'I remember those long nights in my childhood, no TV, no telephones just me, my parents and siblings sitting outside on a mat, my father sitting on a chair, with the night breeze as our AC, it may seem boring and unimaginable to youngsters of nowadays but till this day they were one of my most beautiful and carefree days, days without the polution we now call modern civilization. My dad always started the stories like this. 'Story! story!'
and us the children will yell 'story!'
'there was a Time'
' Time! Time!'
'In the illustrious Kingdom of Enale, there lived a stunning princess named Emajiri, renowned as the king's most cherished daughter. Her beauty was unparalleled, and she was adored and fiercely protected, which only heightened her confidence and allure. Emajiri believed that she was deserving of nothing but the finest, dismissing numerous suitors who sought her hand, often citing minor flaws. Yet, their persistent admiration spoke volumes; the princess was truly a sight to behold, further complemented by her impressive dowry and her status as the king's beloved child.'
Today was another one of those days, princess Emajiri looked contemptuously at another one of her suitors she deemed too slim for her taste 'I don't know where you got the idea that you where worthy of being my husband, you are not even worthy of carrying my shoes not to talk of being my spouse, how a skeleton like you got the idea that a goddess like me would take you as my husband is a mystery but you see the clear path over there, I suggest you take it before my guards help you out' princess Emajiri was fuming at what she deemed an insult to her personality as she lamented at why the gods couldn't send her her prince charming but insisted on sending her these frogs.
She hissed and, with a confident twist of her waist, turned on her heels, her entourage of guards and maids trailing behind her. Despite feeling a touch of sympathy for Hunter Arinze, the rejected suitor, they continued to shower praises on the irked princess. Gradually, the flattery from her friend Oma and her maids whose names she deemed unnecessary of committing to memory due to their ever-changing faces lifted her spirits.
With a dismissive snort and a roll of her eyes, she launched into her usual discourse about the qualities she desired in a husband. 'Is it really too much to ask? I want a tall, handsome man—one who is fair and strong, with a rugged chest. He shouldn't be too fat or too thin, and definitely not overly muscular. Straight legs are a must; I have no interest in a man with bent legs. And, of course, he needs to be rich—how else can he expect to pamper me?' She concluded with an assured tilt of her neck, fully confident in her demands.
Her friend's lips twitched but she still said the words that went against her conscience 'of course my beautiful friend, how else would he be worthy of you.' She glanced at the princess and her eyes flashed with concealed joy as the princess noticeably perked up 'what about prince Bakonle ? He had all those qualities' she offered tentatively .
'His nose was too crooked' the princess spat out in disgust, her eyes flashing with annoyance as glared at Oma 'only someone like you will think he is handsome' she snickered and with a flip of her hair sauntered on her way without care.
Ona frowned but hurried after her princess. Unknown to her that there was a spirit of the forest who heard their discussion, a half man peaked from the shadows of darkness of the forest, his eyes glittering with mischief as he smiled creepily, the darkness of the evil forest swallowed him up as he rolled on his way, his mission for the day achieved.
Emajiri - means let us praise.