The crowd in Dakar cheered and clapped, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction as they experienced this day. Their joy was not only rooted in the fun they were having, but also in the respect they still held for Safiya's father.
Many warriors had even brought their children along, symbolizing the passing down of traditions and the continuation of a legacy. They surrounded Meka, offering their blessings for a bright future.
However, there was someone she had been hoping to see - King Adonna of Dakar. It was not that she had high expectations of him; in fact, he had never shown up since their father's demise, leaving them without any form of compensation.
Something she couldn't simply ignore was the unfairness of it all. Her father had fought countless battles and deserved to be respected. It was an injustice that she couldn't sit idly by and accept.
This was the very reason why Safiya couldn't let go of her longing to see King Adonna. She couldn't help but suspect that the king might hold valuable information about her father's untimely death. After all, he was the one who had sent him to war.
Amidst the cheering crowd, Safiya's attention was suddenly drawn to someone who caught her eye - Princess Amara, King Adonna's daughter.
Over the years, Safiya built a strong alliance with Princess Amara, bringing her closer to her ultimate goal of reaching King Adonna.
The palace was not an easily accessible place, but through her connection with the princess, Safiya found a glimmer of hope.
It was a carefully guarded secret. She hadn't even shared her plan with her family, as she feared it would put them in unnecessary danger.
The young princess, just a year younger than Safiya, sat gracefully with two royal guards by her side.
Her hair was beautifully braided into long rows, reaching all the way down to her knees, adorned with shells and jewels that shone in the sunlight.
She had big, round eyes with full, well-shaped eyebrows. Her lips were slightly pouty, and her nose had a subtle flatness to it.
Despite her appearance, it was her kind and caring nature that stood out the most, much like Meka's. However, despite their growing closeness, Safiya couldn't fully trust her.
Safiya wondered if she had just arrived because she didn't remember seeing her at the beginning of the event. Or perhaps, she simply missed her in the excitement and busyness around them.
The ceremony was drawing to a close, with the crowd gradually departing. Safiya noticed Princess Amara rising gracefully from her seat and making her way towards her.
She flashed a smile and stood up from her seat. "Amara!" Safiya exclaimed, still wondering how she had been invited.
"Safiya!" Amara greeted her warmly, immediately pulling her into a tight embrace.
Safiya's mother walked up to them, bowing respectfully at the princess. "I thought it was necessary to invite your friend for your sister's wedding," she said, addressing Amara. "Welcome, my princess."
Amara returned the bow gracefully. "It's a pleasure to be here," she replied with genuine kindness in her voice.
"How is the family? I hope you all are well," Safiya's mother asked warmly.
Safiya couldn't help but notice the subtle change that crossed Amara's face whenever the topic of her family arose.
She was certain that her mother still questioned their friendship, but she had never voiced her concerns.
"They are doing well, thank you," Amara responded. "The bride looks absolutely stunning," she added, directing their attention towards Meka and her husband as they sat, gracefully accepting the gifts from the guests.
"It's a dream for every mother to see their daughter get married," Safiya observed her mother's gaze fixed upon her and she quickly looked away. She knew that her mother's approval of her choices still remained unsettled.
"Yes, it truly is," Amara nodded in agreement, sensing the tension in the air.
"Sayifa, I will be leaving now. Again, thank you for having me," Amara bowed respectfully.
"Thank you for coming," her mother replied with a warm smile.
"I'll see her off, Mama," Sayifa offered, and her mother quickly agreed.
As they walked together, Amara couldn't help but comment, "Didn't know I would get to see you in a dress."
Sayifa rolled her eyes playfully. "Mama made me wear it."
"But it suits you. You should wear dresses more often instead of men's clothes," Amara suggested.
Safiya shook her head, dismissing the idea. "That's bad advice, my friend."
Amara laughed. "I know you wouldn't even listen, no matter how much I convince you."
"Thank you for coming, Amara. It means a lot to me," Sayifa expressed her gratitude.
"It's a pleasure," Amara replied warmly. They came to a halt, and she pulled Sayifa into a quick hug before departing.
Safiya turned quickly and started walking towards where her sister was sitting. Most of the time, she felt guilty because of how kind Princess Amara was, but she knew she needed to do this. It was the only way.
Just as Safiya was about to reach her sister, she accidentally bumped into someone. She winced and raised her head, only to see that it was Nia.
The young girl glared at Safiya, who felt it was becoming tiring and wished she would stop. Safiya apologized and was about to walk away when Nia stopped her, placing a hand on Safiya's chest.
"I see what you're doing," Nia said.
Confused, Safiya asked, "What do you mean?"
"I see the way you look at Malik. You should stop it because I'm obviously not blind," Nia accused.
Safiya paused, a still silence hanging in the air as she tried to process Nia's words. Suddenly, Safiya burst into laughter. Did this girl really think she knew her? Did she believe Safiya was trying to steal her man? How low...
Taking a deep breath, Safiya composed herself. She didn't want to engage in a fight. "You've got it all wrong. I have no interest in whatever assumptions you've come up with."
Nia smiled. "Well then, we're good, Safiya."
Safiya watched as Nia walked away, feeling a mix of amusement and disbelief. How childish, she thought, wondering how someone like Malik even ended up with her.
But then again, it wasn't really her concern in the first place. She brushed off the encounter and returned her attention to where she was heading.