Chapter 6

Buhle returned home that evening. She came home much later than usual. Usually, she returned from the farm earlier, right before she transformed. And then, she would go out again, for a walk, after transforming.

There were rumours in the kingdom of a night goddess that looked over the kingdom. She was rumoured to be the most beautiful human being. Apparently, the night goddess protected the people of Simunye and provided them with a fruitful harvest and riches. Those rumours had been started and spread by a few that had seen Buhle at night. None of them knew or would have guessed that that 'goddess' they spoke of was, in fact, Buhle. The very girl who was, during the day, teased as the ugliest. Her transformation turned her from an ugliest creature among humans to the most beautiful person, and vice versa.

On that evening, she came home after transforming into her beautiful self. Buhle did not want The Prince to realize that she was 'the absent maiden' at The Prince's bride selection day. Grandpa welcomed Buhle as she walked in, and he offered her a meal.

"Oh, you must be hungry, my child", remarked grandpa giving the young lady her plate.

The young lady nodded to her talking grandpa, as she ate her food.

"He has been recovering steadily throughout the day, today. He is gaining back his strength little by little" grandpa informed Buhle. He added; "How is Mini?"

Buhle responded that Mini was fine. The young man was lying on sofa, listening to their conversation, which they had right in front of him in the living room. It was a small house with three rooms. One was the living room, and the other two were the bedrooms, each one belonging to Buhle and grandpa. At night during his stay at the commoners' house, he was given grandpa's room. And grandpa would put down his blankets in the living room during the night and fold them away during the day.

The panic at the palace had died down. Everyone was ordered not to speak of The Prince's disappearance within the palace and outside. Although the King was panicking about the whole situation, The Queen was rather calm and handling the issue strategically.

The King suggested revealing the matter to the public, he felt that that would lead to a swift finding of The Prince. The Queen argued otherwise. After a lengthy explanation, she finally managed to buy some time. She agreed with the King to alert the kingdom about the matter in 7 days. She felt that within those days, the search would end; The Prince would be found, or he would return home on his own.

The days went by at Buhle's house with Buhle trying to avoid The Prince. During the day, she would step out of the house with her face turned away from The Prince. And then, she would make sure she returns after dark; when her transformation had taken place.

At the farm, she hid among bushes, and sometimes, up in the mountains during her transformation. She did not want other people to know she was the so-called 'goddess'; they would make mockery of her in some way. And on the other hand, if The Prince found out she was the 'Missing maiden', he might report her to the palace when he returns there.

The Prince's recovery was speedy. Within 4 days, he was able to walk and do things for himself. But he still could not speak. He gestured to grandpa and Buhle that he was grateful and ready to return home. Scared, grandpa disputed. Grandpa explained that if The Prince returned home without being able to speak, hell would be brought upon grandpa-himself and, his beloved Buhle. The Prince agreed to stay on the condition that he sleeps in the living room.

In those days, he insisted that grandpa let him help out in the house chores. When grandpa sternly refused; the young man threatened to return to the palace as mum as he was. So, grandpa let him have his way.

In the last few days at the commoners' house, he found adjusting challenging. Sleeping on the sofa, although it had cotton, was hard on his body. He repeatedly woke up with sore muscles, neck and back. A few times, he burnt himself trying to help grandpa cook. Grandpa was obviously frequently treating his new pains.

One afternoon, the Prince was tasked with cutting vegetable of different kinds and pouring them into the simmering pot.

Chop, chop, chop, went the Prince.

Everything was going well until grandpa went away a little to get some spicy herbs from the storage. The Prince went and picked some chilli from a tree. After washing it and chopping it, he poured it all into the pot.

Coming out of the storage, grandpa saw him.

"Nooooo", he said, astounded by the amount of chilli.

The innocent young man was perplexed. He simply did not understand grandpa's surprise. So, he decided he should praise himself;

"I am an excellent cook, aren't I? Look at me, I barely started learning and yet here I am. Shocking you."

With twinkling eyes, the Prince smiled at himself. He picked up the stirring spoon and began to stir the spot.

With the aim of saving the meal, grandpa sprang to grab the spoon from the young man. He scolded him before finally scouping out the chilli from the pot.

The meal turned out unbearable to eat. But they soothes down the spiciness with some sweet juicy fruits. The Prince was experiencing life like normal people.

Although, in their minds they had already established him as The Prince, grandpa and Buhle were still in some doubt. One night, they asked him;

"Are you the Prince?"

He nodded.

Buhle wanted to be sure, so she asked again; "Are you really the Prince? The Prince of this kingdom?"

He smiled and nodded again. Astounded, Grandpa and Buhle made eye contact with each for a short moment. Buhle asked another question;

"Do you know which kingdom you are in right now?"

He nodded with the same smile. A sweet, childlike smile. He then gestured the meaning of Simunye. Simunye meant 'We are together'. Thus, in his gesture he moulded a circle. Grandpa and Buhle looked at each other again, even more shocked this time. Their fears were true. He truly was the kingdom's Prince. And therefore, Buhle's absence would be punished if he figured he had not seen Buhle's face at the bride selection.

On the fifth night, something unexpected happened. Buhle had returned from the farm, and was resting in the living room. Meanwhile, the young man helped grandpa set the meal on the table.

The Prince finally spoke;

"What is your name?"

Together, the grandpa-granddaughter duo got shocked. He could speak. And his very first words were in curiosity of Buhle's identity. Buhle looked to grandpa, hoping he could 'save' her. Grandpa saw Buhle looking at him, he quickly looked away. Disappointed, she sulked. Meanwhile, The Prince witnessed the whole situation. He asked;

"What is going on?"

They gave no response.

"Did she do something wrong?", The Prince wanted to know.

There was complete silence in the room. Each one, from the duo, wanted the other to respond. The Prince suddenly gasped. They paid attention, they wondered if he had figured out the reason for their strange behaviour.

"I can speak!", The Prince exclaimed, shocked at himself.

Buhle and grandpa did not know if they should be disappointed at his delayed realization of his regained verbal ability, or if they should be happy that he still had not figured out that Buhle is the maiden that did not attend his bride selection. Be it in her ugly form or her pretty form. He had never seen her at his bride selection day. With that, if he was alert, he would have concluded that she was the 'Missing maiden'.