Revamped!
[Don't worry about not remembering the suitors because it took me forever to remember them as well]. [2019: If it helps, I was planning Iqadi's future kid's name so I went researching. I found a name I loved and it ended up being a suitor's name. So, that name was thrown out…but I loved it the first time which is why it was a suitor's name]
Chapter Five: The Stain
In the courtyard just outside the palace, I sit with an assembly of advisors in the many sectors of the palace. At one end of the table sits Father, the strong, handsome, and provident King of Wakanda. On his right is Mother, sitting with her perfect posture, glowing her radiance to everyone. I sit across from her, on my father's left, eating my food and drinking my wine.
This is one of those times where the advisors will inform my parents about how their division of the palace performs and how we can improve it if necessary. They're not always over meals but this occasion is different. Father makes encouraging sounds, although he hasn't yet considered the ideas brought forth to him. He is, however, going to do so eventually. That is just the way he takes in information. The quiet gaze of my mother sweeps around the table, dwells for a moment on each suitor who is anxious to be noticed by me in the best way possible.
I see them.
Today, the suitors aren't sitting by my side at the table. Instead, they're doing various tasks to do well in hopes to impress me; right here, right now. Their first task is to prove how poised they are. To do so, they each act as our servers for this moment.
"Your Majesty," a military advisor says to my father, "our weapons system has highly improved over the last month."
"As predicted," Father replies, raising his glass to that. "Iqadi, what are your thoughts?"
I quickly finish the food in my mouth. It's rare that my father would ask me for my thoughts. He seldom asks Mother let alone me. Usually, the weapons of our country are controlled by him and only by him.
"I propose that we use those armaments in our defence system along the border of our land," I recommend. "That way, an approaching threat can be stopped before entering the village and harming our people. And the closer we are to those vulnerable areas, the earlier we'll notice."
The advisors whisper amongst themselves about my idea. Eventually, they all look to my father with nodding heads. Mother smiles proudly at me and even Father shows his approval. This enlightens me.
I put my focus back on my suitors once again. They're doing a splendid job as servers by showing how graceful they can be. They know when to refill glasses, provide new napkins, and fetch more appetizers without having to be requested. Yet my suitors seem to be doting on me the most. I could take the slightest sip of my wine and instantly have it refilled without asking. I dab the corner of my mouth and would receive a fresh serviette. I have to watch myself or I'll get drunk. They're spoiling me which makes my mother grin and my cheeks redden.
As I raise my glass to take another sip, one of my suitors accidentally nudges the back of my chair which causes me to jolt forwards and drop my wine glass on my lap. My hands open up in shock as I see my grey dress become stained with red. I catch my glass before it rolls off my lap to shatter on the ground and put it back on the table.
All eyes are now on me.
"Excuse me," I say.
Before anyone could stop me, I rise from the table and walk inside the palace as fast as I can. Once I'm indoors, I pick up my pace. I decline help from any handmaids who offer. They're not aware of what happened but, by the looks of my dress, it seems as if I killed a man. I stop just outside my bedroom door. I look down at the wine stain and try to fan it dry with my hands.
That was embarrassing.
I feel my forehead with the back of my hands and it's hot. I focus on my breathing to cool down. I close my eyes and try to meditate on the spot, but I hear approaching footsteps.
"I'm fine," I call out, still looking at the stain.
"Princess…"
It's a different voice. I thought the only one who would follow me would be my mother but she's not there. I turn around and see the suitor who accidentally bumped into my chair. Both of us are flustered but he's more petrified. He approaches me as if he walks on eggshells as if I'm about to expel him from my palace.
It's the power balance.
"I'm genuinely sorry," he tells me. He and his voice shake and he hesitates on walking closer to me.
I blink, trying to remember his name. His accent isn't that strong so it leads me to believe that either he wasn't born here, our language wasn't his first, or he rarely speaks our language. Oh! He may rarely be in Wakanda.
This is the traveller: Sir Jaheem.
"I was scared to mess up and I did," Jaheem continues to explain. "I have never done anything like this in my entire life."
I laugh a little. "Neither have I."
He knows I mean the whole suitor situation and we're both comfortable with recent events. Then Jaheem's face drops when he remembers that he's my suitor and his future here depends on how I interpreted this incident.
"I understand your nervousness," I tell him. "I was anxious about this process, still am. Nobody is perfect, not even myself although a lot of people think differently. I would like to think I am but I'm not and I'm alright with admitting that. Let me tell you this, Sir Jaheem, the only one that will be exiting is this wine stain from my dress. Go back and tell my parents I'll return soon."