Azalea The Queen

Azalea

I haven't had a proper conversation with my husband in days. The only time he gets to hold me is when we are amongst other people, other than then, we are like strangers to each other. I missed him, of course, I missed him. He was my husband, and somehow I had fallen for him, I had learned to be with him against the circumstances under which we got married.

"Do you think you could help me find someone?" I poured water over the little bud of soil I had planted my seeds in. I was to expect my little veggies to yield in a couple of weeks.

"Depends, on who you want to be found," Nkululeko said as he exhaled the nicotine smoke out. I put the container of water to the side and took off my gloves.

"I would appreciate it if you didn't smoke near my vegetables." I scowled at him as I walked out of my little garden. With little to do at the palace, I managed to put together a little garden to sow vegetables of my own. I still didn't know what I was to do with them once they reaped, perhaps give them out to the villagers.

"And I want to find my sister," I sat opposite my brother-in-law outside in the gazebo that had opened sides. The gazebo had a big round table and six chairs surrounding it. It had a bar filled with many types of wine. It was nice and clean.

Nkulukeko raised a brow at what I said. "You want your sister found, is she lost?" He chuckled. I rolled my eyes. He was annoying sometimes, I found that out in the time I spent with him since he arrived at the palace.

"It is not funny."

"Sorry, my bad. Continue," He threw the cigarette bud on the ashtray and leaned back on his chair. "I'm listening." he gestured with his hand for me to continue.

So I told him about my sister and what happened after my mother found out she was pregnant. At the end of my story, Nkululeko was scowling.

"I'm sorry about your sister, I will try to find her." I was glad he didn't comment on my family's dynamics. I was well aware of what kind of person my mother was, I didn't need a reminder. She was cruel and dare I say, a horrible mother.

"Okay, well, I have some cooking to do." I got up and smiled down at him. It was nice spending time with him. He was funny and mature.

"You do know we have people for that right?" He called out as I walked away from him.

"I know!" I yelled back at him, waving a hand at him. I knew he was smiling and probably shaking his head at me.

___

Dinner was the same. The only people who were conversing were my father-in-law and his wives. Grandmother was sick, she couldn't join us, and her husband was by her side so he wasn't at the table as well. Samkelo was quiet, his expression not giving anything of what he felt. Nkululeko was brooding as well, for whatever reason I didn't know. These brothers were weird.

Zanokuhle walked inside the dining room and bowed at the royalties before her. She approached me and stood next to me. "The Queen Mother summons your presence, Your Highness." She announced. I nodded and thanked her.

I waited for her to leave, but she stood rooted in her place. "Was there something else?" I inquired. She cleared her throat. It was the first time seeing her out of character and uncomfortable. I looked across where her eyes kept running to, Nkululeko. I raised my brow at that. What was going on?

"Your Highness," She bowed again and left the room in haste.

It seemed I wasn't the only one who noticed. Samkelo was looking at his brother with furrowed eyebrows. I was surely missing something.

"I have some work to finish, excuse me." Samkelo got up and left with his brooding form. He didn't even wait for his father's response.

After dinner, everyone went to their rooms. I went to see Grandma. She was pale and looked really sick. Her husband was nowhere to be seen. She must have seen the confusion on my face as she answered my unspoken question.

"Oh, I sent him away. I love the man but I was growing agitated with him breathing down my neck." She amused. I smiled, taking a seat next to her.

"Are you okay Grandma?" I asked worriedly. I knew she was sick but I never imagined the state she was in to be that dire.

"Child, I'm old and my time has arrived." She said. I realized just how little attention I paid to her for the past few days. I knew she was sick and I had seen her when she was told to be on bed rest, but no one said how severe the sickness was. The Queen mother was dying.

"I'm sorry Grandma, I didn't know-" She took my hand and patted it.

"Sweet child, it is not your fault. I was the one who made sure that my husband doesn't disclose the nature of my sickness to the family." I was surprised that I wasn't the only one who didn't know of her illness. Apparently, she was dying and she didn't want her family members to know.

Only her husband knew. Well, and her doctor and then me.

Just then, a lady that seemed to be well in her late thirties opened the door, followed by the former King. The King's father was shocked to see me. Seemed he didn't know I was summoned by his wife. Looking at him, he seemed weary and worn out. Like energy was drained out of him.

His eyes held so much pain as they focused on his wife. The love in his eyes was raw. I smiled sadly.

"May I ask what kind of illness she has doctor?" I turned to the doctor as she looked at me with a professional expression.

"She has what we call Arrhythmia, also called cardiac arrhythmia. It is an improper beating of the heart, whether irregular, fast, or slow." She turned to look at Grandma. A look of defeat across her face.

"What caused it, I mean she was perfectly fine." I looked at Grandma, I watched as Grandfather fixed her pillow so she was comfortable, and he kissed her forehead.

"Usually, it is rare for arrhythmia to show any symptoms, hence why she looked like she was fine. And as for the cause of it, there are many, but in this instance, it was caused by diabetes." The lady doctor explained further.

"But surely there must be a treatment of some sort," I was now feeling tired and sad. I wondered how Grandma did it for the past few days all alone.

"There are some treatments to it, such as medication but it doesn't work on her anymore. It's been a year since she started using it, and it's not effective anymore." She sighed. "The only option left that is suitable for her is surgery, but it's also risky due to her old age." I felt defeated.

"She doesn't want to do the surgery, she just wants to die like that." Grandfather glared at his wife, and in return, he received a smile. I was about to ask her why but she beat me to it.

"I won't be doing any surgery, and that is final." She said.