It is often said that the wicked ones attack when the victim least suspects.
And that's what happened to Apeke as well. She had been ecstatic when she received word that Michael would return in two weeks.
She had waited patiently at their spot,eager to see him again but no one came. Did she have the wrong date? No, she was sure it was today.
Something was wrong. She could feel it.
She decided to go back home before her mother would throw a fit.
On her way,she ran into a royal guard. At first,she thought nothing of it and continued on her way but she was soon stopped by the guard. She had been summoned to the Palace.
Apeke sighed. Not this again. She really wasn't in the mood for any of this. She was already disheartened as it is she didn't need the Queen trying to convince her to marry her son. She was in no mood for an argument but she had no choice. She couldn't say no to the Queen. So she followed the guard to the Palace.
She was led to a private room in the Queen's chambers.
The Queen walked in and she immediately bowed.
"It's good to see you,Apeke."The Queen said some what sweetly. This surprised Apeke. She was surely up to something.
"How's your lover? Ehn? How's your Romeo? That's what the male lover in that tragic story was called,right? My memory betrays me but you see,I tend to remember things like this,quiet vividly."
Apeke was quiet. Why was she asking for Michael?
"No reply?" The Queen frowned.
Apeke was worried she would consider it disrespectful so she said,"I haven't seen him for a while,your highness." She bowed.
"Hmmm. Would you like to see him now or are you too busy moaning?" The Queen smirked.
Apeke opened her mouth to speak but she couldn't get any words out. She was speechless. What was the Queen talking about?
"What do you mean,your highness?"
"Your Romeo is right here in this Palace. Do you want to see him?"
"He is here?"
"I thought you were sensible, Apeke. Do I have to break it down to you before you understand?" She had a smug smile.
"Maybe a little? Why would he be here?" Apeke said.
"Now you're following. Why is he here? He's here simply because I want him to be,no questions asked, that's the power of a Queen."
"What are you doing? You could get the whole Kingdom in trouble for this if his people come for him. There are different ways to do things like this quietly and go scott free. You don't have to worry about this Kingdom, that's not your job except you want it to be."
Apeke took in a deep breath. She had to control herself so she wouldn't say something she would eventually regret out of anger.
"May I see him,please?" She pleaded.
"Sure,why not?"The Queen smiled once again.
..
Michael heard the guards speaking a foreign language. He tried to decipher the conversation to no avail. This was expected as he didn't understand Yoruba much. He only knew the basics.
The only thing he could understand from that conversation was that he was in the Palace. He wondered what he was doing there and how he had even gotten there when he suddenly remembered his fight with some guards. He had been knocked out but why?
What could they possibly want from him?
He heard them greeting someone but couldn't see who.
Apeke was scared of the state she would find Michael as well as the thoughts behind this whole act. She wondered what the whole point of this is.
"What's your plan?" Apeke said.
"I'm glad you asked."The Queen paused. "You see there are different ways to punish disobedient children. One of them is to take their favorite toy. What do you think? Is it effective?"
"Is that what this is about? This is my punishment? For what exactly? For having a mind of my own and having a heart of my own. I don't want to marry your son. Why don't you get that?"Apeke was frustrated. She was at the verge of tears.
"You don't have much of a choice in this matter. Get married to him or I promise you I will do a whole lot more than this."
..
"Marry me." Apeke said the two words she never thought she would say to anyone, talk less,the prince. She was literally begging at this point. She felt like she was loosing her self respect but that meant nothing compared to the life of her beloved.
"What?"Adelaja said. He was dumbfounded. What had come over her all of a sudden? Was his mother right about her?
"Please." She couldn't stop the years from rolling down her eyes.
"Why?"
Why? She asked herself. Because your mother is a wicked witch who has poisoned the love of my life and given me twenty-four hours to finalize my wedding with you. If not,he's gone.
Of course,she couldn't say that. Instead she said.
"The man I told you I was with,the person I was hellbent on being loyal for?"
"Yes?"
"He left me for another woman."She burst into tears at this point, trying to make it more realistic. It literally broke her heart to lie about Michael's loyalty but it had to be done.
"What!"
Adelaja was surprised. He couldn't believe anyone would do that to her. She was a gem so he believed whoever she was in love with was loyal as well. So why would he leave her? Couldn't he see what he was leaving behind?
Or had he been played and this whole thing had been a lie.
"I know you must think the worst of me. This wasn't my plan from the beginning,I promise but I do not want to be the laughing stock of the people. I will be made fun of for rejecting you and I may never find another suitor as there has been many rumors about us."
There had indeed been many rumors about them. Some people said that she was pregnant, others said she had a deadly disease. Others said the Prince was the one who rejected her because she was rude. Other said she rejected him because she wanted to leave her people and run away to the white man's land with her lover.
Adelaja knew he couldn't make a decision as important as this on a spot. He had to think about it first and that's what he told her.
He said he'd give her a reply in a few days but that wasn't good enough for Apeke,she needed an answer that day but she knew it would be suspicious if she stood at his neck so she let him be for a while but she couldn't be at peace though.
She couldn't get the look Michael had on when the Queen forced that poison down his throat because she refused to agree with her terms out of her head. She had to get him that antidote or he would die.
Adelaja walked into his chambers to see Adeniyi sitting comfortable. He chuckled to himself.
"What is it Niyi? I know you don't have the patience to wait for me except it's important."
"Marry her."He paused. "Accept her proposal, it's the best one you'll get." Adeniyi said without feeling the need to sugar coat his words.
"There are plenty of girls in this Kingdom."He said , feeling a little offended. This made Adeniyi raise a brow,as if asking him why he was thinking about it like that.
"You know that's not what I meant. A lot of girls would kill to marry you but most if them are unfit. They would kill for a throne they couldn't handle, except you want a Queen who will simply sit and look pretty."
Adelaja sighed, knowing his friend was right,yet again. He has known she was his best chance from the beginning but he had hesitated because he was a little scared. It would mean that he had really let Jumoke go.
He had really cared for. Why did she have to ruin it?
It didn't matter anymore though. He had made his decision and that was to be with Apeke.
..
Apeke was uneasy. She couldn't go home,she couldn't leave the prince alone but she couldn't make him suspicious either.
She prayed to the gods that he would accept her proposal.
She staid outside his chambers, deciding the best thing would just be to lie as she had to make sure he agreed in less than twenty -Four hours.
She paced nervously. What if he said no? Would the Queen really not give them the antidote? She looked quiet serious when she said she wouldn't.
Adelaja came out of his chambers to see her pacing. He found it adorable and a little weird. Despite her explanations something still felt odd with her story.
"Apeke."He called her name. She jolted in surprise.
"Oh,your highness." Apeke bowed.
"What are you still doing here?"
"I'm sorry for bothering you your highness but I couldn't bring myself to leave without hearing your reply. "
"Have you made your decision?"
"Yes,I have."
Apeke prayed to the gods that his decision would be in her favour.
"I'll marry you,Apeke."