It's been a week since that eventful day, it took a full 4 days to recover from her cold and injured foot, but her father still refused to let her move about, insisting she rest for three more days.
Between the forced bed rest and the constant visitations from many of her suitors who heard about her accident, she was literally going crazy with the need to get out her bed and on her feet. Deep down she was disappointed after waiting for a week and still her savior was still a no show, could it be that he did not know she was the princess? It was possible, she didn't tell him her identity and she didn't know his and that was where the problem lies, how can she meet him again when she didn't know anything about him. She was going crazy with anticipation, she needed to see him, he was just everything she wanted and more, she had waited for him for so long that now she finally met him she couldn't let go, especially with the festival around the corner, she needed to meet him and make sure he would be there to fight for her.
And as for him rejecting her, it was impossible, I mean look her, she was so beautiful she makes the stars hide in shame. There's no man or even woman that has met her and not marveled in wonder at her beauty, it's impossible for any man alive to not want her, she thought smugly, she heard that even the suitors she rejected are now preparing extra hard to compete for her hand in marriage at the upcoming festival, she sighed exasperatingly, her father's refusal to cancel the festival held to compete for her hand was weighing on her, he had refused to cancel the festival even when she told him she had finally met her husband, he rejected her by saying that it is impossible for a king to retract the words he had already spoken out, that it'd make him look irresponsible and that if he was really meant for her he would naturally win the competition. What rubbish! I guess she'd just have to take matters into her own hands.
Speaking of taking matters into her own hands, now that she was finally allowed out of bed, it was finally time for her to settle some scores, her father wanted to punish her incompetent maids and guards on her behalf but she refused, she wanted to do it herself and It just happened that she had some pent up anger she needed to vent.
'Call Tega for me.' She ordered one of her maidservant.
'Okay, my princess.' The maid she adressed answered and immediately went to execute princess's order, the maids with her shivered in fear knowing that the princess had finally decided on their punishment, but they actually felt relief, this past week had been so torturous, not knowing when or how the princess was going to punish them, her silence has in no way reassuring, it just felt like the calm before the storm, now she was finally going to punish them and set them free from anxiety that was eating them up from within. They all prayed within themselves that she just leave them with their lives.
The maid finally returned with Tega the chief of guards. 'Your royal highness,' they bowed in greetings to Princess Emajiri and she in turn told him to rise in response, 'what can I do for you my Princess?' Chief guard Tega asked the princess courteously.
' I'll tell you in a moment, and you, you need to run another errand for me, gather all the maids and guards serving me, tell them to gather here.' The first part of the sentence was directed at the chief guard, while the last sentence was directed at the maid who went to call the chief guard. The maidservant currently fanning the princess faltered. 'Why did you stop! continue, or do you want to kill me with heat now that your plan to let me die in the forest failed.' Princess Emajiri's reprimand awakened the maid from her daze.
'I'm sorry, my Princess.' The maidservant apologized not daring to delay a second longer she immediately resumed fanning the Princess in intesity.
'Sorry for yourself.' The Princess snorted, not willing to spare one more glance at the maid, she took note to add ten more strokes to her punishment. After a few minutes of waiting for the maid sent on the errand, the princess started growing impatient, although she was shielded from the merciless rays of the sun by the simple structured building without walls she was currently relaxing in, the building just consisted of palm fronds for a roof and four wooden legs, the fact that she was being fanned by a maid did little to help, it was still uncomfortably hot, she frowned in annoyance, as she opened her mouth to call for another maid, she saw the maidservant returning with four maidservants and five guards, there were three maids currently by her side serving her personally, one massaging her legs, another fanning her and the other was there to attend to anything she might desire.
'Your royal highness,' the maidservant greeted the princess. Princess Emajiri just glared at her coldly , not bothering to acknowledge her greeting, 'I'm sorry the delay my Princess, I had to go out of the palace to call Yemi, she went to get the goat milk and the flowers you use for your bath.' She immediately explained.
'And who asked for your explanation, just get up, I'm not in the mood for this.' Princess Emajiri spoke carelessly, impatient to dish out the punishments she had decided on. ' you three can go and join them, and you, yes you, give me the hand fan.' She ordered the three maids serving her to join the group waiting for punishment. ' Tega.' She called the Chief guard.
'Your highness.' He answered with a bow.
'Get me five strong guards, and remember to get those whips with thorns, the ones you got from the slavers.' She ordered, immediately after she spoke, some maidservants with little courage started crying, she paid them no attention and continued fanning herself.
'Your wish is my command, my princess.' He bowed one last time and went to execute her orders.
Soon he returned, bringing With him five guards with robust bodies and the requested whips.
The princess nodded with appreciation, finally, someone who did things well. After he had arrived the princess began, ' I believe I don't need to tell you why you deserve this punishment.'
'No!!!' They chorused.
'That's good, at least you guys are not stupid. Don't worry you won't die, it's too much of a hassle to find your replacements.' Princess Emajiri said.
'Thank you my Princess.' They said in relief, no matter what, atleast they'll be alive, as they say where there's life there's hope.
'Ok now let's begin, Tega, distribute the whips.' She directed at Tega, after Tega was done. 'Now, the girls will be whipped thirty times each, except for her-' she pointed at the girl that had been fanning her. 'Make hers forty,' the maid that was pointed at collapsed on the floor, though the others pitied her, they couldn't openly sympathize with her lest the princess adds ten more strokes to theirs too. 'And for the guards, theirs will be fifty each, and when you are done with that, brand them on the chest, so that they can remember today clearly.' She said, ' that's all, you can now begin.' She spoke in a neutral tone like she was commenting on the weather, she initially wanted to brand them on their forehead but decided against it, she didn't want people to say she was vicious, the chest area was okay too, it was also a visible area others can easily see.
'Yes my princess.' Tega answered and went to execute her orders.
Princess Emajiri watched in glee as the punishment commenced, their screams of pain was a symphony that washed away the irritation that had been her constant companion since last week, she spied a few gossipy servants stretching their neck through the mud fence that separated her palace from others, she was tempted to call them so that they can experience the punishment in person, but quickly decided against it. Although she was afraid of no one (except her father), it was too much of a bother if their masters started making a fuss.
Now that she was done with her servants punishment, she needed to deal with the issue concerning Oma, her dear friend. And she thinks she might just have the perfect idea. No one uses her. She thought darkly, a smile pulling at her lips.