The Unexpected Princess (Completed)

Chapter 20

Naledi didn’t know if she had packed everything she will need. Her suitcase was overflowing with clothes beside her on the floor, but she still felt like she was leaving something behind. She stared at her wardrobe trying to figure it out.

The only time she left the village had been when she went to college. That felt like a long time ago. And she had been excited to go.

But now… She felt ill prepared for this adventure. It was sudden, and felt forced as if she was doing something wrong by leaving. This was supposed to be an adventure into the unknown. A chance to explore the world and see what was out there, what she was missing.

But it felt like she was going into exile and she was trying to fit all her things into a small suitcase she could carry.

She had to leave, she knew that. There was no way around it if she wanted a normal life.

Naledi sighed. She stared at her wardrobe.

She couldn’t very well pack the whole thing, now could she?

If only she knew what she’ll need out there.

Naledi felt tears fill her eyes.

“You need to pack what you need,” her grandmother said staring at her from the door of her bedroom.

“I don’t know what that is.” Naledi said turning to her.

“I know.” Her grandmother came in and sat on her bed. She gestured for her to come close. Naledi came, and sat next to her. She was going to miss her so much, and she didn’t know what to do with her emotions. “Just remember you’re going to come back to me. This is not for forever.”

“I know, Koko,” Naledi sniffed as she lay her head on her shoulder.

“I’m going to be fine. Dineo’s cousin, Dala will be here to take care of me. You concentrate on living your life. Hopefully the world will do the same too, and by the time you come back they would have forgotten about what happened at the dance.”

“I hope so too.”

Naledi held on to her grandmother feeling overwhelmed by the situation. She and Dineo didn’t know where they were going.

They’ll see when they got there it seemed, Naledi thought. She didn’t work well with surprises. She liked her life to be orderly, and controlled. Not this whirlwind that was turning everything upside down.

Naledi sighed and pulled herself together.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door, and her grandmother left to go answer it.

She told her to keep on packing. They were leaving tomorrow so Naledi didn’t have much time to decide what she was taking with her. She got up and went back to sit next to her suitcase.

From her room she could hear her grandmother speaking to someone. After a while she came back.

“There’s someone here to see you,” she said looking concerned. “He says it’s important.”

Naledi stared at her confused. She didn’t know of anyone who would come to visit her. Her only friend in the village was Dineo, and she was going to see her in the morning when they left the village.

Who could it be? Naledi asked herself as she got up from the floor. She made her way to the kitchen to find Sello standing there looking out of place. His large presence filled the kitchen, and it was unmistakable that he was part of the royal family.

“What are you doing here?” Naledi asked harshly. His presence reminded her so much of why she was leaving her home. And she didn’t like it. She also wasn’t sure of what to make of his sudden appearance. Naledi could hear her grandmother coming up behind her.

Sello stared at her not answering her. His face was a mask of disapproval.

Naledi flushed, maybe she had taken it too far. He didn’t deserve to be attacked. He probably thought he was here on some twisted regard for the prince.

“I know why you’re leaving,” Sello said looking comfortable for the first time since he entered the house. Naledi felt something pull in her heart as she imagined what he might have heard from everyone out there.

She stared at her feet as shame filled her. She couldn’t change who she was, even if she wanted to. And she was tired of feeling like there was something wrong with her.

“I’m here to apologize on behalf of my family for the way things turned out for you. The treatment you’ve received in that house is appalling and will be dealt with as soon as possible. I wish you didn’t have to go, but I understand why you have to go.” Sello continued. There was compassion in his every word. And Naledi felt tears spring into her eyes. His apology went straight to her heart.

She wiped at her eyes. She hadn’t expected that from him or anyone. It felt good to be treated like a human being after so long. She had gotten used to people treating her like she was a pariah that she’d forgotten how it felt to receive a kind word from a person who wasn’t family.

“Thank you,” she said smiling through her tears.

Sello nodded. He made for the door but came to a stop. He looked like he wanted to say something more, but hesitated.

“What?” Naledi asked her voice soft and small with emotion. He had shown her a kindness, so she could do the same to him.

