𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐃 (18+)

14 | giving in

"Men do change, you're just not the woman they want to change for."

Third Omniscient Point Of View

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It was just weeks before coronation and the Queen was taking to Qinisa. Qophelo was driving them. He had been feeling unwell since the morning but he was keeping it to himself. He'd been having an upset stomach and was coughing profusely. It was weird but he wanted to be there for the Princess in case something happened.

They arrived at Qinisa's place and parked. Qophelo was told, by the Queen, that they were here to make sure that the coronation goes well. He was nervous. The coronation was going to solidify Thandeka's place in the Kingdom. He was going to be just a servant on the side. No chance at all.

They walked in the yard and Qophelo felt movement in his stomach and a pain in his chest. He immediately felt nauseous and excused himself to get water from the car. He drank it slowly but stopped when the feeling got worse. He kneeled on floor and puked. Thandeka was already in the house with the Queen so nobody had seen him.

They kneeled down and bent their heads. The short man sat down in front of them. He was dressed in jeans and a vest and a sheet, red and white, was tied around his shoulders. He had dreads which had beads. His hut smelled of smoke and incense. Thandeka felt uncomfortable in front of another maine that wasn't Ganyaza.

"Don't be scared, ntombazane. You are in a safe space. My name is Qinisa. I have been with the Nkabinde family for years. I help them in cases of danger and I'm here to help you too."

The Queen cleared her throat. "We are here because I just want to know if Thandeka is fit enough to carry children for us. She is Zweli's wife."

Qinisa nodded. He reached for his sack of bones and shook it before pouring them on the floor. He groaned. "Mhm. Princess, can you excuse us?" Thandeka looked at the Queen, who nodded. She stood up and left.

"And then? What was that all about?"

"She won't get pregnant." He said, looking at his bones in confusion. He scooped them up and repeated the same process as the Queen watched intently. "My ancestors, this can't be. There's already a woman out there, with your son's heir. If you don't bring that son back and do right by him and his mother, everything you've built will come crashing down."

"Qinisa, woah. What are you saying to me?!"

"The Princess will not get pregnant. Not that she is unfit but because of the son who was denied and the mother who was denied. You have to find them and do right by them, fix your mistakes, make amends and then everything will work."

"Who-"

The doors burst open and Thandeka was in tears. "Ma, we have to go. Qophelo is vomitting and he's in pain, we have to go to the hospital." She hysterically said. The Queen sent Qinisa a pointed look before standing up.

"Apologies, Qinisa, we have to rush out. We will be back." They stepped out and rushed to Qophelo who was hunched over on the ground. His forehead was sweaty and his breathing was faster. Thandeka's heart was at a panic. She didn't know what to do. She got in the backseat with Qophelo as the Queen drove them to the hospital.

. . .

She sat on the chair next to the bed watching him. They've been here for a couple of hours. Qophelo passed out and she's been here since. The Queen left without her a long time ago, said she had to go back to Qinisa. It seemed urgent.