To Be A Queen✔️

Chapter 9

Edikan's POV

Did I do the right thing? Why did I even do what I did? What did I gain? These were the same questions I have being asking myself after I left the throne grounds.

Eno - Obong had followed me when I left. I had thought he had wanted to berate me for the spectacle I caused. Surprisingly he had escorted me to my hut and left to his own hut without saying a single word.

I had being inside my hut since then dreading to come out. The problem is I had no idea what I was dreading.

"Edikan!!!" Now I know what I was dreading. It was followed by a ferocious pounding on the door. Being a warrior and a King I never back down on a fight. So I stood up and walked to the door. She had raised her had to knock... no pound on the door when I opened it making her pause her hand mid air.

"Why!!" She asked. She was trying not to break down in front of me. "WHY!!!" She asked again. I still couldn't speak. I just looked at her. She was in pain and I caused it. I wanted to reach out to her and.... hug her? I don't even know how to handle a sad maiden.

"Fine. I am sorry" she said softly "Am sorry I was rude to you. Am sorry I called you your name without adding your title. You can punish me as you deem fit, but please tell Tochukwu that you didn't have any intentions of taking me as your wife. Tell him it was just a way of punishing me because of what I did. I will do anything you want just please."

I frowned, she still wants to be with him, even after he had rejected her in front of the whole village.

Then I remembered how she had broken down in front of the whole village. How she had knelt down and pleaded that he take her back. He had ignored her. And here she is begging that I take back the bride price so that she can be with him.

Anger boiled inside me. How can she want to go back to him after all that? Am I that bad of a person that she would prefer staying with him than with me?

"Please I will do..." "Your Father said our union will commence tomorrow and so shall it be. Or do you wish to disobey your King? Besides he is the only one you bow to so you should respect him as well" I said interrupting her pleadings.

"Is that the reason you are doing this? Fine" she said kneeling down immediately placing her forehead to the ground. "Please forgive me for I have wronged you my King." I noticed that this time she didn't say my title in a sarcastic manner. "Please my King punish me as you see fit" she finished but remained in that position.

I bent down in front of her and dragged her up gently "I didn't see you as one who could be this submissive." I said observing her. Of course I knew that this was just an act. She would change once I give her what she wants.

So I looked her in the eye I told her what I truly want "You will bow to me. But not as a maiden but as my WIFE and QUEEN. Because you will be mine and mine alone"

Adaeze's POV

What have I done? I can't believe I was blinded by greed that I forgot that my sister had always cared for me.

It was always customary that the first daughter marries first before the second. People tend to look down on maidens who have reached marriageable age and are yet to marry. It was even worse when the younger sister marries before the elder sister.

But being a princess no one dared to approach me, but it didn't stop them from gossiping behind my back.

Some had said that I was too cold to be a mother. And so the gods had decided not to gift me with a husband. Some said that I had a spirit husband whom I was promised to hence why I have declined all the people that have asked for my hand in marriage.

However, something mysterious started happening to those who gossiped about the first princess not being able to marry.
Most men were flogged while being blindfolded so as not to identify the culprit.

Some maidens who washed their wrappers by the river bank had come to pick it up only to see that thewrappers owned by one of the maidens was shredded to pieces, and each part scattered in different areas of the stream.

A woman who had openly declared at the market place that I was infertile hence the reason I had being turning down suitors had woken up one morning screaming that the Nsala soup she had cooked the previous day had vanished. In place of the soup was sand in the pot instead. Coincidentally, a family of twelve had woken up to see a pot of Nsala soup at their doorstep.

And other mysterious happenings. They had all agreed that the gods were angry at them for saying bad things about the princess of their land. They had all come to apologize with proceeds from their farms. The mysterious happenings had stopped instantly and everything went back to normal

But I and my father know better that it was no other than Olanna's doings. But we both didn't address that matter.

After she got married she made it her duty to come to the palace to see me no matter how tight her activities for the day was. She would always stop by.

And what did I pay her back with? Breaking her home of course. I doubt the gods will forgive me this time.

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I didn't sleep again last night. Days of not sleeping properly has finally shown on me. I feel weak all over. My muscles ache from not moving or changing positions since last night for I have being rooted in the same spot.

Should I go to Olanna's hut? And do what exactly? Pray for her like she did for me
yesterday morning? I didn't even do that for her when she was being given to Tochukwu.

I was contemplating all this when I heard a knock on the door. "Yes?" A maid entered and bowed. When she remained in that position I knew that she had a message. "Speak" "The King has postponed the union to the next four days"

Four days? What is Father and Olanna up to? "You may leave" she rushed out after I said that. I have to see Father.

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"Greetings Father" He looked at me without any emotions. He wasn't one to wear his emotions like beads on his wrists. But he has gone colder since after last days' events.

"Hope you slept well?" He asked. I nodded. He turned his eyes from me and continued doing what he was doing earlier, staring into space.

I cleared my throat "Father I heard that the wedding ceremony has being postponed to  next four days." He didn't say anything "What's the reason Father?"

He turned to look at me, his eyes cold. "Haven't you gone to see your sister and ask her why?" I just stood there looking at him. How did he expect me to see her after what I have done. How was I to face her? "Don't worry daughter of mine. She will still marry King Edikan if that is what you are worried about."

I wanted to say that I was sorry, that I was blinded by greed and that I wouldn't mind marrying him now. But the deed is done so what use will my words be anyway. I was about taking my leave when Father stopped me.

"Do you know the conditions as to why this marriage must take place?" I frowned. Was it not so that King Edikan would take over the throne if he married me?

"I had an agreement with his father, that if my daughter marries his son, the second son of King Edikan and my daughter becomes the King of Umunri Kingdom" He said with a smug look. What?!!

"I trained you as a King so you could teach your second son the way of our people. But it seems you have lost everything now" After he said that he continued looking into space like I wasn't even there. And I took that as my queue to leave.

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