The Unexpected Princess (Completed)

Chapter 24

Anthony drove home to his empty house. For the past year he found he loathed the silence that greeted him whenever he entered through its doors. The solitude he had enjoyed and reveled in for years seemed to be a glaring sign of loneliness. There was no life there. And the impersonal, metal grey walls of the rooms left him feeling cold and yearning for the bright green vegetation of the village and the colourful, lively rhythm of the market place. There he hadn’t felt alone or isolated from the world. There he had felt alive for the very first time in a long time.

Anthony walked into the house through the door that connected the kitchen to the garage. He dropped his keys on the kitchen table and made his way to the sitting area, where he picked up the remote and pressed a few buttons. A few seconds later the melodic sound of Lira’s voice filled the space chasing away the silence.

He pulled out his phone intending on calling Gauta, but he found himself dialing Sello’s number. He walked to his room as he waited for it to connect.

He will eventually call Gauta, but for now it seemed he wasn’t ready to plunge head first into their arrangement. There was still time yet to surrender to his father’s command and bite the proverbial bullet as it were. But not yet, his mind was still in turmoil as if his rebellious nature was rearing its head.

His rebellious nature aside, Anthony knew he couldn’t rush Gauta. There were things she needed to think about. It wasn’t easy to tie yourself to a person you don’t know.

But you were eager to tie yourself to Naledi and you didn’t even know her, a small voice whispered in his mind.

Anthony shook his head. That had been different.

He didn’t know how, but seeing her like that – dancing around the fire, the moon and the elements embracing her like she was born of the earth. He had been enraptured like never before. His heart had beat double time, his body turning hard and warm; burning with a desire that coursed through his entire body – robbing him of his ability to breathe. He’d wanted to possess her, make her his in every way possible.

Anthony wondered if he’ll ever experience a deluge of emotions like that again. He thought of Gauta in her regal attire and otherworldly beauty and waited for any feeling to fill his body. There was nothing. Nothing moved within him.

Then his mind turned to Naledi. His very heart thudded in his chest with feeling. And his whole body turned warm with desire.

Anthony sighed as it became very clear. Naledi was something special.

And he couldn’t have her.

He gritted his teeth, pushing all thought from his mind. It wasn’t healthy this back and forth. He couldn’t live his life like that. He had found the first woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with and he couldn’t have her, surely he wasn’t the only one, Anthony thought as he waited for his cousin to answer his phone. He was taking his sweet time.

“What do I owe the pleasure of the prince of Ga-Tloung calling me?” Sello said as a form of greeting when he finally answered his phone. His voice wasn’t welcoming, and Anthony tried by all means to ignore it.

They haven’t talked much after Sello informed him of Naledi’s departure from the village. Anthony had tried to explain to him his reasons for not interfering in her life again, but Sello didn’t want to hear any of his ‘excuses’ as he called them.

And declared that “You either do right by that girl or you and I will only talk about princess’ care nothing else.”

Anthony remembered his words well. And he’d limited his calls to inquiring about princess his dog. There was nothing else to talk about. Even he knew that.

He had interfered in Naledi’s life once, and she ended up leaving the village. Anthony didn’t think he could do that again. He had to respect her, and her life.

And he also had to respect the fact that she had rejected him. She didn’t want anything to do with him. He didn’t understand why Sello forgot that tit-bit of information while he hasn’t.

Her rejection still rankled, but there was nothing he could do about that.

They were just not meant to be.

“So a prince can’t call his cousin and say hi?” Anthony asked. He was feeling raw especially having spent the morning with Mogale and his family, and realizing that Naledi was his best chance at happiness. He needed an outlet for the emotions he was feeling. And Sello was his only friend.

“Of course he can. I’m just…” Sello trailed off. “What do you need, Anthony?”

“I know, you’re angry at me, Sello. And I understand why.”

“I was hoping with time you would change your mind. It’s been a year and I can see that you won’t. I…”

“It’s for the best, Sello.” Anthony sat on his bed feeling defeated. “I’m still waiting for Gauta to decide. She’s been silent on the subject. But I’m going to call her and find out what she’s decided.”

“Anthony…”

“What? We’ve talked about this. Look what my impulsive decision has cost her. She had to leave the village, leave her grandmother because my people couldn’t accept her. And let’s not forget that she said no.”

“If she said yes, would…”

“She didn’t,” Anthony interrupted, his voice stern. “And besides for once I’m taking responsibility for my own actions. And if it means I have to sacrifice my own happiness in the process so be it.”

“I understand. But I don’t have to like it. I hope you can understand that.” Sello said with feeling.

Anthony stared into space not sure what to say to that. He took a deep breath, “Wherever she is she probably hates me for turning her life upside down, and I have no way of telling her I’m sorry.” He laughed slightly, a self-mocking smile forming on his face, “You warned me last year. Now I don’t know where she is.”

Sello was silent for a while that Anthony wondered if he’d heard her. He guessed he didn’t want to say he told him so, which was perfectly his right to do so. He did tell him.

“By the way congratulations on the success of the hotel,” Sello finally spoke changing the subject, “are you going to take a break now that it’s a success?”

“That sounds like my brother talking,” Anthony said with a nod even though Sello couldn’t see him – he’d known his cousin wouldn’t say it. Anthony sighed turning to what he said. He should have known that Mogale will find another accomplice to continue his tirade.

“I will, soon.”

“That doesn’t sound convincing. But I know you will when you’re ready. When you do decide come and visit us. Princess misses you.”

“Will do.” Anthony said and hung up the phone.

He stared at his phone. And for the second time in his entire life he wished he wasn’t a prince. He wished he was a simple man who could do whatever he chose, and his decision wouldn’t affect an entire village.

Anthony walked to his closet and pulled a simple wooden box he’d placed there on the day of his return from the village. He opened it. Inside was a simply wrapped necklace he’d bought at the market.

He’d been asking himself what to do with it. And he couldn’t seem to make up his mind.

Anthony pulled it out from its brown wrapping and stared at it.

Would it make a nice engagement gift? He asked himself.

Maybe? He thought.