Be My Princess

That Saturday, Charlotte, Kat and Michael were enjoying a TV game show in the early afternoon when the gate bell chimed.

"I'll get it!" Kat said.

She exited the house, trying to guess who it could possibly be; but in a million guesses, she would have never come up with what she saw the moment she opened the gate.

An elderly man dressed in a suit bearing sophisticated embroideries was standing in front of a luxurious black sedan; and standing next to him were two rather intimidating 'Men in Black'. At the front of the car, close to the headlights, were attached two small flags with an emblem similar to the one embroidered on the left side of the man's jacket at heart level.

"Wajinganyi[1], Changadim[2]." The man greeted in a noble tone.

"Mwanyi mwa vude…"

"I am looking for Mrs Charlotte Sama; is she home?"

Charlotte, who had not wanted her children to be totally alienated from their origin, had made sure that they would at least know to speak uRuund fluently. But though she could clearly understand what the guest was saying, Kat was so taken aback by the unusual encounter that it was only mechanically that she answered in uRuund: "Yes, she is… Please, come in."

Kat preceded the three men to the house. But as she invited them to enter the living room, the two 'Men in Black' simply took post at the door while the elderly man went in.

When he entered the living room, the guest looked around with appreciation transpiring through his eyes. The room had a sitting area furnished with one settee sofa and three assorted settee chairs covered in a beige velvet like fabric with flower patterns, set around a finely chiselled wooden coffee table assorted to small side tables placed next to each chair and on both sides of the sofa.

What really caught the eye of the guest was that, next to the built-in chimney, and taking up an entire wall, was an assortment of three wooden standing cabinets linked to each other by two levels of square wooden panel serving as shelves for books or ornaments.

Through the first cabinet's glass door could be seen a stereo set, the second cabinet stood as TV stand and the third one's glass door harboured different types of glasses.

What was most striking about those cabinets was that all their wooden panels and doors bore carvings of what a connoisseur would immediately recognise as portrayals of important aspects of Ruund History and traditional ceremonies.

Right after the sitting space came the dining area furnished with a wooden table with eight colonial-like chairs and two wooden dish dressers decorated with family pictures and ornaments mostly of uRuund origin.

Somehow, he felt home…

"Errr… Maaku? There is someone here to see you."

Charlotte looked towards the entrance and quickly stood up when she recognised the guest; immediately imitated by her son. Michael raised his eyebrows to his sister and Kat shrugged in response.

"Nswann-Mulap Chang?" Charlotte exclaimed in disbelief.

"Dear Charlotte; it has been a while." George replied while grabbing both her hands with endearment.

"Indeed, it has! Please have a seat."

Everybody sat down at the exception of Kat.

"Would you like something to drink?" She asked politely.

"No. Nothing, Changadim. Wajikitanyi."

Kat sat next to Michael and exchanged a curious look with him. The guest's dignified presence was the most intriguing aspect of that unusual visit; and somehow, it reminded her of the other unusual encounter she had experienced four days ago.

Both Kat and her brother wanted to ask their mother about the guest, but they were raised never to speak out when elders were conversing. Charlotte notice the puzzled look on her children's faces and decided to answer their indirect question.

"Nswann-Mulap Chang, these are my two youngest children. Kat, my second born; and Michael, my last born."

The elderly man nodded.

"Kat, Michael; this is George Chang, the royal secretary of Ruund Kingdom."

George slightly bowed his head at the two youngsters, amused by their impressed expressions.

"Such beautiful children you have, Charlotte." He commented.

"It is a real pleasure to see you after such a long time, Nswann-Mulap Chang." Charlotte said.

"Yes it really is. I believe the last time we saw each other was at your father's funeral." George added.

"Yes, it was."

Charlotte was certain that George Chang's visit had a purpose other than merely catching up on old time; and she was afraid to already know what it was.

Kat was also wondering about the reason behind the presence of the royal secretary of Ruund in their home. She hadn't related to her family her weird encounter with the man in front of their home because she was still unsure whether it was really the crown prince of Ruund that she had met that day. But now that the royal secretary was sitting in their living room, she was starting to think she wasn't mistaken.

