THE CROWN - EPISODE 15

I walked into my parents compound grinning from ear to ear. I miss them so much

Ngozi and a guard trailed behind me,

I told the Queen I was going to see my parents and she didn’t let me go alone.

I was able to convince her into a guard and a maid only and now we’re here.

I went inside and there was nobody in, I came out and went to the back.

I smiled and watched them, they were having lunch.

“Baami, mother”

I called and they turned.

Mother stood up, I ran into her arms.

She started crying, so emotional.

“My baby, I missed you so much”

I disengaged and wiped her tears with her thumb.

“I miss you both so much too, I’m sorry it took me long to come visit”

“I understand, it’s said that the girl spends time with her new family to bond with them before going to visit home”

Mother smiled and touched my cheeks.

I knelt down and hugged Baami

“Adenike omo mi, bawo ni?”

He smiled

“I’m fine knowing that you both are doing just fine”

They both touched me,

I closed my eyes to enjoy the feeling.

I joined them to eat and went to do the dishes.

“My princess please let me” Ngozi ran to me

“This is my father’s house and not the palace”

I told her

“But my princess, if the king finds out we’ll be punished”

“Adenike maybe you should let her do it and come sit with us, I missed you”

Mother joined her. I looked at Ngozi

“You won”

She bowed smiling.

I left her to go join my parents.

“How’s your husband?”

“You mean the prince”

I countered

Mother and Baami looked at each other and back to me.

“Dear, are you okay? Are they treating you badly in the palace?”

Mother questioned

“No mother, the Royal family have been nice to me and like you just heard Ngozi say.. they don’t let me do anything at all with my hands”

I said and they laughed

“You’re the princess now my dear, enjoy your blessings”

Blessings? Indeed..

“Mother how do you cope with the chores, I know it must be very difficult”

I said sadly

“No dear, it isn’t… Your father helps around too”

“Like I have a choice” Baami laughed and we did too.

“I will talk to the King and Queen so some maids can be sent here to help you around”

“No dear, there’s no need to bother”

Mother said

“It’s not a bother and like you just said… You both have to enjoy the blessings of being direct in-laws to the king”

I smiled and they nodded.

“The compound doesn’t even look well swept, Baami did you do this?”

I teased

“My daughter knows that her mother can’t do such a poor job”

Mother laughed

“This is how far my waist took me”

Baami said

“I still sweep better, the brooms sure I’ve missed me”

I said again and we laughed.

We were on our way back to the palace, people didn’t walk pass me with a bow and greetings.

Some mumbled, others looked happy to see me but it was always okay by me. I decided to go to the stream, it’s been a while.

“My princess do you want to take a bath? We didn’t come prepared”

Ngozi said

“No, I just want to relax a bit, I missed the view” I told her as we walked in further.

There was no one, I smiled

“Be careful my princess”

The guard said. I turned to him

“What is your name?” I asked him

“Ebuka, your highness” he bowed.

“You look too intense and overprotective, relax… I can take care of myself” I smiled and he bowed again

“Your head will fall off soon from all those bowing” I joked and Ngozi cracked

I smiled

“When you’re with me alone, relax and feel free”

I told them and they replied.

I walked down the hill to the water. I bent down to feel my hands in the water.

“What is the crowned Princess doing here by herself?”

I raised my head and it was Emenike

I gestured him to Ebuka and Ngozi.

He nodded.

I stood up and turned to face him

“Emenike” I called softly

He tried to move closer to me but he stopped.

He turned to them

“Leave us”

“Yes your highness”

They bowed and left.

We stared at each other for a while in silent. He sighed loudly

“I’m broken”

he finally spoke

“You sit beside him at every meal, you spend nights in his chamber and….”

“Emenike”

“And he is my brother” he completed.

I looked away from his eyes for a while

“Adenike tell me your marriage to my brother is wrong. Why have the gods decided to punish me?”

