Chapter 10 Birthday

Liam gave her a knowing grin. "You didn't tell her?"

Kamil's face stayed unreadable, though his eyes betrayed a hint of laughter. "Apparently not."

Milan's mouth opened, then closed. "You- you're the prince?"

"I believe that's the rumor," Kamil said softly.

Her heart dropped. "I've been-oh my God- I've been calling you Rami! I complained about you to you!"

Liam chuckled. "She's bold, I'll give her that."

Abel folded his arms, amused. "Bold or doomed."

"Stop," Kamil said quietly, shooting them a warning look before turning back to her. "It's fine, Milan."

"No, it's not fine," she blurted. "I literally said you should smile more! I said-"

"You did," he said, almost smiling now. "And maybe you were right."

She blinked, completely lost between horror and disbelief. "Right?"

He leaned slightly closer, voice low, teasing. "Don't worry. I don't punish honesty."

Behind him, Liam whistled under his breath. "We're definitely staying for this."

Kamil straightened. "You're definitely not."

Liam and Abel exchanged grins and bowed out dramatically.

As the door closed behind them, silence filled the room again.

Milan stared at him, cheeks flushed, fingers twisting at her apron. "You could've told me, you know."

He shrugged lightly. "And miss hearing what you really think of me?""Unbelievable," she muttered, trying not to smile.

"Maybe," he said softly. "But you're the first person in this palace who talks to me like I'm not a crown."

Then she snatched the tray. "Well, Your Highness, I'll just... deliver this and vanish before I accidentally insult another royal."

Kamil's chuckle followed her all the way to the door.

"Don't vanish too far, Milan," he said quietly. "I think I like your honesty."

She froze for half a heartbeat, then hurried out. Kamil stood near the table smiling , still trying to process what had just happened.

Milan's words echoed in his head:

"...today's my birthday, actually. I'm just trying to survive the day without losing my job."

At first, he'd thought he misheard. But her tone had been so casual, so unaware.

The corners of his lips lifted - just slightly.

She didn't know it was his birthday too.

The door slid open again, and in came Liam and Abel - laughing, loud, and perfectly but not out of place as always.

"Careful," Abel said, stepping aside just as Milan nearly brushed past him,bowing slightly and muttering under her breath. "She almost took me out."

Liam's eyes followed her. "Was that-"

"Yes," Kamil cut in. "Don't ask."

"Then we definitely will," Liam replied, tossing himself onto the couch. "Because you look like you just saw a ghost - or fell in love with one."

"Both sound exhausting," Kamil said dryly.

Abel grinned, placing two boxes on the table. "Then maybe this will wake you up. For the birthday boy and soon-to-be crowned king."Kamil blinked. "You remembered."

"Of course," Liam said. "Your coronation is tomorrow, your birthday's today - how could we forget the royal double feature?"

Abel added, "You're turning twenty, in case you lost count. Time to stop acting fifty."

Kamil rolled his eyes but opened the first box. A sleek black watch gleamed under the light, the kind of thing he'd actually wear.

"Read the engraving," Liam said, grinning.

Inside the clasp: To the prince who measures everything but his own heart. Kamil glanced up, half amused. "You two have too much free time."

"That's called friendship," Abel said, then gestured to the second box - a worn leather journal. "You used to write. We thought maybe you'd start again."

Kamil's fingers lingered on it longer than he meant to. "Thank you," he said softly.

Liam smirked. "So... who was she?"

Kamil frowned. "Who?"

"The maid who just left like her life depended on it."

Abel folded his arms. "You could practically see panic trailing behind her."

Kamil sighed, deciding not to deny it. "She didn't know who I was. Thought my name was Rami."

There was a pause - then Liam's laughter filled the room. "You're joking."

Abel shook his head, amused. "You let her think you were someone else?"

"She introduced herself first," Kamil said flatly. "And I didn't correct her. I didn't think it mattered."

"Until she started calling you by that fake name," Liam teased. "Classic."Kamil's jaw tightened, though a faint smile betrayed him. "She was just delivering something.

