THE FUTURE IS BEHIND.

Chapter 6. Visit to my Uncle's House

Your highest, Phen my right hand man said as he bowed.

Do you succeed in finding any useful information about her, where she lives and who her father is?

Yes, my Lord, I met her at the entrance to the garden as she was about going home, I followed her without being spotted or noticed. I asked few persons questions about her and what they know about her and she seems to be a very nice and respected young girl as everyone knows her as a calm and kind person. But I went ahead and traced her house which I did succeed.

And what I found out about her is the most exciting news about the whole adventure.

I sent you to do something and you are telling me you went on an adventure?

No, your highness, it is not like that, I found out that she is the second daughter to your Uncle’s younger brother, which made everything easier as she is already a family member by marriage relationship of your mother to your family.

That means she is from my mother’s kindred.

Wow! That made it more interesting and easier.

Do you find out her name?

Yes, Hermosa, your highness.

How many times have I instructed you to stop calling me your highness, your highness anytime we are alone and talking man to man.

Sorry, your high…. Sorry sir….sorry.

Mtchwwen….Hermosa, Hermosa, I think Hermosa meant beautiful in Spanish.

Your speak Spanish my Lord?

Yes, I had a friend from Span who I do visit when I decide to go for a trip in Span when my mother was still alive but now, I can’t go anywhere, as I am tied to this throne and kingdom as a so called king of the highest Khah’s Kingdom.

Phen, I think I should pay my uncle a visit and make my intentions of marrying Hermosa known to him, so that another man will not take Hermosa away from me.

Prepare the guards and the chariots, it’s time I pay my Uncle a visit and reveal to him my intentions toward his nephew and also meet with her father. Pack some wine and gifts for my uncle, Hermosa and her father; also add 25 pieces of gold and 25 pieces of silver and instruct 2 of our maids to prepare to join us as they’ll be presenting the gifts to my uncle and his younger brother my in-law to be.

Ok, your highness, Phen said and walked away.

I can’t wait to meet with my uncle and see my wife to be beautiful face again. Let me go and freshen up. I am going to wear my golden royal apparel so that I will look stunningly handsome that she will not be able to resist staring at the King of Khah’s Kingdom.

I took one hour in preparing myself for this visit as I do not want to make any slight or single mistake.

Your highest, we are all set and the gifts are already loaded accordingly and everyone ready to go, Phen said.

That’s perfect, let’s go.

I stepped outside with pride visibly showing all over my dress, cologne and flair.

I was tensed all through the way, so many thoughts filled my mind on what Hermosa’s reaction will look like when she sees me or realizes I want to many her, what if he refuses to marry me and said no, what will I do?

What will be her father’s reaction when he discovers my aim of coming to my uncle was to marry his daughter?

I don’t know why I am feeling so uneasy but I have decided to go to them and say everything that is in my mind and how I feel about Hermosa whether anyone likes it or not. I am the king of Khah’s Kingdom and I can’t be inferior or intimidated. Moreover, who can resist a charming royal highness like me?

The distance between Khah’s Palace and my Uncle’s house was just 30 minutes away and we got there real quick than expected or maybe it is because I was already there in my thoughts.

When I got there, I bowed to my uncle and greeted him and he reciprocated by bowing to me too and respected my royal position even though I always tell him, I have made an exception, that he shouldn’t be bowing to his sisters son but he still refused.

I must say, my uncle is one of the most orderly men I have ever met; he loves following protocols and obeying rules and regulations and that alone have given him a permanent space in my heart which can never be replaced by anyone else.

What is the royal highest of Khah’s Kingdom doing in my humble abode this hot afternoon? He asked.

Uncle! What are you saying I cannot visit my own uncle again without having anything in mind?

Not that, but me and you know that you are too busy to be visiting people in the afternoon and you know I am saying the truth.

But uncle, you are not just some ordinary person, you are more like a father to me and it is not wrong if I pay you a visit once in a while even without a reason.

Thank God that it is coming out from your mouth, I think I was the only one seeing nothing wrong in visiting your uncle once in a while but I still wonder why you know a truth like this and you still decided to stay in your beautiful mansion alone without inviting me nor coming to see your mother’s brother. Is it fair? Judge yourself.