He lamented non-stop

“Everything feels wrong to me, standing here with you right now suddenly feels wrong”

I said honestly.

If someone says us here together then they might
get the wrong idea and for that it feels wrong because I’m his brother’s wife.

“I have sleepless nights just thinking of you in his arms all night. Enjoying the warmth of his body and heating up from the intimacy…”

“Stop it! That’s enough!”

I closed my eyes tightly feeling disgusted from such thoughts.

I felt his hands holding my shoulders, I opened my eyes and he was only few inches away from me.

“Adenike don’t you feel the same way? Let’s fight together, please”

His breath was all over me and his chest almost touched mine.

“Emenike step back from me”

“Don’t you want this? I know you’re not happy with Ikenna”

“Emenike I said step back from me”

I said but he drew closer to me, his face so close to mine. What is he trying to do?

I pushed him hard

“What is this? I’m your sister in-law, don’t you get it? I’m your elder brother’s wife for gods sake.. show me some respect for being a woman atleast”

I half yelled

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me”

He apologized brushing his hand over his head.

I sighed and walked away.

Ngozi and Ebuka waited for me outside.

I walked angrily with an unusual speed and they trailed behind.

I went straight to my chambers

“I wish to be left alone” I told her and she left

I sighed. I dropped the horse tail on the bed.

What is this? What have I gotten myself into? Or rather what situation have I found myself?

Tears gathered in my eyes

What do I do now? Emenike might actually be loosing his cool, I don’t want to drift this brothers apart.

The tears streamed down freely and soon I began to cry almost loudly bending my head down.

The light from outside got dark, I raised my head and it was Ikenna by the door blocking the ray of sun.

I wiped my face quickly and looked away.

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Ikenna (POV)

I could hear her cries from outside, I walked in and she was alone. She bent her head crying profusely.

She stopped probably noticing my presence, she raised her head to me.

She quickly cleaned her tears and turned to the other side. I stared at her for a while before leaving.

Why was she crying? Is this marriage hurting her that much?

“Hey!!”

A guard ran to me

He bowed

“Summon the princess personal maid, tell her to meet me at the back court” I told him

He bowed and ran along.

I left to the back. If anyone can answer my question, it should be her personal maid.

“Greetings your highness” a female voice

I raised my head and it was her, the personal maid to the princess.

“What happened?” I questioned

“I don’t understand your highness”

Her head bowed

“The princess doesn’t look good, Why?”

“I have no idea your highness”

“What do you mean by that? You’re with her always.. where did you come from?”

I asked almost angrily, she was making this longer than I wanted

“I’m sorry your highness but it’s my responsibility to keep the princess affairs private”

She said

“I am her husband…” I said before I realized

I closed my eyes for a while and opened them again

“The princess is my wife and I have more responsibility to her than you, now speak”

She apologized quickly

“We went to her parents and then to the stream. Prince Emenike showed up and asked to be left alone with the princess. The princess looked angry and troubled after meeting with prince Emenike.. that’s all I know your highness”

I dismissed her, she left.

Could that be the reason she’s crying?

What happened between them that has made her so upset and hurt?

I walked to Emenike’s chamber, his guards greeted

I went in and he also looked a mess. He looked troubled walking to-fro the room.

“Ahhhh!” He groaned loudly punching the wall.

I ran to him

“Stop, you’ll wound yourself”

I held his head

“Leave me brother, I want to be left alone”

He said. I stood by and watched him

“Ahhh” he groaned again. I held him

“Please sit”

“Ikenna I… ”

“Please”

he looked at me and sat down, I patted his back and he calmed down a bit.

I smiled

“This still works” I said and he cracked

“Adenike looks upset and so do you.. ”

I began

“I’m sorry” I added

“No one is at fault, no one is to blame. I just wish things turned out differently” he said and got up, he left.

Does she also have feelings for him as much as he does? I have never seen my brother look this much a mess.

What can be done?