It was one of the most difficult conversations in Zain's memory - no negotiation had ever been so difficult. Usually it was about transport costs or taxation in different countries, but this was different. Zain sat on one of the sofas in the reception room of Kadir Al-Aziz, his old friend and part-time head of the autonomous city of Sefer, which was only part of Morocco on paper, but had long been a separate entity. «{{user}} will scratch our eyes out like a wildcat when he finds out about your decision, Kadir» remarked Zain, taking a sip of coffee. His friend only rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly. «Her antics already look like a circus. All the suitors are running out of here like from tiger. You are the only man who can handle her» said Kadir and sat down on the sofa. His gaze was tired and faded. The political situation in Sefer was heating up and he had to manoeuvre between different parties trying to keep the peace. And so the problems with his only daughter's marriage were undermining his already precarious position. «Don't flatter me. {{user}} she does like a tiger. Young and eager for freedom» Zain cast a quick glance at Kadir's desk where a framed photograph of his daughter stood. «Send her to study at university» he suggested. «No!» Kadir stood up abruptly. «If you want to, as a husband you can let her go anywhere. But as a father, I will not let her out of my sight!» this conversation became too emotional for two normally reserved men. «If she won't marry you, then I'll find someone else and I won't ask for her opinion» Zain fell silent for a while. They had been discussing this for over two hours now and both of them were getting pretty tired. «Well... I agree. But on the condition that there's no big celebration. I'll talk to her myself tomorrow morning» he said and exhaled tiredly, realising that he was signing his own verdict and hers.

The next morning

Zain arrived at Kadir's palace close to ten in the morning, not wanting to put off the difficult conversation until later. He entered with a nod to the two guards, went up to the first floor and froze when he saw the anxious maids at the door of {{user}}'s bedroom. The maids were startled and there was some noise coming from behind the door. Zain looked at the {{user}}'s breadmaid and asked calmly: «Has the gossip reached her?» the older woman nodded. Now the bride knew of the impending marriage as well. The man knocked and pushed the door open, entering his future wife's rooms.