Nothing more."

"Sure," Abel said, eyes narrowing. "And I'm the Grand Vizier."

Liam leaned forward, pretending to whisper. "Did she at least compliment your looks?"

Kamil shot him a look. "She cursed me under her breath."

Abel laughed. "That's practically affection."

Kamil rubbed the bridge of his nose. "She mentioned... it's her birthday today."

That silenced them both for a beat.

Liam whistled. "You're telling me the palace maid who doesn't know you're royalty shares your birthday? That's poetic."

Abel tilted his head. "Or fate."

"Don't start," Kamil muttered.

But he was smiling softly a soft. "Still," Abel said, "you could do something nice for her."

Kamil hesitated for half a second, then glanced toward the open window where the faint hum of palace life drifted in. "Send someone to the staff quarters," he said finally. "Find her -

Milan. Get her a birthday gift."

Liam's brows rose. "Define gift."

"Something simple," Kamil said. "But not too simple."

Abel grinned. "Luxurious simple?"

"Exactly."

Liam smirked. "You're impossible. What should we send? Jewelry? Perfume? A car?"

Kamil looked away, thoughtful. "Something she'll actually use - but never be able to afford."

Abel nodded, already pulling out his phone. "Consider it done. The maid has no idea what's about to hit her."

Kamil didn't respond. His mind had already drifted - back to that quiet smile, the nervous laugh, the way she'd said Rami like it belonged to someone real.

Milan got back to her room after the whole activities, tired but that's an understatement because she's so worn out.

Her back ached. Her palms smelled faintly of jasmine soap. And she still couldn't get the stupid mistake out of her head.

Rami.

She groaned under her breath. "Of all people to make friends with, I had to pick the prince."

Hiba, sprawled on Milan's narrow bed, nearly choked on laughter. She had Insisted on staying back as it was her friend's birthday. "You what?"

"Shhh!" Milan threw a towel at her. "Keep your voice down."

"You told the Crown Prince your name was Milan and you called him Rami?"

"I didn't know!" Milan whispered harshly. "He didn't say anything! He even said he worked here!"

Hiba was still giggling. "Well... technically, he does."

"Not funny."

"Oh, it's hilarious. Do you know people get dismissed just for looking him in the eye too long?"

Milan flopped down beside her, face buried in a pillow. "Great. So I'll be unemployed before my first paycheck."

Hiba turned on her side, grinning. "Or promoted. Who knows - maybe he liked you."

Milan lifted her head, glaring. "You need to stop reading those palace romance stories."

Hiba smirked. "You are living one."Before Milan could respond, a knock echoed from outside the servants' quarters.

A crisp male voice followed. "Message for Milan Hussein."

Every head in the room turned.

Milan sat up slowly. "For me?"

The door slid open, and a royal aide stepped in - tall, dressed in silver-trimmed uniform. He carried a small velvet box and a folded card sealed with the royal crest.

"Happy birthday," the aide said simply, handing it to her. "From His Highness.

For a long moment, the room was silent. Even Hiba forgot to breathe.

Milan blinked. "From... who?"

"The Crown Prince," he repeated, bowing before leaving just as swiftly as he came. The moment the door closed, chaos erupted.

"Milan!"

"Oh my God!"

"What did you do?!"

Hiba practically launched herself at her. "Open it! Hurry!"

With trembling fingers, Milan untied the satin ribbon. Inside the velvet box lay a delicate gold bracelet - thin, elegant, with a small charm shaped like a music note.

Her breath caught. "It's... beautiful."

Hiba snatched the folded card and read it aloud before Milan could stop her.

For the girl who hums when she works. The palace is brighter for it.

There was no signature, but Milan didn't need one.

She knew exactly whose words those were.

Her chest tightened - confusion, warmth, disbelief all tangled together."See?" Hiba whispered, smiling wide. "Told you he liked you."

Milan didn't answer.

She just stared at the bracelet and for the first time since entering the palace, she wasn't thinking about rules, or fear, or rank.

Just that quiet look in his eyes earlier that day.