Stolen by colour

Accept you

As days turned into weeks, the time for his arrival drew nearer. Was he going to come, or had it all been a lie?

In the early hours of the morning, the maids got to their various work this time, an unusual bustling of activities, the activities that were the same if there was going to be an event. The door to Anna's chamber opened as Maids rushed in, followed by Lady Mariam, "Rise and shine, my beautiful daughter,"

Anna's eyes flustered open as she slowly adapted to the morning light. "What is going on? Why are you all here and with clothes? Get out now!"

Lady Mariam frowned but quickly replaced her frown with a smile. "Now now, today your soon-to-be husband will arrive with his family. And yes, I mean Prince Joharn."

One of the maids corrected her, "My Lady, it is pronounced Johann."

She shot a glare at the maid, "Why are you not among the nobles if you claim to know all pronunciation? Alright, get to work."

Anna finished her bath in no time. The maids worked effortlessly to get Anna dressed perfectly for her soon-arriving suitor. Anna found herself staring at the mirror, dressed in a light green English gown that hugged her upper body down to her waist and flowed down like a waterfall. She felt extremely tight that she could not breath but somehow her legs moved freely. As she stared bitterly at the mirror, she could not help but feel that she was betraying her culture. "I cannot do this," Anna said brusquely.

Lady Mariam looked at her, knowing fully well that Anna's objection did not matter.

One of the maids announced, "They have arrived."

"Well then, be on your best behavior," Lady Mariam warned instead.

At the sitting parlor, her father smiled, and her stepmother sat next to him with her best smile. Anna found it difficult to walk, but she managed.

"Ah, this is my daughter, as you know, if not for your interference eight years ago, I would not have known where to find her." Lord Denmarin's voice grew softer; one could almost hear the thankful tone, one he never used even when someone saved him on the battlefield.

The Englishman spoke with a wide smirk playing on his lips, "It was nothing, my son was very eager to know his beautiful wife." he turned to his son, then to Anna, and back to his son, "introduce yourselves, do not be shy, you will soon wed, so drop all formalities."

'Ahh, so he is the king?' Anna thought to herself.

The prince of Germany stood up at his father's command, "I am Johann, prince of Germany, and next in line to the throne. I am glad to make your acquaintance."

Anna stared at him, unsure of how to reply, 'Acquaintance? What does that mean?' Anna asked herself. "Nice to meet you, my name is Anna."

His father spoke, easing out the tension in the room, "We shall leave tomorrow if it is fine by you."

Lord Denmarin smiled, "Of course, she has to start adapting to her new environment."

The next day, Anna did not get any rest at night; all she could think of was 'how can she cope in a strange man's land?'

"We will miss you, Lady Anna," Sarah commented as she helped Anna get dressed for departure.

"Now we are stuck with that witch." The maid assisting Sarah spoke.

Later that day, Lord and Lady Denmarin bade a farewell to Anna. As he hugged Anna, he whispered to her ear, "I am sorry, may we meet again on good terms. I wish you a good life." Anna nodded, too sad that her voice was caught in her throat. She turned away and stood beside Prince Johann.

"I will send a letter every week updating you on her well-being, and you should do likewise for yourselves. Goodbye." Prince Johann waved at lord Denmarin

On the ship, Anna felt terribly sick but did not voice out since she had no idea what these people were like. Prince Johann walked up to her. "Do you feel sick? or nauseous? Because it is common, especially for a first-time person." He stopped waiting to hear a response. When he did not, he continued. "My people will love you. Trust me"

Anna looked at him with curious eyes. "Love? Do you whites not sell us blacks? Or is that a tale too?"

Johann looked at her with surprise, not at her tone, but as a black woman who could say such words, knowing fully well her colour had created boundaries. "You... you should not say such, okay?"

Anna looked at him in annoyance. "Why? Would I be a fool for saying the truth?

"You and I are meant to discuss our upcoming marriage in three days. We are meant to discuss how many kids we want, how many boys are to be born." Johann said, dismissing the conversation about racism.

"Your father seems nice."

"He is not my father. That is my uncle, he is only standing in for me since I lost my father at age seven. I could not have controlled the kingdom at such a tender age then." Johann replied, clarifying any further misunderstanding.

"Okay. But what about now? You look like you are of age, or did maturity only just set in?" She asked.

Johann looked at Anna as a slow smile began forming on his lips, "Maturity? It is not maturity, I chose not to step in because I needed my woman by my side, ruling together side by side, having my back when I'm about to fall."

Anna faced flushed red as she tried to contain the butterflies in her belly. 'What is this? I barely know him.' Anna said in her mind.

The journey to Germany took one and a half days, and in those days, Anna tried her best to avoid Johann. On the other hand, Johann was unsure what he might have done to trigger such distance between them.

In Germany, the palace maids and guards hurried about, ensuring everything was in order before the arrival of the Prince and Princess.

"What will she look like?" Bella asked the head of the maids.

"I do not know," she said hurriedly.

"I heard she is black, is it true?" Another maid asked.

"I do not know. Quit with the questions and focus on getting everything in place. They are arriving today. And also, Bella, I will handle the princess just for today. Starting from tomorrow, she will be your responsibility." Bella nodded to the words of the head of the maids.