"You are lying! Osaze must have paid you to tell those lies against my son," Osaro's mother was the first to speak. Her husband valued his reputation above all else; if this accusation were true, her son would be doomed.
"Madam, I speak the truth," Eli replied firmly.
"Your daughter lied so convincingly earlier; it's clear your entire family is full of liars. You're trying to smear dirt on my son—never!" Osaro's mother argued vehemently.
The maiden's mother quickly knelt. "I swear before the gods that everything my husband said is the truth. My daughter is still young—how could she fully understand the matter between a man and a woman?"
"Who knows? Your family is poor, and you must also be greedy. Perhaps you set your eyes on our Edosa family," Osaro's mother continued accusingly.
"We dare not. Without your son's instructions, my daughter would never have dared. I am willing to swear before the gods," the maiden's mother replied through tears. She wasn't foolish; her only hope was Edosa's reputation as a just man.
"You think our family will fall for your tricks—"
"Silence!" Edosa's cold voice cut through his wife's protests. Osaro's mother immediately shut up.
"Osaro, you've heard what this man and his wife have said. Tell me the truth—is it true?" Edosa asked. He had already suspected his son earlier but didn't want to believe it.
Osaro felt a lump in his throat, rendering him speechless. He feared lying to his father, but admitting to plotting against his nephew was just as terrifying.
"Speak!" Edosa commanded after a long pause.
Osaro immediately dropped to his knees. "Father, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me," he confessed, hoping that admitting early would earn some leniency.
"You—" Furious, Edosa struck Osaro with his walking stick. Although he had suspected his son, he had hoped Eli was lying.
"Father, I was desperate! I am the first son of this family. I couldn't stand losing my birthright," Osaro tried to justify his actions.
"You still dare to speak of being the first son? That year, you made a mistake that nearly ruined our family's reputation," Osaze retorted sharply.
"Father, please forgive me," Osaro pleaded, ignoring his brother's words. He knew his fate depended entirely on his father's decision.
Years ago, after forcing himself on his first wife, Osaro had nearly caused irreparable damage to the family's honor. His father could have stripped his lineage of its rights entirely and passed the inheritance to Osaze's side, but instead, he had decided to let the next generation compete for the position of heir.
Osaro's mother quickly knelt beside her son. "My husband, although Osaro has made mistakes, he is still your firstborn son. Please show mercy," she begged.
Osagie joined them, kneeling as well. "Grandfather, please forgive my father. I disappointed him, causing him to act out of desperation."
"My good grandson, you've done no wrong. If you hadn't stayed disciplined and avoided that woman, you could have been ruined," Uye cried out, defending her grandson. She understood that her husband had a soft spot for his first son, but if she didn't speak up now, Osaro might escape punishment entirely.
Edosa felt a headache coming on. "Osaze, how should we handle this?" he asked, deferring to his second son. After all, it was Osaze's son who had been wronged.
"Father, you are wise. I will follow your decision," Osaze replied cautiously, suspecting his father was testing him.
"Efosa, what about you?" Edosa turned to his grandson.
"I will follow Grandfather's decision," Efosa said. He wasn't fully aware of the details, so he chose to defer.
Edosa sighed and turned to Iyare. "Iyare, what do you think of this?" he asked, shocking everyone present. It was unheard of to ask a woman's opinion on such matters.
"Grandfather, Uncle Osaro is part of our family. If news of his actions spreads, it would tarnish our family's reputation. Even if he isn't the heir, he is still your first son. We must find a way to contain the situation," Iyare replied carefully. She had noticed her grandfather's bias toward Osaro and chose her words wisely to avoid openly condemning him.
Edosa nodded, impressed by her response. "So, what do you suggest?" he asked.
"Grandfather, it's hard to say. I doubt the maiden's family would bear the shame alone. Father mentioned there were two witnesses present during the incident. This matter cannot be easily swept under the bed," Iyare explained. She suspected Osaze had ensured witnesses were present to prevent any cover-up, and now that strategy was working against Osaro.
"Father, please show mercy. If you offer the family enough compensation, they may agree to keep this matter quiet," Osaro pleaded. He was desperate to prevent the kingdom from learning of his misdeeds.
"What do you want?" Edosa asked Eli. He couldn't allow Osaro's actions to stain the family name and was willing to compromise.
"General, my family is humble. I have one son and five daughters. Omoyena is my eldest. After she is flogged publicly for her crime, who would dare marry any of my daughters?" Eli replied.
Edosa took a deep breath. Although Eli hadn't stated it outright, Edosa understood. Poor families depended on marrying off their daughters for a good bride price. If no one would marry them, it was like cutting off a piece of flesh.
"My grandson cannot marry your daughter," Edosa stated firmly.
"Then I will take my daughter and seek the council of elders," Eli said, rising. He had come seeking mercy, but Iyare's subtle hint had given him a strategy: the Edosa family's reputation was his leverage.
"Father!" Osaro panicked as he saw Eli preparing to leave.
"Husband, please save our son!" Osaro's mother pleaded.
"What would you have me do?" Edosa snapped at his second wife, frustrated.
"Let Osagie marry her. This situation was caused by his father. If the family wants to cover it up, this is only right," Uye suggested coldly. She understood her husband cared about reputation the most.
"You—!" Osaro's mother was furious. A scheming girl like Omoyena wasn't fit to be her daughter-in-law.
"What about my grandson? Or do you still intend to sacrifice him to protect your son?" Uye retorted.
"This won't work, Mother. What will people think if Osagie marries the girl who falsely accused his cousin?" Osaze objected. He didn't want to cover up his brother's crime.
The room fell into silence once again.
"I will speak to the witnesses later. The matter will remain a secret," Edosa finally said, compromising. He hated asking for favors, but he couldn't allow the scandal to spread.
"Your daughter will not be punished. With your family's reputation intact, you should still be able to marry off your daughters," Edosa told Eli. He also did not want a girl like Omoyena to become his daughter in-law.
"The General is wise. In return, I will leave my daughter in your family's care. It would seem strange if she were not punished after her crime, so let her become a slave to the Edosa family," Eli proposed. Though poor, Eli understood he had just threatened a powerful man and sought to smooth things over before leaving.
Edosa considered the proposal and agreed. Allowing the maiden to stay as a slave would explain her punishment while ensuring the family's reputation remained intact.