To Be A Queen✔️

Chapter 31 II

Edikan's POV

I woke up feeling like I fought 40 warriors at a time. Why did my bed feel so small all of a sudden? I tried to get comfortable but it proved futile. I finally decided to get up and remove whatever that was obstructing me from getting a sound sleep. Instead I was greeted with a half naked maiden on my bed... no not my bed. This is my new bride's hut. I should have being relieved but the only thing that kept screaming in my head was that it wasn't Olanna.

I noticed that I was naked myself. I gathered my clothings, sneaked out and headed to my hut. Thankfully the maiden was still asleep and there were no maids in sight. I would have looked like a lunatic for it's not everyday that a man is caught sneaking out of his wife's hut like its a taboo.

I finally called a maid to help me freshen up. If I remember correctly Olanna was mad at me last night. There will be no council meeting today since am expected to be with my wife. But I still strolled to the throne ground out of habit, only to find out that Olanna was already sitting on her throne. Probably waiting for me.

When I approached she got up and murmured a greeting. She remained standing when I sat down. "I need to see my father...." she got straight to the point but I interrupted her. "Are you happy here Olanna?" I asked her instead. That seems to catch her off guard. She frowned while thinking about what I had asked. I thought she wouldn't reply me when she finally said "Do I have a say in it?" She asked instead.

As I was preparing this morning I had a lot to think about concerning I and Olanna. I couldn't help but think if things would have being different if she had agreed to marry me willingly like my new bride.

"I am sorry that I didn't tell you about your father. It was wrong of me to withhold such information from you. Therefore you may leave for your village to visit your father first thing tomorrow morning. I will assign guards and maids that will accompany you on your journey." I told her. She looked at me for a few moments before she finally muttered a thank you. She was about leaving but she stopped and asked "When am I expected to return?"
I took a deep breath "Whenever you wish to return"

Olanna's POV

"Whenever you wish to return" He had said. I had looked at him like he had three heads instead of one. I couldn't help but wonder if this was a trap or he was trying to get back at me for that one time I cornered him during the bridal selection. I waited for him to finally laugh and tell me that it was a joke but he kept looking at me indifferently.

I had gone back to my hut and informed my friends. We spent the whole day packing for the journey tomorrow. It's currently dark outside but am yet to sleep. I can hear Nneka and Nnenna snoring softly. I finally closed my eyes and sleep claimed me.

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Morning finally arrived. Edikan true to his words arranged 4 warriors and 3 maidens to take us home. Eka arranged enough food for our journey. We were all set to leave but Edikan was no were to be seen. Even Ekemini and Eno- Obong have come to wish us farewell but no sign of Edikan. I started felling anxious. True, he has given us the permission to travel but it would be rude to leave the palace without saying good bye one last time. I am his wife after all.

I finally decided to seek him out at his hut. When I got to his hut, I forgot about knocking and barged in. I saw him sitting on his bed with his head in hands. When he finally looked up I didn't know how to feel. He looked like he didn't get any sleep the previous night. And his eyes were swollen. I shouldn't have cared. But this was not the kind of expression that I normally see him express.

We looked at each other before I asked "Are you alright?" He just kept looking at me "We are ready to leave" I finally said when he didn't say anything. Immediately the look on his face changed and he started shaking his head still not talking. And that moment I was frightened that he might change his mind. He kept shaking his head like he was fighting an invisible force. His behavior tugged at me and I decided to calm him down.

I sat down beside him and held his hand. He immediately leaned his head on my shoulder. I was stunned and didn't know what to do at first but after a little while I started caressing his head. This seems to calm him down. We sat that way without saying any word to each other. It was a peaceful silence.

"Promise me you will come back" He said all of a sudden. "I will" I answered without missing a bit "Can you promise me something as well?" I asked. "Anything" he replied. "Promise me you won't come after me" he didn't answer immediately. I held my breath. "I won't since you already promised to come back" he said.

We still stayed in that position without talking and for once we were in the same room and space without arguing.

Edikan's POV

Four market days have passed since Olanna left. I stepped in her hut while strolling the palace grounds two nights after she left. It was surprising to see that she had packed every item in her hut. Her hut was bare. If I hadn't given Olanna the hut many moons ago I would have believed that no one had lived there before. The assurance I had was the promise she made to me that day, that she would be back.

Truly I believed her when she promised me that she would return but I couldn't remain still. If only I hadn't given her my word that I wouldn't come looking for her I would have gone to her village to bring her back myself.

Ever since she left i had formed a habit of going to the shores praying that I would sight a boat with her in it. It seems Eka has also noticed the way I would go to the shores during the evenings for she had started asking every evening if I would take a stroll to the shores. I swear nothing goes past that woman. Eno- Obong has tried entertaining me but I had found it infuriating. Even my new bride whom I have finally got to know as Ekemini has tried to socialize with me. But it seems a certain maiden left and took a part of me with her.

It was one evening when I was at the shores that I spotted a moving figure on the waters. I held my breath and waited. It could be anyone. I kept telling myself to avoid being disappointed... again. The boat finally came into view. I almost jumped up like a child when I spotted the warriors and maids I had assigned to Olanna before she left. But I halted when they started coming close. I looked back at the river but that was all. I held my breath as the approached "Greetings My King" the chorused. "Where are the rest?" I asked. The all hesitated before one of the maids spoke. "The Queen's Father was not getting any better so she sent us back instead." She said.

She will be back. She promised to come back. I chanted in my head as I stood there. I didn't even know when the group headed back to the palace. If only I had listened to Eka Iyene all this while for after all this one thing was finally certain.

I am in love with Olanna.

THE END... or not 😄😄