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I was not convinced, but I did not want to argue. I could not even argue when the young woman went to Metheus and started wiping his sweat with a piece of cloth.
“Cora!” one of the men called, his voice a little stern. It was the other man with braids. I believed his name was Razuku.
Cora moved away from Metheus. Upon close observation, I saw that the prince’s jaw was clenched. Was he just annoyed with Cora as I was? Or was he unhappy that he could not be with his lover?
“Get the seeds and tools ready,” Metheus ordered his men.
Soon, I was just a little decorative flower, watching them till the soil with the few tools they had brought. They had planted the mysterious seeds they had brought from Arrowspear.
After they were done, Metheus looked at me proudly.
“Cassava, sweet potato, and cowpea,” he declared.
“They could survive dry conditions?” I asked, wishing I had read more farming books. Perhaps I did not have to be married off to an Arrowspear prince who did not like me if I had more knowledge.
“The conditions are not that dry,” he said reluctantly, knowing that I was studying his words.
“I knew it. Something is different. The soil was parched. It would not have taken in your seeds. Why can’t you tell me what you did, Metheus?” I whispered so only he and I could hear.
“I did nothing, Luella,” he said stubbornly. His nose made a slight twitch, which could be out of annoyance or a little clue that he was not telling me the truth.
Suddenly, we heard footsteps coming our way. Farmers, their wives, and other villagers had come to see what was going on.
“Good day, Your Highness,” they said, looking at Metheus and his men with bewildered, half-frightened eyes. I knew what they saw – foreigners, and by the looks of them, foreigners from Arrowspear.
“Good day to you all,” I said as cheerfully as I could.
“We noticed that some men had been working on your lands,” one farmer said. He was a weathered man in his late fifties.
“Your lands, Rufus. These are yours now. We are just trying to revive them,” I assured the man, and in turn, his companions.
“T-they look a little better than yesterday, Your Highness,” Rufus said, looking overwhelmed. His eyes seemed to well with joyful tears.
I widened my eyes at Metheus as if to say, “See? It was not only me who noticed!”
“We have some skillful men from Arrowspear.” This time, I addressed all the villagers who had gathered. Some were still looking at Metheus and his men with suspicion. “As you can see, they have done a lot, and they had only been here for a few hours.”
“Will they take our lands?” asked a rough-looking, bearded man of about thirty-odd years.
“No, you don’t understand. This is my betrothed, Prince Metheus from Prozeus. He likes working with his hands himself.”
Most of the faces had changed from suspicion to relief to a bit of joy. It was as if they had been rescued, which in a way, they were. Suddenly, I felt the weight of Metheus’ importance in my life. He was not only here to heal the land but also to protect my name.
What could I give him in return? I felt at a loss. I looked at his face, which had lit up considerably when he started working on the fields, and I felt a little despondent.
“Good day, Your Highness, Prince Metheus,” said the woman next to Rufus. It was his wife. Annalie. She went straight to Metheus, arms open wide for an embrace.
Instead of shying away from a mere villager, Metheus apologized.
“Ma’am, I am dirty from tilling the soil,” he apologized, his palms facing the old woman.
“I am no Ma’am or lady, Your Highness,” Annalie said, embracing him tightly. He hugged her back. Annalie seemed delighted, even though she ended up with soil on her cotton dress.
“My good people, we have just begun the journey towards reviving your crops. We also have to deal with the heat. Do not thank me yet. I will return to Arrowspear in two days to get more men and seeds. We will work a little more when I return, and then Princess Luella and I will marry. We hope to see you on our wedding day.”
I found myself beaming at the villagers. I did not know why, but I avoided looking at him after he announced the news about our wedding. So, he would still pursue my hand in marriage even though he could have just offered his help with farming. He was also willing to invite the villagers. Not that I minded. I was actually pleased that he included them.
The rest of the day was spent eating and laughing by the fields with Metheus, his men, Cora, and the villagers. Cora had brought meat pies that she had prepared herself. I had to admit that she cooked very well, something I knew nothing about. I wondered who allowed her in the pantry and cellar. I chewed on a pie angrily.
