read, I suppose? And all this traveling?"

"In part."

"Well, if only you didn't go so far, as to practice them. Oh, dear!"

She got up to take Rosa Izela back to her room.

"I most certainly hope she doesn't come up with wanting to live somewhere else, you know. That would be something I won't allow you to do. You are, my oldest son, and as such, your father and I expect you to fulfill your duties."

"I've grown up hearing all that, Mother. I can play it in my head with no problem."

Nahil couldn't believe his luck, as he began preparing the feast for the Princess's wedding. It had been a little difficult to get his uncle to consent to his leaving his shop, and coming to work in the Palace, but it was worth it. He hadn't told anyone the real reason for coming here, just that he was offered the chance to work here by one of the servants. Soon, justice will take place, he thought.

"Be careful, boy."someone told him.

"Oh, sorry."he answered, and paid more attention to what he was doing.

"I most certainly do not understand why the Sultan approved of you. You don't seem to be paying much attention to what you are doing."

"Mhmm."

"You most definitely have unique taste, Aida."said Jasmine, arranging Aida's veil.

"Well, this way it will be unforgettable."she said. "Not common, or ordinary."

"I most certainly won't be able to forget! I don't think I've ever seen such a dress before. So…extravant. I think you went a little overboard, don't you?"

"No. As a matter of fact, it wouldn't have been a bad idea, if we had had time to add more."

"Oh, no, then you definitely would be overboard."

"It may not be the fashion here, Jasmine, however, you would be surprised to know, that it is, at least in Europe. Probably in Mexico, now, too."

"Don't tell me you'll have to dress like this from now on?"

"I guess I will. Haven't you noticed Miss Esther, Josefina, Teresa and Adriana?"

Jasmine looked at Aida, and the dresses the women from Francisco's family came to her mind. They all wore bright colors, or soft pastels, and hoops with layers and layers of skirts on them. The skirts all had laces, ribbons, and bows, especially today. Sometimes, every now and then, they might wear something much simpler, but never pants, and they never revealed too much skin, except the areas around the bust and arms.

"I can just see you dressing like that."

"Well, I think they look very pretty."

Esther stood, holding Ignacio's arms, her face in an expression that was between happiness and disapproval. She was still upset that her son was marrying into another religion, and much more that apart from marrying into another religion, he had converted, but she was especially happy that he was getting married. He looked especially happy, and she had to admit that Aida was a very fine girl, at least she wasn't just someone he had picked off the streets. If only she just hadn't been a Muslim. If only…

"I'm tired."said Rosa Izela.

"Hush, Darling."Esther ordered.

Nahil kept busy all day, serving the guests refreshments, going back and forth, attending them. He looked among the guests. Surely, if he was here, he would see him. Where would he be likely to be? If he was family, probably seated with the bride and groom. He looked towards their table, and yes, that was him. Definitely him. The same one he had seen at the marketplace. The same one who had… Now he knew he had done the right thing, coming here. Nahil walked towards him.

"Can I get you anything else, sir?"he asked.

"No, thank you, boy."answered Cassim. "I haven't see you here before."

"No, I've only just come to work here."

"Is something the matter, Dad?"asked the Sultan.

"Oh, no, Aladdin. Well, off you go, boy."

"Yes, sir."

Nahil walked away. If only he had been able to get his name.

"You'll think I'm crazy, but big parties, with a lot of people have never been my idea of an extraordinary good time."said Francisco, after the party. "I prefer much quieter reunions."

"Well, your mother didn't look as if she was fuming. I thought she would."

"She obviously saw that she wasn't going to get her way, that's all."

"You don't suppose that now, because we're married, and weren't married by a Catholic priest, and there's no going back on the fact that you're now a Muslim, she'll act differently towards me?"

"She likes you. If not because you're of a different religion, because you're of royal blood. Believe it or not, she sets a very high store by those things. People's backgrounds. Especially their families."

"Oh. Well, I guess that means I have to win her over?"

"I'd say you already have. She just doesn't like showing it."

"Only with children."

"Yeah."

They sat in silence for a while.

"I'm so very, very happy, Aida."he said, after a while.

"I'd never thought I'd be happy when I married."she said. "I always though my aunt would choose for me. And she wouldn't have me married off to just anyone. I think I would have been unfortunate enough to have been married off to Prince Achmed, after my sister turned him down. But he was so offended. He said he wanted nothing that had to do with me or her. I don't see what he had to have been offended about. He didn't get what he deserved. I would've seen to it that he got worse. Much worse."

"He did get the worse, but I'm glad he did. He got the worse, by not marrying you, and I'm glad of it, because then I got you."

He put his hand on her head, and said a prayer over her.