To Be A Queen✔️

Chapter 3

Olanna's POV

The sun was high up and thankfully we were done, for today at least. We have cultivated a reasonable amount of yam which I have planned to pound for my husband.

My husband, I couldn't help but smile whenever I think of him, besides he was my husband after all and I am happy to be his wife.

It's being a moon and a half since we got married and I can't help but to always feel my stomach to check if I was with child. I have always wanted children and now am happy that I will one day have as many as possible with him.

I didn't realize I was still smiling until I heard Nneka clear her throat in an attempt to get my attention. She was giving me a mischievous look when I looked at her "Let us go home so that you will have the opportunity to do whatever you are thinking with your husband" That was Nnenna my other mischievous friend. "I need to get vegetables for the soup..." " I already picked the vegetables" Nneka said cutting me off. " Yes she picked them when you were busy day dreaming about your handsome husband" Nnenna said.

"Well I can't help it, his handsome. And very manly as well" I finished the sentence with a wink. And started making my way home pretending to leave them behind. The both hurriedly carried their baskets and followed me shouting that I wait for them.

If there is anything that I have learnt from my friends is to always counter their mischievous sentences with another mischievous one than feel embarrassed. " I can't help it" I continued "Its not everyday that one get to marry the love of their life"

"You are lucky your father was very understanding and allowed you to marry a man of your choice, not every maiden is given that kind of opportunity. You should count yourself lucky" Nneka said. That was so true and I was happy my father gave me that opportunity. I couldn't help it when my smile broadened. "Please don't tell me you are thinking about him just now" Nnenna moaned. I and Nneka laughed.

We were still laughing when we heard someone greeting us. The were dressed in strange clothing which looked expensive. The one who greeted us asked us they way to the palace and that piqued my interest. So I asked them why they wanted to go there.

If they were visitors then the King should have sent his messenger to the boundary so as to escort them to the palace. But here they are at the farmlands instead of the town or the market square since they were supposed to be looking for who to ask for directions. Even if they were merchants why didn't they follow the main route?

I was startled by the voice of the other man who was dressed in what looked like a regal attire. Why was he raising his voice?
The man who greeted us looked uneasy "Emm, you see we are from a different tribe"
'I can see that'. I thought

" My King here wishes to see your King. So take me to him  at once. It's very important"
I couldn't help but feel annoyed.

Even a King should be polite. At least our King is to his people. And he definitely didn't interpret what the King said except shouting was part of their language. I looked directly at the supposed King and spoke "Look here young man" I didn't care at this point since they didn't come with their manners I have decided to drop mine. "When you are a visitor to the King he sends a messenger to escort you to the palace. And if you are here to see the King you should have reached the palace before now. The palace is not hard to miss, you should have found it before you decided to trespass further into our lands without our King's consent. For all I know you all might be spies and am not going to waste my time taking you to a place that isn't difficult to find in the first place. Excuse me"

I was about leaving with my friends when the largest of the men blocked my path. Nneka and Nnenna blocked him from getting to me on reflex and the supposed King started laughing. It was when they all started laughing that I understood why they were laughing.

Of course my friends and I were smaller compared to the bulky man blocking our path. Big mistake. Like my father always say 'don't underestimate your opponent'.

I couldn't help but join the laughter as well. But mine was mocking, years of hanging out with Nneka and Nnenna will teach you that.

The bulky man shouted at me in his language I think he wants me to shut up.  'Can't they talk quietly and gently?' I didn't even raise my voice when I scolded them.

The other man that greeted us demanded that I show some respect to his King. I guess I was wrong then because shouting is definitely part of speaking there language.

I decided that I have finally had enough. I didn't care if he doesn't understand my language or if his royalty. I looked him in the eye and told him.

"I bow to no King except my King. And you are not him."

Immediately, I picked up my hoe and left. I could see from the corner of my eyes Nneka and Nnenna picking up there baskets. I needed to cook my husband's favourite food and they were wasting my time.

If there is one thing I hate is seeing people who wear their ego like beads on their wrists. And that stranger I met wore his like his stupid crown which was worse in my opinion.

"You should have allowed us to teach that lanky man a lesson" Nneka said. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Nneka he is not lanky, by the  gods he is huge!" "So?" It was Nnenna this time which surprised me. Nnenna was like the mother hen of our group. She might be a little mischievous but she was always the one who calls us to order. So now you see why I was surprised.

I could see our house from here and almost forgot about what happened few moments ago. I halted when I saw smoke around the side of our kitchen. No!! I screamed inwardly.

Before I could stop myself I was sprinting towards the kitchen. My friends were on my heels, they were saying something but I couldn't make out what the were saying. I halted when I reached the kitchen and saw my husband sitting on the kitchen stool that was too low and uncomfortable for him roasting what looked like a bush meat. I couldn't help but frown

"Haven't I told you not to bother yourself with things like this! I am to make you your meals not the other way round my husband". I tried dragging him up from the kitchen stool, but in a twinkle of an eye I was sitting on his lap. He was smiling. His red lips parted to show his beautiful dentition. His smile has always being so hypnotizing since the first time I saw him.

" I don't see anything wrong with roasting the meat my love. I know you went to the farm which means you will cook afterwards and I didn't want to stress you to do what am very capable of doing."

His always so thoughtful. Always thinking of my well being even when I don't think of my well-being. Thank the gods I found him before other maidens. " I love you" I couldn't help but blurt our.

"Of course you do" Wait that wasn't his voice. I almost rolled my eyes when I realized it was Nneka's voice. Wait they were still here?

"I can't believe you ran that fast to get here just because you thought he was cooking and you wanted to be the one to do it" Nnenna looked like she was going to flog me if she was allowed to. "Chi m!! I thought maybe the house was on fire!" She was still yelling. And it seems my eardrums are becoming itchy from all her screaming.

"Thank you for helping me cultivate the yams, you may both go now" I replied sharply pretending to be angry. Nnenna was still looking at me like she wanted to pound me instead of the yam. Nneka immediately dropped the basket and left.

Wait that worked? I was stunned, but not for long, Nneka came back dragging a tree trunk to the kitchen area and sat down. "For disrespecting me am not going to partake in preparing the egusi soup. So you better hurry because I am hungry" Nneka said with a serious expression. I was going to say something when I got a "Me too" from Nnenna. My husband Tochukwu just laughed

"My love, I didn't know you were married to two more husbands" I just smiled and shook my head. Well it's going to take a long time then.

A/N
Chi m - An exclamation in Igbo meaning 'My God'
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