💔BENEATH THE CROWN💔
(AMANDA’S TALE)
CHAPTER 2
“Yes, my daughter, you have to prepare in the next 7 days to come back to the village,” she said. I began to imagine my future if I were chosen by the king.
“Mum, is there a way I could skip this? I don’t think I am ready for such responsibilities, perhaps I am chosen by the new king,” I asked, hoping there is a way I could avoid this. I wasn’t ready to exchange my perfect life for an uncertain future in the village.
“You know there is no way to avoid this,” my mom responded. Ah! I always thought I could escape this and marry my dream man as long as the king doesn’t die before I turn 25.
I knew that my chance of being chosen was 80%, not only because I was beautiful and intelligent but also because I was the daughter of the prominent king’s adviser, so it was bound to happen.
“Okay, Mom, I have heard. I will begin to prepare and take a leave from my work in case things don’t work out as planned,” I said. If only I had known, I would have sought out ways to avoid my imminent fate.
“Okay, my daughter, let me prepare for your homecoming. I am sure your father and siblings will be really excited about this,” she said, cutting my line of thought.
“Mom, please don’t go about announcing my return and planning a big party,” I pleaded, knowing what she was capable of doing, especially because of her position as a women leader.
“My daughter, you know that it is impossible. I must celebrate your return, if not for anything but as a successful nurse,” she replied. I knew at this point nothing could change her mind.
“Okay, Ma, I have to prepare for work,” I said, hoping to end this conversation because I was running late.
“Okay, my sweet girl. May your day be blessed, and please, my daughter, be careful out there. And my precious daughter, remember to bless your mom with something, yes!” She praised me just to get money from me. I already knew this conversation would end with her asking for money.
“Okay, Mama, I will send something across. Please extend my greetings to papa and my siblings,” I said, immediately ending the call and making the transfer to her before leaving to go prepare for work.
I couldn’t stop thinking as I prepared for work about the responsibilities and what the future brings but also about the tradition.
The tradition dictated that all young maidens below the age of 25 must remain virgins, especially when the king dies, for the new king to choose his bride, and the punishment for offenders was what all maidens dreaded. I could feel a bad premonition, but I shook it off, wondering what could go wrong.
I got to work 20 minutes late and began to settle down when Nurse Nancy, my nemesis in the hospital, walked up to me.
“The director is asking for you,” she said, shocking me to the core.
Written by RuchinaBlog