“I know. You and I don’t know each other, but I would like to think that we share something in common, that could possibly make us friends. And that’s the other reason I’m here,” he said turning to her. He reached into his pocket and handed her a piece of paper, “this is my phone number, please call me if you ever need anything.”

“Ok, I will.” Naledi accepted the piece of paper and watched him walk out the door. Naledi turned around to find her grandmother staring at her with a smile on her face.

Naledi shook her head. She didn’t want to hear what she had to say. For self-preservation, she knew she should reject everyone who was associated with the prince but…Sello was…he was different. He didn’t see her as a maid. And that made her feel like a normal person again.

“You really are the princess of Ga-Tloung, aren’t you?”

“What?” Naledi turned to her grandmother in shock. Her heart lurch in her chest.

“He’s treating you like you are part of the family,” Her grandmother said coming close to her. She pulled her into her arms. “I didn’t mean to break your heart. It just amazes me how in the midst of chaos there is always a speck of hope left to cling to.”

But that hope wasn’t hers to cling to, Naledi thought.

She shook her head. She wasn’t going to dwell on whatever her grandmother was seeing. As far as she was concerned she was embarking on, hopefully, a new journey that will help her forget her past, and open her eyes to new experiences.

The world was waiting for her, Naledi thought walking back to her room to complete her packing. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

The next day Naledi woke up bright and early to prepare a scrumptious breakfast to share with her grandmother and Dineo, a sort of farewell breakfast for all of them. By the time she was done Dineo had arrived and was picking at choice morsels with her fingers and stuffing them into her mouth with a moan of appreciation.

“You really can cook, friend,” Dineo said stuffing a strip of bacon into her mouth.

“Leave some for my grandmother.” Naledi turned from the stove with a frying pan in her hand. She dished up the last of the bacon and then sat down at the table laden with an assortment of food.

“Koko, doesn’t mind. Or do you?” Dineo asked her as she walked into the kitchen.

“No. I know you need the food. You have so much energy Dineo, sometimes I think you are two people,” she said with a laugh. She came and sat down at the table. “Do you ever stop talking?”

“She’s right you know,” Naledi said.

“Oh stop…you’re just quiet, and so it seems I talk too much. When in reality I don’t.”

“I can’t believe you just talked yourself out that,” Naledi laughed at her.

Dineo stuck out her tongue at her like a child. Naledi threw her toast at her and a mini food fight broke out.

“I have a toast to make,” Naledi’s grandmother interrupted raising her cup of tea amidst bread missiles and scrambled eggs. They abruptly stopped their fight and paid attention to her. “May you find whatever you desire the most wherever you go and come back to me with your heart full and satisfied.”

“Thank you, Koko.” Naledi smiled at her.

“Can we get this show on the road,” Dineo declared with excitement.

They all laughed digging into their farewell breakfast. Naledi couldn’t wait to see what the world held in store for her.

And as time came for them to leave. She hugged her grandmother close, hoping that when she did come back she will still be there waiting for her. She was gone in years, and Naledi didn’t want to miss any precious moments with her.

She and Dineo made their way down to the market where the long distance taxis waited.

They stared at each other not sure which one to take.

“You decide,” Naledi said feeling anxious. Dineo nodded, and walked to one that was parked down the road farthest from the others. She got into the taxi without asking the driver any questions and sat down. Dineo was brave, she has always been.

Naledi turned back. Her eyes took in the road as it led up to the mountain. The royal homestead was there, its white splendour caught her eyes.

She never knew how difficult it would be to leave everything behind, Naledi thought. She closed her eyes and turned away.

It was only for a little while, she consoled herself. She walked to the taxi Dineo was sitting in, got in and sat down.

“You ready?” she asked concern laced in every word.

“I don’t know.” Naledi bit her bottom lip nervously.

“It will be fine. I promise.” Dineo took her hand in hers. Naledi held it tight. “We will come back and all this will be just a dream.”

“I hope so,” Naledi said hoping the nervous energy that swirled in her stomach will settle, and she could enjoy this moment.