LUTHANDO: THE ROYAL BRIDE
CHAPTER 01
Luthando sat by the river alone, staring at the flowing water. She smiled faintly, but her eyes glistened with tears. She is a royal bride—yet no one saw her as one. She didn’t wear the fine clothes a prince’s bride should wear. Yes, she had been chosen by the king himself—his sick father—to be his son’s bride. Even she had been shocked when the elders came to her home to announce that she was the chosen bride for the prince.
Lulu and Yanda laughed from behind as she quickly wiped her tears.
Lulu: Ohh Luthando… should I say my princess or what?
Yanda: Look at her! Is this how a royal bride should dress?
Lulu: She’s cursed… her mother died, her father too, and now just last week when she stepped into the palace as a bride—the king almost died. It’s obvious he will die.
Yanda: That’s why she doesn’t have friends. How can we call a cursed thing like her our princess? Never!
Lulu and Yanda continued laughing while Luthando turned away quietly, leaving them to their gossip. She began singing softly as she walked toward the palace. Her voice trembled with emotion, yet it comforted her—singing always did. The melody carried her pain, her fears, and her strength.
When she finally reached the palace, the guards and maids began whispering and giggling as they always did, their eyes filled with mockery. She ignored them and walked with quiet dignity through the grand halls.
She went straight to the king’s chambers. The doctor stood up the moment she entered and left hurriedly. Luthando kneeled beside the sick king, her heart aching at the sight of him so frail.
Luthando: My king…
She said softly, her voice breaking.
King Zungu: My princess… the future queen of this kingdom.
Luthando shook her head, tears streaming down her face.
King Zungu: Luthando, my princess… my son’s bride.
Luthando: My king, this is too much for me… why me?
King Zungu: Luthando, you are the chosen bride for my son. I chose you—and he will marry you.
Luthando: He doesn’t want me… I’m not his type. My king, I’m just a commoner… a cursed girl, they say.
King Zungu: No… you are not.
The king coughed violently. Luthando rushed to the table, poured water, and helped him drink.
King Zungu: You are the one for my son… only you.
Just then, the door opened. Prince Khaya walked in. He had been away for days—his absence had worried both the king and Luthando deeply. He stood tall, his eyes cold as they met Luthando’s. Without a word, he leaned down and kissed his father’s forehead.
King Zungu: Son… where have you been?
Khaya: Since you make decisions for me, Father, without my concern, I decided to go out for a few days—to get some air and process this whole thing.
King Zungu: Son, I’m sick… and I’ll die anytime. Please, fulfil this wish of mine. Marry her.
Khaya: Father! I told you—I’m not interested in getting married! I don’t want to be anyone’s husband!
He shouted, his voice full of frustration.
King Zungu: You are grown. You are my only son. When I die, you must rule this kingdom—and you need a woman by your side. You need Luthando.
Prince Khaya’s jaw tightened. He stared at Luthando, then turned back to his father.
Khaya: Dad, I don’t need a woman. I don’t need a wife. Dad, you f*ken know me! I just want to enjoy life—alone—without a woman!
King Zungu: Son…
Khaya clicked his tongue, turned, and stormed out of the room.
Luthando: My king, calm down. You need to rest.
King Zungu: It’s all my fault…
Luthando: My king? No, please—don’t blame yourself. I understand.
Just as she was about to leave, King Zungu weakly grabbed her hand.
King Zungu: Luthando… you are the chosen one for my son… only you.
His eyes fluttered closed as he drifted into sleep. Luthando looked at him, tears streaming down her face. For a moment, she stood there in silence, her heart heavy, before quietly leaving the room.
***********
Prince Khaya stormed into his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. His chest heaved with anger as he threw everything within reach—vases shattered, books scattered, and the sound of breaking glass echoed through the room.
Khaya: Dad! I hate you! I hate you for choosing a bride for me! Something you know is the last thing on my mind!
He ran his hands through his hair, breathing heavily. Just then, his phone rang. He grabbed it angrily and answered without checking who it was.
Khaya: Hello…
Siya: My Prince… are you okay? Last night you acted so strange… the way you yelled at that chick—
Khaya: Listen, Siya! I told you I don’t want women at my party!
