THE CROWN - EPISODE 14

Prince Ikenna (POV)

The decision of the gods are that of the his people.

The gods have chosen and not me, she might be the chosen one but not after my heart.

Marrying the woman my brother is in love with is something I’ll always regret.

I matched through dry leaves to my heartthrob,

my heartthrob? I wasn’t sure what this is but I was sure it wasn’t what love defines.

“My prince”

she smiled seductively with a bow.

I smiled and took her into my arms, she’s beautiful and sweet and for that it mattered.

“How are you?”

I asked her, ready to welcome tons of unpleasant answers.

She withdrew from me and gave me her back,

“Your highness I’m not happy, I am bothered and troubled”

I touched her shoulder

“What is it that troubles you, my love”

I said calmly to soothe her spirit

“Your highness, don’t play dumb to the fact that you now belong to another, now I’m nothing but your mistress and I don’t wish for that”

She shrugged her shoulders

“I might be married to her but you’re still the one I desire”

She turned angrily

“I couldn’t sleep last night, thoughts of another woman in your arms all through the cold night quivered my soul”

She closed her eyes tightly like she felt disgusted.

“My love, I promise I have nothing to do with her”

I pulled her closer to me and held her jaw

“You’re the one I’m with now not her and if I have my way you’ll be in my arms every night”

“But your highness…”

“Shhh”

I shunned her then crashed my lips on hers.

The gods know I never intended to be this kind of man.

To hold another in my arms aside the woman I’ve married.

I left her at noon and went back to the palace, I avoided going to my chambers…

She might be there and I don’t want to see her.

I maid walked pass me, she stopped and bowed.

Isn’t that her personal maid? I looked at her as she walked away. Why is she without the princess?

“Hey!” I stopped her before I could hold my curiosity.

She turned and ran back to me

“Your highness!”
She bowed again.

I raised my chest and held my hands back

“Why are you without the princess?”

“My prince, she’s asked to be left alone.. she went to visit a friend”

She bowed her head looking down

Vist a friend?

“Did any guard go with her?”

I asked even though I didn’t care,

“None your highness. She said it’s personal”

She further added.

I dismissed her and walked straight to my brother’s chambers. His guards stood outside

They bowed, I bent my head and went in.. I looked around, he’s not here.

“Where’s my brother?”

I questioned his guards.

“He stepped out your majesty” one of them replied.

He always loved being alone, without guards nor maids. It wasn’t something new but for some reasons it felt new and suspicious to me now.

The last thing I want is for that maiden to cause a drift between me and my brother.

I left to my chamber

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Adenike (POV)

I slowly walked to my chambers.. it was evening.

I spent all my day chatting with Mmesoma that I forgot myself.

I really hope nobody looked for me.

I walked into the room and he was there.. we stared at each other for a while.

I looked away and went to sit down, I raised my head when I heard him leave.

I sighed and started pulling off my beads

“My princess!”

I heard from outside

“You can come in”

It was Ngozi.

“Welcome my princess” she bowed

I looked at her, she walked closer to me

“Did anyone notice my absence?”

“The prince and Queen, your highness”

She responded.

Emenike wanted to see me? I guess he’s calmer now.

“Emenike asked for me?”

My voice lightened

“Prince Ikenna not Prince Emenike”

What?! Why did you ask for me?

“Why?”

“My princess, I have no idea. He only asked why you went out without guards or maids”

I nodded and removed the beads on my hair

“What do my princess want me to do now?”

“You can leave, I will have my bath”

I told her

“I will prepare that”

She walked to the bathroom and came out after a while.

I had my bath and she was still here.

“Dinner has been served”

Dinner? That means I will have to sit with the entire Royal family? I don’t have strength for the pressure and questions.

“Tell that I do not feel fine” I told her

“Okay. My princess, your chamber has been set up with your things”

“My chamber?”

I asked

There’s another chamber?

