Another chapter I'm excited about! This is the first chapter that will feature flashbacks.

Year One: Meanwhile, in Wakanda

Months Ago - Wakanda's Vibranium Mines

Imanu didn't know why he was called, but he had to clean himself up from being down in the mines. And his supervisor gave him a stern face while informing him that he better clean up nicely. So he did but he did his best since he had to do it quickly. He washed up as quickly as he could, dressed up in his professional clothes, and threw on his lab coat. As directed, he walks down the laboratory hallways and enters one of the private offices. Closing the door behind him, he almost faints when he sees King T'Challa and Queen Ororo.

His mouth goes dry and his eyes almost pop out of his head. He has never seen them in person before, only from afar, from within a crowd, or on media outlets. They looked just as intimidating in person. Or even more.

"Your Highnesses…" Imanu mutters quickly, trying to get a grip on himself. Was he sweating? He's heating up. "To what do I owe the honour?"

"Actually, we owe you the honour," King T'Challa tells him, offering for Imanu to sit down in front of them.

Imanu takes a seat in the chair across from the desk. He watches as King T'Challa offers his wife the chair on the other side. She refuses modestly, allowing him to sit down. He refuses as well, insisting on her taking a seat. After a small banter that Imanu can't help but smile at, King T'Challa sits down as Queen Ororo stands behind him, resting her hands on his arm.

"You know about our daughter," King T'Challa starts.

Imanu nods upon realizing that he's talking to him. "I do."

It wasn't a question because everyone in Wakanda knows about his daughter.

-o-

Months Ago - Wakanda's Palace

He's in a line with fourteen other suitors.

All the suitors are in dashikis that vary in colour and style. It must be to put them on an even playing field but Imanu knows that's a failed attempt. Aside from all the introductions he awkwardly had to endure with them, he knew that he didn't stand a chance. They were all men of power, wealth, and status. They had titles following their names! They had charisma and charm to each other and even more when King T'Challa and Queen Ororo walk in with their daughter trailing.

He's seen Princess Iqadi before but never in person and never when she would see him back. In the mines, he would sometimes catch a glance at her if she was in the lab from deep down with the vibranium. If she looked over the edge, she would barely see the speck he is. Other times, he would catch her in the media.

And she looked exactly like her photos: unreal.

Princess Iqadi strides confidently as she approaches him. There wasn't one flaw in sight - not a hair out of place or a wrinkle in her dress. As if he expected one... Her eyes are big and bold as they look at him and everything around him becomes irrelevant. There are words that Queen Ororo is saying as she introduces him and all he responds with is reddening and burning cheeks. According to her, which is likely why he's here, he's an expert on vibranium. It wasn't a lie because he does understand it, but expert is an understatement.

He hasn't even said anything and he already messed up. As per routine, he quickly bows his head. Maybe nobody saw that. But when he meets Princess Iqadi's eyes as he raises his head, she's grinning.

He has no chance here.

-o-

Months Ago - Wakanda's Palace

Whenever Princess Iqadi took a trip to America, the suitors got time off. Some went home, some stayed here. Either way, they got to go back to their normal lives.

But not Imanu. After a few days with his family, he came back to the palace although he's uncomfortable as hell here. His parents were thrilled when he was chosen to be a suitor because even if he wasn't chosen to be the prince consort, he could still get out of working in the mines. He was still helping his family out with finances which is his dream, but it was less stressful being in the mines. At least in the dark, nobody saw him.

Now everyone has their eyes on him.

It's the façade that has him unnerved. Everyone thinks he's a junior scientist in the mines but that's only because he had to drop out of school to make money for his family. He wasn't formally educated or had comparable credentials to the other suitors. He learned everything from experience. Imanu thinks that he has to tell Princess Iqadi before it's too late to save her the time and him the possible heartbreak, but he doesn't know what too late means. He has no romantic feelings for her now and why would she have any for him?

Imanu perks when he hears a knock on the door, turning that direction when it opens.

"Princess Iqadi is back," he tells Imanu.

Imanu nods and looks out his window and sees Iqadi arriving. Imanu realizes that too late is when he falls in love with her. Keyword: when.

-o-

Months Ago - Wakanda's Palace

Imanu is crouched on his bedroom floor, looking at the mess of papers Iqadi has given him to look at. She was distressed when she ran into him and almost broke down in front of him. He was used to seeing his princess as this powerful beacon. Even when she was bleeding to death in front of him and had to be stitched, she was still the most dominant figure in the room. And now? He sees someone broken because she has to create plans for her country that she's against. Her heart is torn trying to be different people and he can relate. It's worked for him so far, even after he told her the truth.

He hears her wake up and her eyes flutter open from his bed. Moments later, she climbs out of his bed and joins him.

"Are you sure you want my assistance?" Imanu asks her. "You said yourself that this is strictly confidential."

"Don't worry," Iqadi responds. "You have my full permission to see and tweak this. My own mother doesn't know my father's plans."

Imanu doesn't respond. The queen doesn't know her king's plans and here he is looking at the princess's. This isn't right but it lights a small fire inside of him. It's a feeling he's only felt around her when she would unintentionally say things like that to ignite it.

