Women Of Steel | ✔

XXX

Credits to the artist for the image above. Reminds me of Tadenikawo. This chapter is from Demilade's perspective and the last chapter in part three.

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The prince sweeps his emotionless gaze over my nude body before flicking them back to my face. I resist the urge to dip my whole body into the water to hide from his gaze. He doesn't look at me like a red blooded man would look at a woman, instead he looks at me like a man would look at another man.

I should be happy, should be roaring my glee to the heavens, all I have ever wanted is to be looked at like an equal, not a subordinate and now a man looks at me that way. But the emotion that courses through me is insecurity.

Tobiloba should be looking at me lustfully, he shouldn't be standing there unaffected. I was never taught by my mother on how to seduce a man, or how to make a man beg with just a look, like the way I have seen Itunu, my elder sister do to the village boys. Or the way Sade manages to command the attention of men with one innocent glance. I cannot help but glance at my own self and question my self worth.

Am I not good looking? Is my body not desirable?

Is that why Tadenikawo has never lifted a finger to touch me? Not that I want him to. In fact, the thought of  him laying a finger of desire on my body makes a shiver of repulsion snake down my spine visibly.

In all my twenty two years, I have had men look at me in fear but not in admiration.

"No." The Prince utters the one word that rouses anger.

"And why not?" I snap. "Is there anything wrong with me?"

Tobiloba laughs softly.

"There is nothing wrong with you, you are a beautiful woman." He says, his words shouldn't affect me but they do. I have never had someone tell me that, not even my mother.

The highest compliment my mother can ever give out is commending bravery.

"Then why not?" I repeat, less harshly.

"In case you have forgotten, you are married to my king and you are to be married to this new king. No respectable woman would ask such a thing." He shrugs.

I shrink back, pretending to use the soap.

"I want to tell you something, not even Tadenikawo knows of this." I say, inhaling deeply.

"The maid will be back soon."

I wave a hand dismissively, splashing water around.

"Sade will hold her off. Nobody will come looking for us." I scoff.

He sighs deeply. "I am all ears, Your Majesty."

I avoid his gaze when I speak my words, "I am a virgin."

I watch him carefully to gauge his reaction, he seems emotionless but I catch the slight widening of his eyes.

"You must know the circumstances surrounding my marriage to Tadenikawo, it's no secret. My marriage is only in name and I cannot begin listing everything that has happened."

He nods attentively.

"I chose this death mission to help my kingdom, not because of the king or anything. I am now pawned off, to be married to another disaster,"

I wash off the soap and step out, uncaring of the gust of cold wind that hits me.

"You should know what a marriage entail, or rather what consummation is, do you have a betrothed?"