“Yes your highness, the women of the Royal family has a special chamber for their wrappers, jeweleries and personal affairs”

She briefed. A smile escaped my lips

“Ngozi…”

“Yes my princess”

“Take me to my personal chambers, henceforth I will sleep there”

I told her

“Your highness, it’s law that you must spend your night in the prince’s chamber”

“I don’t care, take me there now and tell the king that I won’t be having dinner because I don’t feel too good”

I ordered and she bowed.

I was taken to the chamber and it was a bit bigger because my wrappers and everything was being kept here.

I touched the wrappers neatly arranged in a wooden shelve and smiled. They are beautiful.

I took out time to have a view of the room.

Ngozi came back with food.

“What is this?”

“The King asked your food to be served to you”.

I ate and laid on the bed to sleep. I miss my parents and life before this forced marriage.

I wish there’s a way to get out of this, this isn’t how I dreamed of my marriage life to be.

Now I spend nights without my husband, avoid eating with him or even looking at him.

Baami!

I woke up even before the crowing of the morning cock.

I got out and went ahead to look for a broom.

I found it and started sweeping, it was still a dark morning but a cold one. The maids and guards were barely awake,.

I stopped and turned around to look at the large compound,

it was far bigger than my house but I wanted to do it nevertheless.

A guard walked towards me, stretching and yawning loudly.

He opened his eyes walking closer to me,

he was shocked at the sight.

He bowed quickly

“Good morning your highness”

He said quickly.

He rushed to grab the broom from me

“Let it be”

I ordered, he moved back and bowed his head

“My princess, we’ll be punished”

“Leave, it’s fine”

He bowed again and ran away.

What’s the big deal?

I continued sweeping.

More guards and maids woke up as the morning got brighter.

They all looked shocked on seeing me sweeping and each tried to take the broom but I refused.

I sighed when I was done and went to keep the broom back.

“Good morning my princess” Ngozi bowed as well as the other maids.

They were all assembled in my chamber as I walked in.

“We’ve prepared your bath”

I nodded and went ahead to wash up.

They walked to me immediately I stepped out of the bathroom

“Step back, I will get dressed myself”

I ordered and they obliged.

I walked to the shelve and picked the piece I want. They all looked expensive and beautiful.

I tied around my waist and around my chest, my cleavages appeared a bit because of the width of the upper piece.

I wore my hand beads, jigida, ankle beads and decided to wear the Royal neck beads.

I looked at myself… Ngozi wore beads on my hair.

“Breakfast my princess”

I can’t avoid this one.

They escorted me and as usual only Ngozi went in with me.

I bowed and went ahead to sit down. I started eating.

“Princess dear, we were told that you didn’t feel well last night.. do you feel better now?”

The Queen asked into the meal

“Yes my Queen”

I replied and she smiled. I continued my food avoiding Emenike’s eyes, does his seat have to be opposite mine?

“Crowned Princess..”

I raised my head, it was the King.

“Yes your majesty”

I replied

“I know you’re new to your responsibilities but you must know that you’re not permitted to spend the night at your personal chamber, Ikenna.. were you aware she was going to spend the night outside your chamber?”

We all turned to Ikenna

“Father, she can spend the night wherever so pleases her”
He replied

“No she can’t and you know this” the Queen told him

“Sorry mother” he said

“It also got to me that you woke up earlier and swept the palace. Princess Adenike I will have to punish your personal maid for allowing you go through this”

Oh jeez

“Please your majesty, spare her.. you can punish me instead if you feel I did wrong”

I bowed my head

“She only obliged to my request, please your highness”

“Father, you don’t have to punish the guards and maids for her stubbornness. I was told they each tried to take the broom from her but she refused”

Emenike said. I looked at him, he looked away.

I looked at the king

“Okay, but this shouldn’t repeat itself”

He said and called for a guard

“Denounce all punishments from this morning”

“Ok your majesty” he bowed happily and left.

I thanked him.

I glanced at Ikenna and he was so unconcerned.

What is this?