Chapter 295: A True Barbarian
Unlike during his time spent in Iran, Alex was not immediately detained and brought to a holding cell for questioning, rather the Saudi Royal Guards held him on the spot and interrogated him for information about what had happened.
It was, of course, difficult to explain that he had reacted on instinct, and struck the American ambassador, after the American Ambassador demanded that Alex bow before the Saudi Princess and introduce himself like some kind of whipped dog.
Nor was it exactly an excuse that the Saudi King wanted to hear. After all, it was a simple sign of courtesy to greet a royal in such a way and he was displeased to see Alex’s lack of decorum, immediately ordering an investigation as to why Alex was invited into his daughter’s birthday ceremony.
But just when Alex was about to be thrown out of the venues, and perhaps even deported from the country, an unlikely advocate stepped forward on his behalf for reasons that neither Alex, nor the Saudi King, understood.
Princess Aisha stepped forward and halted her father’s hasty actions while pleading on Alex’s behalf in a display of grace and dignity befitting of her role as a literal Princess.
“Father, that won’t be necessary. I must admit I am rather intrigued by this diplomat, and it was an entertaining show. Must we really expel the man for fighting with a member of his own delegation? I mean, is that not to be expected from the Americans?”
Alex narrowed his eyes at the princess when she said this. It was clear by the words she chose, and the tone in her voice, that she didn’t have much of an opinion of the United States of America or its people. But then again, Alex didn’t necessarily blame her for that.
Still, he chose to remain silent as the Suadi King sighed and shook his head before agreeing to his daughter’s request.
Despite saying this, the Saudi King did not press it as he knew this incident had begun because Alex refused to bend the knee, thus he walked off stating he had more important matters to take care of, while leaving his daughter to attend to the guests.
Aisha, however, was far more strict with Alex as she “ordered” him to kneel before her and thank her for her benevolence in a bit of a roundabout way.
“My father’s right, you know. I could easily end your career as a diplomat if you don’t perform some proper courtesy. Your antics have been amusing, but a dog should know his place…”
Alex scoffed as he rolled his eyes before telling the spoiled brat to keep dreaming.
“In your dreams, sweetheart. Besides, this isn’t my usual gig, get my fired all you want. I’m just here out of an agreement between me and the DOJ. I do my job, and everything is kosher between us…”
Aisha raised her brow when she heard Alex say this last part. She was curious what job he was speaking of, but even more curious about his peculiar choice of words.
“Oh? You’re Jewish?”
Alex gave the woman a dirty look, which she wasn’t expecting as he spoke in a vulgar manner which she found both offensive and intriguing.
“Do I look like a fucking jew to you? It’s an expression, that’s all…”
Aisha giggled slightly when she heard Alex’s harsh tone and choice of words. She couldn’t help but find something interesting about him. Obviously, this was because nobody had ever dared to behave so crass to her in the past, let alone speak such vulgarities in front of her.
But she didn’t realize this, and instead tried to warn Alex about his behavior and how improper it was in polite society.
“You really are little more than a barbarian, aren’t you? I mean, I have never met a man so… Uncouth… It is a breath of fresh air, but I must say you should be on your guard. If my father heard your cursing in front of me, he would have your tongue removed.”
Alex noticed that his behavior was gaining the girl’s attention. She was slowly increasing in affection. Point by point with every vulgarity he spoke, and every improper action he took. It immediately became apparent to him that this princess had a thing for bad boys, probably because she never met one before.
Thus, Alex decided to continue with his current efforts, insulting the woman’s country, or more accurately, it’s military to her face.
“Lady, I’ve taken on the CIA’s death squads. You think your nation’s soldiers who can’t even beat a bunch of goat herders in Yemen scare me?”
Aisha did not believe Alex for one second, and thought them an was just acting tough to gain her favor, a bold approach, one which many a man had tried in front of her before, but few as convincing as Alex. Still, she found his statement amusing and thus giggled once more.
“You’re amusing, I will give you that. I’m Aisha by the way, but I’m sure you already knew that Mr. Smith…”
Alex’s response, of course, only further amused the girl as he forsook honorifics altogether in the most shameless way possible.
“It’s Alex. Don’t call me Mr. Smith, it makes me feel old!”
This remark only caused Aisha to shake her head, as she commented on Alex’s inability to engage in basic common courtesy.
“You truly don’t know how to engage in polite society, do you Mr… Alex…. Come, take a walk with me. I want to hear about your life story. I am curious about how a man can grow up to be so naturally belligerent.”
Alex smirked when he heard this and took the Princess’s arm in a display that shocked all of her guests. He would continue to speak with her throughout the night about his past, and how he grew up into the badger of a man he was today.
—
In another corner of the Palace, the Saudi King sat with another man of equal renown and his son who was slightly older than Alex. This was the Sultan of Oman and his heir. The Sultan stood before the Saudi King and proposed an offer that neither of them could refuse.
“You know how smitten my son is with your daughter, Aisha? My son is without a betrothed, and so is your daughter. And your daughter has just turned off age to marry. Thus, I propose that my son and heir Ali marries your daughter.
Think of what we can accomplish together, especially against Iran and its proxies. You know the situation with the Houthis is growing more unrestrained, and I would not mind providing military aid to your efforts to destroy them if you agree to my request.”
Ali eyed the two men with a determined gaze. He was, after all, more than willing to marry a beauty like Aisha, especially since it would help secure his future reign as the next Sultan of Oman. But despite the Sultan’s promising offer of military aid in return for Aisha’s hand in marriage, the Saudi King seemed distressed.
He was, of course, concerned about how his daughter would react to this news. The girl had a willful personality, no doubt a result of being spoiled her entire life, and would not take the idea of suddenly being married off to the heir of some second-rate power in the region without throwing an enormous fit.
Still… The War in Yemen was not proceeding nearly as well as the Saudis had thought it would, and after years of conflict they were truly no closer to their goal of eliminating the Houthis and establishing a puppet government over the country as they had been at the start of the war.
Despite buying tons of modern military equipment from the United States, the Saudi Army was woefully inexperienced in terms of combat and thus lacked battlefield efficiency. More and more the Saudis and their partners in the UAE were relying on foreign mercenaries to wage this war.
And they were paying out the ass for these mercenaries. Some of them were even making half a million a year fighting on behalf of the Saudis. But most of them were fighting for significantly less at only 100k a year.
Oman’s troops would be welcomed, but at the same time the Saudi King genuinely believed that the Omani army would run into the same exact problems he was currently having. Still, bodies were bodies, and artillery was artillery. His daughter’s hissy fit from hell was a small price to pay in exchange for securing regional interests.
Thus, the Saudi King ultimately agreed to this request after some more haggling over the more minute details. Completely unaware that Alex had begun to get on the good side of Aisha while the two of them enjoyed a walk through the palace gardens under the moonlight and the stars above.