THE CROWN - EPISODE 16

Mmesoma and I sat outside, having fruits in the palace. It was the first time she was visiting me here and I was excited.

“Adenike, right now I’m much as confused as you’re” she said

Since she came, all we talked about was the situation with Emenike and his sudden outburst this days.

“The other day during a meal, he pulled me to sit beside him. Everyone including the maids present were all shocked and he acted like it was nothing”

I told her, cutting the orange into fours just how I like to take my orange.

She clapped in a *wonders shall never end* expression.

“But wait o, didn’t you say you think Prince Ikenna is still seeing Chioma?”

She asked. My mind flashed to the few times I’ve noticed Ikenna might still be seeing Chioma

” Yes, but I’m not so sure”

“What’s there not to be sure about? The people in your lives before you both got married are still very much active”

She said

“What do you mean by active? Emenike and I had nothing going on between us and we still don’t”

I cleared

“But does he know that?”

“Of course he should, it’s not like I confessed anything to him or something”

“Then simply tell him that you do not want him so he can stop this madness”

She has a point but I don’t want to hurt him by doing so.

“I don’t want his brother either and I also do not want to hurt his feelings.. besides Ikenna might also be with Chioma”

I said without reasoning

“Can you hear yourself? Do you want to drift this brothers apart or you want to be with Emenike and let Ikenna be with Chioma. I don’t understand this whole drama”

I kept quiet

“I don’t know, I don’t think I’m making sense anymore.. can we just change the topic?”

She rolled her eyes

“You haven’t shown me your personal chamber”

She said after a while.

I pulled her hand up

“No taking stuff”

I told her

“You wish!”

She replied and we laughed.

It was night, I had my meal at my chamber and Ngozi cleared the dishes.

I changed into a lighter wrapper, took off the beads before retiring to our chamber.

Ngozi escorted me

I stopped and turned

“Goodnight Ngozi, you can go now”

“Goodnight my princess” she smiled and ran along.

I bent my head and went in. I stopped when I saw drops of blood on the floor leading to the bathroom.

“What is…?”

Ikenna walked out of the bathroom, I looked at him… He held his arm and there was a deep looking cut.

He looked away from me and went to lie down on the bed, he closed his eyes. I looked at him for a while and left. I headed for the farm close by

“Your highness, you can’t leave all by yourself this late”

A guard stopped me

“I’m just going over there to get herbs”

I told him

“I’m sorry your highness but you can’t”

The other said

“Okay you can come with me” I told them and two followed me.

I described the plant I needed and in no time we got it. I headed back to the palace and went straight to the kitchen.

“Good evening your highness”

“My princess”

The maids in the palace all bowed shocked.

“Where’s the mortal and pestle?” I asked quickly. They went to get it.

“My princess, you can’t be here. Please go back to your chamber and we’ll bring whatever you want to you”

The head cook said.

“Get me a bowl of water quickly”

I ignored her.

A maid brought the water

I bent down to wash the leaves

“My princess please let us….”

“Step back”

I ordered the they all took few times back.

I stood up and started pounding the herbs.. they all stood back staring at me

“Another smaller bowl for this”

I packed it into the bowl and went back to the chamber.

Ikenna looked like he was already fast asleep.

I looked at the wound and it was still bleeding profusely.

How did he get such wound and feels reluctant towards it. If he looses too much blood, he’ll fall ill.

I knelt down beside him, wait! I have to clean the wound first before applying the herb.

I ran to the bathroom, fill the bath bowl with water, I looked around for a piece of cloth. None.

I looked down at my wrapper, I held the hem and tore a piece out with my hand, so hard!

I soaked it in water and gently used it to clean the wound.

“Eishh” he winced

I stopped and looked at him, his eyes were closed

I continued, his muscles got tighter like he was straining himself from expressing the pains.

I took the herb and began applying it on the wound, it seemed like a Cutlass wound.. how did he get such.

I applied it evenly, tossed the bowl aside

I bent my face to his arm and started blowing the wound, it must hurt alot.

I am doing the right thing right?

This isn’t wrong.

