Chereads / BRIDAL BANGLE / Chapter 6 - CHAPTER 6: HIDDEN TRUTHS

Chapter 6 - CHAPTER 6: HIDDEN TRUTHS

Ella is silence lacking words, same with princess Maya, they are thinking about what to do. Ella decides to break the silence. "Please, I apologize for causing all these problems. I think my life is a curse, first my parents died and living me alone. Later, I fell in love with the unthinkable man and while struggling to smile after waiting for 5 years, Julia appears from nowhere and took him away. Just last night I finally come to my senses and told myself to let him go and move on and today, I have landed my grandmother in to another big issue by lying to your father, the king. Princess Maya, I came here to inform you of my deeds, not to lure you into it. Please don't feel obligated to sort things out for me. If the worst comes to the worst, I will marry your father and free my grandmother from this calamity that has befallen us". 

Princess Maya is silence all through. She behaves like Maya has not spoken a word to her. Maya gets confused by her reactions. It is unlike her to stay quiet, after such narrating from Ella. Ella calls her attention. "Princess Maya" shouted Ella. Princess Maya woke up from a trance like she wasn't present. "Were you not listening to what I was saying?" said Ella. "I got what you said, but I just didn't pay attention to the meaning. There is no way you're going to get marry to my father. Do you know what it means to me to wake up one day and see you leaving his bed chambers or witness the disappointment on the face of my mother when a younger, beautiful innocent girl will be gracing the bed of my father? Do you think this is just about you? This is Wattu Kingdom Ella, this is another dimension of dissatisfaction, disappointment and unending pain. The palace is not what it seems, and there is no way I will let you join the filthy battles of the king's wives." 

She sits quiet again like an idea comes to her head. "I'm sorry, I never thought it will affect your mother to this extent. I have been so selfish, thinking just about myself. What can we do about this situation?" Ask Ella in a low tune. "You will be getting married to Rex", said Princess Maya. "What did you say? Rex will never let go of Julia to get marry to me, Princess Maya", said Ella. "Then you should have thought of that before mentioning his name. Getting marry to my father to safe the properties or life of your grandmother is not an option", Said Princess Maya. "But getting marry to Rex is another worst option", said Ella. These words provoke Princess Maya as she stands up to talk, "do you know what those women who got married to my father go through, their bride price is not paid, instead their family members pay a dowry to my father. They are not even accepted as his wives, but they are called concubines to maintain the position of my mother. In the world the king has 8 wives but in this Palace the king has only one wife, who is my mother. How do you think I was able to be called the only Princess of Wattu kingdom, while the king has many other female children? It is because they are considered as illegitimate children from my father. Even their children are not recognized as legitimate Ella. That is the peat of the iceberg, if you get marry to the king, the battle you will be facing from the competition that takes place in the palace and the evil behind closed doors will kill you before one drop of blood will be drawn from your body. The frustration, loneliness, lack of sense of direction will send you to your early grave. Here, my dear, is survival of the fittest". 

The more Ella learns of the ways of the throne the more she starts considering leaving the village and runs away, but the present of Martha Awason her grandmother, is what makes her thinking of a solution. The discouraging words of Princess Maya are not helping matters, and her been silence is not helping too. "How can I force Rex to get marry to me", asked Ella? "Nobody is forcing him to get marry to you, he doesn't have a choice on the issue", said Princess Maya. "Rex is not a kid, you just walk up to him and demand him to do as per your wishes", said Ella. "Or you say eh Rex, can you get marry to Ella, and he will just heal to my demands"? Princess Maya stands up and is walking up and down, then she stops, "that's it". You have been there for him when his mother died, when his father was sick and the company almost went bankrupt, and most importantly when Julia left him and for 2 straight years. What has he ever done for you, Ella? It is time he pay his dues", said Princess Maya. "But I was doing all that out of my free will and never thought of requesting for a reward and what about his possessive father too", said Ella? "Ella, you really need to start behaving like a politician, who is asking for rewards? Is your right to demands where you have sore? And I don't give a dame weather he is the son of Mr. Watson Johnson. I get what i want and Mr. Watson Johnson dare not stand in my way, said Princess Maya.

