02 // UNFORSEEN

Talk about awkward! The queen stood there for a minute before putting on a smile and a show as she leaped forward and into her son's arms.

“My son! Look how grown up you are, you look just like your dad.”

Prince Lincoln hugged her and then moved to give Queen Shekinah a bear hug. “Mama, you are even more beautiful than you were the last time I saw you! I missed you.”

It was the first time he spoke, and his voice was as delirious as ever.

That small gesture saw his mother's face change as Queen Shekinah blushed furiously and slapped his arm. “Ugh, man, Lincoln, don't mess with me!” She laughed.

Lincoln laughed and moved on to greet the king. “Baba.” He shook his hand before they hugged each other briefly.

I could never understand men or why they hated embracing each other.

“Goodness, Lincoln. It feels like I'm staring into a mirror. I can't believe how grown up you are, you are ready to take over the throne now,” the king said in astonishment.

“Dad, don't exaggerate,” he said and turned to his mother before pulling her into another hug. “My queen,” he said and took her hand. “I want to introduce you all to someone. Where's Samu?” He searched around the room for his sister, his eyes briefly landing on me for a second.

“Did I hear someone call my name?”

If there was one word one would use to describe Princess Samu, it would be rowdy. Princess Samu was rumbustious, not only in the way she carried herself or in her behaviour, but in her voice and the way she spoke, she had a way of grabbing everyone's attention or letting her presence be felt. Every so often I think that was why her parents refused to send her overseas, unlike Lincoln who was calm and collected, Samu was a troublesome young adult.

She walked into the room dressed in the same jumpsuit she was wearing the previous night, and the queen threw me a look.

Great! Just what I needed.

Everybody knew that Princess Samu changed into four to five different outfits on a daily.

“Samu, where are you coming from?” Queen Gladys asked.

Samu ignored her, her eyes searching the room until they landed on her brother. A scowl formed on her face, and Lincoln laughed in response. “Oh, no!” She breathed.

“Really, Samu? Is that how you greet your favourite brother?” He asked, opening his arms for a hug.

Samu sighed, dragging her feet all the way to him until she fell right into his big arms.

I always imagined that would be us, although many dreams had died, I had hoped to see him one last time before I kick the bucket. But he did not even notice me. I don't understand why I held on to that dream for years, it felt like it was the only thing that kept me alive.

“Well, what are you still standing around for?” My head snapped up at the queen's commanding voice. “Get back to work and get their luggage to their rooms!”

I felt my cheeks burning up as all eyes were on me, and I kept my eyes on the floor. “My apologies, Your Majesty,” I said hastily, suddenly feeling self-conscious and ashamed.

Why was I acting like this? The Azania I know would keep her head held high and face her problems head-on.

I stood up straight, but for some reason, I still couldn't look anyone in the eye. I went outside and got their luggage from the car.

“Let me help you with that,” Sam offered, and I did not protest.

“Thank you.” I smiled.

Honestly, I was beyond tired, and for some unknown reason, my spirit was dead. It was about time I went home. I don't even think I'm a suitable candidate for this position, considering the fact that being a head maid required one to live in the palace and be available 24/7. And I was not up for all that jazz.

While getting the bags, Lizzy came rushing outside. “Azania, Sam and I will take care of these. Go to the kitchen and have something to eat, you haven't eaten anything all day, it's almost time for your meds, and you can't take them on an empty stomach. The royal family is already seated in the dining room, the girls will serve them, and I will also join them after dropping these bags.”

She did not give me a chance to protest, she grabbed the bags from me, and then led Sam into the house.

I sighed tiredly, my shoulders slumped as I made my way to the kitchen, shamelessly using the back door to avoid running into any of the royal family members.

I ate as quickly as I could, and then I took my medication. My cardiologist said I was a goner if I missed once, so I set a reminder on my phone. My mom and Lizzy were also there to remind me all the time.

I had a few minutes to drink some tea, I was warned to take it easy with the coffee.

The staff started to bring some dishes to the kitchen, and then took with them the desserts, while I kept myself busy with washing the dishes and putting the leftovers in containers. If I had to list one of the fun benefits for working here, it would probably be the fact that we cook a feast for them and eat what they leave behind. You most likely think that we eat leftovers, but no, we actually eat more than they do.

I always made sure to get everything for my mother, as much as she hated me working here, she could never say no to the food.

I was about to get my stuff and leave when the queen barged into the kitchen. What more did she want from me? As far as I was concerned, the welcoming dinner went well.

The other staff and I collected all the gifts the villagers had brought for their prince, and we stacked them in the storeroom. The dishes were washed, which I saw to, and everything was in place. It was time to go home, while I would normally decline, Sam was waiting for me outside after insisting on walking me home, knowing him, he probably wanted to discuss something with me.

“Your Majesty, is there a problem?” I asked.

She snorted, giving me a once-over, something she never missed whenever she was in my presence. “Either you really are stupid or you are just pretending,” she spat. “Didn’t I order you to prepare my son’s room earlier?”

I crossed my arms, snickering. “You did, but you also ordered me to go with the guards to the airport while I was busy with your son’s room.”

“My son, the prince, is not happy with the mess you made. You are in line to be the head maid, and yet, you can’t do anything right.”

For some reason, you seem to think that I am desperate for that position. I wanted to spit, but bit my tongue instead. “I am sorry, my queen, I will fix the prince’s room to his liking,” I said with a brittle smile and walked past her, hanging my bag before rushing up to the west wing.

