Chapter 17

Buhle remained in silence and in a state of nervousness. The moment of transforming was upon her. The Queen looked with a bit of doubt. She was wondering when the young lady would finally transform. She felt that she had been waiting for too long.

A glow from Buhle began to build up, rapidly yet gently. It was her scales that were glowing. They glowed in green. Her hair started flaring up as if propelled by a wind. But there was no wind in The Queen's palace. As her transformation progressed, Buhle did not dare look up at The Queen and all her servants in the room. She did not want to see their reaction to her transformation. She stayed there, faced down.

"Beautiful", The Queen commented breathlessly.

After hearing that, Buhle looked and saw the amazed Queen. Buhle's eyes began to also glow, and they glowed in green. She seemed top have sparkles on her skin.

The transformation was about to complete. Buhle's glow started to go away, gradually so. And her gracefully landed. In awe, The Queen's maids held their mouth as they stared on. And the guards stole glances. Buhle's eyes were facing the ground again by the time her transformation completed.

"That was quite something!" The Queen said. "I have been hearing of a goddess beauty, am I correct to assume it was you they spoke?"

Buhle hesitated, who was she to say that she possesses a beauty like that of a goddess.

"Oh, do not fret. If it was you, they spoke of, say so."

Buhle stole a look at The Queen and then subtly nodded.

"I believe that this is a curse?" said The Queen.

Buhle gave no response.

"Have you told your colleagues about it?"

"No, My Queen" Buhle responded.

"Rumours are spreading across the palace that The Prince is harbouring a serpent. I strongly suggest you clear things up. I do not appreciate seeing such rumours hover around The Prince. And clarify this whole issue before he hears about it. Are we clear?"

Buhle, whose mood was only beginning to ease up, began to feel down again. the Queen was pushing her to tell her colleagues about her secrete. Buhle hesitantly responded; "Yes, My Queen."

The young lady was escorted out at the end of the meeting with The Queen. She returned to her room and found her roommates chatting. Buhle took her stuff and went to shower.

"She seems sad", remarked Lebo. "What do you think happened to her?"

"Honestly I do not care. I just do not feel good about the fact that everyone is ignoring the real Buhle's absence in the evening. I mean, where does she sleep?" said Sana as she painted her toenails.

Lebo looked at Letho and asked;

"What do you think happened? The Queen said that she should come see her this meeting. And it seems she already has…" Lebo leaned over and questioned; "Do you think that she is this sad because she got kicked out?"

Letho gave no response.

"It would serve her right. I mean, does she think just about anybody can become a palace servant? And that she can just waltz in here and sleep? Nobody knows who she is and we still do not know what happens to the real Buhle at the end of each day."

Letho finally said something;

"I think that that girl is the real Buhle."

"What?" remarked Lebo.

"Then who is the day light Buhle?" Sana chimed in.

Lebo, still leaning over, whispered;

"Do think the royal family is using the ugly girl to serve but rewards the pretty one with things like a night's rest?"

"I doubt. what would be the reason for that?" Sana wanted to know.

"I do not know. How can I explain the acts of people with money and power?" Lebo sat comfortably as she was about to tell some huge story; "I think the royal family is trying to get The Prince to marry this strange girl claiming to be Buhle. But the verdict for Prince Abasi, who is expected to climb the throne, was that he marries someone from within the palace."

The whole story did not make sense to Letho and Sana, and they were beginning to lose interest. Seeing that she was losing her audience, Lebo encouraged them to listen. She continued her conspiracy theory;

"Think about it. Nobody has ever, and I mean ever, seen this pretty girl who only shows up at night. And mind you, she is very pretty. Her beauty is unrivalled. Since it seems that she is not from thins kingdom, they might want to say that those dwelling outside the palace have never seen her because she spends all her time in the palace. And with that, they will be able to say that she is from this kingdom."

The girls nodded, still confused but somehow seeing where Lebo might be heading to.

"I mean," Lebo said. "The Queen is already having private meetings with the pretty girl. It is probably to coach and encourage her to keep this lie afloat."

The girls finally nodded, this time completely understanding Lebo's logic. The head-maid came budging in their door. That was completely unexpected.

"What nonsense are you spewing?! Should I tell The Queen? And have you beheaded" the head-maid heard their conversation.

Lebo squirmed, and so did the other two girls. The girls had been chatting, to the point that they lost track of time. And forgot that it was the inspection hour. The head-maid looked around. She asked; "When is the other girl?"

"She went for a shower. She had gone to see her Majesty The Queen", Sana replied.

Buhle walked into the room and saw the head-maid. She got anxious. She was late to the room.

"Come on in", the head-maid instructed. "You are late, but I will let it slide. Just this once."

Grateful, Buhle bowed and went next to her bed. The head-maid headed out and was wished a great rest for the night. Shortly after the head-maid finished her inspection, Buhle snicked out. Leaving the girls alone.

Lebo, Letho and Sana went back to their chat.

"Girls, I think that the day light Buhle is the night time Buhle. They are the same person", stated Letho.

"How is that possible?" Sana wanted to know.

"Well, think about it. When this strange girl appears, the real Buhle is nowhere to be found. And also, The Queen is quite quiet about this. And so is the head-maid. For that reason, I believe that they are the same person", Letho explained.

The other girls started to nod. They were staring to see Letho's point; it made some sense to them. The girls formed a little circle and started to conspire.

"Do you notice how the real Buhle disappears right after our shift?" Lebo said.

The girls nodded.

"I think she goes somewhere to switch with the pretty girl. And Letho believes that she magically changes from hideous to pretty" Lebo spoke. "Whatever the case is. I think, strongly, that those moments when neither of the Buhles are seen are very crucial. And thus, we will find answers if we present ourselves in those moments."

"That is true!" exclaimed Sana. There is, indeed, a moment when both of the Buhles are out of sight."

"Exactly!" Lebo remarked. "Therefore… we should follow the hideous Buhle and let her lead us to that stranger", Lebo said begrudgingly.

"I know her schedule", Letho chimed in. "She usually ends the day by cleaning the yard outside the kitchen."

"Great! We should hang out with her during lunch so that she can trust us, and not suspect us of anything" Lebo suggested.

"Um… actually. If we have lunch with her, she will get suspicious of us. Especially considering that we never eat with her" Sana said. "For that reason, I think it is best that we let Letho eat with her."

"I cannot do that. I have not been eating with Buhle since that day I offered to ask her questions. She started disappearing to somewhere during lunch. She has been avoiding me" Letho explained.

Disappointed, Lebo said;

"Goodness! Why is having a simple lunch with her so hard? Anyway, we will do all this tomorrow", said Lebo.