I was a prince in the Middle East

Chapter 39 Science God of War? Sorry, I'm a humanities rogue!
Talal Palace

Princess Luna was holding a tablet and scrolling through the bustling Twitter feed.

Seeing those short videos of older brothers accompanied by "The Imperial March," looking every bit like Darth Vader inspecting an exam hall, especially with the comments section full of jokes like "science god" and "force barrier"...

She couldn't help but giggle, her shoulders swaying.

It's so nice when Mom and Dad aren't home!
As for the tutor?

She had already evaded it by faking illness.

While laughing and eating popcorn while watching the show, little Luna's fingers were moving rapidly.

She precisely selected the version of the Imperial March with the most views and likes, and clicked "share" heavily.

Then I specifically entered that familiar ID in the @ field: @Shman_Bint_Mohd (Shman Bint Mohammed).

The attached comment, though only one line long, was full of mischievous glee, as if it were a case of enjoying a good spectacle:

"@Shman_Bint_Mohd Come look! My brother, the man with his own background music! Isn't he handsome?! #ThisMakesPerfect#"

……

Inside the Dubai Palace, Samantha glanced at the tablet, wrinkled her nose, and then turned to show it to her sister.
"Look! Your man!"

Sanama looked up and watched the video, a slight smile curving her lips, before lowering her head to embroider her robe.

A light, casual remark escaped her lips: "If you're so capable, then don't try to take it from me again."

Samantha blinked her eyes but didn't say anything.

In her heart, her older sister was the smartest person in the world.

Since the older sister seemed to have known everything about that "perverted freak" all along, even his sharp rebuttal in front of the camera now seemed expected...

So why should Samantha bother figuring out this complicated guy?

My sister saw through it all, which means she saw through it all too well.

If my sister truly feels that marrying Walid was a worthwhile investment, then she hasn't lost out either.

Use your brain?
Too much trouble!

It's best to leave it to my clever older sister.

Shaman took Sanama's comforting words to heart that day.

So she began to subtly probe Luna, her potential 'future sister-in-law', into revealing information.

She and Luna have been chatting enthusiastically these past few days.

So it's true, the women of Talal Palace are very free.

This made her feel less resistant.

Besides, her sister had assured her that even if she were to enter into a religious marriage with Walid, it would be more than two years from now.

Her gaze involuntarily drifted back to the screen.

The Walid on the screen, with his taut face, cold and sharp eyes, who not only did not back down under immense pressure but also displayed astonishing momentum, was completely different from the silly, carefree person she remembered from the photos!
This stark contrast made her heart skip a beat.

No wonder my sister is swooning over him!
He does seem quite handsome.

This discovery made her feel a little surprised and embarrassed.

She instinctively shook her head, as if trying to shake off the somewhat frightening thought.

"I'm still young!"

Samantha made a decision in her mind.

The complex emotions budding before her and the things that required her to think were clearly beyond the scope of what she should be worrying about at her age.

So she made a decision that was appropriate for her "child" status.

"Sis, do you want some ice cream?"

Before she finished speaking, her petite figure had already turned and jogged towards the refrigerator like a light breeze.

Sanama's hands continued embroidering, but she quietly rolled her eyes.

"Vanilla flavor!"

……

Not far away, a security gate appeared in front of Walid.

"Your Highness, in order to demonstrate to the nation the absolute fairness and impartiality of this examination, to eliminate any possible doubts, and to uphold the doctrine that all people are equal before God..."

Please allow us to conduct a thorough body search to ensure equal treatment for everyone!

The speaker was Najib, the principal of Riyadh No. 1 Public High School.

This man, from the conservative Giroud faction, stood like a hyena waiting for its prey, precisely blocking Walid's path.

Najib wore a humble, fake smile and deliberately raised his voice to ensure that all the reporters present could hear him clearly.

"presumptuous!"

Prince Alwaleed was instantly enraged, stepping forward like a provoked lion, displaying his imposing presence.
"A body search?! This is a blatant trampling on the royal bloodline! An insult to the dignity of the Talal clan!"
Najib, who gave you the audacity to make such a request?!

"Your Highness, please calm your anger!"

A deep, resonant voice, imbued with religious authority, rang out promptly.

Riyadh Mufti Jamal appeared at the opportune moment with more than ten mullahs (religious teachers) dressed in black robes and with solemn expressions.

