when strength meets love

chapter 27: palace

The sun hung low in the sky as Ivie made her way to the palace. Her footsteps were slow but determined, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and anger. A week to her wedding, and everything still felt like a cruel dream. Her father and mother were elated, already boasting to the villagers about her new title. Yet, in the depths of her heart, Ivie knew she was anything but happy.

She hadn’t seen Osagie since the day her father told her about the arrangement. He had sent word through his father, not even bothering to come himself. Coward. Ivie clenched her fists at the thought. If this was to be her fate, she wouldn’t go into it quietly.

Today, she wasn’t going to plead or beg. No. She was going to face him, to look him in the eye and remind him that she wasn’t weak.

When she arrived at the palace gates, the guards hesitated but eventually let her in after some convincing. Everyone in the village already knew she was to be the future princess, and even the guards weren’t bold enough to stop her.

As she was led into the grand hall, Ivie felt a wave of nausea. The opulence of the palace was overwhelming, a stark contrast to the modest home she came from. Yet, despite the splendor, she felt no envy, only anger.

Osagie was lounging on a cushioned seat, his face lit with a smug smile that made her blood boil. He was sipping palm wine, looking as if he hadn’t a care in the world. When he noticed her, he raised an eyebrow, surprised but amused.

“Well, if it isn’t my future wife,” he said lazily, placing his cup down. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit?”

Ivie felt her hands tremble, but she tightened them into fists, willing herself to stay strong. “I came to talk,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.

Osagie gestured for her to sit, but she remained standing. His smirk faltered slightly at her defiance, but he recovered quickly.

“Talk, then,” he said, leaning back.

Ivie took a deep breath, her gaze locked on his. “Why?” she asked. “Why did you choose me? You don’t love me. You barely know me. So why go through all this trouble?”

Osagie chuckled, shaking his head. “Straight to the point, I see. Very well. I chose you because you’re simple, stubborn and kind of obedient  you don't fancy me so you won't, give me unnecessary trouble, unlike the others.”

His words were like a slap to her face, but she refused to let him see her flinch. “So that’s it? You want a wife who will follow your every command, someone you can control? Is that why you ruined my life?”

Osagie’s smirk disappeared, replaced by a cold, calculating look. “Ruined your life?” he repeated. “I’m giving you a life most girls in this village would kill for. A life of comfort, wealth, and status. And yet, here you are, acting like I’ve done you a disservice.”

“I don’t want your life,” Ivie snapped. “I don’t want your wealth, your status, or your comfort. What I want is my freedom, my dignity. But you’ve taken that from me without a second thought.”

Osagie stood up, towering over her. His presence was intimidating, but Ivie didn’t back down. “You talk of freedom and dignity as if they matter in this world,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “The truth is, Ivie, you’re nothing without me. Your family is nothing without this arrangement. So, you can play the strong, defiant woman all you want, but at the end of the day, you’ll still be mine.”

Ivie’s chest tightened, but she refused to cry. She wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. Instead, she stepped closer, her voice steady but filled with emotion. “You may think you’ve won, Osagie, but let me tell you this: I will never be yours. You can have my body, my name, but my heart, my spirit—you’ll never own them.”

For the first time, Osagie seemed caught off guard. Her words cut deeper than she expected, and for a moment, his mask of arrogance slipped.

Without waiting for a response, Ivie turned and walked out of the palace. Her steps were quick, her head held high, but as soon as she was out of sight, her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto a nearby bench.

She had done it. She had faced him. It didn’t change her fate, but it gave her a sliver of peace. For now, that would have to be enough.

As she sat there, the thought of Eki crossed her mind. Her friend had found her freedom, her happiness. Ivie’s heart ached with envy but also hope. Maybe, just maybe, she could still find a way out of this nightmare.