Chapter 60 - The Unfavored Princess

Time has passed and Layla, previously known as Akinidad, has had all benefits befitting of her to raise her son and he has already been going under training in the line of kingship just as his mother once did. He has been taking through all the training procedures is expected to be fit and start acting as king in no time. Princess Nala on the other hand is reaching her age peak and this has become a matter of worry to her. All she has wanted is to have someone to call husband and conceive a child for her father who will assume the throne in the future as the king and ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom.

Princess Nala and Layla have shared so many years together not just like cousins but real siblings, if not for the fact that Amanirenas has forced her only daughter to live the life of a liar, nothing would have ever come between them. Despite of the huddles the two sisters have been through, they both share a great bond of love and respect for each other and would never expect anything come between them. Due to the fact that Layla has been married and is living in the place she is to be living, it has begun creating some enmity in her heart and might starts to eat her whole, which will lead her back to the place they both fought hard overcome.

Hakeemi has finally graced is presence back to the kingdom and has gone to see his parents. He was welcomed with a heartbreaking treatment from his father which made him to wonder if he is standing in the right house. His father, Nana Oppong, immediately told him to report himself to the palace of his Highness before he is being dragged forcefully to the king. Nana Oppong is caution because he was directed by the king to report his son as soon as he hears of his whereabout and if that is not done, he will surely be killed or probably banished from the kingdom for good.

Hakeemi is taken by surprise as to why his father would want him to give himself in for custody after all these while he has not been in town, and instead of a joyous reunion he is to report himself and probably face the bitter part of the custom that has been awaiting him all these years. He requested his parents to allow him in and probably have some rest so they speak about everything over dinner, but his parent persisted on him reporting to the king before he would even be allowed entry into the house.

Things are beginning to get serious between him and his parent but has come to the agreement of seeing the king. Nana Oppong walks with his son to the palace as some villagers look along while they walk towards the palace. The family has been living in isolation and rejection from the villagers ever since the incident happened and this has taken away the pride and legacy his father has built all these decades. Nana Oppong has been stripped off his duty as the 1st elder of the kingdom and has been living through shame.

Upon their arrival to the palace, the king ordered the guards to stop them from accessing the palace since he is in a meeting with some of the elders in regard to how Layla's son would replace him when he is gone. Seeing that such important discussion is being done without his presence pierced Nana Oppong's heart and yet could do nothing about it.

After a while of discussion, the king ordered for the audience of Nana Oppong and his son and begins to question them as soon as they entered the king's chamber.

King: What are you doing here. Haven't I asked you not to show your face at the palace Nana Opong?

Nana Oppong: Your Highness, I am only here to present to you my son, father to the daughter of the princess.

King: (Turns to look at Hakeemi) So you are the uncircumcised being who have decided plant an unwanted seed in the womb of the princess yet refused to take responsibility of your actions.

Hakeemi: No, your Highness, I…

Nana Oppong: (Turns to his son with an angry face) Silence you prodigal son. You do not speak when the king speaks until you are permitted to do so.

King: (Turns to Hakeemi) You do not speak when elders are speaking until you are permitted to do so. (Turns to Nana Oppong) What brought you here.

Nana Oppong: Your Highness, I have brought to you my son to face the judgment of custom for the mischievous deed he has committed against the princess. I have brought him, so he takes the responsibilities of his deeds.

As Nana Oppong mentioned all that to the king, the king then ordered his guards to fetch him some few elders to discuss on what to do with Hakeemi. As the elders arrived, they agreed on him taking the responsibility as the father to the unwanted child and take care of the princess by engaging her in the ways of tradition and custom. These terms were the only way he could be forgiven and given a chance to live so as not to leave the child of the princess fatherless and the mother without any husband. All these were agreed on and Hakeemi together with his father vacated the palace then walked back home to start to with the necessary preparation for their customary marriage.

All has been set and Hakeemi finally went to see the mother of his child in Thenes. Upon his arrival the princess recognized him yet pretended not to know who he was. He was able to recognise her from the onset but failed to recognize his daughter until he drew closer to her then he saw the resemblance. Princess Nala was so upset that she threw water at him not to come anywhere closer to them, but he persisted together with his father and went ahead to the princess. A lot of discussions were done as the princess finally introduced her daughter to him as her father.

Princess Nala's daughter has been living with the agony of not just being born out of wedlock but also fatherless for so many years. This has had a huge impact in her life as she has always been mocked by some children in Thenes and has been faced with a lot of backlashes for not having a father. Princess Nala and her daughter cried throughout most of the conversation due to the unimaginable embarrassment they had to battle just to have a peaceful live in Thenes even though she is the only daughter to the king of the Kingdom. She could not believe she would have to face such disgraceful moment, if only Hakeemi had stepped up to take responsibility at that that, she would not have been made to go through all these pathetic moments alone with her innocent daughter.

Hakeemi could not believe the princess, who has been the only girl he has ever loved, together with his daughter had to go through all these agony and pain without finding anyone showing them solace. He could not believe his daughter has to face the scrutiny of being mocked as an unwanted offspring of the royal blood and everyone has had the chance to take a toll on her circumstance. This brought so much pain to the heart of Hakeemi and has since then hastened the preparation for their marriage.

The princess finally agreed to settle down with her long-time lover, as she would have someone to protect her interests as well as the interest of her daughter and would not have to go through any scrutiny again. Fast forwards, their marriage was done and Hakeemi decided to take the princess and his daughter with him back to the big city to start a new leaf of their life. This being the best and sweetest news the princess has been waiting for all these whiles, she did not hesitate but nod in agreement to everything said by her husband they all moved to the big city while Layla and her family continue to live their lives in the Kingdom.

The king is finally happy with the outcome of the comeback of Hakeemi, who is now married to his daughter the princess. As they moved to the big city, they were blessed with offspring of which came both males, meaning they had a twin but both came out as males and the princess is finally happy that she would have one of her children take over her father when he finally joins his ancestors, and would not need the son of her cousin take over the throne.

She has planned on visiting the palace when her children are halfway grown into men then present them to her father for his blessing. All these to secure a spot for them in ascending the throne when the time is due.