Azalea The Queen

Azalea

"Good, it'll be perfect for all of us to arrive at the same time." The King said as we all piled outside in front of black SUVs. The cars were lined up, about six of them.

"You look beautiful my child," The Queen complimented, and I gave her a grateful smile and thanked her. She too looked ravishing in her cream white long dress. And it seemed that everyone had brought their A-game because Sphokazi looked amazing in a navy blue dress.

"Looking hot there, Zee." Nkululeko winked at me. I rolled my eyes at him but thanked him nonetheless. He didn't look bad either in his black and white suit. No tie and the first two buttons are undone.

"Let's go." My husband grumbled. I looked down to hide the smile on my face. He was so jealous.

Everyone got into their respective vehicles. The wives rode with the king. Nkululeko rode alone and I with my husband. Each car was accompanied by one SUV with a bodyguard for each person.

Arriving at the hotel where the annual charity event was to take place, everyone got out of their cars. I took a moment to admire the beautiful exterior of the resort. The night sky filled with stars shone bright, complimenting the gold lights reflected outside and inside the hotel.

The fountain was beautiful, surrounded by lights. A long and round driveway was filled with cars as people exited and tossed their keys to the valets. The King led the way inside, his wives by his sides. We followed, Nkululeko right behind us.

As soon as we went inside, all eyes were on us. People stopped whatever they were doing and bowed their heads in respect for us. It still felt pretty weird to me to have people bow their heads at me.

My eyes sparkled at the exquisite interior of the hotel. Two extensive stairways on each side decorated beautifully with crystal lights on the railings. A red carpet gliding down the stairs. It seemed that the reception was used as the hall for the event. I wondered what it looked like without all the decorations.

Waiters and waitresses paraded the place with drinks and appetizers. My hand itched to grab a handful of those inviting appetizers. I was a princess, and the last thing I wanted to do was embarrass my husband, a future king.

It seemed that people from all over the country attended the event. From musicians, writers, political people, actors, business tycoons, and dancers. Almost every celebrity. I spotted a few celebrities I was familiar with watching on television. I was suddenly feeling overwhelmed.

Everyone at that event was important, more so in many ways. I felt small and insignificant. I should have just stayed with Grandma.

People came and greeted us, and some whispered among themselves further from us. A man, around his late forties, approached us and started conversing with the king. He was the CEO of some logistics company and he once did business with us.

"Let's go sit down, these men won't finish once they start, trust me." My mother in law said. I turned to look for my husband so I could let him know we were going to find our seats when I saw him engrossed in a conversation with a man, probably about business.

"You can go ahead ma, I'll find you." I gave her a small smile. Both the wives left to find our seats. I turned to my husband and tapped him on his shoulder gently.

When he turned, the man he was talking to also turned his gaze to me. He was young, maybe in his mid-thirties. He was also handsome and had familiar features. I just couldn't pinpoint where I'd seen those features from.

"And who is this beautiful lady." He looked me up and down with a flirtatious smirk.

"My wife." Samkelo almost growled at the man as he snaked a protective hand around my waist. "Azalea, meet my older brother, Zwelakhe. Zwe, meet umkami." I was shocked, to say the least. How many siblings did he have and how come did I not know about them? It was safe to say I was one ignorant wife.

I looked up at my husband, my eyes asking him just when was he going to tell me about his siblings.

"Damn brother, well done. She's beautiful." He lightly tapped my husband's shoulder while looking at me, in a better light than before. "Nice to meet you, Azalea." I shook his extended hand with my own.

"Likewise." I gave him one of my welcoming smiles.

"Did you need anything?" Samkelo looked down at me, taking my hand in his large ones and caressing my cheek with his other.

"I was just gonna tell you-"

"Brother! Mehlo amadala." A smile broke out on Zwelakhe's face as he hugged Nkululeko.

(Long time no see.)

"Look at you, you've grown my boy." Zwelakhe placed his hand on Nkululeko's shoulder and smiled while looking at him with admiration. It was clear that these brothers were fond of each other. I just wondered what the hell happened between Samkelo and Nkululeko.

"Bafo, I can't believe you are here. It's like a family reunion." Nkululeko's eyes shone with love as he looked at his brother.

"Except it isn't because she isn't here." Samkelo's hard tone set a new atmosphere around all of us. A dull and almost resentful atmosphere. It was awkward for me. Who was she?

I looked at Nkululeko and saw a look of grief on his face.

Zwelakhe cleared his throat and decided to change the subject. "You should head back, Father doesn't seem too happy with this reunion none reunion." He chuckled as he pointed his glass of whiskey toward the King. All I saw was a man who had a frown on his face. The frown thing ran in the family, I guess.

"I came to tell you that we should find our seats. These heels are killing me." I placed a hand on Samkelo's bicep to lean my weight on him.

"Brother, I must see you before we leave. I missed you." Zwelakhe said patting his younger brother's cheek. He loved his brothers, then how come he wasn't coming with us to meet the rest of the family? I was sure that they hadn't seen him in a long time.

There was more that I didn't know about this family. What was Zwelakhe's story, is what I asked myself as we made our way to our table.

"Was that Zwe?" The Queen asked, a slight frown placed on her face.

"Yes, he sent his regards." My husband lied