Be My Princess

Kat spent all the way back to the palace commenting on every animal she had seen with excitement. Peter had taken the wheel a little after they had left the park, so Angel was sitting with Kat at the back.

"Too bad I couldn't take pictures of the okapis." She said at the end, with disappointment.

The guide had explained that the legendary 'African Unicorn'[1] had a very hermit kind of lifestyle. Male would live recluse on their territories and only allow female to pass through during mating season. That reclusive nature made it very difficult for humans to approach the animal.[2]

"At least you got to see two of them with the binoculars." Angel said to comfort her.

"Yes, you're right." She agreed, her smile back.

By the time they had gotten back to the palace, the sun had long ended his setting course. They entered the West Wing and discovered that the maids had already set the table for dinner; they had also placed a vase with a bouquet of roses and candles on the dining table, and dimmed the lights to create a romantic atmosphere.

Kat looked at Angel with questioning eyes while the prince could only shake his head, thinking: "Peter, you slick man!"

"I don't know about you, but I'm famished." Kat finally said to break the awkwardness of the moment.

She quickly took a seat at the table and Angel imitated her. The maids immediately took it as cue to start serving dinner. Through the entire meal, Kat continued to express her fascination at wildlife. She could see that Angel was just listening and weighing in from time to time out of courtesy; but she knew too well that the atmosphere would only grow more and more awkward if she were to remain quiet.

"Convey my gratitude Peter for today's set up." Kat said when dessert was served.

"How do you know he is the one who set all this up?" Angel asked.

"Firstly, because you've had the expression of a person being dragged along someone else's plan against their will all day long. And secondly, because you just confirmed it to me." Kat answered with a triumphant smile.

Angel smiled in admiration for her power of deduction. "You'd make a great detective." He commented.

"Wajikit." Kat replied, slightly bowing her head. "But I hope you still got to enjoy yourself despite being forced to entertain me through the entire day."

"Don't worry about it; it's my duty anyway." Angel answered stoically.

Those eight words swept most of Kat's enthusiasm away with the force of a mighty wave. Deep down, she had been hoping Angel had enjoyed spending time with her just as much as she had had with him. But hearing him speak of duty had shattered that hope right on the spot.

Hiding her disappointment, Kat only said "I see…" then stood up without touching her dessert. "I'll be turning in now. Uladikanganyi."

Puzzled by the inexplicable change in her tone, Angel looked at Kat walking away until she entered her bedroom, while pondering on the reason why her mood had taken a sudden 180 degrees turn.

⁂

The following day, Kat was up early to prepare herself for the church service held in the chapel built close to the greenhouse. At her request, the maids had gladly accepted to accompany her.

"Why are they looking at me like that?" Kat whispered to Jane.

"It's because the royal family rarely attend church services; and before the service actually begins at that." Jane explained.

Kat nodded then followed the usher as she led her to a seat on the front row at the right side of the main aisle, while her maids sat on the following row because the row she was placed on was the one always left empty for the royal family. But, feeling awkward to have to sit all alone on that row, she asked whether she could seated next to her maids instead.

Kat was happy when she learned that the royal family had made arrangements to have a pastor in permanent office in the Royal Estate.

The chapel had been built soon after the royal family had converted to Christianity generations ago; the building had been enlarged and refurbished over the years, but the office adjoining it had been added as soon as the royal family had understood the importance for the faithful to be able to consult with the pastor whenever they might need to.

The service layout was similar to that of her church in Likasi, so Kat was able to immerse herself into the service without feeling estranged. What left a strong impression on her, though, was the voice power of the choir. URuund people were well known for their chanting culture[3]; and Kat was able to appreciate the songs and rhythms that perfectly expressed the people's devotion to God.

After the service, Kat had had first to interact with the members of the church eager to meet the granddaughter of the late Commander of the Royal Guard before she was able to meet with the pastor.

"It's a real pleasure to finally meet you, Changadim Kat; I'm Pastor Elisha. The staff grapevine has been buzzing a lot about you these past three days." The pastor said as he shook her hand.

