CHAPTER 4

Who’s gonna be The chosen one ?

-We have a meeting in an hour. I say, by entering the room interrupting their discussion.

Dorcase- Who’s this “we”?

-You, me and the other maids.Said I, raising my eyebrows.

Accacia- Okay, and who told you that?

-The Queen. I say by putting on my uniform. The Prince will be there.

Dorcase- Ololo. Does she say when she starts to stress. How do I look? She questions me by showing me her uniform.

-As usual. I’m being honest. It’s the same uniform you usually wear, Dorcase.

She breathes with her eyes rolling and asks her friends for their opinion. They reassure her that the uniform suits her perfectly and I look at them waving my head. I understand why they are like this, they want to impress him and it’s normal. I could have been in their place, but I’m not.

Accacia- Do you know the purpose of this meeting?

Dorcase- I don’t know.. Maybe we should introduce ourselves to the Prince since he doesn’t know us yet.

Bélinda- He doesn’t know YOU. She says by applying her lip gloss. I have no worries, he and I know each other.

Dorcase- Oh, right?

Bélinda- Yes, of course, she looks up and continues. He gave me an insistent look yesterday and that means everything.

Dorcase-You think you’re ahead of us, don’t you?

Bélinda-Largely. She says by asserting about it.

-Okay girls. I start by blowing. I know you hate me and I can’t do anything to change it, but can you at least tell me what please you with that prince? I question them seriously.

Accacia- He’s not just a prince to me. She starts with a smile. He is the man of my dreams, he is beautiful, tall, powerful and he has a lot of money. And his charisma, these luxurious clothes, I love everything about him. He’s the man any young woman in Namby would dream of having. She ends up biting her lips.

-And...that’s all you care about him?

Bélinda- Of course! She said, interrupting me. What else do you want it to be?

I roll my eyes and watch our superior Dorcase laugh. I would have liked to be elected superior because, I do not see how she differs from us.I am not perfect but, I would have tried to bring the group together instead of dispersing it. As soon as I arrived instead of integrating, she rejected me. And now she starts laughing at me. I don’t understand, and I don’t really like it.

-You girls don’t understand. A man is not just the physical aspect, he must also understand you, be there for you, have the same values as you, you must have a complete vision. I mean, for me it’s that and then the physical completes my criteria and..

Bélinda- You see... that’s why I don’t like you, you always try to feel different from us. She says cutting me off. We understand, Madame “my father worked for the king”. Don’t forget, you’re in the same shit as us right now, so stop playing dumb with us. She stares at me and walks out of the room.

-Wow. I say stunned. It was free.

Accacia- She’s right. Can’t you just be like us? She starts yelling.You always want to be different, as if you want to prove something, while you’re in the same boat as us.

"I never said I felt above you girls."

Accacia- But that’s what we feel like. Under your perfect girl look.

-I apologize then, if that’s what I made you feel it was not at all my attention. I..

Accacia- You see, you start again with your long speeches. The word sorry is enough for us Amina. She goes away while wildly chewing her gum.

-Dorcase, I...

Dorcase- Look, I agree with her. There’s no point in trying to soften me because I’m alone. I’m going, I don’t want to be late for the meeting.

-It’s an hour away. I said, rolling my eyes.

Dorcase- I know. She goes away, leaving me alone again in this room.

-Why is everyone running away from me in this house?I said, blowing.

Samira- Hey.. She said knocking on the door.

I turn around and smile at her as I come to my senses.

Samira- The door was open, so I took the liberty of disturbing you.

-Don’t you have to be with the King?

Samira- Yes,But I have a break.

-How lucky you are to work for him. I wish I had that chance too.

Samira- I admit, we are less stressed but the queen is always on our back.

-Um, don’t make me say it.

Samira- I heard we had a meeting earlier.

-Yes.

Samira- We’re joining the others? They’re doing the laundry.

I nod and we go down to help the others do the laundry and arrange the rooms that need to be arranged.

——-

A few hours later, it was time for us to join the Queen and the Prince who were waiting for us in the Royal Room. Bélinda and the other servants are rushing to arrive first, while Samira and I are moving forward quietly telling our past lives before we join the Palace. We then enter the living room, where we see the Queen sitting alone on her throne. We bow to her and put our hands behind our backs like robots.