 Princess Maya is not the type that backs down from a fight. A girl that stands and tells the king that none shall be recognized as a princess in Wattu Kingdom and fought her way to keep her title as the only Princess is not someone you just go against without thinking twice. Ella is seeing another version of her best friend and is scary to her. But she has no choice than to deal with the devil you know then, the angel you don't know. Ella gets up and faces the worried princess Maya. "Please calm down Princess Maya, i don't want us to engage into anything that will tarnish the perfect title you have worked tirelessly for years to portray", said Ella. Princess Maya removed her hand from touching her, "what do you think? I'm not doing this just for you, Ella, there is a lot you don't understand or know about me. I did not fight my way to be the perfect and only Princess of Wattu Kingdom by playing nice. I'm doing this for my mother, too. You don't understand what I go through whenever the king puts the bridal bangle on a younger maiden's hand and seals her fate for life. And how my mother feels behind closed doors, seeing another younger, beautiful woman gracing the bed of her husband, my mother never signs for this. She got marry to a single man who was not a king and was never braided to become one. So imagine if you get marry to someone you love and because of the death of his brother he has to occupy the throne and fulfill this barbaric tradition. So, somehow you are protecting your grandmother, I'm also protecting my mother", said Princess Maya. Ella feels bad for a moment, "Princess Maya, why did you not narrate to me, this aspect of you?" Princess Maya sits down. "I loved my father back then, and I still do, but as a princess, I have an obligation to protect my family's name and the throne. I can't just go out there and tell the whole world what is happening under the roof of the palace even though it is not hidden, but people dare not narrate this ordeal to strangers. Outside the throne, people see a beautiful and attractive place to stay but inside is a battleground that I will do anything to stop you from joining the fight, Ella". Holding Ella's hand, "you are my friend and it is my responsibilities to make sure my best friend doesn't enter into a dangerous zone. I don't want to know what length I will go to save you, but one thing I know is for you to go home and prepare yourself to become an unwanted bride, 

Princess Maya gets up. "I need to make some phone calls and I will meet you at the junction with my driver. Both of us are getting you marry to Rex by tomorrow evening. Now leave" said Princess Maya. "But…?" Said Ella, Princess Maya, who is already walking away, turns to her "… no buts, just do as I say now leave and allow me to do what I know best. She walks away, leaving Ella in the room. 

Ella gets up to leave but is confused about the miracles princess Maya will pull to get Rex to marry her tomorrow." I never ask if it will be a fake marriage or a real marriage?" Ella leaving the guest hall and walking towards the gate.

 It has always been my dream to get marry to Rex and been called his wife, and that dream was cut short by the arrival of Julia. How will Rex feel when he has been forced to let go the love of his life to marry another? The princess Maya I thought I knew is different from the one I just encountered. What has changed in her over the years is something I can't comprehend? Yes, I know about her authoritative attitudes and the demanding methods of getting things done, but getting Mr. Watson Johnson involved, a powerful man of that caliber, is something I had ever though will happen. Ella walks fast towards the gate so the King will not meet her on his premises. 

Princess Maya enters her room shouting "Noooo not again" the maids hears of her anger and dares not walk into that room to meet her. She calls one of the maids and gives her instructions to pack a bag for her. She is taking a two-day trip to the city of Sanilar She walks out of the room and is going to inform her mother of her departure to the city, when she encounters Prince Che talking to his friends and some guards. Prince Che is known for being the linear and understanding one of the family. He doesn't behave like a prince and loves everyone equally, whether you are a maid or a citizen of Wattu kingdom, for him, you are just another person with feelings. Immediately, princess Maya walks towards him, the others start leaving without a word from her or from the Prince.

 Princess Maya staring at her watch and looked up to Prince Che, "you are here lost in an unprofitable dialog with your people why the palace is on fire", said Princess Maya. "And who had quenched the previous one? The palace is always on fire princess Maya, I have just decided not to get myself burn with it", said Prince Che. "Father Wish to take another wife again, I thought at his old age this depression he keeps bringing to our mother will come to an end. Age, they say, is just a number for a rich man. Can't he see the insults, difficulties, and loneliness that he brings to mother whenever he takes another wife", said Princess Maya? "I have never bordered myself with his demands and I try to keep out of his issues", said Prince Che. "Then don't be alarmed when I walk my way to your throne and instead of a king of Wattu kingdom, the people will crown a queen of Wattu kingdom", said Princess Maya. This made the prince to get off his sit. "How dare you threaten to take the throne from me? I have never got involved with your shenanigans with the happening of the palace and the people. Don't you ever get involved in what is mind", said the prince Che. 

It is a known fact that whenever princess Maya puts her mind to something, weather hell is let loose, she doesn't back down and if Prince Che wants to maintain his position, he needs to man up to princess Maya. "I thought you said you would rather not get involved with the matters of the throne. So you do have a weak sport as concerning your position. I'm thinking about how to stop the barbaric attitudes of our father from bringing depression on the life of our mother again, and you care only about your useless throne. I can destroy this throne of yours in seconds if I deem fit", said Princess Maya. "What do you want, my princess", in a cold calm tune? The prince knows better than to tempt a warrior like his elder sister, Princess Maya. "Now you are talking, I want to stop the marriage from happening, and you will support me every step of the way, said Princess Maya". Supporting you is like going against the king and losing my inheritance, the throne", said Prince Che. Look around you Prince Che, there is no other legal and legitimate son of King Asafor the 3rd except you and that is so because, i fought for the children's of his concubine not be recognized as legitimate. Thanks to me, you are not battling your position with anyone. You better choose whom to go against, your father, the king who is to hand over the throne to you, before his death or your sister who can destroy the set throne, so you don't have hope of anything." Prince Che is silence, staring at his sister. Princess Maya understands he gets her point.