Despite the fact that he was in his mid-sixties, the minister's grip carried a lot of vigour.

"Is that so? I didn't know that I was that famous." Kat replied with a chuckle.

"How could the woman who was able to impose her will to the royal family not be famous?" The pastor exclaimed.

"I hope I was right to do that…" Kat replied.

"Of course you were! Given your background, it is totally understandable you would make such a request."

"My background…?" Kat questioned, unsure of what the pastor was referring to.

"I'm actually referring to the way you were raised." Pastor Elisha clarified. "You see, here at the palace, princes and princesses are taught from a young age that the task of finding a life partner for them befalls their parents. The same goes for practically all the families in the noble and the political class of the kingdom. This tradition goes as far back as when Ruund was still an empire. That's why it is easy for them to accept an arranged marriage without complaint."

"But, Pastor Elisha, is arranged marriage a good thing? I mean, from a Christian standpoint?"

The pastor looked at Kat with kind eyes, and an understanding smile. "Well, if we have to go to the Bible, Isaac's marriage to Rebecca is a clear example of arranged marriage that worked out very well[4]. So I can't say that arranged marriages are bad all over the line; but I will say that the most important thing here is the intentions and criteria the parents have at heart when they make their choice."

Kat seemed to still have some reservation so the pastor furthered his argument.

"Let's look at it from another standpoint; parents know the most about their children as they are the one who raise them; and parents also have marriage and life experience that I think give them enough wisdom in the choice of a spouse for their child. They will be even wiser if they base their selection criteria on the word of God." Pastor Elisha paused a moment as Kat mulled over his words, then concluded his argument with: "And even when the marriage is not arranged, remember that parents still have to agree on their child's choice before the marriage can take place."

Kat smiled. "Wajikitanyi, Pastor Elisha. All this time I've been looking at this all matter from my point of view only. I'll be more understanding of the other party as well."

"Glad I could help. Feel free to come see me any time you find yourself in need of advice. My door is always open."

"I will." Kat promised as she took her leave.

After leaving the chapel, Kat wanted to have a moment to herself before she was called for lunch because the maids had informed her that she would be spending time with the royal family from lunch time up to dinner. She went back to her room to grab her sketchbook then ventured into the garden in quest of something to capture with her pencil.

And once she was done with her drawing, she joined Isabella who was again tending to the roses.

"N'a Rwej." Kat greeted as she curtseyed.

"Oh Kat!" Isabella exclaimed, glad to see the young woman. "Please, don't be so formal with me. Just call me Ngaak." Then her eyes then fell on Kat's sketchbook. "Out looking for something to draw?"

"I've already found something actually… or someone to be more precise." Kat answered.

Isabella looked back up at Kat and noticed that the young woman was looking at her.

"Who? Me?"

"Yes." Kat answered.

She then opened her sketchbook and showed Isabella her work. Beautifully, Kat had been able to capture the tender expression that was always painted on the face of the queen mother every time she was taking care of the flowers.

"The first time I saw you, I noticed how much love for the flowers transpired through your eyes; that was so captivating that, when I saw you again today, I couldn't resist the urge to capture the beauty of this scene." Kat explained. "But today, as I was drawing you, I also noticed that you only tend to the roses. Is there a reason why?"

Isabella smiled, a nostalgic expression in the eyes. "Indeed, there is. Roses remind me of my late husband…"

Isabella once again moved the basket, and Kat took place on the stool and quietly waited for the elderly woman to continue.

"From the day we met until the day he left us, my Angel always made sure to give me a rose every single day. A rose of different colour as well; because he always said that I stirred in him different kind of emotions…"

Kat was able to perceive a still strong love for her late husband harboured in the queen mother's words.

"It's nice to see that such great love can bud from an arranged marriage." She couldn't help but comment.

"Oh, my marriage to the late king was not an arranged marriage." Isabella replied with a chuckle. "We married for love."

"Really?"

At Kat's surprised face, Isabella's lips curled up all the more.

"Yes. Ours is the first and only princely wedding that was not made by arrangement." Isabella started.

