It is dark already, every member of the Kumwenda's house have departed to their various rooms after a little family chat as usual. Brianna just stepped in her room when her mobile phone ring, it is the prince calling. "Hello, miss pretty." A happy voice sounds from the other side.
"What, now? Look, I'm not interested in drama, you hear, prince. It's late I need to sleep bye." Smiled.
"Hung on, lady, what's the rush?" prince, spoke. "I called to inform you about the king's invitation of you to the castle tomorrow. Will you come, please."
"Excuse me? I_i can't.
"Why can't you come what's the problem with you visiting, when I take risks just to pay you visits?"
"Lawrence, it's not an ordinary house we are talking about, it's the castle and I had never visited one before." she tried to make the prince understand, but no, he wasn't ready to listen.
"Bri, please you cannot just turn the king's invitation, just like that."
Before the could say anything, Grandma Sosala, grabbed the phone and answered instead, "She will be there, my dear. I will prepare her myself."
"Thank you Grandma. We will be waiting, good night."
They said their good night's and he hung up.
"Grandma what have you done, you know mother will not like that."
"Come my dear, sit down." They settled on bed. it is never appreciate to turn down the king's invitation, especially a powerful king like him."
"In our time, turning down the king's invitation attracts being burnished from the kingdom as a way of punishment." Added up Mrs Kumwenda senior as she approached.
"Don't worry about your mom, she is my child and I know how to calm her down. Mrs Sosala assured her.
She sighed and hugged her grannies.
Early in the morning, Brianna has already reached the hospital to collect her father's medicine. Along the empty long corridor, she meets a little girl about her kid sister's age, crying all by herself. Without hesitation, she went down to her and asked what the problem was. In a tearful tone she responded, "I'm looking for my papa."
"Where did he go?"
"I don't know." She cried.
"Don't worry, stop crying we will look for him. Come with me I get something then we look for your dad." Pass a hand and she put in her little one. They walked to the doctor's office but before they could enter, doctor Christine called out the girl's name. "Nelly, dear."
Brianna turned with her, towards the voice.
"I've been looking for you, where did you go?" lowered the knees to her. "Come on, let's go get a ice cream." Hold her wrist to leave without even minding Brianna.
"Doctor Christine, right? My name is Brianna, daughter of the man you saved recently with doctor Ma____
"Enough! I know who you are. No need to explain yourself." Interrupted her.
"Ok, but is he in?" She asked without minding doctor Christine's hash way of answering.
"No, come on Nelly." turned to Walk away with Nelly but she stiffen her feet
"I don't want to go with you, I wanna go with her to look for papa."
"We will look for daddy after ice cream, dear."
"No!!!" yelled and pulled out from the doctor's hand and run to hug a girl she had known today.
This really shocked Christine, at the same time got afraid. Creating friendship with Nelly was her last hope of being with Marcos.
"Aw__" Squat before her. "You don't cry, sweetheart." Holding her by the shoulders. " Let me tell you something, you know, when I was your age and miss my dad, I wasn't crying but hold on until he shows up. As I wait, I could do the things I like most, singing. What do you like honey?"
"I love drawing." These words really shocked Marcos who was standing aside watching what was happening unnoticed. Nelly has never been this opened to a stranger to share her likes and dislikes.
Christine and Brianna looked at each after Nelly said that. "Then why don't we do some drawing, right now! Come on." she just stood when her and marcos' eyes meet. Doctor Christine focused on the reaction of their faces without them noticed.
"Papa." Run over and embraced him.
This really amused Bri to see that Nelly could smile again in the father's arms. Carrying her in his arms, Marcos walked close and stopped at Brianna, "You are here, come on in." passed walked her and entered the office, carrying his daughter. "Come in."
She entered the office and made herself comfortable on the client's seat, leaving behind doctor Christine, standing idly.
"Sit here honey, we will go to the ice cream mall after I attend to the client." He said.
"Auntie, will you come with us to get ice cream, papa will buy for you as well, right papa?"
This request, he has never heard from his dear daughter since she started talking. "Who are you, Bri and what is in you that had attracted my daughter towards you?" He thought. Doctor Christine lost all hope when she heard her say this and she walked away looking lost and confused, without hope of what tomorrow may bring.
The doctor and Brianna looked at each other awkwardly and embarrassed.
"I would love to, dear Princess, but I have to hurry and give these medicine to my sick daddy, ok."
"But it won't take long, right, papa? Tell aunt, it won't." She insisted until finally he stopped staring and said something. " Baby, aunt is right, these medicines are needed before late to save a life, doctor Nelly." tap her nose with a finger.
"Oh, so you wanna be like father, huh? I see. Such an amazing kid!" pulling her cheeks playfully and she burst into giggling. Marcos couldn't believe it that unknown girl to her is the reason for her to giggle like that. He had no choice left than to join in smiling which he rarely do as well. After giggling together for a while, she had a question to ask, "auntie do you have children?" A shock to her father again.
"No, but I have a sister of your age. would you like to make friends with her?"
"Of course I would love to." Answered excitedly.
"Ok then, deal done i will introduce her to you, doctor." Salute in honoring her, she smiled.
"Ok."She said while smiling. "papa, give her the medicine, you are delaying her, she need to hurry."
"Sure, my darling assistant." Quickly packec the medicine in a brown package and handed it over to her.
Brianna left running with a smile, she stopped a taxi and it drove her home. By the roadside, she dropped and payed the money, running with a shout, "Keep change."