Siya: Ohh… now I get it. That’s why you don’t even want maids near you. You hate women, right? What’s your story, my Prince—
Before Siya could finish, Khaya ended the call. He threw his phone onto the bed and clicked his tongue in frustration.
A soft knock sounded on the door, and before he could answer, Luthando walked in hesitantly.
Luthando: My… my Prince… uhm—
Khaya didn’t even look at her. His eyes were fixed on the floor, jaw tight.
Khaya: What do you want?
Luthando: Uhm… the day I stepped inside this palace, you left. I didn’t get time to… to speak to you.
Khaya: I’m mad at you. At my father too.
She stepped closer, gently placing a trembling hand on his shoulder.
Luthando: I didn’t know the king would choose me…
Khaya: Then why didn’t you refuse?
He turned to face her, his gaze sharp and full of resentment.
Khaya: Why? You know me better than my father, Luthando.
Luthando: I—
Khaya: What? Huh?
Luthando: I tried to speak to him…
Khaya: You’re just like every other woman. I thought you were different. You’re just a stranger… yes, a stranger I met three years ago. A stranger who used to sing for me by the river. A stranger I used to share all my problems with. A stranger who knew me inside and out. I don’t know you anymore.
Her eyes filled with tears, her voice breaking.
Luthando: My Prince… I know how much you hate being around women. I know how much you hate falling in love. I know you don’t want to get married. But trust me—I didn’t know the king would choose me as your bride.
Khaya’s face darkened, his tone low and cold.
Khaya: Do you want to suffer in my hands, Luthando? Are you ready to face the consequences?
His eyes suddenly glowed red—like something dangerous was awakening inside him. Luthando gasped but stepped forward, her hand trembling as she touched his arm. Instantly, his eyes returned to normal. He stared at her, confused, while her heart pounded in fear and pity.
Khaya: There’s a lot you don’t know about me…
The air in the room grew heavy. Luthando’s hand slipped away slowly, her breath shaky. Whatever secret Prince Khaya held—it was darker than she could ever imagine.
To be continued.... should I continue?.
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CHAPTER 01
Luthando sat by the river alone, staring at the flowing water. She smiled faintly, but her eyes glistened with tears. She is a royal bride—yet no one saw her as one. She didn’t wear the fine clothes a prince’s bride should wear. Yes, she had been chosen by the king himself—his sick father—to be his son’s bride. Even she had been shocked when the elders came to her home to announce that she was the chosen bride for the prince.
Lulu and Yanda laughed from behind as she quickly wiped her tears.
Lulu: Ohh Luthando… should I say my princess or what?
Yanda: Look at her! Is this how a royal bride should dress?
Lulu: She’s cursed… her mother died, her father too, and now just last week when she stepped into the palace as a bride—the king almost died. It’s obvious he will die.
Yanda: That’s why she doesn’t have friends. How can we call a cursed thing like her our princess? Never!
Lulu and Yanda continued laughing while Luthando turned away quietly, leaving them to their gossip. She began singing softly as she walked toward the palace. Her voice trembled with emotion, yet it comforted her—singing always did. The melody carried her pain, her fears, and her strength.
When she finally reached the palace, the guards and maids began whispering and giggling as they always did, their eyes filled with mockery. She ignored them and walked with quiet dignity through the grand halls.
She went straight to the king’s chambers. The doctor stood up the moment she entered and left hurriedly. Luthando kneeled beside the sick king, her heart aching at the sight of him so frail.
Luthando: My king…
She said softly, her voice breaking.
King Zungu: My princess… the future queen of this kingdom.
Luthando shook her head, tears streaming down her face.
King Zungu: Luthando, my princess… my son’s bride.
Luthando: My king, this is too much for me… why me?
King Zungu: Luthando, you are the chosen bride for my son. I chose you—and he will marry you.
Luthando: He doesn’t want me… I’m not his type. My king, I’m just a commoner… a cursed girl, they say.
King Zungu: No… you are not.
The king coughed violently. Luthando rushed to the table, poured water, and helped him drink.
King Zungu: You are the one for my son… only you.
