CHAPTER TWO

Brenda had imagined the man's son would be a little kid.

But clearly,her imaginations were nowhere close to what she was seeing.

The young man had stupendous and sturdy biceps.a beautifully framed face,beautiful lips that even the most beautiful lady couldn't resist and he had dark bold eyes like his father.

"Your highness" The handsome young man bowed

"You may"Brenda suddenly felt shy.

No,this was not the time to act shy.

She was the king now and she was seated in the midst of the royal cabinet.

She had to keep a face that showed no emotions.

"Rise" She completed.

He obeyed.

"So,why is your son here?" Brenda faced the father.

"You asked me to bring him" The father still sounded upset.

"I'm sorry but can you explain why I asked you to bring him?"

"Your highness. But,we talked about this two days ago"

"So...You can't explain it?" She said, sounding authoritative.

"I can,your highness but -"

"Explain, I'm listening" She ordered.

By now,the man looked more angry but Brenda had no choice,she had to know what they talked about and why he brought his son.

"As we all know," He stood and walked to the middle of the room."We usually have three people leading this kingdom's army but unfortunately,one died not too long ago and someone has to fill his place and we also know that young people like my son can also lead this kingdom's army" He stopped and others nodded "We also concluded to make my son fill this position since he happens to be the most skilled, bravest and smartest of all the soldiers"

The young man didn't smile or do anything to show he was impressed by his father's praises.

He kept his face straight,looking like the soldier he was.

"We needed your permission as the king but you said you had to put him through a test for a period of months before he can fill this position,your highness"The father bowed and went back to his seat.

"But why?" Brenda asked herself "Didn't he already serve and prove himself to the king before he became a soldier? Why can't he just be promoted?"

"Your highness"A stout man stood.

He had a small figure and a bald head.

His stature was quite funny.

"This boy here served your father for three years and his competency was what made your father promote him from being just a palace guard to being a soldier"

It was like the man read her mind

"And I'm sure you must have seen him during the times you were still a prince and fought battles" The short man sat.

Brenda would have loved to support their decision but there must be a reason why her brother wanted to test this handsome young man before making him one of the leaders of the kingdom's army

She had no choice but to go with her brother's decision because if she decided to support their decision,they might begin to suspect that she was not the king.

"Like I said before, I'll have to test him" She said,she was sure that was what her brother would have said.

"Surely three months is enough time for my son to prove himself that he is worthy of the position"

"Three months?" Brenda asked the father quietly

"Yes your highness, that was what you said"

"Oh,yes. Of course I remember" Brenda lied.

"So... Since there's nothing more to talk about..."

"But your highness, there's still more to talk about" The short man cut Brenda short.

"I know. But,I have to get back to my royal duties" She said in the deepest voice imaginable.

She couldn't bear to spend more time with them.

The members of the royal cabinet came out of the meeting room and walked towards the large palace gate in groups

The soldier's father walked with the short bald man

"I don't like that child" The soldier's father said

"You mean the king" The short man said

"Whatever, he's even too young to be king. His uncle should have been king"

"He's the son of the late king,what did you expect?"

"I didn't expect him to be this way. If his twin sister had been a boy,I would have preferred her to be king" He said

Brenda walked out of the meeting room and entered the palace hall

While she was walking,she noticed something was different.

She turned back to find out what was different and was surprised when she didn't find any guards behind her

The only person she saw was the handsome young soldier

"Where are the other guards ?" Brenda asked

"Your highness"He bowed "I'll be the one protecting you from now on" He said

Shane would have said 'Good, I'm impressed ' or ' You're good like they say you are' instead,Brenda asked

"Why?"

"It's part of the things I have to do to prove myself" His said,his thick voice unwavering

He spoke with so much boldness that she admired

"Oh,right" She said and continued walking

She couldn't even dare to look into his eyes one more time without having her heart make funny beats and he was supposed to stay with her for three months

Three months!

But there was no need to worry,she was sure Shane would return before the completion of the three months.

She assured herself

She finally got to her room and she made to enter but stopped when she saw that the guards there were gone and have been replaced by maids.

They were supposed to be guards not maids.

"Your highness" They bowed "I'm afraid there's something wrong with the princess. We've been here for a while now waiting for the princess to come out for breakfast but she hasn't" One of the maids said.

Brenda already knew something was amiss.

This was her room not her brother's.

She was supposed to go to her brother's room since she was now taking his place.

She turned to leave but stopped and turned to face them again.

She moved closer to the maid who spoke earlier but the maid moved back, trembling.

Was the maid scared of her?

Oh,right!

She was supposed to be a man now - A king.

"Just so you know, there's nothing wrong with my sister" She said.

"I'm sorry I misjudged your highness" The maid bowed.

Brenda didn't know what to say,she turned and headed for her brother's room.

She was tired of being royalty;She wanted to be a normal girl living a normal life.

No one calling her 'Your highness or apologize for something that wasn't their fault.

*NOON*

The chairs were empty.

Brenda was going to eat dinner alone,all by herself.

She was missing her brother already.

She sighed and began to eat the food like she was being forced to eat it.

"Are you not enjoying the food?" She heard the soldier's voice beside her.

"I am" She sat upright

She had completely forgotten that he was following her around now.

Well, except her room and the bathroom of course.

He was now her personal guard.

She continued eating her food and hoped her brother was safe.

*JUNGLE*

Shane walked through the dark jungle trying to find his way.

It was getting really dark and he didn't think he could continue his journey.

Luckily,he found a cave.

He entered the cave and sat down.

He was beginning to doubt his decision of helping his sister and going out to find their mother.

He didn't even have an idea where his mother was and even if he was able to find where she was,he wasn't sure he could still recognize her.

<NEXT MORNING>

Brenda sat in front of the mirror and combed her hair.

Just one day of dressing as a boy and she was already missing dressing as a girl.

She packed her hair in a bun and stood.

She walked towards the door and held the door knob.

Was she really ready to go out and be followed around by the handsome soldier?

She took in a deep breath.

She had to act like a king and show no emotions of any sort.

She opened the door and stepped out.

This time,no guards assembled behind her except the soldier,of course.

She walked into the palace hall and made her way to the door that led to her mother's rose garden.

She usually watered the rose garden every morning except for the previous day when she had to attend the royal meeting.

Watering her mother's rose garden reminded her of the times she and her mother spent together in the garden.

Immediately she got to the garden,she began watering the flowers.

When she was through,she went to sit on one of the beautifully decorated wooden chairs beside the rose garden.

Brenda could feel the soldier's masculine scent behind her.

Everywhere was silent.

She was supposed to test him - How?

She didn't even know what to say to him.

She sighed.

She didn't know his name,she should ask for his name.

She cleared her throat and raised her head up to face him.

"So, what's your name?" She asked.

TBC...✍️