THE CROWN - EPISODE 11

I didn’t need the crowing cock to wake me up. The movements I heard from outside was enough.

I slowly got off my bed and walked outside.

I stood shocked, I stared at the maidens moving around doing chores. They bowed when they saw me

“Dear, you’re awake”

Mother came to me

“Wh… What?” I pointed at the maidens.

“They’re from the palace, the Queen sent them ”

She said and just then I noticed they tied the same wrappers.

Why would the Queen send palace maids to help us out with chores? I’m not married to the prince yet.

I counted and they were more than 5 of them. Some swept, fetched water, cut firewood. I walked to the back to atleast make breakfast but rather I was served breakfast.

I don’t feel comfortable with all this.

“Ekaáro, Baami can you please talk to the king? I don’t want maids”

I went to Baami. He nodded and smiled

“Adenike, omo mi. My child you don’t have a choice, get used to it” he said instead and I stood up from my knees and left.

I went to the front to sit down, everything had been done, I felt useless doing nothing.

“My princess do you want anything?”

One of them walked to me.

“First of all I’m not your princess, call me Adenike and secondly let me be”

I replied her harshly and retired to my room.

I sighed roaming inside the room. What do I do to get them out of here.

Emenike?

No! No! The villagers might start to get the wrong idea and besides I shouldn’t be rubbing it in his face that I’m getting married to his brother.

Should I send them away myself? The Queen might not be happy about that?

What do I do now?

I should go to Mmesoma

I came out from the hut and started walking, I turned when two of the maids started following me.

I looked at them and they bowed their heads

“Yes? Why are you following me?”

“My princess…”

She started

“I’m not your princess!”

I fired

They moved back a bit

“The Queen assigned us to go with you everywhere, incase you need help”

“Now I’m telling you not to follow me, stay behind”

I said

They looked at each other

“I’m sorry my princess, we can’t do that”

I looked up frustratingly and went back to the hut.

I sat and placed my face over my palm tiredly.

“Adenike”

It was Mmesoma

I raised my head and a smile escaped my lips, I went to hug her

“I’m so happy you’re here” I left her and sat down

She chuckled

“If you wanted to see me badly, why didn’t you come home? And what’s that I saw outside?”

She laughed at the end

“Exactly why I’m like this, the Queen sent them here and it’s pissing me off”

I said and she laughed
I gave her a deadly look

“I’m sorry…” She tried to stop laughing

“So what are you going to do about them?”

“I have no idea, I don’t think they will disobey the Queen and listen to a soon to be princess”

“But they’ll listen to a Prince, let’s get help from Emenike”

She suggested

“Let’s give him time to get over me, it’s not easy for him too. He helped enough that day at the stream”

I looked down at my fingers

“Yes, you’re right. I feel so sorry for him”

“About the maidens from the stream, what happened to them?”

I asked and she laughed before answering me

“They were asked to do palace chores for two days before they were allowed to go”

She laughed. I thought about Chioma

“Chioma must hate me now”

I said

“Like it makes any difference from before, atleast we’ll have a more deserving princess and future Queen”

She smiled and I forced a smile too.

“Tomorrow is Eke market day”

She said after a while

The days ran by so quickly. The villagers have been anticipating, anticipating more to have things bounce to normal.

Mmesoma held my hand

“You didn’t realize how fast the days went by right?”

I looked up at her

“No wonder they’re so many maids here, I guess preparations have started ”

“You have to choose happiness, your parents worry everyday seeing you look like this… This isn’t you”

She held my jaw

“You’re right, I don’t remember when last I danced and sang for them”

I smiled sadly

“Adenike, soon you’ll be married and you’ll leave this house. Not just responsibilities as a wife but also as a princess will fall on you and you’ll have little time to visit them. Get the best of the moment now”

I sighed softly for the hundredth time.

It was evening and instead of allowing the maids cook, I joined them to make dinner.

I decided to make Baami’s favorite delicacy. It is
common for the Yorubas.

“My princess, what is this?”

One of the maids was bold enough to ask

“It’s Amala and Ewedu with gbegiri. It’s a special meal by the west in the part of the country just like oha soup and fufu is common here”

I explained to them and they nodded.

“I made enough to go around, calm the others to have a taste too and if you don’t like it, you can make something else”

I told them before leaving with the plates I served for myself and parents.

I knelt down to greet when they walked in together

“I prepared dinner, sit so I get it”

I smiled. They looked at each other. I’ve been too moody for long, it’s time I accept my fate and loosen up to my usual bubbling self.

We finished eating and I started gisting with them randomly leaving the maids to wash the plates.

“Did you meet the king and Queen? How are the preparations?”

I asked to their surprise

They said nothing, I took each of their hand

“Baami, mother…”

I called with a smile

“Very soon I will be married and gone, not literally but I will now be someone’s wife and my responsibilities will increase so I want to spend the most time with you”

I told them

“You’re right dear and honestly I don’t have words right now. I know you’ll make a good wife and a great princess”

Baami said

“And soon she’ll give us grandchildren”

Mother added and I coughed. Baami laughed

“You both can make another baby to keep your company” I teased and mother hit me playfully, we laughed.

Baami started raining praises on me and so I got up to dance to his praises.

We ended the night happily.