Azalea The Queen

Azalea

"Oh, my baby, I have missed you so much." my mother-in-law says as she hugs me tightly. I smile into her shoulder. She feels warm and motherly. Something I haven't felt in a long time. Makes me want to stay in her arms, even just for a day. I pull back and look at her beautiful smile. This woman is so elegant.

The Queen's sister rolled her eyes, instantly covering her eyes with the big sunglasses that hung over her head. I still didn't have a decent relationship with her. But I was going to work on it.

"That may be true, Mother but I don't believe you. How could you leave without telling me?" I pout a little. Her smile brightens, as do her eyes. She cups my face and squashes a little, making me chuckle.

"Oh child, it was a last-minute thing. I wasn't meant to go but you know your father-in-law." She squashes one more time before letting go and taking my hand instead. Her maid escorts us to the Queen's room. "Let's go catch up and you tell me all I missed." I resist the edge to tell her that she didn't miss much, just an ignorant husband.

But before we take any more steps toward her chambers, a white BMW comes across from the gates. All six eyes focus on the car. I'm confused, but the Queen seems to have a surprised look on her face, maybe she knew whose car it belonged to. Sphokazi, who was on her way, assuming to her room, paused and took off her glasses.

The car is parked in front of the main house. I watched as the driver's side opened and a man around his late twenties hopped off to open the door for two elderly people. I watched as they made their way over to us with big smiles. The Queen smiled and hugged the woman elegantly.

"My Queen, it is a pleasure to be in your presence yet again." The lady said. Thembeka waved a hand nonchalantly at her.

"Please, let's leave the honorifics. Our children were friends after all." Nobody missed the use of past tense from the Queen. The Queen exchanged pleasantries with the man as well. Sphokazi smiled at the couple and nodded her head, her smile was oddly disturbing. Weird.

"Oh, who is this?" The lady who looked so familiar and absolutely beautiful. She looked like those people who are only created for high life. She looked like she jumped from a tea party in England.

My mother-in-law, Thembeka smiled brightly at her. "Come, meet my daughter-in-law. Isn't she beautiful?" She took my hand and placed her hand on the small of my back. "This is Mrs. Qaba, she's a good friend of the family." She said.

Mrs. Qaba's smile wavered and a frown came upon her face. I felt uncomfortable immediately, I felt the energy shift. I offered my hand for a handshake, but she just stared at me like she was confused by something. Maybe I had something on my face. When a few seconds she still hadn't clasped her hand with mine, I drew it back and looked at the queen confused.

"Well, how fun." Sphokazi, the third consort cheerfully said. My eyebrows furrowed. I suddenly felt out of place. How was it that this woman whom I didn't even know make me feel so small with just a look?

"Excuse my wife, she's just astounded by your beauty." Me Qaba interjected, trying to soothe the tension that was slowly rising. But I knew that his wife was anything but. "Nice to meet you," He extended his hand and I shook it.

"Right, please do join us for some tea, we were just heading to have some." The Queen easily changed the atmosphere around. Mr. Qaba gently led his wife, who was rooted in her spot. I had to know her problem with me.

Once inside the private lounges, a maid came and served us each a cup of tea and set the rest of the teapot on the table. Ever since we sat down, Mrs. Qaba has been giving me distasteful glares. I was so uncomfortable.

"It's been so long, what a pleasant surprise it is to see you." Mother said, breaking the ice in the room. Whatever it is that these people came here for, it was not good. I had a weird feeling I was the problem. "Surely, there must be a reason for this unexpected visit," I could detect the change in her voice the minute I was indirectly brushed off by Mrs. Qaba.

I had another feeling she knew the reason why this woman was reacting this way toward me. And I guess in her own way, she was trying to stand up for me.

"Well, I came to share some good news with you. Although I'm not sure if it is any good to you anymore." The snide comment was clear as day. Mrs. Qaba took a sip from her cup as she glared at me. Haibo!

A loud slurping resonated after that, turning my head I looked at the King's third wife taking a long sip of her tea, the smirk of amusement evident all over her facial features. That one knew that something was about to happen and she just couldn't wait for it to actually happen.

"Oh? Surely any good news to you is newsworthy enough for me to hear," Queen Thembeka smiled, clear agitation on her face. To be honest I was also annoyed by this whole atmosphere. I didn't like being in places I wasn't wanted.

So I excused myself. "I think I should head back, I'm to expect my husband from work soon." I stood up and bowed at the Queen, sending her a small smile.

"How is he, your husband of course?" There it was, that tone that made me feel like I was irrelevant. "Must be hard for the poor Prince, arranged marriage with no love." She palmed her chest in what looked like sympathy. This lady was testing my utmost patience. It was wearing thin, very thin.

"Yeah, well good thing that we are happy then, and love each other so.." I sent her a smile, the same as the one she was displaying on her perfect old face. As condescending as it was.
"Now if you'll excuse me," I nodded my head and walked out.

You know when you have a really good day and everything just goes well? It's never a good sign, there's always something that will ruin it all. After my interaction with Mrs. Qaba, I was sure she was something that would ruin my good mood. Oh how wrong I was.

Because standing outside talking in hushed voices, and standing so close to a woman he swore was not anything important in his life was none other than my husband.

Talking to Amanda.