Three months have passed since Brianna and prince Gabriel got engaged, Mrs Kumwenda still hasn't approved with them being together. Brianna is only getting support of her relationship to the prince, from her grandmothers, friends and her brother.
The prince's birthday is approaching, alot from the royal families, of different kingdoms as well as those of the Noble groups are all invited. This day will be a special day on which his wedding day with Brianna shall be announced.
Shelly and Helena, with the strong support from queen Lukundo, t are already planning a plot again Brianna, all to embarrass her in front of everyone, so that she can be criticised for coming from the lower class members.
Michelo take concern over her friend acting strange for the past two weeks. She doesn't seem live with life as she really is, not a joker as always, usually distracted. As they where coming from the fields, taking food to different client's working place, as usual, Brianna was wait and absorbed in thoughts. "Brianna, what's happening to you? You're usually quite, these days. Are you still sad about mother's disapprove of you, being with the prince?"
Brianna stopped for a bit, looking at her, then she sigh. That is part of my problems, but my worry for now is on the prince's birthday, which is around the corner. What will I give him, that can be worth more than everyone who will bring their special gifts for him there, being his fiancee.
Michie burst into laughing as though her worry, isn't any sensible.
"Hey, are you laughing at me, now?" She knock on her head.
"Ouch, that hurts. Of course you are not making Sense with your worries. Come on Brianna, you her is special person, anything from you is the best, compared to anyone's gift. You know how to bake, how to sing, what else do you want to give him?" shooking her, as a way to make her wake up and think.
"Perhaps, you can just make him a cake, if you want, sing him a song."
Brianna is now thinking, "You are right. Awe, you are the best friend ever!" Pull her cheeks so happy.
"Hey, that hurts."
"Sorry." She giggled and embrace her.
Gabriel has proved to be a very responsible young prince. Two provinces have been given to government its affairs, and in both of them he has proved to be a good leader. His subjects love him as well as his way of govern
One of the provinces he runs is best in fishing, as the source in which it brings income in the kingdom.
Fishing is what people of this province do to contribute to the kingdom's economic development. Other kingdom that surrounds it, being a land locked kingdom benefits from it.
It had not been a progress with the last five governors who worked in it,and this is because they had put their interest first, than of the kingdom's economy and the locals improvement. They used the locals on cheap labour and for their own benefits, but Since prince Gabriel came their governor, the businesses have improved, villagers and fishermen have benefited from it.
New and sustainable tools to use have been bought, boats, nets and thousand of youths has been trained with the new skills he had learned from Bulawayo kingdom, the best in fishing and also with Brianna's help. It is because of her determination and intelligence that the king finds her to be the best and able princess for the prince.
Brianna, with her three best friends and her brother, have worked tirelessly the all night, baking a cake for him for the tomorrow's occasion. They slept very late that they over slept, if not for Mrs Kumwenda Grace who woke them up this morning, they could have been late
Her getting concern about them being late to the party, alarmed Brianna that her mum still cares, despite of being angry with her decision. They finish bathing, and put on their favourite clothes. Brianna wears her long black dress which is simple to her status with slippers on . on her face, only applied a little bit of powder with colourless lipgloss on, off they went.
Mrs Kumwenda refused the king's invitation and so Brianna went only with her three friends and a brother. She watched them walk away with sad look on her face.
The celebration started along time ago with the people who came fast, others are still coming. Shelly already came to the party, since she came, she hasn't stopped checking on who comes in, with the hope of seeing Brianna. Communication went on between princess Helena and her as they waited eagerly.
Time of presenting gifts is about to start, but Brianna hasn't come yet. "Why is Brianna not here yet?" Prince Gabriel whispered to prince Lawrence, looking very worried and very nervous.
"Relax, she will be here very soon. I'm sure something is holding her back."
Just as he put a full stop to his sentence, Brianna and her friends enters the door. "Taking of the devil, here she comes. " Lawrece Whispered to the birthday boy who sighed in relief.
