THE CROWN - EPISODE 17

I bowed and sat beside the Queen. She smiled and offered me sliced out Mango. I thanked her and ate

“I feel like you avoid me these days” she uttered.

I swallowed

“No my Queen, why would I?”
I replied

“Because you’re still distant, you still referring to me as Queen”

I looked down. She’s told me to call her mother several times but I haven’t really gotten used to it. I adjusted my wrapper

“I don’t like the drift between my children…”

I exhaled harder but softly

“My sons suddenly act like distant cousins. Even distant cousins relate better than they do this days”

There was sadness in her voice, her eyes read more than she said.

“Mother…”

I called but no words came out.

She turned to me properly and placed her hand on mine

“I want us to talk like mother and daughter.. tell me my dear, which of my sons are you in love with?”

She asked

I dropped the plate on the stole

“Emenike and I were friends even before I knew he is a prince and I only knew that on the day of the dance where I was declared to be his brother’s wife. I don’t know when his sudden love interest for me started. Prince Ikenna is my…. ”

I stopped to calm my nerves

“Prince Ikenna is my husband but I am not in love with either of them”

I said honestly looking down. We both stayed quiet.

She left my hand

“may the gods forgive our sins and spare my family crisis”

She prayed.

“Adenike dear, please help me out. You’ll have to stay away from Emenike and try to build something with Ikenna. He’s your husband and it will be unpleasant to every ear that hears your husband’s younger brother is in love with you” she stopped and turned

“Ahhh, may my enemies not laugh at me”

She exclaimed. I watched her declare all sort of prayers to the gods.

I left the palace after my session with the Queen, the atmosphere wasn’t okay. It was just me and her in the palace.

The King was with his elders and God knows where the princes went to.

“Ngozi…” I called

It was just me and her, no guard

“Yes my princess” she ran forward

“I’ve told you to call me by my name when we’re alone”

I turned to her

“The gods will strike me dumb my princess, you’re the crowned princess, you’ll be the next Queen.. Umuagwo won’t permit such disrespect”

She explained for the hundredth time.

I simply smiled and she did too.

“You look bothered my princess”

I looked up and down again

“My heart is troubled, my head is filled with all sorts”

“If you’d permit me to say something, my princess”

“You’re always permitted”

I told her

“My princess, I know this is about Prince Emenike’s love interest on you”

“Ngozi, what do you think I should do?”

I stopped walking

“My princess, I think you should follow your heart, your instincts”

“I’m confused”

“I trust you’ll make the right decision, just be fast about it before things escalate”

I nodded, she smiled. We turned to continue walking… Chioma was coming towards our direction with two of her friends, Amaka and Ijeoma.

They got to us and stopped.. Chioma stepped forward to me.

“Who else if not the little rat who tries to dine with lions” she rolled her eyes.

Her friends laughed

“You can’t talk to the princess like that” Ngozi replied them

“And who is this?”

Amaka asked

“Lowlife maid” Ijeoma added and they laughed.

“That’s enough, Chioma what is your problem?”

I questioned

“You your highness, you’re my problem.. oh wait! Did we forget to bow?” She mocked and they laughed.

“But come to think of it, a princess who sleeps with her husband’s brother has no rights to be respected”

It hit me hard, I held my calm and simply stared at her.

I tapped the horse tail on my palm

“Ngozi let’s go”

I said and took few steps. She held my wrapper from behind and dragged me back. I gasped

“What is that for? Do you want to undress the princess?” Ngozi rushed her. She pulled her hands away from my wrapper

“Take care of this maid, I’ll have your highness”

Chioma said the last part in all sound of sarcasm.

Amaka and Ijeoma grabbed Ngozi and bounced on her.

“Stop, let go of her immediately” I yelled.

Chioma dragged me back again from behind

“Where do you think you’re going? I’m yet to return the slap you gave me at the stream and now is a perfect opportunity”

I tried to pull myself from her grip, she laughed

“If you pull any further, you’ll have yourself undressed” she laughed again.

I stayed still,
She held my hand and turned me to her

“Forgive me my princess”

She scoffed

She raised her hand and before I could stop her, she slapped me right on right cheek.

“What is going on here?”

I looked and it was Emenike coming from behind Chioma.

The bickering and battling stopped. Ngozi rushed to get up from their hold.

They all bowed

“Your highness” they bowed quickly.

Chioma stood there. My palm was still on my cheek

Emenike walked to me, Chioma moved aside.

“Seize her!!” He yelled and his guards rushed to hold Chioma.