"But why…?" She questioned internally. "What business does the royal family of Ruund have in DRC that has to do with my mom?"

Many hypotheses were going through Kat's mind; from the simplest to the most ludicrous, but nothing conclusive. In the end, she told herself that it surely had something to do with the fact that her mother was DRC's number one expert on Ruund Kingdom History.

"I believe you didn't come all this way just to pay us a friendly visit, though." Charlotte calmly advanced.

George smiled and straightened himself in his seat. "Indeed, you are right, Charlotte. I am actually here on behalf of Mwant Yav Angel II, King Ruund, to fulfil the promise his father, late King Angel I, made to his close friend – your father, the late Commander of the Royal Guard, Kalaal Isaac Tshikut, by seeking the hand of your daughter Kat in marriage to Crown Prince Angel, actual heir to the throne of Ruund."

By the time George Chang had finished making his solemn announcement, Kat and Michael's jaws had dropped all the way down.

"Wait a minute… it's a joke, right? It has to be a joke!"

Even after gulping down two full glasses of water straight, Kat was still feeling a bit dizzy. Her mind was racing while trying to fully process the information her brain had just registered.

But, how could it be a joke? The crown prince, the royal secretary, the guards, the car… it was way too much just to pull a prank on her. Plus, her mother wasn't that much of a prankster.

Kat looked at her mother. Why didn't she seem the slightest bit affected by the news? As if she was already aware that such a thing would eventually happen someday.

"So Maaku, Ngaak was not just a royal guard in Ruund? Why is it that you've never told us about that?"

"I will explain this to you later, Kat." Charlotte replied in a tone that actually meant 'Not in front of the guest'.

George opened the small jewellery case he had been holding all along and placed it on the coffee table. In it was lying a pendant with what seemed to be a broken medallion. When Kat took a closer look at the medallion, her eyes widened and she pulled up her own pendant to look at its medallion.

"I see you have the other half." George Chang remarked with a smile. "The two medallions are actually two halves of one whole medallion divided on purpose for each party to keep in reminiscence of their promise to each other. King Angel I had had it made as a lasting symbol of the oath binding the royal family to yours."

Kat listened to the royal secretary's explanation half in a daze, then pointed at the pendant in the case.

"May I?"

"By all means." He replied with a nod.

Kat brought the medallion next to hers to examine them closely; and, as soon as the two medallions were at close range, they pulled towards each other and clasped perfectly to form a teardrop shaped medallion on which was carved the emblem of the Ruund royal family. The medallion had actually been cut following the outlines of the Y initial symbolising the royal family's name.

"As you can see, magnet fillings were added to both halves of the medallion." George commented at Kat's address.

"Yes." She replied mechanically.

"It's because the two parts of the medallion are meant to be brought back together once the two families will become one." The royal secretary explained.

Kat placed the pendant back in its case and looked at her mother with pleading eyes. Charlotte gave her a reassuring smile then turned towards their guest.

"Nswann-Mulap Chang, I understand that the royal family must see this as a duty on their part to fulfil the late king's promise; but please understand that I cannot impose this on my daughter."

"Oh no; don't misunderstand us, Dear Charlotte." The royal secretary quickly replied. "We don't mean for it to be an imposition on your family at all. Although it was a solemn engagement taken by the late king and commander of the royal guard, this union can only take place if both the crown prince and the young maiden agree to it."

"So, is it the reason why the crown prince was here the other day…?" Kat wondered, remembering how the prince had gauged her. "Because he wanted to check me out?"

⁂

Lying on her bed, Kat was unable to find sleep as the events of the afternoon kept playing in her head.

As soon as the royal secretary had left, Kat had let it all out.

~ There's no way I am getting married to a man I don't even know! Why would I ever sacrifice my happiness because of a promise my grandfather made to the king? ~

~ Don't be quick to say no, Sis. It's not just any man; it's the crown prince of Ruund. Think about it; you'd be set for life! I now understand why Maaku often call you Princess. She already knew that it was your destiny… ~ Michael had teased.

Charlotte and Kat had both shot an angry gaze at the young man in response; so he had docilely stepped back while making a zipping gesture on his mouth.