He placed his hand on his chest in a reverent gesture, yet his tone carried an undeniable solemnity.
"This is the will of God, a necessary measure to maintain the purity of the examination and to prevent all blasphemy!"

Only in this way can we quell the doubts of the people and uphold the glory of God!

Seeing that Prince Khalid was about to say something, Jamal smiled.

"The Hadith states: You should be honest and trustworthy, and weigh things fairly, and you must strictly prohibit any deception or fraudulent behavior!"

As he spoke, the mullahs behind him began chanting scriptures with him, their voices loud and clear, carrying an invisible spiritual pressure:
Honesty makes one obedient, and obedience leads one to paradise.

A person should act honestly until they become a loyal person.
Deception and lies lead to debauchery and crime, and crime leads to hellfire.

A person who lies and deceives will be deemed a deceiver by Allah!

The solemn chanting echoed in the sweltering air, as if forming an invisible religious judgment seat.

The ordinary students at the school gate, who were already resentful of Walid due to the strict invigilation and subject adjustments, were stirred by this sacred atmosphere and subconsciously echoed it in hushed tones.

All the voices converged into a wave called "public opinion," pounding against the lonely prince.

Reporters with their cameras and microphones excitedly pressed the shutter.

I love these big scenes!

The flashes of light were everywhere, greedily capturing every subtle change in Walid's expression, trying to dig out traces of humiliation or anger.

Prince Khalid's face was ashen, his fists clenched tightly in the wide sleeves of his robe, his knuckles white.

Prince Alwaleed was enraged, his eyes piercing Jamal like poisoned knives.

At this tense moment, Walid calmly raised his hand, stopping his enraged father and uncle.

His voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly pierced through the chanting and noise, possessing a strange penetrating power.

“Father, Uncle, it’s alright. God above, my heart is at peace, what is there to fear from the test?”

He opened his arms, his posture so composed that it seemed he was not undergoing a humiliating examination, but rather a sacred purification ritual.

Deep within his amber eyes lay only a tranquil, icy lake. Najib and Jamal exchanged a knowing glance, a smug smile playing on their lips.

The dignity of the Talal faction was trampled into the sand by them in full view of everyone.

The reporters took even more photos.

They even had a headline in mind: "Money Isn't Everything! The Talal Lion Cubs Forced to Bow Down in the Exam!"

After the body search was completed, Walid did not leave immediately.

He slowly and deliberately straightened his white robe, which had been turned over, then turned around, his gaze sharp as lightning, looking directly at his father, Prince Khalid. His voice was not loud, but it carried clearly to the ears of every reporter and onlooker.

“Father, the Treaty of Drahia in 1744 stipulated that the Wahhabi were responsible for the dissemination and interpretation of religious doctrines, while administrative power and the adjudication of secular affairs belonged to the secular bloodline of Muhammad ibn Saud.”

Today, religious forces are openly using the guise of 'oversight' to exert pressure on the monarchy, publicly humiliating me, the heir to Prince Talal.

This is to betray the sacred covenant of our ancestors and disregard the laws and regulations of the kingdom.

Or……"

He paused deliberately, his gaze, like a cold blade, sweeping over Jamal, whose expression had instantly changed drastically, and asked, word by word,

"...The Church is already eager to reach out to the monarchy, attempting to rise above secular monarchy."

This matter concerns the very foundation of the nation. Should the royal family convene a royal council immediately?

I suggest that His Majesty the King and His Highness the Crown Prince clarify the boundaries between papal and royal authority!

boom!
These words were like a ladle of cold water poured into a pot of boiling oil, causing an instant explosion!

Jamal's smugness and solemnity froze instantly, turning into horror and deathly paleness!
He had never expected that this young prince would be so ruthless and cunning...

Or perhaps it's just that their logic is ingenious!

He directly invoked the Diraia Covenant, the very foundation of Saudi Arabia, instantly elevating a humiliating body search targeting him personally to a political level of "religious interference in politics," "undermining the foundation of the state," and "betraying the covenant!"

This hat is enough to bring the entire Sheikh faction to its doom!
"No! Your Highness! You...you have seriously misunderstood!"

Jamal waved his hands hastily, his voice filled with barely concealed panic; his previous religious demeanor had vanished completely.
"This...this is merely exam supervision! It is the doctrine that grants us the power to maintain fairness in the examination room!"
It is absolutely not directed at the royal family! And we would never dare to overstep the bounds of royal authority!

"God above all, I had no such intention!"

Cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead, glistening under the camera lens.

Walid's lips curled into a cold smile as he pressed closer.
"Oh? Not targeting the royal family? Then it must be targeting me personally—the sole heir of the Talal line?"
"What, is the Mufti going to declare war on my Talal faction?"

He wanted to say that he had indeed been pretending to be a science genius.

But, sorry to say, deep down, he's a liberal arts rogue from China.

Moreover, it's the pinnacle of liberal arts majors!

In ancient times, someone with this kind of expertise would...

Call upon the Han envoy!
Jamal waved his hand dramatically, "Your Highness is joking, I had no such intention! I was merely fulfilling my duty... I had no choice..."

Walid, glancing around at the cameras, gave a cold laugh and interrupted him.

"What Namufti means is that, according to his duty, the papacy has the right to arbitrarily humiliate or insult any heir to the throne without any royal authorization or just cause?"

What sacred law has granted you this privilege?

We urge Mufti to cite relevant scriptures and texts to clarify our doubts.

"me……"

Jamal was rendered speechless by the rebuttal.

Cold sweat poured down his back, and he stammered, unable to utter a single complete sentence, left only with a pathetic and embarrassed state.

The atmosphere of religious judgment he had just created had now become a noose around his own neck.

……

Dubai, Princess's bedroom, in front of the television screen

"sister!"

Eleven-year-old Princess Samantha blinked her bright, lively eyes, pointing at Walid's imposing figure on the screen, her little face full of wonder.
"That pervert... seems... to be actually quite clever?"

She never expected that Luna's brother, whom she called a "pervert," would be able to launch such a desperate counterattack.

Princess Sanama, Walid's official fiancée, continues to focus intently on her intricate Talli embroidery.

The magnificent robe on the embroidery frame is for the matchmaking and engagement ceremony at the end of the month.

Upon hearing this, she simply smiled faintly without raising her head.

The stitches remained smooth and steady, as if the raging waves on the screen were nothing more than a gentle breeze across the water.

"As expected."

That tranquility formed a stark contrast to the clamor on the screen.

……

Walid ignored Jamal, who looked ashen-faced and wished he could disappear into the ground, and turned to walk towards the secondary security checkpoint.

It was as if the earth-shattering political question just now had merely brushed away a speck of dust from the prince's white robe.

However, the difficulties did not end there.

Principal Najib stopped him again, "Your Highness, to ensure the fairness of the exam and eliminate any possible suspicion of cheating, stationery will be provided in the examination room. Please change your stationery."

A staff member next to me handed me a bag of stationery.

Walid glanced at the other candidates around him, and seeing that they were all in the same boat, he didn't say anything.

After handing the pencil case that his mother had prepared to his father, he took another one from the box where the stationery was placed.

However, this scene surprised onlookers and reporters.

Najib is now acting like a gambler who's lost everything, jumping out again. Does this mean the Girudential faction is going to completely break ties with the Talal faction?

Isn't the head of the Kyrgyz faction King Abdullah?

Hasn't King Abdullah already reached a reconciliation with Crown Prince Salman?

The Giroud faction and the Talal faction should theoretically be in the same camp, so why is Najib so blind to continue targeting them?
This is so unreasonable!
Walid picked up his pencil case and sneered, merely glancing disdainfully at Najib with eyes as cold as knives, full of mockery, as if looking at a fool about to set himself on fire.

Just then, a rumor began to spread rapidly among the test takers and reporters, like a pebble thrown into a pond, quickly creating ripples:

"Have you heard? Prince Walid has rejected King Abdullah's marriage proposal to his most beloved granddaughter and is going to marry a princess from Dubai instead!"

"No wonder! It turns out that the Talal faction was ungrateful and rejected the olive branch extended by the Giruvi faction. Well, don't blame them for turning their backs on you!"

"Not necessarily. I've heard that some within the Giroud faction believe that King Abdullah sacrificed the interests of the entire faction for his own family's private gain..."

"So, at this moment, King Abdullah does not represent the Giruddy faction?"

"Ha! This is getting interesting!"

The onlookers immediately became excited. This kind of royal infighting was exactly what they wanted to see, and it instantly eased the tense atmosphere from before.

But all of this was irrelevant to Walid; he had already entered the school.

When Walid entered the classroom designated as a "special examination room," viewers watching on television were shocked to realize that the psychological manipulation had escalated once again!

……

(End of this chapter)