Shelly and Helena looked at each other, a gesture is signed by Helena to Shelly, to take action. Shelly hurried and grab a mic, "attention, please. The awaiting moment has come, now that the birthday man's fiancee, miss Brianna Kumwenda is here. A round of applause in welcoming her!"
Everyone applaudes as she walked in, bare handed. Shelly and Helena smiled at each other when they saw no present with her. All eyes were on her, some which where friendly and others very unfriendly.
The two princes looked at each other in suspicion of Shelly's good sudden good behavior, towards Brianna.
"I wonder what she's up to." Pumulo Whispered to Gabriel, knowing her very well.
"Let's wait and see." She whispered back.
Before she and her people settle down, Shelly declared a time of gifts presentations. Brianna took a deep breath, the moment she never wanted to come has finally come. Shelly stood aside as everyone was presenting their presents to him, seeing, which present was worth more than what she brought for him and she noticed that her present is the best of them all.
After the last person, Shelly raise with a teasing look at Brianna, she walked up to the prince, hug him, "Happy birthday, my dearest prince. You grow handsome, by each day." She said these aloud, and then she turned to the people as she handed over to him a small box of that of a ring. " Open it, come on " she said.
Everyone stared eagerly, to see, what kind of present was on the small box. Gabriel took the box and hand it over to Jonathan, his personal bodyguard who opened for him. His eyes widen when he saw what was in the box.
"Tell them, what's inside, Jonathan. " Princess Helena insisted.
Jonathan, with hesitation, he displayef the car keys for everyone to see. Everyone applaudes for that wonderful present. Now their expectations for what Brianna will present grow. Gossip begin about her and what she will present without minding that she was listening what they where whispering.
Gabriel didn't want to refuse her gift in public, so he just accepted it. "Thank you." He gave out a fake smile with a hug which didn't take long.
She turned to the people again and said, "Please let's welcome miss Brianna, let's see what she has for her husband to be. A round of applause, everyone." She was the first one to clap and everyone followed suit.
Brianna then raised in great nervous. She stood there like a statue when a man run over to her with a mic that maybe she had something to say. Brianna took the mic, she swallowed hard and thanked everyone In a choking tone.
Sheeared her throat and continued, "Firstly, I would like to apologise for not having a better present with me as everyone expects, even so, I have a little present with me, a song, that's coming specially from my heart to him.
With these words from her, murmurings increased, gossips as well.
Shelly and Helena glanced a look at each other and smiled, so did queen Lukundo who was sitting to the high table, next to her husband, king Edmond who looked remorseful.
In an awkward moment that she found herself in, among the unfriendly, billionaires, men and women with big statuses, she gathered her courage and hold the mic, tighter with eyes closed. The instrument men plays an instrument of Simi's song, "DUDUKE" then when it was time, Brianna started the song. At her start, every noise ceased as everyone was pulled in the sound of her beautiful Melody.
The three planners see their plans failing as they noticed people absorbed in her singing. Their aim was to embarrass her, but it turn out in the way they did not expect.
She reached stanza two which emphasised on a point that, "I can not give the world to you but I give you what I have." It was from there that Brianna presented a long spent time on, Cake to him, with his name and the same part of the song lyrics written on it.
The prince could not hold back his tears in public and so did king Edmond, queen Essa and other people whom the messege penetrated through their hearts.
Everyone phone cameras were on her like a celebrity as she completed the song. Thunderous applaudes for her awesome Singing. Prince Gabriel couldn't wait, than he pulled her in his arms, holding her tight and so passionate. I love you so much, thank you for this wonderful gift." He said to her, still in her arms.
*********************
Two days passed since it was the prince's birthday. Brianna went viral in papers. musicians who watched the videos that the people uploads on social media, appreciating her singing got very interested in signing a contract with her. Among them is Swivel music promotion. This is an American music industry, the best in Hollywood in which Shelly is their best lead. The people in charge of the group projects are in Shelly's kingdom. They organized a music concert in which young and talented people will audition for a ticket to perform in Global talent, under their sponsorship. If they are pleased with such a one , a contact may even be signed with you. Shelly is the one who organized this concert, for the betterment of her people as the crown princess of Livingstone kingdom.