~ Kat, no one is forcing you to marry him. ~ Charlotte had said calmly.

~ I know Nswann-Mulap Chang said I will not be forced to marry the prince; but I still feel like I'm compelled to do so because the honour of my grandfather's word is at stake here… ~

~ I understand it's a lot of information to receive in one day, Kat. Why don't you try to sleep on it first…? ~

~ Don't you see it, Maaku? ~ Kat had pleaded. ~ If I say yes, I'll be getting married just by duty to fulfil my grandfather's promise; but if I say no, I might bring dishonour to Ngaak's memory and to our family as well. If you were in my place, you'd understand how pressuring this is. ~

~ I was in your place… ~ Charlotte had confessed.

Her children had looked at her in bewilderment as she had sat down.

~ 27 years ago, I was in your place… ~

Kat and Michael had also sat down and waited in silence for their mother to continue.

~ When I presented your father to mine, he didn't approve of him at first. We argued over the matter for days because none of us wanted to give in. It was at that same period that my father had saved the king's life by killing a leopard that was about to pounce on him during a hunt.

When the king had decided to make the oath with him, my father had gladly accepted in hopes that the prospect of marrying the second prince would change my mind on your father; but I didn't dither in my resolution.

At some point, I was so afraid that your grandfather would force me to marry the prince that I even ran away from home one day. Your father was the one who convinced me to go back to my father and talk things through. He was not about to take me as his wife without my father's consent.

In the end, my father confessed that he was only opposing our union because he was afraid to lose me. I would have to leave Ruund after I got married and that was something very hard for him to accept. He finally consented to my marrying your father; but I knew then that it was heart-breaking for him to let me go… ~

Even after 27 years had passed, the painful memory was still bringing tears to the eyes of the middle-aged woman. To her children, it was rather unsettling to see for the first time a vulnerable side to their mother who had often been referred to as 'Iron Lady'.

~ Your case may be a bit different because you are single at the moment; but the decision is still yours. ~ Charlotte had continued once she had regained her countenance. ~ You're right; there's a lot at stake. Our family is bound by the sealed covenant Tatuku[3] entered with King Angel I; and the responsibility to fulfil it now befalls you. In this situation, it's very likely that you might regret any rash decision you make because of the pressure. That's why I'm saying that it will be wiser for you to take time to look into the matter in full depth before coming to a definite decision. ~

Kat turned on her bed. Her mother was right; she needed to know more on the subject. Acquiring more information on the matter could surely help her make a decision – whichever it could be – she wouldn't come to regret afterwards. Right at that moment, the image of the crown prince popped in her mind. She needed to know even more about him. Her first impression of him was indeed not good but there was something about him that, strangely, peaked her curiosity. She couldn't pinpoint what is was yet, but she just felt that she should not dwell on that first impression alone.

A gentle knock at her bedroom door interrupted the course of her thoughts. Charlotte opened the door slowly and ventured her head in.

"I figured you wouldn't be sleeping." She said to her daughter.

"How so?" Kat asked while sitting up.

Charlotte walked in, sat on the edge of the bed and grabbed her daughter's hand. "I was in the same situation in the past, remember?"

Kat smiled. "Right."

"So; have you thought about what I told you?"

"Yes, Maaku. And I think you're right. I need first to sleep on it; then find a way to collect more information on this whole matter before giving my answer."

"Good." Charlotte kissed her daughter's forehead. "Then you should sleep now."

As Charlotte motioned to stand up, Kat grabbed her arm to retain her. "Maaku, why have you never told us about all this?" She asked.

Charlotte sighed. "Like I said, I knew it broke my father's heart to let me go. Then he died of heart failure not long after I left; before I was even able to go visit him as I had promised." Pain filled Charlotte's eyes once again. "I wouldn't say that I feel like I have caused his death; but not being there at a moment he might have needed my presence the most has always weighed heavily on me. That's why I always have a hard time talking about my father or even my childhood in Ruund. It always bring up sad memories."

Kat squeezed her mother's arm. "It definitely wasn't your fault. Seeing how he loved you so much that he put his own happiness and his engagement to the king aside for you, I'm sure that, even if you had move far away from him, Ngaak was still happy that you were happy."

