𝐑𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐈: 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑦𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑎𝑛

Chpt 21

Gimbiya Raina sighed heavily as she stood before the only barrier concealing her from her husband. She had spent most of last night and this morning contemplating whether to go to him or not but she really wanted to go out and she hoped he was in a good mood—a mood she had never seen him in.

Raina fixed the veil that hung on her shoulder prettily, elegantly complimenting a colour among others that adorned the atampha she wore.

After what felt like forever but was only a minute, she rose her hand and knocked on the door. She was sure he heard but didn't reply, she had learnt earlier on not to knock more than once, so she waited.

He opened the door two minutes later, an annoyed expression masking his handsome features, as always. It was safe to say she hadn't seen his smile since they married. The only time she saw him smiling was in past pictures from social media. He looked like a different person in those pictures, not this man she had been living with for only two months.

"I... I want to visit my mother". Her eyes were cast down as she spoke.

She did not wish to be married to him. Her mother had arranged it and encouraged her, saying she would become the next Queen of the empire—she didn't want that. Being a princess of a small province her father ruled was enough for her, but her mother wanted bigger things.

She would have preferred to just stay away from him but he didn't have the same in mind and he had consummated their marriage, she believed he was eager for a child —he didn't seem like one who fancied kids.

"How does that concern me?". His voice bringing her back to reality.

"No. I just wanted to let you know before,".

"Let me know? I thought you were asking".

"I apologise for my choice of words,". She looked up at him then. "Can I go visit my mother?". She asked again.

He leaned down slightly so she stared at him directly.

"Well then Raina, I'm not holding your legs now am I?". She stared at him for a second longer than she wanted and then shook her head.

"Then get the fuck out of my face". He spat out stretching out to his full height and she took a step back immediately.

Mubashir let his gaze take her in from the top of her covered head to her toes that peaked out of her shoes then went back into his room and closed the door behind him.

He settled back on the couch he was on before she disturbed him. His head thrown back over the back of the couch as he stared at the ceiling.

Nothing was going the way he wanted. Nasir was now married, he breeds a child and it's game over for him. Even if he doesn't get an heir, so long as their father takes his last breath, Nasir sits on the throne.

He wanted his father to live a few more months or a year or two so he had more time to plan and strategize. The only other easier way he could get the throne was by Nasir's death and as much as he would love that, it was close to impossible. It will be bringing up a war he couldn't win and if sarauniya zaheera were to find out then there was no Rawani being wrapped on his head.

Recently, his mind was an abyss. It was just him, Nasir and the throne. He didn't see anything else. He didn't think anything else.

Sometimes he preferred to let his mind wander else where so he could be calm and keep the agitation at bay, but he couldn't.

He wakes with it on his mind, thinks of nothing else while he eats, work or even try exercising and still he goes to bed with the thought. It was maddening but he couldn't help it.

********

"We have to do something quickly". Sarauniya Fatima said.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier it was Usman's daughter?". Waziri ahmadu asked and received a glare from the queen.

"What would you have done? We can't touch her". She said but he hardly heard what she said.

"Look, Fatima". Her brows furrowed. He dared to call her by her name.

"I do not care who or what gets in. I will get what I want and that's it, if someone gets in then there's no helping it". He told her and she stood up.

"This is not about what you want, Ahmadu. It is about what I want". She sneered.

"What I say is what we will do. Don't forget if we do hinder Nasir from getting the throne, it is my son that sits on it. So, waziri Ahmadu, watch how you speak to your Queen". He watched her quietly as she spoke. He wanted to say something, but engaging in an argument with her wasn't necessary, but her words did get to him.

To think they were supposed to be married. They had courted long before she met Sarki Habeebu and when she had met him crying about her mother trying to force her into the marriage, he had smiled and consoled her.

He too encouraged her like her mother did. Introduced her to the strong thirst for power he and her mother were long experiencing. He was willing to lose her, if it meant they had such power.

She had agreed to becoming the Queen and while she was still the only wife of the Sarki. She found ways to get waziri to meet with the king and they paved way for him to get in the position he currently had. A position that was hanging by the thread. Sarki Habeebu dies, Nasir won't waste a second in taking the position from him.

"Don't forget how you became the Queen, Fatima". He told her calmly, she smirked.

"And don't you forget who made you Waziri". He stared at her for a long time and she stared back with challenging eyes.

He left a minute later, Sarauniya Fatima let out a loud hiss and sat back on the couch. She had to go and meet the boka. Maybe he could do something.

***********

A small event, similar to that of the kamu that was held just few days before during the wedding was arranged in the palace for Fadimatu.

A'isha had given a laffayya sent by her father, with the message that it belonged to her late mother. It looked like something that the rich elites would wear in the 90s. Stunningly beautiful, though not the centuries style, it still held captive the eyes of those who glanced at it.

It suited Fadimatu, so much everyone said it looked like it was made for her. She looked beautiful and the people around her reminded her through the night.

She had felt flustered when each compliment was thrown at her and even thought they were exaggerating a little, but when Nasir had stared at her like he was in a trance, she didn't doubt it again.

The yarima had held his bride, pressing a kiss to the side of her head and whispering to her, like a soft breeze that brushed her ears how beautiful she looked.

The long night ended with Fadimatu crying as she bid her friends goodbye as she was now alone with no one she knew before but a new family and house, but that wasn't something she was pained about. They had welcomed her and she already felt at home.

Alas, she was married to Nasir. To spend the rest of her life with him. She was joyed.

/////////

I know I know, long time no update.

I've just been having very long and stressful days back to back.

But here's an update and I hope you enjoyed.

So? Sarauniya Fatima and Waziri Ahmadu. . .

Or, Yarima Mubashir and Gimbiya Raina. . .

Or, Yarima Ibrahim and Gimbiya Fadimatu. . .

Let me know your favourite couple, please.

Till next time, I hope it's soon!