"That makes me feel important," he says, starting to feel proud.

Iqadi puts a hand on his shoulder and he looks up at her. "You have to stop having doubts in yourself because you are important," I say. "You're helping me be a leader - a better one, actually. It takes a thousand little things to make this work."

-o-

Months Ago - Wakanda's Palace

Rumour had it that Princess Iqadi picked a suitor.

It couldn't be him. He wasn't worthy of being a prince. He wasn't worthy or Iqadi's heart or hand. He didn't even try and fight for it so why did he fall in love with her? He tried not to, he really did, but he couldn't help himself. Iqadi ended up being more than the princess he saw from afar. She was a real person who couldn't possibly love him back.

But they had a moment when he asked for his help with her contingency plan. They were delirious, emotional, fatigued - but they got close. Close. They were in each other's arms and close enough to kiss, but nothing happened.

Princess Iqadi left and he followed her path but not direction. They went to sleep in their own rooms, woke up the next day, and never addressed it. It's not people were supposed to know, especially since he saw something he shouldn't have. It felt like he dreamt the entire night because why would that ever happen to him? Did last night really happen to him? It was too good to be true. Everything about him being in this palace was too good to be true.

Imanu walks down the hallway of the palace. It's been quiet ever since Princess Iqadi possibly picked a suitor. He couldn't stay in his room. His body felt so tense and nervous because his whole life is changing when it's barely begun.

But then he sees Princess Iqadi at the end of the hallway. They stare at each other for a bit, unable to say anything. There isn't one clue on her face about her choice.

"Hello, Princess…" Imanu mutters. He was on a first-name basis with her, but he didn't feel like he could call her that anymore.

"Hello…" Princess Iqadi responds with whimsy in her voice.

-o-

Months Ago - Wakanda's Palace

Everyone's looking at him at the engagement announcement ball. It's the night where one of their lives will change forever. Princess Iqadi's going to propose and one of them will become the Prince Consort of Wakanda.

He can barely keep a smile and his body from exploding. Within the days since Iqadi made her choice, nobody knew who it was, not even her parents. Imanu has overheard the castle staff and his former colleagues from the mines take their bets on who it is. Imanu isn't sure of the numbers, but he isn't in the top three out of five and most have their eyes set on a stronger alliance with the Tiger tribe. Rumour has it King T'Challa desires that outcome. Nobody knew about Queen Ororo's thoughts.

"Do you think she picked you?" Imanu's mother asks him.

His sister runs around excitedly at their feet, bouncing up and down about how her brother's about to be a prince. He smiles nervously, agreeing as a joke as he picks her up.

"Why?" Imanu asks his mother. "Do you think she did?"

"I don't see why not."

He can see a lot of reasons why not.

-o-

Present Day - Outside of Wakanda's Palace - 12:47 PM

Iqadi walks through a crowd of people with a bright smile as she greets her people. She shakes hands, takes pictures, kisses babies, and gives hope to everyone there. She purposely made today sunny and warm when the forecast predicted grey clouds and strong winds. Iqadi wanted to greet as many people as she can with no problems, and she wore her best jumpsuit.

Iqadi turns around and gives her new husband, Prince Consort Imanu, a reassuring nod before returning her gaze up ahead. He follows in her footsteps, mimicking her gestures towards the people of Wakanda. Because everyone wants to meet there new prince. When his eyes leave Iqadi's, his genuine smile falters for a second, before returning his fake one.

It's not that he didn't want to be here; he's super shy and uncomfortable with everyone wanting his attention at once. But he keeps the act up because that's what his wife wants (she never told him that directly, but he guessed). Wife. It's still strange to call Princess Iqadi, his princess, as his wife.

And his training told him the same thing: never show a thing you feel inside.

Nobody wants to see a panicking prince or tell the King, Queen, or his wife that their new joining heir is incompetent. He already thinks that about himself. But that doesn't stop him from wanting to shrivel and hide in the depths of the vibranium mines. Just like old times!

Not so long ago, nobody knew who he was. Now, everyone knows his name. It was weird for him to live in a palace, a country, with people who treat him as if he's superior to them because he now is. He never felt truly alone but this is a lot for him to get used to. He can never let people know how he feels inside. The moment Iqadi proposed to him, he was being served and greeted with a title. He's never truly alone, at least in proximity. There was always going to be someone in the room with him or nearby.

"Imanu," Iqadi says. She's now close by him, holding his hand with both of hers. Her voice is soft and the crowds are loud so only she can hear him. "Are you okay?"

Imanu nods, kissing her cheek to hide his face in her hair for a second. That gesture gets the people cheering.

"Never better," he says, holding her hands tighter.

She looks at him skeptically before returning to embrace people. He keeps his hand linked with hers as she waves ahead with her free one. Imanu looks down and sees her rings close to his.

Even talking to Iqadi was awkward at first, for both of them. They have a love for each other but they're still strangers wearing matching wedding rings.

Ahh! I love this chapter. I can't wait to write their love story's developments.

Iqadi's Counterparts - Chapters 4, 18-20, 21 (The Suitors / The Contingency Plan / The Delirium / The Anticipation / My Choice)