Just 19 years old, Aryanna Kollie was faced with the challenge of a lifetime: rule the continent of Africa.
Born in Washington D.C., USA, Aryanna (better known as Arya), lived a simple, quiet life. Her mother died while she was young and her father...
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I could not find that middle ground within me, the one that told me that it was okay to joke around and have fun and be upbeat, as long as I kept my head screwed on tight and led this continent through all political warfare and out of poverty. That was evident as I sat on the end of a long, rectangular table in an awfully cold room, with all sorts of people, none of whom I had ever seen before, sitting before me.
My mind kept going back to that shocking conversation with my father about how the world's richest nations had essentially strong-armed and bribed African countries into accepting this new unified kingdom under my family's monarchy. Some tried to resist being stripped of their sovereignty, but faced harsh sanctions and even jailed leaders until they fell in line with the plan. It was a resource grab by the global powers under the guise of "creating unity" in Africa.
I could see a resemblance between myself and some of the minor royal members, but that didn't make me feel any better. Sure, this lady three seats down to the left of me was most likely my aunt or distant cousin, but I did not know her from anywhere. On her head sat the most minimalistic crown with long, bulky cornrow braids beneath. She wore all sorts of bracelets and bangles up and down her arms, and her hands were covered with white velvet gloves. She was far more dressed than I was, but I opted against having a stylist when it came to minor events like meetings and such. I wanted the freedom to express myself through clothes—still.
"There are five people that you need to appoint to help your rule," a man, I assume the head of the House of Africa, announced to me. He sat on the complete vertical end of me.
I looked at him, "Go on."
"You will need a military leader, a Prime Minister, a translator, a secretary, and a lady-in-waiting," the man informed me. I understood what I needed a military leader, Prime Minister, and translator for. However, I didn't understand the point of a secretary, or a lady-in-waiting. What the hell even is a lady-in-waiting? Somebody that stands by and wipes my ass after I shit?
I decided to voice my curiosities. "May I ask, what is a lady-in-waiting?" I started, "And why would I need a secretary if I've already got a Prime Minister? Aren't they kind of the same job?" The man shook his head, seeming to be answering the latter of the questions first.