 "So when I say do as I have said you do because I can undo what has been done. Do you think I was fighting that battle just for me? I was doing so for us. So the battles between the wives will not cross to the kids. Now our mother needs us and I don't want to hear anything than yes my Princess", said Princess Maya. "I will do what you need," said Prince Che. "For now, wait for my instructions, i am taking a trip to Sanilar city and will be back by tomorrow evening or afterward. If father request for the purpose of my visit, you better not voice anything related to what I'm about to do to him. Because I know when it comes to him, you don't know how to keep the title of his favorite son in check" said Princess Maya, walking away. Prince Che staring at her and wonders how the gods can give so much authority and power to one individual. 

Ella reaches the house to meet her grandmother waiting for her. "Where are you coming from, my child?" Ask Martha. "From the palace to see princess Maya", said Ella. "Instead to run away from the lion, you are walking towards it den", said Martha. "I had to find a solution to my problem, even if it means meeting with the lion one on one", replied Ella. That is beside the point 

 What did Mr. Ndefor say about this". "He said we should just prepare our belongings and leaves this village this night and i think is a good idea", said Martha. "We are not going anywhere, if we leave the will of Achefor to own all your properties will be achieved and more to that, life in the city is not for you grandmother. I can't allow you to exile yourself from your own home" said Ella. "Home is not a house my daughter, home is where you feel comfortable with your family and you are my only true family. The greatest gift I have is you, not these properties that Achefor has been eyeing", said grandmother. "The princess has already walks out a tangible solution to make me marry the person I mention. I don't know the details, but I think is a better solution at hand now". Holding Martha, "children are to bring happiness to their parents, not bad lock grandmother. This is your home and I will do anything to make you stay put", Ella kissed her on her chick. "The princess is waiting for me, so we can travel to the city, walking into the house.

Grandmother follows her, "It is a fake marriage or a real marriage my daughter because deceiving the kings once is a mistake but doing it twice is a challenge and calls for concern", ask Martha. Ella turns to face her, "will be, a contract real/fake marriage grandmother". The confusion on the face of Martha makes Ella to provide further information. "Grandma, I don't know how, but we will have a real marriage that can be divorced later. Something like that, Princess did not bother to elaborate because we didn't have time. But just know I have to save all of us from this for now with the help of Princess Maya". Ella enters her room and starts collecting her belongings.

Achefor entering the palace with a guard that the kings had sent to summoned him. They walk into the main chamber to meet the king sitting on his throne drinking wine. Achefor bowls his head, "good afternoon, my king", said Achefor. The king is silence until the guard walks out of the chamber. "I met the said gift you had told me about at the stream and is unfortunate, that she is already a married woman, said the king". Achefor goes down on his knees, "that is not true, my king. As the only surviving male of my family, my king, i have never heard or been offered anything as a form of bride price for her", said Achefor. The king is silence for a while, "so are you saying your cousin's daughter deceived the king of Wattu kingdom? Or maybe you were overzealous to create a connection to the throne using Ella Asufor without doing your findings of her marital status", ask the king. Achefor is silence for a while to think on which point to accept, if he says Ella's deceived the king, him and Martha will pay a massive fine to the palace for Ella's action. Something he doesn't wish to, but if he accepts not to have done any findings, then he can still go and convince Martha to send Ella to the palace to apologize and only Martha will pay the fines for the lies of Ella. "May the gods forgive me for been overzealous your highness, i may have lost sight of my terrible actions and not do my findings. I will go and rectify the situation at once, my king", said Achefor. "No, you will do no such things. I will handle it myself, but she will be here in three days to present the said husband of hers. You may leave my present", said the king. Achefor gets up, "may my king lives long", walking out of the king's chamber. 

Achefor walking out of the palace, how can that little girl deceive my kind of being a married woman? Doesn't she know the repercussions of her actions? I will prove to the king that she is lying and the king will exile her out of this kingdom never to return. The exile of Ella, Martha's health will deteriorate faster, so upon her death i will own her properties. Weather Ella married the king or not, i will still own the wealth of Martha Awason, though Achefor with a smile on his face. 

Ella meets princess Maya at the junction and enters her car. Princess Maya said, "i have been searching for a way to deal with Julia and Rex since they made you cry, separating them and forcing Rex to get marry to you is a perfect revenge on Julia", said Princess Maya. "What?"+ Surprise, Ella said.