"NO!" had been Princess Jasmine's first word, and she was using it in abundance right now.
Jafar was currently on one knee, wishing she would grant him permission to stand up. The floor was beautiful and expensive and very, very hard. "But Princess," he began, his usual opening gambit in any conversation with Jasmine.
"I refuse to be treated in this subjective, unjust fashion!" shouted Jasmine, tossing her luxurious braid over one exposed shoulder. The flagrancy made Jafar grit his teeth and he decided to stand up anyway. On his shoulder, Iago was snickering. "I will marry whoever I choose," she added, taking deep breaths through her nostrils. "If my husband is to rule wisely, he will need the support of a woman who loves him. None of the princes you push at me make me feel any emotion except irritation. And pity."
"Your love is neither sufficient nor necessary," the Vizier told her, in the drawling tone that made her want to spit in his elegant eyes. "If your husband is to rule wisely, he will trust the advice of his loyalist and wisest advisors, the men who had aided and abetted his predecessor." He smiled like a snake.
Princess Jasmine opened her doe-like eyes very wide, and her mouth fell open with horror and surprise. By and by, she closed it and cried, "Oh no, Jafar. You shall not advise any ruler after my father. I shall see to it myself that you never lay the curse of your advice on any other man!" At this last prolific proclamation the Princess' voice fell in on itself, and she turned and stalked out, lest Jafar notice she was weeping.
"Did you notice she was weeping?" Iago demanded gleefully.
"I did," Jafar replied with a smile, though his heart was troubled. It would be exceptionally inconvenient if Jasmine had worked out he held more than just a little power over the Sultan's decision making process. If she found out... Jafar sighed inwardly. If she found out, having her killed and finding another suitable heir would take months. Besides, it was a pity. She was such a finely crafted specimen of a female.