The Prince’s Potential Bride

Their father warmly invited them to settle into the finely crafted chairs arranged across the spacious room. With a radiant smile, he observed each of them as if he was seeing them for the first time in his life. The three sisters exchanged puzzled looks, surprised to see their father so elated. The last time he looked that happy was when their late mother used to prepare his favorite meal. Back then, he'd return home with a beaming smile, praising her as the woman who captured his heart.

However, since their mother's sudden demise during childbirth, their once-kind father seemed replaced by a strict figure who no longer showed the same affection. At least, that's how Asha perceived it. Anxious, she nervously wrung her hands while her sisters, equally intrigued, awaited the news their father had gathered them for.

"Where's Mezin?" he called out to their maid, and she hurriedly came out to respond. He instructed her to bring each of them some orange juice before he could share the news.

"So, how have you been, my dear daughters?" he cheerfully asked. The question sounded odd to the girls because it had been a while since their father showed such interest in their lives. It was always about the royal house, the king, or the kingdom of Maribah, never about them – his daughters.

Each girl nodded in response, but Asha couldn't shake the curiosity about her father's unusual happiness. Had he been promoted to a higher position in the palace? What could surpass being the King's right-hand man? Did the king grant him some lands? Asha pondered these questions while sipping the orange juice brought by the maid, who carefully handed them out to avoid any scolding from Zeep or Nena.

Their father observed as they sipped their juice with proper manners, and he couldn't help but feel pleased with himself.

"Well, I can't keep the news to myself any longer. It's quite a burden. We were all summoned to the king's palace today for an important meeting. When we got there, the king revealed it was about the annual celebration of the royal house. Chief Nnutu proudly claimed it was the day the prince's wife would be chosen, and he was sure it would be his spoiled daughter. I stayed silent while he boasted until the king surprised us by saying..." He paused.

"Saying what, Father?" Nena impatiently inquired.

"You have to learn patience, Nena. It might come in handy when you get married," her father calmly advised as Nena looked away, feeling a bit silly for her impatience.

Yet, every other daughter was also eager to hear the big news.

"Well, my dearest Daughters of Dramidis... the next queen of Maribah is coming from this household. In fact, the king has made it known to every chief that Zeep is going to be the wife of Mayo and the next Queen."

Zeep was on the verge of spilling her juice in excitement. However, aware that her father would disapprove, she carefully placed the cup on the ground and hurried to embrace Nena, who shared in her joy. Meanwhile, Asha, less moved by the news, sipped her juice slowly, watching her sisters celebrate.

"Didn't you hear your sister is about to be our next queen? Are you not happy for her?" their father asked.

"I am, father. I just expected something more significant!" Asha replied.

"What could possibly be bigger than Zeep, my dearest sister being the queen?"

"I don't know. Maybe Maribah being a place free of royalties and their wickedness sounds like good news. But Zeep getting married to that arrogant prince..." Asha stopped herself before her ill feelings towards the royal family would spoil their happiness.

"Don't mind Asha, father! She isn't happy because, unlike her, I am bringing glory to our home and not shame!" Zeep hissed, settling back into her seat.

"I don't want to know what Asha has done this time. But let me sound this as a warning... everyone must be on their best behavior, especially now that the queen is to come from our family. On no account should any of you disgrace our name!" he stated, directing a stern gaze at Asha.

Why was she always treated as the family's black sheep when all she desired was fairness for everyone in Maribah? She wanted to voice her feelings but chose to nod instead, not wanting to upset her joyful father.

"We've all heard you, Father. But this warning of yours is especially for Asha, who can't stay in one place? She's not well behaved like I and Nena. Do you know father, Today, she was seen..."

"Zeep, Father said he didn't care about what Asha did this time. We should celebrate! You won! Soma must be burning at home with shame," Nena laughed, redirecting Zeep's focus to her rival rather than her younger sister.

Zeep and Prince Mayo would make a terrible king and queen, just like he and Soma would have, Asha bitterly thought as she watched her sister with anger in her eyes. If Nena hadn't intervened at the right time, she might have mentioned her and Prince Denna at the river, even though she had done nothing wrong.

"Father, thank you so much for bringing such pleasant news home. I won't just be a wife... I will be the wife of our future king!" Zeep squealed in delight, and their father laughed heartily.

——-

While the Dramidis household buzzed with joy over the news of Zeep's upcoming marriage to the prince, Chief Nnutu's home was filled with anger and sadness.

"But, Father, did you even try to make them see I am the right one?" Soma asked for the third time after her father had stormed home and shared the news.

"You heard him say he tried, but the king only did this as a favor to Japthan for being his closest man," her mother tried to soothe her as tears streamed down her face.

"That's not good enough! It's not an excuse to take the prince from me! I've already made plans on how to seduce him and make him mine." She shook, engulfed in tears.

"What makes you think you won't continue with that?" her father's thunderous voice echoed in their beautiful home.

"Are you suggesting she should go against the king's wish and try to win the prince for herself? No, he won't still marry her!"

"So, we should fold our hands and watch Japthan have the king's ears, his son, and his throne too? Nothing for us! No! No! Soma, you are a beautiful young lady, even more beautiful than that skinny little brat called Zeep. And you want the prince, don't you?" Soma's father asked, and she nodded with a smile, wiping off her tears.

"Then you must do everything within your power to make him yours. You have until the royal celebration to make him fall for you before the king announces publicly who the prince would marry!" Her father emphasized, staring into his daughter's eyes to convey the importance of winning the prince.

"But... that won't sit well with the king. Besides, our daughter can find another royal blood to marry. The king's relatives or even his younger son..." Her mother's words were cut short by Chief Nnutu's menacing stare.

"Can you make the prince yours? Can you try to make him see you as a woman deserving of his name?" Her father asked.

"Yes, I will make him see that I am better than Zeep will ever be!" Soma stated vehemently. Her father patted her back in support, while her mother looked unhappy about their dubious plan. Soma didn't care about her mother's opinion; she was determined to win the prince for herself one way or another.