Be My Princess

"Maaku, why did you insist on involving me into their nonsense? I have no interest in marrying a commoner just for the sake of fulfilling Ngaak's promise to a mere servant!"

Francis had been pacing impatiently in his mother's bedroom, waiting for her to finish bathing since the moment he had gotten back to the East Wing after greeting the king and catching up with his cousin. Their complicity was not what it used to be, but they were still happy to see each other again after such a long period, and had chatted for more than an hour.

Josephine calmly walked to the mirror and stood there a moment to admire her reflexion. Even if she was now in her forties, her beauty hadn't started to fade yet. Her silk night gown and robe were tracing and putting in value every curve of her attractive body. No wrinkle could be spotted on her ebony face with round eyes, a small snub nose and downturned lips. She smiled at her reflexion, released her thick shoulder long natural hair from the shower cap, sat at her coiffeuse and started to brush it.

"You should learn to always look at the big picture, Mwan-ikung[1]." She calmly started. "If the royal family thought less of the late Commander of the Royal Guard, they would have never thought of asking the hand of his granddaughter for the crown prince; or even bother to comply with her request in the first place. If it were just about fulfilling the promise, they could have just taken her for you and found more suitable maiden for the crown prince."

Josephine put down her hairbrush and walked to her son. Francis was now a head above hers, so she had to lift her head in order to meet his eyes. Gently, she brought up her hand and caressed his cheek.

"Every right and privileges Angel is enjoying right now as crown prince are rightfully yours. You are the true heir to the throne of Ruund. So, I intend to take it all back for you; the maiden included!"

Francis rendered his mother's evil smirk, grabbed his mother hand, and kissed it.

"Wajikitanyi, Maaku."

"So, I have opened up the way for you to win the heart of that maiden; don't disappoint me."

Francis flashed his most charming smile before replying: "Come on, Maaku! You hurt my feelings!" He then took two steps back and spread his arms in a presentation posture. "Who are you talking to?! I have yet to meet a woman who can resist my charms."

Josephine laughed. "Me too."

⁂

For his third visit, Charlotte had made sure that the royal secretary's car would be parked inside their compound. The royal family had not taken long before sending their answer to Kat's proposition; so George Chang was back two days later to announce that the royal family had agreed to Kat's request. However, their agreement was coming with an unexpected twist.

"Both princes?!" Kat exclaimed.

"The royal family has also requested that, the maiden stays at the palace during the entire courtship period." George Chang continued. "It is necessary that Changadim Kat undergo Princess Training before the wedding. And having never evolved in the noble sphere of Ruund society, there will be very much for her to learn."

The royal secretary took a paper out of the folder he was holding and handed it to Kat.

"This is the schedule that has been set for you." He explained.

Kat scrolled through the paper. Mondays were set for lessons on royal etiquette; Tuesdays for studies on Ruund history and culture; Wednesdays for learning the duties befalling a princess; and Thursdays for music, chanting and dance lessons. Her Fridays were set to interact with Prince Francis and her Saturdays with Crown Prince Angel; only her Sundays were left free.

At least!

"That's one busy schedule!" Michael exclaimed, reading on the paper from over his sister's shoulder.

"It only seems to be a very busy schedule; but the lessons will never take the entire day." The royal secretary explained, to reassure her.

"This is actually everything any chosen maiden must master before she is presented as the prince's bride to be on his 25th birthday." Charlotte commented. "The advantage of maidens born in nobility is that they learn most of these things as they grow up.

"But, why both princes?" Kat still complained.

"Try to understand the royal family, Changadim Kat. In the case you reject the marriage proposal, the royal family will have no choice but to wait until the next generation in order to fulfil the late king's promise." George Chang pleaded. "And it also seems like Changadim Kat made a very good first impression on the queen on your encounter." He added.

Kat couldn't help but smile at the royal secretary's comment. "Really?"

"Indeed." He affirmed. "Now, beyond the fulfilment of the promise, it appears that the royal family truly cherishes the idea of having Changadim Kat as a daughter-in-law. Requesting that you interact with both princes is their way of putting more chances on their side."

Kat nodded in understanding. "Well, in that case, I agree their request."

The royal secretary let out a sigh of satisfaction and smiled brightly.

"Marvellous! I will inform the king immediately. And tomorrow morning, we will take flight for Ruund."

"Tomorrow already?" Kat exclaimed.

"Yes, Changadim Kat. The first month has already started. The lessons will start next week; but since tomorrow is Thursday, you will be able to settle in the palace before starting to interact with the princes."