I knocked on the door and received a hardened invite, I opened the door and entered, my heart turning ice-cold at the state of the room. If you asked me, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the place, it was spotless and well-prepared, I didn’t understand what was so bad about it that made the prince stand beneath the bed while throwing daggers at me.

“Do you think this is a hotel?” He asked sternly.

I shrugged. “Obviously not.”

He pursed his lips, clearly not happy with my response. “Then why the hell is my room set up like a hotel room?”

Well, I have to admit, the white was a little too much, Prince Lincoln had always liked dark colours, and this was not it, he probably preferred having the room in the state he left it in.

“I’ll have the staff change it to the way you want it tomorrow, Your Highness.”

He scoffed. “Tomorrow? I want it done now!”

I sighed tiredly, I really did not have the energy or time for this. “Sleeping on these sheets for one night won’t kill you.”

“Excuse me? How dare you? What kind of maid can’t do a simple job?”

I raised my eyebrows at him, I couldn’t believe where this conversation was heading. “Oh, is that so?” I asked, raising my voice. “If you think my job is easy, why don’t you do it yourself? Surely, they must have taught you a thing or two at the university. If you can remember how your room was before you left, I’m pretty sure you still remember where your bedsheets are kept.”

“How dare you speak to me in that manner?” He seethed, taking calculated steps towards me. “Do I need to remind you who I am?”

I stepped forward with my arms on my chest. “No, but clearly you need a reminder.” His mask faltered for a second before being replaced by cold, menacing eyes. “I am Azania Kunene, and I will not be bullied, not by you or your mother. Remember that.”

Of all the ways I’d imagined, this was not how I expected our first conversation after ten years to go. I was so angry, and I made a decision that would affect the others in the next coming days. If the royal family think my job is easy, then let’s see how they survive without me.

I left the palace in the heat of anger, and I dismissed Sam when he tried to walk me home, I was not in the mood for small talk. By the time I got home, my mother had already heard wind of my mood, and I had no doubt that Lizzy gave her the news.

I waltzed into the house and left my boots at the door, and then I threw off my coat and bag on the couch. Normally, I showered at the palace in the workers’ quarters, but I left in such a rush, and only realised when I got home that I needed a bath.

One thing about me was that I was spoilt, I was a mama’s baby. I couldn’t be more grateful when I found that my mom had already run a bath for me. I had a bath and then changed into my sleepwear.

Our guests were not around, it would be a lie if I said I wasn't glad. The last thing I needed was to be pestered about ‘the prince.’ Prince, my foot! I huffed as I got into bed, where mama was waiting.

I could see it on her face, my mother was dying to tell me that she told me so. She spent the last ten years trying to convince me to quit working at the palace because of Gladys, but we also knew that was not an option.

When it came to certain aspects of my life, I wasn’t as lucky as Lincoln or Samu, I didn’t have rich parents to send me abroad to pursue a career, or sponsor my rendezvouses; I had to make-do with what I had, and those castle walls were the only thing I’d ever known all my life.

My mother wanted me to have a better life, but had no means of seeing to it. I told myself that it was fate, some people were meant to be wealthy and successful while others were to be peasants, and I guess that was it for me.

“Have you spoken to him?” She asked while playing with my hair.

I gulped, my heart soaring at the memory of our encounter earlier. He was so rude. “I wouldn't say we spoke.”

Mama laughed. “You argued. You guys always had senseless arguments.” I sighed in response. “Azania, what if there was hope? Surely, you don't think this is the end.”

“Mama, don't do this to yourself, don't do this to me. Stop feeding on false hope.”

“But–”

“No buts, Mama! I'm at the bottom of the list, and the person on top of the list has also been waiting for years.”

“I get that. But we could always ask the king for help, he could use his power to get you a new heart.”

I sat up straight. “No.” I said firmly.

I don't know how many times we have had this conversation before. Furthermore, I understand that she was afraid of losing me, and I sympathized with her. As much as I tried to play it off as a normal thing, death that is, it pained me to think I would die and leave her alone.

However, this was one tricky situation, and there was nothing we could do about it. Mama even wished that she could die first so that she could give me her heart, but I told her that I would kill myself if she did that.

I knew it was unfair, but people did not just drop dead and give away their hearts. Apart from the law and hospital procedures, we had customs in our kingdom, we had traditions. Our people did not believe in organ donations, they forbade burying their loved ones while they were 'incomplete'. Organ donation was like a bad omen, and they believed that the deceased would not be welcomed into the land of the dead by their ancestors, so there were rarely any people who signed up as organ donors.

I had long given up on the idea of getting a new heart. Maybe this was how things were meant to be, we only have one life in this world. If we were meant to have more than one life, my father would be still alive, and I wouldn't have to take Queen Gladys' punches every day if Mrs Zulu was still alive.

My mother was right about one thing, the king wouldn't hesitate to get me that heart, it would probably ease his guilt for my father's death. However, I wouldn't live with myself knowing I robbed someone else of their second chance at life.

“I'm so sorry, my love. I didn't mean to upset you, come to bed," Mama said, and I did not argue any further, I got into bed, and I was literally wrapped in my mother's arms until I started to drift off. “You are my little miracle, that's how I know that this is not the end.”

Oh, Mama! How I wish that was true. I thought as I slipped into a world of dreams.