Ahh…uncle, you have started again, I know I am not trying but I promise you I will start doing better from today, I cross my heart.

I believe you son, it is well. So as I asked earlier on why do you come to my house this hot afternoon with chariots, is anyone after your life?

No uncle, no one is after my life, I came to discuss an important issue with you but before that, let me present these little gifts to you, I signaled my right hand man to bring in everything we brought from the palace and drop it before my uncle.

Uncle, let go inside as they bring in the gifts or you don’t want me to enter your house today? I said jokingly.

No yours highness, am so sorry, I am just wondering what your important discussion will be this time, considering the fact that you came with gifts and I am seeing gold’s and silvers too. Anyways, please this way, he said leading me to the sitting room as we smiled over what he said.

Uncle you are such a respectful man and a man of good sense of humor, the way you follow protocols and respect positions, I admire your simplicity.

We sat down in his sitting room, discussing about a lot that have been happening in the palace and how much he misses his sister every day that pass by, I told him that I missed her too which is one of the reason I came to his house today.

I told him about how I met Hermosa and about my intentions of marrying her, as I continue talking, I discovered that throughout the time I was talking, he was busy smiling which I don’t understand why he was doing that. I stopped my statement halfway and asked him.

Uncle why are you smiling since I started talking about my marriage intentions of your nephew?

Your highness, do not mind me, just continue, I will tell you when you are done with everything you want to say. It is not wise for me to interrupt you.

When I was done with everything I had to say, he smiled and told me that before my mum died that he told my mum on the day of the last feast he organized that I will come back and ask for Hermosa’s hand in marriage but she asked him, how sure are you.

Uncle, how do you know that I am going to ask for Hermosa’s hand in marriage?

Young man, you know I’m not a young boy like you, so I see beyond the physical human eyes.

When two people are in love you see it from the heart and not from the eyes, that’s why you can close your eyes but you will be able to tell where the love of your life will be coming from or standing and how far or near he/she is to you.

When I saw you two starring at each other at the ceremonial feast, I knew that love had happened to both of you and I and your mum knew immediate that it was meant to be, so I and your mum decided to employ Hermosa weeks later to work in the royal garden, we decided to do it weeks after so that our motive and movement will not be suspicious which she did even though we were almost giving up as you have sworn by your ignorance to love and refused to leave the royal house and take at least a stroll round your kingdom for more than two and half years but no, you are always inside as if you were kept in a prison but thanks be to God and I am grateful that you finally did stroll round your kingdom especially the garden.

Though it happened in your worst moment but here are we.

Uncle, does that mean you are with me in this?

Yes of course, why will I plan a thing I will not approve?

Wow! I exclaimed, I’m so happy you accepted and have approved my proposal to marry your nephew Hermosa, of course your highness and let me also shock you by telling you this, that her father is also aware of it, so don’t be pressured whether he will accept or not, don’t sweat it, he has already accepted and is with us.

Let me even send for him now.

He called his personal guard Kren, and sent him to call Hermosa’s father and they arrived together almost immediately.

Your highest, Hermosa’s father said bowing to me.

Brother, you requested for my presence, yes I did, His Royal Highness wants to discuss something important with you even though you are already aware of it but to officially bring His intentions to your notice according to our customs and traditions.

Yes Chief Mosan, I came to meet my uncle today to help me plead with you as I want to reveal to you my intention towards marrying your daughter Hermosa which he said you were already aware of the plans plotted by him and my late mother and I want to also use this medium to make it known to you that I am interested in your daughter Hermosa and wants to marry her as my royal bride, queen and to give her the honour of being the mother of my unborn children, I promise to take good care of her and protect her even with my life, that she’ll never miss home one single day.

Your Highness, Hermosa’s father Mosan said smiling, I knew this day will come as we and your mother have waited patiently for this day to come but it breaks my heart that she’s not here with us to witness what she desperately wanted for her only son, but it is well. I have given my consent already so you are good to go.

Thank you very much Uncle!

Thank you very much in-law!

We laughed and talked more on other things before I told my uncle and in-law that I will be leaving soon before it gets dark outside.