She is one person full of life, who doesn't complain to what they have. With her, happiness is everything. She arrive home just on time and found a black Jeep parked outside with castle guards waiting for her. Her mum was the first one she meets, framing with anger. Approaching slowly and afraid, Brianna, Mrs Sosala came to her rescue when she come out from the house. "What took you so long, Brianna? These men came to fetch you s long time ago. Give me that, hurry up take a bath, I have chosen an attire for you already." Grabbed the paper from her, pushing her inside the house preventing Grace from discouraging her.
Few minutes later, Brianna was out in a long dress with long sleeved back in colour with closed flate shoes. She hugged her dad sitting on the wheelchair but her mom turned away when she was about to hug her and walked back in the house. Brianna is filled with grieve over her mother's attitude, but the grannies made her feel better with their hugs.
"Take this gift to his majesty." Mrs Kumwenda handed over a bag with a big bowl inside.
"What is this, grandma?"
"it's mashroom with groundnuts. We use to prepare this for the last King, may his soul rest in peace, he really loved it, take it to his son, I'm sure he'll remember it as well."
"Ok, but grandmother, will they allow me to enter with cooked food in the castle?"
"Just tell the guards the king requested for it." She whispered in her ear. " Now go." Escorted her to the car.
They left as soon as she got in, leaving her family waving. Grace watched from the window as they drive out from the compound, very annoyed, she pulled the cosmetic table and everything on it scatter down in such noise sound that made everyone run to check what was happening. The grannies stop by the bedroom door, almost to hit them with a bottle of lotion, "Why did you let her go with those evil men?"She yelled.
Mrs Kumwenda Tak the children with her, leaving a mother and daughter to talk. She got in and closed the door behind.
"Mother you of all people knew how I suffered in the hands of royalty! Those monsters took my father's life! I will not allow my daughter be used the same way I was used, never mother. Even if it takes my life to save her, so Shall it be!" Fell on her knees and cried.Madam Sosala went down with her and wrapped the arms around her, from her shoulders, she cried her sorrows out.
The car parked by and one of the guards reached out and opened the door for her . Brianna stepped down, helped by the man, staring at the great walls of the castle. The surrounding and everything should not believe how beautiful it was.
"This way, madam." The guard give way to the entrance which is automatic opening to everyone that lives there. One do not have to use hands to open doors, except him or her just standing there, it Scan them and then open. A visitor enters before it closes as soon as the member is scanned.
All the way, Brianna kept staring at the beautiful interior. Finally they have reached the king's court, there is The King she ever dreamt of meeting all her life, queen Essa sitting next to his majesty. As soon as she entered the court, Lawrence hurried over and hugged her. "I thank you for coming." Whispered softly spoke in her arms. She felt embarrassed and very afraid to hug him back as she saw the king and queen watching and a smiling. The Prince had to pull out, holding her by the wrist, he approached his parents with the head bow, he said, "Your majesty I present to you miss Brianna Kumwenda." Bow once more then raised.
Brianna's heart could not pump properly as she wait for him to speak. "Welcome to the castle, Miss Kumwenda. I never imagined your beauty. Now I know why even a prince as him couldn't resist you." Pass a complement that made the queen smile but left the prince feeling awkward and embarrassed.
"Thank you, Your majesty. I'm humbled to be standing before you, I never imagined a day this will come true." Silently bow the head.
"You may have a sit." said the king.
The queen then welcomed her after she had a sit, "You are welcome, my dear. Please feel at home.
"Thank you my queen."
In a short while, the maidens where done with saving the dinning then invite them to the table. Brianna had no courage to bring with her the food that her granny gave to her to give the king, so she left it in the car. The table was quite, only spoons and forks sounds could be heard as they eat. Everyone has already started eating, but Bri does not know how to use fork with a knife, so she kept staring.
"What's wrong my dear?" Asked the queen after noticing that she wasn't eating. The king and the prince turned to her, waiting for the answer.
"Forgive me, but I had never use forks and knives before." Looked down in shame.
"That isn't a problem, my dear. You can use your hands, the's no problem." politely spoke, the king and the queen nodded in agreement.
"Thank you." She washed her hands and begin eating. Everyone smiled.
"So my dear, tell us about your self and family." Request the king.
"I am the elder child of my parents with two siblings, my brother 16 and my little sister 6 years. We live with both our parents and my grandmothers who lives in mukango kingdom." She went on to talk about her education, "I am a student at Yashilan University, persuing a career in Social work and law."
"From where you meet my irresponsible son, right." Tease him
the queen laughed, seeing the look on his face after the king tagged him as irresponsible.
"Yes." She smiled. " But he is not irresponsible, the prince is a good and very responsible man." Defended him.
His shoulders raised high upon hearing this from her.
"Luckily you are defended, congratulations, son. giggling everyone. "You are welcome once again my dear, feel free to visit from now on.
"Tell me, my dear, I'm told you can sing very well, is it right?" asked the king.
She looked at Lawrence questionable who in turn looked away escaping her suspicion. "Yes I do."
"Amazing, that's very impressing, dear." Amused, the queen.
"I would want you to be the host on Yashilan day. Opening the pared with an anthem, can you do that?"
"wow, yes yes, with pleasure, majesty." Excitedly
"This day shall be a bit unique, as my younger son will as well be coming back home. So I want it more exclusive. I believe you know that every year the youths of Yashilan from every corners of the provinces of this great kingdom perform on this day as part of entertainment., Therefore, gather your fellow youths to do so as well.
"Yes my King. I will." Bow with a big smile on her face.
She couldn't believe this honor, she kept smiling, all the way to the house. The guards drop her safe and sound and she tell the great news to her family who celebrated with her except her mother who showed no interest.