The Riddle Of Us.

10; VIVACE STRINGS.

Jumuat Mubarak.

Let me not lie, I was not looking forward to today's update in the slightest.

Comment section wetin I do you? Una killed my motivation tbh.

"The Sultan has three wives," Sakina started, explaining the situation to Asma as they made their way out of the mansion, and strode in the direction leading to the chambers of the three Queens. "The first wife, Giwa, has three children—Yerima Amir Qasim, the now Dan Iya, being the eldest." She started, her voice low but loud enough for the Princess to hear and understand. Then, she carried on. "The second child, is Sarkin Dawaki, Architecture Sadiq, who is currently at Zamfara for work. And the last child she has, is Hafsa, otherwise known as Aidah. You might run into her at Giwa's chambers, though she is rarely at home."

Asma could only hum, already aware of the information but letting Sakina do the honors regardless. The woman seems to derive some sort of joy out of lecturing Asma on the stuff going on in the palace, and the Princess allowed her to.

"The second wife, originally, is late," She continued, her voice softening as she spoke of the deceased Queen. "She passed away during childbirth, and thus has only one child. Major Tariq, who is in the army and thus holds no royal title aside from being a Prince. He recently returned from Katsina after taking care of the insurgency there. In the hierarchy of the family, he is the second child, just three months younger than Yerima and he was raised by Giwa as well, so he is counted as one of her children."

The two, Asma with Sakina in tow, stepped out of the Prince's mansion through the back door, and then started to make their way towards Giwa's chamber, the scenery changing, a contrast between the Prince's modern mansion, to the Queen's chambers with more hint of traditional royal elegance on the outside.

As Sakina concluded her brief overview of the Queen, something Asma is already familiar with, her mind only went to the real facts which the lady has omitted—the important parts that she might not dare utter but Asma surely can if she sees the need to do. So, she rephrased Sakina's words in her mind, omitting the parts she does not care much for.

Giwa, the first wife; the real one that calls the shot in the palace. She holds the power not just over the women in the palace, but also in the royal court to a certain extent. She is unpredictable, but it is best not to make an enemy out of her—something Asma intends to avoid no matter what.

Making an enemy out of Giwa will not do her any good. And if she wants an ally, then she is the one that she should think of first, and hope to depend on. If they get along, she will be her strongest ally. Who else is a better ally than the real power figure in the palace entirely?

So, in an attempt to start off on a good ground—excluding their first meeting when she was first conveyed, Asma plastered the widest, fake smile she could muster as they arrived at the entrance of Giwa's chamber, with Sakina in tow.

However, just as they were about to step in, someone suddenly stepped out, making them halt in their steps. The woman that stepped out initially did not realize there was someone there, but upon realizing, she looked up, her gaze falling on the Princess, before her lips curled into a smile that Asma could tell is fake almost immediately.