The Queen- Good. I see everyone is here. As you can see, I brought you here for an extremely urgent reason. But before I go into the void of the subject, I would like to clarify things here. I don’t like what I’m hearing right now.

My heart is tightening, I’m scared. I don’t want her to yelled at me in front of everyone like last time, I’m tired of being the one who behaves badly every time.

The Queen-Dorcase!

Dorcase- Yes, my queen. She says, as she went forward.

The Queen- I don’t like what I’m hearing right now, all these rumors. You’re not here to talk but to work and you! You’re supposed to be in control of this, right?

Dorcase- Yes, of course, ma'am, but you know how stubborn they are.

The Queen- Yes, but the reason I gave you this job is because I thought you could handle the servants and avoid any problems. But as far as I can see, you’re not capable of it. She ended by drinking her glass of wine.As I do not like disorder I am obliged to make a change.She said with a firm face.

I look at Samira, who, like me, widens her eyes. Given her facial expression, the Queen is not here to laugh with us, she is here to put order. I don’t know what she wants to do with Dorcase, but I feel sorry for her.

The Queen- Do you want to add something before I make my decision?

The Prince- Sorry I’m late. He said as he walked into the room. He sits beside his mother as he looks at me. I make myself discreet by staring at him without being caught by the Queen.

The Queen-Thank you for interrupting me. She says, rolling her eyes. So as I was saying before my dear son came to interrupt me, does Dorcase have anything to say?

Dorcase- Well... to be honest with you, I’ve never had a problem before and you know me very well. I’ve been superior for over two years and I’ve been running the maids, and I think it’s just that there are maids who are more difficult then other.

The Queen- What do you mean ?

Belinda- Well, my Queen, if I may say so. She said as she went on. I don’t get along with Amina.

I frown when I hear my name. I don’t believe it, what are they trying to do again.

Bélinda- Amina, that’s why you wanted to leave, isn’t it?

I’m feeling like flush all of a sudden. I didn’t expect her to say it in front of everyone. I’m trying to get something out of my mouth, but she cut me off.

Bélinda- You can see it, since she only arrives late and in addition, she does not respect your authority because I heard a discussion that she wanted to leave the palace without informing you.

-Bélinda? What’s your problem, you don’t have to do this! My queen, can I explain?

The Queen- I don’t need to hear your explanations.

Samira- Calm down. She whispers to me while caressing my back.

My anger is starting to rise. I don’t understand why she’s so unfair to me? I just want to defend myself, because what they’re trying to do is really mean and disgusting. I take a deep breath and pray not to explode in front of everyone. I risk to throw the throne of the Queen and the Queen with. I’m so pissed, I should’ve been more careful.

The Queen- What do you think, Mosi?

He rises from his throne by clearing his throat. It’s true that since he arrived, he didn’t say a single word, I can feel total boredom in his eyes.

The Prince- First, good morning to all. Personally, I’ve only been here two days and I’ve had the opportunity to speak with one servant. But, my mother gave me a little debriefing and if we’re here it’s more for me than to settle your affairs. He says changing the subject. As you know, my father has servants for him, Samira and Djalma. So as a future King, I’d like to have my own servants, too.

The Queen- So, he has therefore chosen two maids among you. It’s a servant’s duty to serve him food, as usual, to accompany him on his journeys, to make his room, his linen, you are at his service.

The Prince-The tasks will be separated. He adds looking at me.

I roll my eyes, hoping that he did not choose me. I do not want to work for this man. I’d rather stay in my maid’s room with the girls I hate than work for him. It’s not going to work, he hates me and I hate him. Why would he choose me anyway he knows what I think of him.

The Prince- So for this task, I chose Bélinda. I think she would be perfect for this job, and I like what you’re doing. He says with his charming smile.

Bélinda- Oh, thank you, my prince. She said, exploding with joy. I will not disappoint you, I am a very good cook and a very good housekeeper.

The Prince- We’ll see if it’s true. You’ll share your new room with..

I close my eyes and pray that they choose someone other than me. I don’t want to live with this witch, and I don’t want to see the Prince every day. Oh Lord; please hear my prayer..

The Prince- Amina. He says by pointing at me.

-Me? I’m falling from the clouds,when I hear my name. But.. I...

________

The Prince and The Maid.