CHAPTER 7

Don’t put water on Fire..

I don’t understand what’s going on, but I obey without saying a word. So I got into the car with a hesitant step, leaving behind me, bélinda as lost as I am. Looking out the window, I noticed that the Prince is the only one to leave the meeting immediately; I could see that there is movement inside and some politicians just as angry, are getting out of the company.I put on my belt, looking at him from the corner of my eye. His look and his breathing let me imagine that he’s not well or something went wrong. He looks tense.

The Prince- Please Tendaji get me out of here. He says taking off his hat and jewels.

Tendaji- No worries, Prince Mosi.. He says, taking a look at the interior mirror. You look tense, my Prince, are you all right?

The Prince- Do I look okay? He says angry.

Tendaji- My Prince,I just wanted to check on you.

The Prince- Please.. your job is to drive me not to play the psychologist.He adds coldly.

Tendaji- You’re right. He says focusing on the road. Where do you want me to take you?

The Prince- Away from here, away from the palace..Take me back to my grandfather’s house, I’ll feel better. He says, putting his head against the glass.

I look at him with this enigmatic look. I ask myself hundreds of questions. What could have happened there that made him act like that?

His bad mood demotivates me, he’s already a rather bitter person, and now he’s even more than usual. Now that I’m in this car alone with him, I don’t even have the courage to say a word. I’d like to find something to say to reassure him, but I have this blocking. Him and I are so different that I do not know how to act normally. So, I decide to remain silent.

A silence settles in the vehicle, I do not dare speak to avoid annoying him even more but I wonder, why he asked me to accompany him, he could have remained alone with Tendaji. I don’t see how I’m useful in any of this.

A few minutes later, we arrive in front of a house, neither too big nor too small. It is rather a modest apartment in the center of Sakana. There is a small courtyard, just opposite, in which multiple green plants grow.

Tendaji goes down first to open the door to the Prince and I get out of the car. He goes up to the apartment.

-Prince Mosi, I said.What should I do ?

He turns to face me.

The Prince- What a servant must do. He answers me by turning to open the door of the apartment.

I look behind me, to see Tendaji who gives me a smile to reassure me. I’m used to being angry at him, or even provoking him, but today, I can’t. Something’s going on in his head and it’s destabilizing me, I’m not sure how to deal with him.

The Prince- Are you going to sleep there? He says standing in front of the door.

-No. I say on my way home.

The brilliance and grandeur of this apartment dazzles me. On the ground floor there is the living room and a kitchen, right next to the entrance door there are stairs that lead back to the rooms I suppose. The walls are painted white leaving the outside light illuminated the rooms of the house. Everything is well arranged and clean. I feel like at home, the house is soothing.

The Prince- This is all new to you. He says pointing to the house with his finger.

-What do you mean? I say frowning.

The Prince- It’s bigger than your aunt. He says sitting in the chair in the living room.

-My aunt?

I meet him in the living room, not understanding what he’s trying to tell me.Is he taking an idiot from me?

The Prince- Your house.. He continues with a smile. You are not used to all this.

- Oh my God, now I understand.I said, rolling my eyes. Who does he think he is?

The Prince- My grandfather left me this apartment.. I come here when I need to be alone. He entrusts me with a glass of wine. Aren’t you going to sit down?

-No. I say with my arms crossed. I don’t feel like it and I-

The Prince- It’s just the two of us.He says by cutting me off. You don’t have to play Maid 2.0 with me, at least not here.

I sit on a chair and blow. He still compared my house to an aunt, how am I supposed to take it there? I don’t believe that I was worry about him, not even a few seconds ago, there he goes again with his haughty airs.

-What happened earlier? I ask him to start a discussion.

The Prince- It’s none of your business.

-Wow--I’m just trying to make an effort, Mister The Prince. I say starting to get angry.

The Prince- Mind your own business and you’ll be less disappointed. He confesses coldly.

-Am I dreaming? I say in shock.Why can’t you just be kind ?

The Prince- Why don’t you just mind your business? I have the right not to answer you miss! He says when he gets up out of his chair. I’m the Prince, so I do what I want.

-Yes, but it is not a reason to pour your hatred on others.

The Prince- Me? I pour my hatred on others?

"Yes, Your Highness. I say by raising my voice." I remind you once again that we are not your dogs or slaves, but we are human beings.

The Prince- Thank you for reminding me. He says arrogantly.

- Arrg.. I hate that awful part of you. I say with my eyes up. You know that we did nothing to you, neither I, nor Tendaji nor anyone else for that matter. I say standing up.

The Prince-Shut your mouth before I come and shut it for you.

'Wow... so this is the future King of Namby I have in front of me, is it? I say looking down at him, disgusted.

The Prince- It’s me. He says raising his glass.

"You disgust me."

The Prince- Get out if you’re not happy.

-You asked me to come with you, didn’t you? So I stay here! I end up furious to see this heartless monster in front of me.

The Prince- stop barking at me, I risk getting you out of here without hesitation.

-Do it, I am not afraid of being thrown out of a house by my future King.I approach him making sure our faces are face to face.

He tightens his jaw by throwing a black look at me, same as his mother’s but more demonic. If I wasn’t pissed off, I would have apologized to him right now, but I’m so wound up by this idiot, I’m not afraid of anything.

-You know what, MONSIEUR LE PRINCE. I say shouting. I’m tired of your nonsense, now express what’s in your heart instead of keeping it all to yourself. TALK and be a man for once in your life, instead of hiding behind your parents. I end up staring at him.

The Prince- Me?! Hiding behind my parents. He says with a nervous laugh.

The tone begins to rise gradually. We are both angry, I can no longer see him and neither can he. At least we agree on one thing.

The Prince- All right, since I hide behind my parents. He rehearses by squeezing his jaw. I can read the hate on his face.

-Yes! I said loudly. You treat everyone like shit,like slaves, whereas without us, without the people, you are nothing. I say shouting." We break our backs every day, to serve you because we have respect for you, because we love our people. Because... I want to make my father proud. I say tears in my eyes.So yes, it’s good to say that I live in an aunt while the gentleman was born with a gold spoon in his mouth. It’s easy for you to judge us, to judge me! But know that I am not here to please your beautiful eyes but to feed my family.. I don’t have parents like you..

Tears run down my face, forcing me to stop my long speech. I suffer, everything that happens slowly destroys me. It awakens in me wounds that I have kept buried in my heart for a long time.

-I. I’m sorry your day didn’t go as planned, but that’s no reason to dump your hatred on people who want your good. I end up drying my tears.

The Prince-I’m sorry. He ends up leaving the room.

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The Prince ans The Maid.