“Let go of me, I did nothing wrong” she struggled.

“You went violent with the crowned princess and raised your voice at the prince” one of the guards replied her.

Amaka and Ijeoma tried to run away, Ngozi held Ijeoma back and other guard went after Amaka.

“She slapped me first, I just defended myself” chi said.

“What is this?” Ikenna walked out too.

I guess they’re coming from official business cause either of them hardly move around casually with heavy guards.

The border invasion must be the reason.

“My love, they’re holding me captive for no reason” Chioma started crying.

“Let go of her immediately!” Ikenna ordered and the guards did

“Hold her captive” Emenike yelled and she was held again.

The guards got confused while I just stood there staring at them. What is this?

“Before you take actions you ask why she’s being held captive” Emenike fired at his brother.

Ikenna calmed a bit

“What did she do for you to disobey my orders?”

“She slapped the crowned Princess” Emenike announced loudly.

Ikenna turned his gaze to me, I looked away without a thought.

“My prince, she slapped me first”

“That’s not true your highness, she even attempted to embarrass the princess by trying to loose her wrapper” Ngozi gave out

“What?” Ikenna exclaimed

“Did you hear that? Seize her now and let’s go!!” Emenike shouted and they obeyed.

“Wait! Don’t! My prince! Prince Ikenna” she cried.

Ikenna stood there and did nothing. Emenike led the way . I gave Ikenna a look before leaving with Ngozi.

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Ikenna (POV)

“Attempting to hurt the princess is one offense, actualizing it is another offense. She even went as far as trying to undress the princess. She masterminded beating up a palace maid and yelled at me….”

Emenike gave recounts. We were in the Royal Chamber and the entire Royal family, elders and offenders were all present.

“Igwe, Justice for the princess. We can’t let this slide and I know my King is a pragmatic king. May you live long your majesty”

He completed with a bow.

The elders nodded in agreement and mumbled amongst themselves.

The Onuwu looked apologetic and embarrassed at the same time.

“Crowned Princess please step forward” Father said and she stood up.

“Your majesty” she bowed

“Prince Emenike has said it all, do you have anything to say?”

“No your majesty but I want you to know that not just me but my personal maid has been offended today, I would love for her to be considered as well” she said and bowed.

She walked and sat, just beside me. I turned to look at her and our eyes met.

“Prince Ikenna and you?”

“Nothing Father” I replied with my gaze still fixed on her. She looked away and I held my fist.

“The Onuwu will be suspended from his duties for his daughter’s misbehaviours lately”

Father announced and the elders gasped.

“Chioma and her accomplices will serve palace duties for the next…..”

Mother stopped him and whispered something to him.

He cleared his throat

“We all know the situation Chioma has with the princess, the grudge. So the Queen has suggested that she has nothing to do with the palace at all so therefore her punishment will be community service. She shall sweep the village market every morning for the next four Eke market day along with her accomplices. This I decree!”

“Igweeee!!!!”

Everyone bowed.

She looked at me angrily she she was taken away.

Why did she do this? I was going to tell the family about taking her as a wife now she has messed everything up. I got up and left to my chamber.

Undress Adenike? That was too much, Chioma is a head full but not this.

What do I do?

Emenike is drifting everyday and as for Adenike… I think she has something up her sleeves with my brother.

Or what if she doesn’t?

But she isn’t even trying to connect with me. It is every maiden’s dream to be married to a Prince let alone a crowned prince.

It only means one thing,

she is secretly having an affair with Emenike.

Abomination! He’s my younger brother.

I need to clear my head and get refreshed. I went into the bathroom and had my bath.

I tied a towel around my waist and walked into the room. I checked out my wound and it is really healing so fast.

I raised my head when she walked in,

can’t she announce before coming in? Oh yeah! it’s her chamber too.

“Erm, hrm I’m… I am sorry I didn’t.. I didn’t know you were…”

She stammered and stopped immediately the wrapper fell off my waist.

My eyes went wide open in shock and hers looked like it was being plugged out.

We both stood there, her eyes fixed to my lower body and mine fixed to her eyes.

“Ahhh!” She screamed and I quickly picked the wrapper from the floor and ran into the bathroom.

“My princess! My princess!” I heard the guards run in. Shit!

“My princess you screamed, are you okay?”

“Ugh? Eh.. well.. you can go I’m fine”

She told them and I guess they left.

I peeped and she left too. What was that?

And what was the need to scream like a child? Like she hasn’t seen a man before. So annoying.