"Alright…"

Kat wanted to spend a bit more time with her family. But how could she argue? She was already putting the royal family in a difficult situation by delaying her response; she really couldn't dare to be more demanding.

"Are you going back to Ruund now, Nswann-Mulap Chang?" Charlotte asked, worried about the old man endangering his health with so many trips.

"No, not at all. I had my assistant book a hotel room for the night."

Reassured, the Samas saw the royal secretary to his car. And as they went back inside their house, Michael requested that they threw an impromptu farewell party for his big sister. Upon Charlotte's approval, the afternoon was spent preparing a variety of delicious meals that they enjoyed to the full that evening.

When time for bed had finally come, Kat knelt next to her bed and joined her hands in prayer. At the time she had to find an answer to the marriage proposal, she had asked God for wisdom; and wisdom she had been granted. Now, that she was about to meet with her two suitors, she needed one more thing: discernment.

"Lord, thank You because the royal family has granted my request. I now asked that You endow me with discernment. You know the princes' hearts more than I'll ever do. Help me see who is sincere; and help me see whether any of them is the one…"

The following morning, inside the Sama Family's property…

Charlotte held her daughter a bit tighter… She really had a hard time letting go. Kat had asked that Secretary Chang came to pick her up very early so that her mother and brother could see her away before they left the house. It was the first time for her to leave her house on her own for a long period, and everyone had a hard time saying goodbye.

When Charlotte finally let go of her, Kat hugged her brother.

"Take good care of Maaku." She said at his ear with tearing eyes.

"I will." Michael simply promised, unable to place a single tease.

Kat then got into the car and immediately took her head out the car window to wave at her family as soon as the car started.

The day still very young, it was quite unlikely that any neighbour would witness the scene; so Charlotte and Michael followed the car up to the entrance and kept waving at Kat until the car disappeared at the corner of the street.

Kat then sat back with a knotted throat and battling to prevent her tears from rolling down. Understanding her pain, George Chang silently waited for her to pass that hard moment.

By the time the Rolls had stopped at the entrance of the Central Palace, Kat's gloom had been completely swept away. The uRuund landscape had that effect on her.

When she came out of the car, three handmaids were waiting to attend to her.

"Changadim Kat, these are your personal maids; Jane, Laure and Tiana." George Chang introduced. "They will be the ones tending to your every needs during your stay with us."

The three maids curtseyed to greet Kat and she timidly nodded in return, not used to be treated with so much reverence.

"Take the maiden's luggage to her room." The royal secretary ordered. "You will be staying in the West Wing; the crown prince's apartment." He explained to Kat as he gestured her to follow him.

"Why the crown prince apartment?" Kat asked with astonishment. "Wouldn't it be better if I stay in a neutral place given that I am to interact with both princes during this whole period?"

George Chang was rather impressed that the maiden had so much ease to express her mind that she would still question the royal family's decisions without fear even now that she was away from the comfort zone of her homeland.

"As per tradition, the person chosen for a prince or a princess is to move in his or her apartment as soon as the betrothal is announced. It helps them get acquainted to each other until the wedding ceremony takes place; which is usually a very short period. True that your case is different; but since you were primarily chosen for the crown prince, the king has ordered that you reside in the West Wing throughout the duration of the entire Courtship Program."

They entered the palace and, from the entrance hall, took the corridor that led to the West outdoor corridor. When they entered the crown prince's apartment, Kat's artistic eye, that was always attracted to beautiful works of art, was immediately subjugated by the large flared straight staircase, fringed with finely chiselled wooden Shrewsbury balusters that went up to the landing in the form of an inside balcony connecting the three bedrooms on the first floor, and the paintings on the high ceiling that George Chang explained were depicting important events in Ruund History.

As they went up the stairs, the royal secretary pointed at the bedroom at the left end of the balcony and explained that it was the crown prince's room. He also explained that Kat would be occupying the room destined for the crown prince's future wife. Kat wanted to ask why the crown prince and his wife had to have separate bedrooms, but she restrained herself.

"And what about the room in the middle?" She asked instead.

"Oh, that one is purposed for the next heir to the throne." George Chang answered with an implied smile.

Understanding the meaning of his smile, Kat let out an awkward "Oh" and silently followed the royal secretary to her designated bedroom. The elderly man stopped at the door, gestured her to go in, but did not follow after her.

From the door, he said: "The maids will help you unpack and refresh before I bring you to the queen."

"All right. Wajikitanyi, Nswann-Mulap Chang."

