Crown prince Adelaja sat next to the only person he trusted enough to call a friend, Adeniyi. At first Adelaja was the only one drinking but Adeniyi interrupted him,just as he always did. He didn't knock. He never knocked. He was of the opinion that be had no reason to. This always annoyed Adelaja to no end but he got used to it.
He never had to worry about him ruining his peace though because Adeniyi didn't like talking. He never did,unless he had to. At birth his parents had been scared,they thought he had an illness but the healer assured them otherwise.
"What are you going to do?" Adeniyi said.
That's a first,he actually started conversation! Adelaja thought.
"About the marriage?" Adelaja asked.
"Hmmmm."Adeniyi confirmed.
"Honestly,I don't know." He signed. "My mother is hell-bent on me marrying that girl."
"Do you know why?"Adeniyi whispered. If it was anyone else they might not have heard him but Adeniyi and Adelaja had been friends since they could crawl,they understood each other perfectly.
"It's all because of her ego. She says her rejection is a stain on the name of the royal family. I really don't get how it is though. She clearly rejected me because she is loyal. She is already with someone and even the temptation of the wealth and affluence of being part of the royal family isn't enough to make her back down. I admire that." He smiled.
The crown prince's words surprised Adeniyi. He wanted to ask if he wasn't falling for her already but be didn't bother. He could already tell he was going to deny it especially since he was determined to make Jumoke his queen. So why even bother asking?
Adelaja and Adeniyi seemed to both be lost in thought. Adelaja couldn't find a solution to the mess he was in thanks to the queen. He wondered why she always seemed to create trouble in his life. She was always trying to make things harder than they had to be.
His mother believed his decicion to only marry one wife was preposterous. She couldn't understand it. She was not willing to leave the faith of the kingdom in the hands of one woman. He was only being a silly child who refused to see reason.
She put him in compromising situations with different seductive women in hope that he would bed them and at least make them his concubine but he was just as stubborn as she was ,maybe even more.
He had dissapointed her repeatedly. So much so that ,at some point,she was worried he was impotent. When he heard this he laughed at her and told her his choices had nothing to do with potency. After all,he had bedded quite a number of women but he never fancied sleeping with women his mother chose for him;it would be a disaster waiting to happen.
"So,what now?"Adeniyi asked.
"I'll have to speak with father. He should be able to speak some sense into her."
Adeniyi gave him a look,as if saying, 'Are you sure ?'
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
"Ok."
.
Apeke sat at the lake sulking. She hadn't left since Michael's departure. She didn't want to leave because if she did then it would all be real. She wasn't ready to face the fact that she might never see him again.
In that moment as she sat by the lake thinking about their special moments together, she realized how much he meant to her, she realized how much she cared for him,how much she loved him.
She loved him.
She gasped at the realization. She knew she had feelings for him but didn't think it went as far as love but now she was sure. She loved him.
"I love him." She said to herself. Admitting it out loud felt refreshing.
She had to leave. It was time to leave and face the world. She stood up and started walking down the path that led to her house.
She smiled as she remembered the things she did with Michael there ,she blushed as she remembered their kiss.
"I'll wait for you."She said.
She still had her smile when she got home. That was until she heard her mother and step mother arguing again as usual,this time it was about Alani.
"Alani refused to come back home with me because of your daughter and her friend. Is this your new weapon? Seduction? I'm sure he was bewiched. She cast a spell on him and you helped her. You wicked woman! You are so evil. How can you do this to me?" Abeke said sounding genuinely sad.
"Are you going to cry now? Should I get you a bucket for your tears? You sound pathetic and stupid. Why would I waste my time on that idiotic son of yours? He doesn't even look like he's got a future,beyond drinking of course."Fabumi replied.
"How dare you say such things about my son? You are just jealous. You are jealousy because you don't have a son."
"Jealous? Jealous of who? I'm glad I don't have a son. What's the point of having a son if he's just going to do nothing but bring disgrace to you. I'm proud of the only child I have. She brings me joy and her wedding to the crown prince is proof of that." Fabumi boasted.
"If it holds."Abeke said and walked away.
"It will hold. The will of my enemies won't be accomplished!" She exclaimed.
Apeke sighed. She had to get Alani back here. At least it would be one less thing for them to fight about.
She started down the path leading to Omowumi's place.
"If it isn't the bride to be."She was startled as she heard kola's voice. He had been hiding in the trees. Was he waiting for her? She hoped not.
"Don't worry,I wasn't waiting for you. I was hiding from someone."He said.
Apeke released a sigh of relief she didn't know she was holding.
"But now that you're here ,why don't we have a little fun? You know before you go running off to marry your prince. Then I would have been the first one to bed a queen. I like how that sounds, don't you?" He smirked.