Kat placed her sketchbook and drawing case on the grass behind her, to be more at ease, then looked back at Isabella, eagerly waiting to hear more.

"We first met when my Angel had accompanied his father, King Geoffrey, on an official trip to Spain. My father being a high-ranking officer related to the royal family, we were able to attend the royal banquet organised to celebrate the trading agreements our kingdom had just entered with Ruund.

The connection between us was instant; but their stay was very short. It was not until a year later that we met again at the university we had both enrolled in in London; and our love was finally birthed. After our studies, Angel brought me here to Ruund in order to present me as his crown princess to be. His parents had already chosen a fiancée for him; the members of the High Counsel didn't see with a good eye to have a foreigner as queen… But my Angel never once wavered."

An endeared smiled traced on Kat's lips as she listened to the story.

"During that dire time, your grandfather, who was just Angel's personal guard at the time, was the one who always helped us meet in secret every day; so Angel had never once missed the opportunity to give me a rose. I think that, more than saving his life during that hunt, this must have been the root reason why my late husband wanted so much to deepen his relationship with Isaac in show of his gratitude."

"Really? Wow… What a moving story!" Kat said with excitement. "Then, how had the late king managed to convince everyone?"

"Firstly, he pointed out that the arranged marriage was not a law but a simple tradition; so it could not be forced on him. Secondly, he added that, even according to the tradition, he had the right to reject his parents' choice. And thirdly, I myself never wavered or gave in; even when the royal family tested me by pretending to offer me a large sum of money in exchange of my leaving the crown prince."

"Pretending?"

"Angel was actually standing in the neighbouring room during the entire meeting. If I had accepted their offer, that would have been proof for them that I was not fit to be either his wife or Queen of Ruund."

Kat nodded in understanding.

"In the end, they conceded that their son had made a good choice and agreed to our union."

"But why didn't King Angel I and you seize that opportunity to put an end to arranged marriages once and for all?" Kat questioned.

Isabella smiled. "I understand how arranged marriages can appear wrong to you, Kat. But you need to understand that, though arranged marriage is just a tradition, it is a tradition that is even older than our dynasty itself; it can't just be abolished overnight because we feel like it while it is inscribed in the core of Ruund culture and doesn't only apply to the royal family.

And in another aspect, the royal family is no ordinary family. A lot is expected of the Throne; hence, we cannot afford to welcome just anybody in our family. Youngsters are often too biased by their feelings to be able to think rationally when it comes to choosing a suitable companion for life; that's why it is important for them to seek their parents' approval on the matter.

The crown comes with its weight, and not everybody is shaped to bear it; so the king and queen have a heavy duty of choosing for their heir a companion who would not only be suitable as spouse, but as a future ruler as well. They can't leave such an important task to a child who is still learning about life."

"I see…" Kat said after mulling over Isabella's words. "Wajikitanyi N'a… sorry, Ngaak. All this long, I've been looking at it only from my point of view; but after talking with Pastor Elisha and you, I realise that I was too quick to judge. There is also good in having our parents choose a companion for us."

"But you still prefer to go along with the 'Courtship Program', right?" Isabella added.

"Yes."

"You said you talked to Pastor Elisha; did you attend the service this morning?"

"Yes. Everyone there was rather surprised to see me though. Jane explained to me that it's because the members of the royal family are rare attenders"

Isabella laughed.

"True." She then confessed.

"As for me," Kat replied, "I can't go a full week without attending at least one Church service. My Sundays always started with Church. That's my tradition."

"Well, at least this tradition is 100% guaranteed good." Isabella added to tease.

And the two women laughed heartily. Isabella then spotted a maid who seemed to have been sent out to look for her and asked Kat to help her up.

"I think time for lunch is up." She explained to the young woman.

[1] The okpai was nickmandd that way before its existence was clearly certified.

[2] Authentic fact.

[3] Music held a very place in uRuund life. Circumstances such as marriages, births, death, parades and other big ceremonies always had specific chants adapted to them.

[4] The story is found in the book of Genesis, chapter 24.