I can’t watch somebody get hurt in my presence and I’ll sit and do nothing.

I raised my head slowly when I felt his breath, I met his eyes. My gaze fixed on his

For the first time I looked into his eyes, we’ve never been this close.

His eyes were quite bright and brown. I looked down slowly to his nose, and to his lips.

Why was it surprising? the king is well known for his sons amazing looks and strength.

I swallowed and the saliva went to the wrong direction.

I started coughing, I covered my mouth with my palm forgetting it was dirty.

I removed my hand, I got up quickly and ran to the bathroom. Did I hear him chuckle?

Gosh! I must’ve looked stupid. What was the need to check him out without realizing.

I washed up and went back to the room. He was sitting up now, staring at the wound. I know it hurts but it’ll be better my tomorrow.

I took the mat and kept it on the floor, I laid down turning my back to him.

I can’t wait for this night to be over, I closed my eyes.

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Ikenna (POV)

I woke, yawning loudly.

I stepped down from the bed and she was still asleep on the floor.

I wonder how she copes with the cold. I took another wrapper and covered her with it

This is for taking care of my wound, I looked at my arm and the wound was fast healing.

I rushed out quickly, Emenike and the guards were waiting. It was still
much early but we needed to do Father’s assignment

“Let’s go” I said and we left in a hurry.

I couldn’t ignore Emenike’s silence, it was killing me but I wanted to stay calm.

“Your highness, I think they’ve taken a retreat from their way”
One of the guards said. The neighbouring village recently began their theft in our farms.

Yesterday it got violent and that was how I got that cut.

“You three watch over here, you two go to the other side. We’ll head back to the palace. You can return if you believe they’ve really retreated”

I ordered.

Emenike and I left.
We said nothing, the silence grew deeper and so did the pain I felt..

I moved closer to him and wrapped my arm over his shoulder

“I will prefer a nice breakfast today if indeed it’s a retreat” I chuckled trying to get him to talk

He looked away

“Let’s hurry, they won’t have breakfast without us and I don’t want the princess to starve” he replied instead.

The princess? I forced a smile.

We got to the palace

“Emenike…’

He walked away. I sighed and went to wash up.

I headed for the dining court. Eating together as a family has become a tradition. It helped us bond properly.

The guards greeted, I went in. Emenike was here already and sat next to Adenike.

I greeted and sat opposite them.

Our eyes met and she looked away quickly.

“Princess Adenike” Father called her

She replied

“Go sit next to your husband” he told her

She looked at me

“But Father, what difference does it make Where she sits?”

Emenike said

“Shut up and eat your food. A wife must stay beside her husband always”

Mother scolded him

Adenike got up and came to sit beside me. I focused my food.

I glanced at her, she looks uncomfortable either ways. It feels suffocating. Eh!

“It’s a good thing you got your wound treated, healing so fast”

Mother said again

I turned to glance at her beside me, she moved her gaze. Thanks

“My prince, say no more cause you hurt my feelings with your words”

Chioma sparked.

“My love” I touched her.. she moved away.

Was meeting her a bad idea? I shouldn’t have told her of the situation with Adenike and Emenike.

“If your brother wants her then let him have her, that way she’ll be out of our way”

She said.

Is that what I want? Now I’m not sure.

The gods said it’s her fate to be my wife and the next Queen of Umuagwo. The gods do not lie!

“The little gold digger probably used your brother as a stepping stone to get into the palace” she said angrily

“Don’t talk about her like that” I blurted

She gave me a look

“Now you’re defending that rat?”

“I’m defending my brother not her, you insulted the prince without realizing”

I said calmly

“I’m sorry your highness, I’m a woman whose rights were snatched away from her by an outcast”

She held her fist tightly. She released them and placed on my chest

“My love, let’s get married.. you are the crowned prince and you deserve as many wives you so desire”

She looked at me helplessly. Is this desperation? A second wife? Even my great grand father had only one wife, same with all the men after him.

Will marrying another wife solve the problem?

“Say something”

I looked down at her, I nodded with a smile.

“Really? Thank you my prince”

She hugged me.