For the first time, her father is proud of her decision. He did not expect her to think of the youths of her kingdom like she did now. The team are accommodated in the palace until the one week of their project is over. One from their team came across the news paper with the story of Brianna's great performance. at the end the story, he found the YouTube detail on how to find the video of her performance. Without wasting a minute, than searched for the video which he found without any difficult.
Brianna's singing is exactly what the've been looking for. He run to the guest room that everyone of his group members where and showed them the video.
"WOW!" Shout out, David the director. "This is Shelly's leading partner we've been looking for. Who is this girl, any details about her?"
Peter who had read the paper explains, "She's a citizen of Yashilan kingdom, the fiancee to the prince of that kingdom."
"Then we have to go there, and Invite her to this occasion. If we take time about it, she will sign a contract with another group, just look at how many musicians have followed this video." Said, Peter the organizer, a lady.
"We need to consult with Shelly, first, you know how difficult she can be at times." The director spoke and everyone agree with him.
When Shelly was finally with them, after lunch, the director had to tell her about it, while the rest waiting to hear what she would say. The moment she saw it was Brianna they where s talking about, she rebuked them. "I can not stand on the same stage with that scum!" raise up angrily.
"But why, Shelly, she is a great and perfect much for your vocal. You know that we have been looking for a person who can match with you in leading a song for years now. Are you going to just let that opportunity pass?" The director speak to her in a convincing way.
"No, I said no! That good for nothing woman grab my Gabriel away from me!"
Everyone was astonished of this. "Wait a minute, are you trying to say, Gabriel is a prince?" Asked Ivy. She also had an eye on him, but because of the fear she has for Shelly, she suppressed what she feels for him.
All eyes on her as they wait for her response. "Yes he is." She lowly spoke.
They looked at each other in question marks of how Brianna managed to take Gabriel from her, the man she killed a person for. From this, they all knew it was impossible to bring them together, knowing very well the woman Shelly was. A viper, when it comes to her man. They had no further words to say, than to keep quiet.
"Excuse me." She walk out from the room, looking very angry.
They remained silent with no words to say.
"So Gabby is a prince, wow. No one suspected that." Ivy spoke.
"No one expected that." David said.
"We need to find a way to convince Shelly to accept Brianna in this group. Look at this, we have lost so many big contracts with her alone as our lead. people needs to hear new sound, new voice, new person." Peter insisted.
She is our long time partner, our best lead. We can't just overlook her concern, for a stranger." The director argued.
"Enough, both of you." She intrude. "Director, I feel Peter has a point. We can't just be abiding to one person's wants, while the group is going down. This is a great opportunity for us to improve. How many people has she chased from this group, all because of her personal issues? That's not fair to talented people out there, and also to this group."
"Ivy is right, director. We can't just miss such a talented lady. Yes she's a stranger, but with great potential, don't you think?" Peter added up.
The director sighed. "What do you suggest, we do?"
"I have a plan." Ivy suggests, "Come close," She called and everyone gather around her to hear her out. " We've worked with Shelly, for more than 10 year, and you know very well how she find pleasure in watching the down fall of her enemy, especially embarrassing her in front of the all world."
"Go straight to the point, Ivy. " Demanded the director.
" ok, ok. "Let's persuade her to invite Brianna to perform with her on stage with the motive of tagging the poor girl as a gold digger, to the public, mean while, when the people loves the performance of them, together, we convince her that we can't do that since the people loved their performance as they are. Then a reason can be given to say, you can be making money on her voice, just using her for your personal gain. What do you think, is it making sense?"
Everyone was quite as they analyze her plan, only to find that it was making Sense to each other's one of them.
"Brilliant idea, Ivy. You are such a master plan." Peter.