Kat looked around the room once the royal secretary had left. The room was spacious with bay windows taking an entire wall and a double bay door giving access to a balcony, and an adjoining study that comprised a desk, a bookcase and a reading space with a chaise lounge. Kat was rendered speechless by the luxury of everything from the canopy bed, to… the walking closet!

Kat's mind started spinning at the sight of the gigantic walking closet ending with a bathroom. Clothes and shoes for every seasons and any occasion; ball gowns… Then she entered the most luxurious bathroom she had ever seen in her life. Hot tub, shower, toilet, sink, bidet… Practically everything was rimmed with gold.

"Are you alright, Changadim Kat?"

Kat turned around to meet Jane's worried eyes. The two other maids entered the bathroom immediately, ready to assist. Kat smiled and headed back to the bedroom, followed closely by the maids who stood straight at short distance while she sat on the bed.

"I am fine. I guess it's just too much luxury at once for a simple girl like me." Kat joked to release the maids' tension.

The result was instantaneous; the young maids smiled brightly and abandoned their uptight attitude. The three maids seemed to be in the same age range as her; so Kat felt that she would be more at ease if she could befriend them.

"Nswann-Mulap Chang will be waiting for you, Changadim Kat." Jane reminded. "Laure, Tiana, go prepare a refreshing bath for the maiden when I prepare her clothes." She ordered.

"No, no need!" Kat told to the two maids who were already heading towards the bathroom. "So as not to make Nswann-Mulap Chang wait too long, I'll just take a quick shower. Just help me find the perfect simple outfit. This closet has such a variety of clothes, I'll really need your insight when it comes to knowing what to wear on which occasion."

"All right, Changadim Kat." The maids answered in unison, touched by the young woman's sincerity.

⁂

Queen Sophie was resting in the private sitting room, enjoying her afternoon tea while leafing through a history book when Lady Josephine and Prince Francis made their entry. She put her book down and nodded when they reverently greeted her.

"I have been informed that the maiden has arrived." Josephine said after sitting.

Sophie slowly took up her tea cup, took a sip and gently placed the cup back on the saucer – secretly enjoying Josephine's irritation – before answering: "Yes, she has arrived. She has come to greet me already, and I told her she could take the rest of the day to settle down and rest."

"Good. I actually came with my son to meet the fair maiden. I was thinking that it would be good if the youngsters could be introduced to each other today before they start interacting tomorrow."

Both women were smiling, but the enmity between them still transpired in their forced cordiality. Lady Josephine knew too well that the crown prince had accompanied the king to Belgium on an official visit the day before; and that they were only getting back in the evening. By bringing Francis to meet Kat, she must have calculated that her son would have time to leave a strong impression on the maiden before she got to meet the crown prince.

"I think it's a good idea." Queen Sophie replied with a brighter smile. "Come with me, I will introduce you to her. I am sure you will find her a delight."

Josephine was slightly taken aback by the queen's enthusiasm. The real goal of her visit was to provoke the queen, since she knew that the crown prince was absent and that the queen would be irritated to not be able to have her son being introduced at the same time as Prince Francis. Hence, the queen's obvious gladness to accompany them to meet the maiden was both intriguing and upsetting.

It was only when the queen took the direction of the West Wing that Lady Josephine started to understand.

"She is staying in the crown prince's apartment? I thought she would be settled in the South Wing."

Queen Sophie smiled. Lady Josephine's expression was now the highlight of her day.

"Oh no, Lady Josephine. How could we put the maiden chosen to be betrothed to one of the princes in the South Wing? You know well that that section of the palace is too big of a place for her to reside there all alone; and rather impersonal I might add. She was first chosen for the crown prince anyway; so the king has ordered that she be installed in his apartment for the duration of the Courtship Program."

Josephine's eyes were spitting fire; much to Sophie's enjoyment. In reality, the decision to place the maiden in Angel's apartment was made at the insistent request of Queen Sophie. After the king had revealed to her the relationship her son had had in London, she had feared that, as her husband had suggested, Angel could thwart the entire program on purpose. In her mind, a close proximity between the crown prince and the maiden would increase their level of interaction and, perhaps, something would grow out of it.

When they had reached the West Wing, Queen Sophie ordered Jane to call for Kat. The maid went up and knocked at Kat's bedroom thrice without result. Thinking that Kat might have fallen asleep, Jane entered the room then hurriedly came out not long after.

"The maiden is not in her bedroom." Jane announced with trepidation.

[1] Just like Mband refers to girl/female, Ikung refers to boy/male. So Mwan-ikung = Son