Just then, the door opened. Prince Khaya walked in. He had been away for days—his absence had worried both the king and Luthando deeply. He stood tall, his eyes cold as they met Luthando’s. Without a word, he leaned down and kissed his father’s forehead.
King Zungu: Son… where have you been?
Khaya: Since you make decisions for me, Father, without my concern, I decided to go out for a few days—to get some air and process this whole thing.
King Zungu: Son, I’m sick… and I’ll die anytime. Please, fulfil this wish of mine. Marry her.
Khaya: Father! I told you—I’m not interested in getting married! I don’t want to be anyone’s husband!
He shouted, his voice full of frustration.
King Zungu: You are grown. You are my only son. When I die, you must rule this kingdom—and you need a woman by your side. You need Luthando.
Prince Khaya’s jaw tightened. He stared at Luthando, then turned back to his father.
Khaya: Dad, I don’t need a woman. I don’t need a wife. Dad, you f*ken know me! I just want to enjoy life—alone—without a woman!
King Zungu: Son…
Khaya clicked his tongue, turned, and stormed out of the room.
Luthando: My king, calm down. You need to rest.
King Zungu: It’s all my fault…
Luthando: My king? No, please—don’t blame yourself. I understand.
Just as she was about to leave, King Zungu weakly grabbed her hand.
King Zungu: Luthando… you are the chosen one for my son… only you.
His eyes fluttered closed as he drifted into sleep. Luthando looked at him, tears streaming down her face. For a moment, she stood there in silence, her heart heavy, before quietly leaving the room.
***********
Prince Khaya stormed into his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. His chest heaved with anger as he threw everything within reach—vases shattered, books scattered, and the sound of breaking glass echoed through the room.
Khaya: Dad! I hate you! I hate you for choosing a bride for me! Something you know is the last thing on my mind!
He ran his hands through his hair, breathing heavily. Just then, his phone rang. He grabbed it angrily and answered without checking who it was.
Khaya: Hello…
Siya: My Prince… are you okay? Last night you acted so strange… the way you yelled at that chick—
Khaya: Listen, Siya! I told you I don’t want women at my party!
Siya: Ohh… now I get it. That’s why you don’t even want maids near you. You hate women, right? What’s your story, my Prince—
Before Siya could finish, Khaya ended the call. He threw his phone onto the bed and clicked his tongue in frustration.
A soft knock sounded on the door, and before he could answer, Luthando walked in hesitantly.
Luthando: My… my Prince… uhm—
Khaya didn’t even look at her. His eyes were fixed on the floor, jaw tight.
Khaya: What do you want?
Luthando: Uhm… the day I stepped inside this palace, you left. I didn’t get time to… to speak to you.
Khaya: I’m mad at you. At my father too.
She stepped closer, gently placing a trembling hand on his shoulder.
Luthando: I didn’t know the king would choose me…
Khaya: Then why didn’t you refuse?
He turned to face her, his gaze sharp and full of resentment.
Khaya: Why? You know me better than my father, Luthando.
Luthando: I—
Khaya: What? Huh?
Luthando: I tried to speak to him…
Khaya: You’re just like every other woman. I thought you were different. You’re just a stranger… yes, a stranger I met three years ago. A stranger who used to sing for me by the river. A stranger I used to share all my problems with. A stranger who knew me inside and out. I don’t know you anymore.
Her eyes filled with tears, her voice breaking.
Luthando: My Prince… I know how much you hate being around women. I know how much you hate falling in love. I know you don’t want to get married. But trust me—I didn’t know the king would choose me as your bride.
Khaya’s face darkened, his tone low and cold.
Khaya: Do you want to suffer in my hands, Luthando? Are you ready to face the consequences?
His eyes suddenly glowed red—like something dangerous was awakening inside him. Luthando gasped but stepped forward, her hand trembling as she touched his arm. Instantly, his eyes returned to normal. He stared at her, confused, while her heart pounded in fear and pity.
Khaya: There’s a lot you don’t know about me…
The air in the room grew heavy. Luthando’s hand slipped away slowly, her breath shaky. Whatever secret Prince Khaya held—it was darker than she could ever imagine.
To be continued.... should I continue?.
PLEASE LIKE AFTER READING ❤.. Don't forget to follow for more