Charlotte smiled and stroked her daughter's cheek. "How did you get so wise all of a sudden?"

Kat chuckled then asked more seriously: "Do you think it would be like I'm letting Ngaak down if I reject the royal family's proposal?"

"Of course not!" Charlotte answered with assurance. "Don't pressure yourself with such thoughts, Kat. Be free in the decision you make. And if it's no, the task can still fall on the next generation."

Both women laughed at the allusion. Then Charlotte took a look at her daughter. Kat had taken after her in so many way that Charlotte often felt as if she were looking at her younger self in the mirror whenever she laid eyes on her daughter.

She gave her another kiss on the forehead. "Uladikanganyi[4], my princess."

"Mwanyi mwa vude, Maaku."

The following day, the Samas had gotten up early to attend the first service at their Church. On their way back to their car afterwards, as Kat was getting close to the front passenger car door, Michael dashed in big strides to open the door first, mockingly bowed before his sister, and gestured towards the seat.

"Your Highness." He said with fake solemnity.

Kat raised her hand and motioned to hit him; but Michael, who had kept a vigilant eye on her, immediately jumped back, laughing heartily.

"What? I do my best to help you prepare for your future life and this is the thanks I get?" He teased.

"Michael, stop teasing your sister!" Their mother intervened.

"Don't bother, Maaku…" Kat said with resignation. "The more you'll try to stop him, the more he'll want to do it."

And, as to prove Kat's point, Michael continued his teasing as they got into the car.

"Hey, I just want to help you understand that you can't escape this. It's your destiny. Maaku agrees with me!"

"And when exactly did that agreement take place?" Charlotte asked, throwing an astonished glance to her son through the rear-view mirror.

"Then why is she the only one you call 'my princess'?" Michael wittily argued.

"Would you like for me to call you 'my prince' as well?" Charlotte cleverly retorted.

Slightly caught off guard, Michael still didn't admit defeat. "Not the point. Plus, she is the one you gave the pendant to!" He pointed out triumphantly, sure to have won his argument.

"In fact, I never really gave the pendant to Kat. My father had shown me the pendant right after he had received it from the king, but I did not want to take it. Later on, I received it together with my father belongings, when he passed away. Since I knew what it represented; and I honestly never thought the royal family would follow through with that oath, I decided to keep it as a mere family heirloom."

"Really?" Kat exclaimed. "Then how did I end up with it?"

"I don't know if you can remember that, but when you were about four years old, you liked to play 'Maaku'. You would slip your tiny feet in my shoes, wear my jewellery, grab one of my bags then try to walk around the house, pretending to be me."

Kat couldn't remember but still laughed while trying to imagine the scene.

"So one day, while you were going through my stuff, looking for new things you could wear, you stumbled upon the pendant's case. For a reason I still can't explain to this day, you instantly fell in love with it and practically begged me to let you have it."

"Interesting…"

Charlotte chuckled and shook her head at Michael's teasing comment, then continued: "I was really taken aback by your reaction to the pendant because you had never asked me for any of my stuff before. You were so disappointed when I explained to you that the pendant was a family treasure that I couldn't just give to you, that I felt heartbroken at your sad expression.

In the week that followed, you would sneak into my bedroom every day and spend a long time admiring the pendant. Your father felt so much for you that he suggested that I just let you have it. He assumed that you would quickly get over it and I could then take it back. That's how the pendant became yours."

Without noticing it, Kat was already holding the medallion and rubbing her thumb against it as it had become her habit. She looked at it. For as far as she could remember, the pendant was the only necklace she had ever worn. She had been offered other necklaces; but in her eyes, none of them was ever able to outshine the pendant. Even at that very moment, she was still unable to explain why she loved that pendant so much.

"See!" Michael claimed in jubilation, pulling Kat out of her reverie. "Now, don't tell me that this is not a sign. I'm telling you; it's your destiny, Sis!"

Kat and her mother both shook their heads and laughed.

[1] Good afternoon/good evening

[2] Young lady/girl/damsel/maiden

[3] Father/Dad

[4] Goodnight/goodbye