"She went into her room, moved towards the window and smiled at the night sky. She thought about the everything that had happened since she met Alani. She felt the familiar emotions that came from just thinking of him and she couldn't stop herself from bursting into tears.
"She wanted to scream in pain but what would be the point. No one would care so she just sat with a look of dispair wondering what to do.
"After some time she thought the best option would be to speak to Alani,to seek his advice.
"She tried to sneak out the same way she usually did but she was caught by her mother.
'Where do you think you're going?' Her mother asked. She froze!
'I asked you a question,you ingrate!'
"She didn't know what to do or what to say. She was so surprised she had even been caught in the first instance,she had never been caught before. She thought her plan was without faults. She thought she had become perfect. She wondered if she was caught because of how emotional she felt. Her emotions had been all over the place.
'Mother..'Asake started.
'I don't want to hear it. I don't want to listen your explanations anymore. I've had enough of it.' Her mother looked at her with contempt.
'Jumoke,please talk some sense into your sister.' Her mother said.
"I'll try mother." She replied.
'Thank you.' The Queen said and released a sigh.
'I hope you remember who truly loves you and come back to us. All we've done for you up until now is for your protection. please understand that.' She said and walked away.
The Queen's words affected her more than it probably should have. It reminded her that the man that caused this wasn't even in love with her but then again it wasn't his fault. He didn't tell her to fall for him.
'Asake?' Jumoke called out to her, seeing her lost in thought.
'Do you think she's right?'Asake asked.
'About what?'
'About them being the ones who love me.' She wanted to say but knew it would be pointless. Jumoke wouldn't understand her. She was the perfect child. she was exactly how her parents wanted her to be but Asake's constant differences with her parents made her doubt their love for her.
Why force her to marry a complete stranger?
'It's nothing.' She said and went to her quarters.
Asake was busy pacing when Jumoke came in.
'What are you doing? Are you enjoying this?Making mother sad and bringing shame to the family?'
'Shame? Why should me being in love bring shame to the family?'
'There's nothing wrong with liking someone but you have to decide what feelings should grow and what feelings should die.'
'That doesn't even make sense. I am just supposed forget him? You say it like it's so easy. I've tried. Oh, the gods know I have tried but no matter how hard I do I still see him when I close my eyes.'
'You love him that much?' Jumoke asked.
Asake nodded.
'Then you should have done a better job at keeping him a secret.'
Asake couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into tears.
'Oh,Asake.'Jumoke hugged and comforted her.
'Jumoke,what do I do?'Asake asked. They sat like that for a while until Jumoke got an idea.
'How about you write a letter to him and I make sure it's delivered to him.'
Asake was happy at first but then she remembered what happened the last time they met.
'No,I can't do that. He probably hates me now.'
'What do you mean?'
'He's in love with someone else that's why I don't see anything wrong with being around him. It's not like we are going to end up together. I'll get married when I cease to have feelings for him. It would be wrong to be with someone else when I'm in love with him. I wouldn't be able to give my husband all of me.'
'If that's the case then wouldn't it do you some good to put some distance between you two so you get over him? I know this will be hard but it's for the best.'
'You're right."
Their cloaked captor paused.
"Asake,I tried to find you,I swear."Alani said on the verge of tears. She was really important to him and he was sad and angry with himself that he couldn't be of help to her when she needed it the most.
"Oh calm down. I haven't gotten to the part where you betray me yet. You're confusing poor Apeke." Apeke looked at her brother in confusion.
"Alani,what is she talking about?"
"See?"Their captor smirked.
Alani looked down in shame,unable to find the right words to justify himself. He was ashamed of his inability to protect Asake.
"Let me continue the story and it will all make sense to poor Apeke."
"Our princess listened to her sister and staid away from Alani. She tried to make her feelings for him go away. She bearly left her chambers. She didn't want to face anyone but she could only stay hidden for so long. Soon her mother decided she had had enough of her hibernation. She set her up with a suitor in hopes of cheering her up.
She went to her daughter's room and found her sitting at the side of her window,gazing out into the night sky longingly. She missed the outside world but most importantly,she missed the one that made every risk worth taking;the man she had foolishly fell for.
Her mother walked in, surprised to see her daughter look a lot better than she had in the last few days. She was glad ,she thought it meant her daughter was finally getting over the opportunist,who only wanted to use her.
'Asake,my dear daughter.' The queen called out to her.
'Mother?' She replied.
'What are you looking at outside? What is it about the outside world that makes you so curious?' Her mother wanted to know.
'Everything. I can be anyone I want to be,not who I have to be. I don't have this responsibilities to fulfil. I don't have to keep a reputable name I have no business with.'
'No business with? Do you completely disregard your family? What had that creature done to you? What obnoxious ideas has he put in your head?'
'He didn't do anything,mother.Have you forgotten I was eager to leave even before I met him?'
'Yes,I remember. You have never appreciated all we have done for you.'
'That isn't true,mother.'
'If not then I've set you up with a suitable match.'
'Mother, I'm not ready yet.'
'And you'll never be if you stay in here forever. The only way to get over him is to meet other people and you won't be able to do that here. You will come when I summon you,do you understand?'
'Mother,...'
'It is an order as the queen, my dear child and you will not defy me.'
'Understood?'
'Understood.'
'Good.'
"Asake couldn't believe it. She was getting married. She doubted she would get out of this one easily.
Jumoke came in not long after her mother left.
'Asake,are you okay? I heard about the alliance.'
'I'm fine.' Asake replied
'No,you are not.'
'I'm fine,Jumoke. You don't have to worry.'
'How can I not worry when all you do is look out that window and feel sorry for yourself?'
Asake looked up at her said.
'You don't have to worry about me feeling sorry for myself,I'm getting married ,aren't I? And the bride Is always happy.' She said spitefully.
'I'm sorry. Those words didn't come out well.'
'It's fine. It's all going to be just fine.'
Asake's attitude towards this made Jumoke worried but she could only hope that she was right and it was all going to be fine but deep down ,they both new that was wishful thinking.