"Good Idea, Ivy. Let's just pray she agrees. Sigh the director.
**************
After two days of training with the youths of her kingdom, non of them proved to be capable and worth of the contract. They took advantage of the situation, looking at time they need to go back, and explained to Shelly, the exact idea that Ivy had presented. Shelly thought about it then after consulting with her mother and her partner in crime, Princess Helena who supported her.
An invitation is sent to Brianna through king Yachi who contrals the affairs of his kingdom especially anything to do with foreigners who comes in as interested in his citizens skills. It is so because he avoid his people being missused for their personal gains. Prince Gabriel, after having a conversation with Brianna, if she was interested or not, seeing how happy she was about it, he had to support her, although not very happy about it because it involves her sharing a stage with Shelly.
He thought of her well being, for he knows how Shelly is. She asked her mother to support her, who hesitated, but later agreed, within knowing that Shelly is involved. It became great joy to Brianna as she had hoped and prayed for this day to come, when she will find such a great opportunity. to be watched by the entire world. She feels as though her dreams have come true.
She fell on his arms and her him tight. "I love you, love you, so much."
prince Gabby hold her back, "and I love you too, my princess." Grace was there, watching from the house window.
***************
Around 10 am, Brianna was already in the Immakando palace, not her mother, nor her grandmother knew that she had stepped her feet in the Immakado's palace. She was ashered into the palace by the guard, guarding the door. She sits alone in the waiting room, staring around the room, admiring it's beauty. The king came in at that moment, from the meeting he went.
He passed through the visitor's waiting room when he found Brianna sitting alone. She raised with a bow and greeted him with respect, as soon as he saw him.
The king stopped and stare at her with a fatherly look, "Brianna, right?"
"Yes, your majesty." She bow once more.
He smiled, "Sit my dear. Lovemore, Bring her a drink." He ordered.
"I'm really sorry my king, but I'm not hungry."
"No. No one enters this palace without having anything to eat."
She smiled and her beautiful dimples curved her cheeks.
"Can I tell you something?
she nod, smiley.
"You remind me of someone very special, I knew."
Brianna smile even more. "Wow, then that person must be very lucky and indeed special that is remembered by his majesty." She complement
With her complement, the king lost in thoughts. It took him back to a time he was so happy and in love with Grace. "Your majesty, is everything alright?"
He came back to his senses when she called him, he nod.
"She smiled, "My father would always say, special people will always dwell in your heart. And my dearest father will always be ,here in my heart." Her smile is shuttered when she spoke about her father.
"What happened to your father?"
"He died. I killed him." She turned her face down, sadly.
"How my dear?" moved close to her.
"He died, when he found out about my expell from the University, because I couldn't pay the school fees. I never wanted to tell him about it, because his heart was weak to handle such pressure." Tears rolled down. King Edmond whipped her tears out.
"You are very pretty to cry. "You had the best dad, in this world. You didn't kill him, he died for the love he had for you." He draw her close, giving him a shoulder to cry on.
The first meeting wasn't very good as Shelly kept taunting Brianna. The following day the same thing. She almost give up, but she was strengthen by Gabby and her friends until the final day of the performance. The performance that Brianna and Shelly performed shocked the world. Their coordination take Grace as well as prince Lukundo, back to when they where great singers. their voices sounded, just like this. Queen Lukundo pulled herself out, "She is in the past now, don't think about her." She told herself, and so did Grace.
The song sold, it took millions of likes and shares. When it was time for Brianna to sign a contract, Brianna and Shelly, quarreled. It happened when Gabriel came to wait for Brianna, Shelly could not hold her self she attacked Brianna and revealed everything about the contract she was about to sign, all to make her feel bad. Brianna was disappointed, she felt betreyed even when it wasn't really the case. She refused the contract and left.
Everything was ruined by Shelly. The ground went back, very disappointed with her. Brianna was scolded by her mother when she found out about this and warned her never to get involved in such again, or else she will chase her to her grandmothers house.