To Be A Queen✔️

Chapter 30

Ekemini's POV

For once am happy that my mother had made me participate in the Mbopo rituals. I was among the 3 candidates that qualified for the final rounds. Ima and one other maiden whom I have no intention of knowing her name.

With Ima as a competitor I would be lying if I don't feel like I might loose. True she is the craftsman's daughter but I know not to underestimate her. She has a way of drawing people to her. It was no wonder why the Queen had insisted that she stays even after she had allowed other maidens who left willingly to leave.

If she ends up winning this I will be very happy for her as well. As long as it wasn't any of my sisters who later married the King. At this point all my sisters were disqualified which am glad, because then my mother would only remind me how I was a failure and other insults she would manufacture. Besides being among the last three will still help me get better suitors than before.

I couldn't help but notice that exchange between the King and Queen during the last bridal selection. Only those who read in between lines would understand the slight banter.

Once again I couldn't help but admire the Queen. I can't bring myself to talk to the King like that even if I see myself in the Queen's position. I reminded myself that the Queen wasn't one to be trifled with.

I felt a cold substance touch my arm which brought me out of my thoughts. Today is the last day of the bridal selection. My mother has outdone herself today by paying the most expensive artist in the village to mix and draw beautiful designs on my body. I haven't seen my reflection yet but I know that I already look like a Queen. Which would be humiliating if I end up not winning this contest.

After the artist and her helps were done I set out to the palace with my maids. I didn't bother checking my reflection. When we approached the palace Ima and the other maiden were there. Oh and the palace gates was filled with people. Everyone had come to hear who will become the next wife of the King with there ears, no one wanted a hearsay.

As I came forward everyone parted for me like I was a masquerade or something. Some throwing compliments at me, some gaped at my attire while some threw jealous glances at me. Looking at the other two maidens who am to contest with made me believe that my mother really outdid herself this time.

I also saw my so called friends eyeing me. The didn't try to hide the jealousy from me anymore. This only made me to throw my chin higher and walk regally like the were beneath me. But to be honest they were actually beneath me.

We finally got inside the throne grounds. The King and Queen were sat on their respective chairs. I also noticed that another chair which was not as big as the Queen's has being placed at the right side of the King who looked anywhere but at us. If am not mistaken his eyes lingered more on the Queen who seems like she couldn't wait for all this to end.

I felt a pang of hurt and sadness wash over me when the King looked at me only once, that is if it wasn't in my imagination. It seems I would have to try other ways to appease the King rather than my looks.

Finally the King spoke "Today being the final selection means that I would be the one to call the results. But since your Queen has being the one organizing it so far and she has being doing a tremendous job. I believe she will be in good position to choose who becomes my wife."

I was stunned. If the Queen didn't like the idea it never showed on her face. I felt her looking at me but when I turned to look at her she was looking at the other maiden. Maybe I imagined it. At this point I believed that I won't be the wife of the King for that stunt I pulled on the first day of the bridal selection.