THE CROWN - EPISODE 20

His muscular arms wrapped around me and the other softly caressed my head. It felt safe and new, the feeling of absolute safety.

I stopped crying and opened my eyes. His smell filled my nostrils and his touch calmed me.

I moved and he left me, I moved back and looked at him.

“Erm.. eh”

I looked down shyly.

“What happened? Why were you crying?” He asked casually.

The words of his mother hurt me, she taunts me. Coming to my bedchamber to threaten me with her sons? I’m hurt.

“It’s nothing, I’m fine”

I replied still looking at my feet.

I watched his legs move closer to me, I looked up.

He held my shoulder and pulled me into his chest. I was shocked but I needed it

My hands didn’t know if to hug him too but my eyes closed in comfort.

“I’m sorry” I heard him mutter.

Sorry for what? Nothing is his fault… We are both victims of destiny.

He released me and left the room.

I stood there still shocked from his sudden show of concern towards me at recents.

I wonder what he must’ve told them for the Queen to come at me angrily earlier. Should I go see her? No! I will let her be for now.

I went back to the bed and sat, thinking of what next to do. Emenike has decided to turn deaf ears to my words.

Should I go see Mmesoma instead?No! I really don’t want to go out.. not today

“Guards!!” I yelled and one of them rushed in.

“Yes, my princess” he bowed his head with his right palm on his chest

“Go Plead with Mmesoma, my friend to come with you to
the palace on my request” I told him. He bowed and left.

My clothes felt sour. I took a bath and changed into another set of wrapper then laid to rest on the bed.

Ngozi came with my lunch

“Take it back, I’ll eat with Mmesoma. When she arrives you can serve lunch”

“Ok my princess”

She turned to leave

“Wait..”

“The Queen?”

I asked

“She’s having her hair restyled by the Royal stylist”

I dismissed her and closed my eyes to sleep. The distance between the palace and Mmesoma’s house is quite far.

After a while she was here

“Nike?” I heard her voice.

I opened my eyes and smiled.. I sat up and she sat beside me and hugged me. I hugged her back and tears pilled up in my eyes.

She disengaged

“Don’t cry please, I’m here now” she smiled and hugged me again

We gisted casually for a while before Ngozi served lunch. We ate and had snacks.

“So he tried to force himself on you?” She asked in disbelief. I couldn’t blame her, Emenike has been very nice.

“I don’t know what has come over him, I was so scared. After his first attempt when I hit him .. I thought he’d get back to his senses but he got worst” I told her

“And the Queen thinks you’re carrying his child after knowing he tried to force himself on you? Both Emenike and the Queen are not the Prince and Queen of Umuagwo we know”

“They surprise me but Ikenna’s recent show of concern towards me shock me the most of recents”

“He is your husband, it’s only right. Do you think he is still seeing Chioma?” She questioned.

“I don’t know and I really don’t care” I replied and looked away from her eyes.

I noticed Shadows, I looked and it was Ikenna standing there.

Mmesoma followed my eyes, she stood up quickly

“Greetings your highness” she bowed. He nodded and walked to the table.he dropped some of his beads and walked out.

How long as he been standing there?

“How much did he hear?” Mmesoma asked

I shrugged the feeling.

“Help me check on my mother, don’t tell her about all this please”

I requested as she was about to leave.

I bid her good bye and turned to go back inside and Emenike was standing there.

I looked around and it was obvious he dismissed the guards in this quarter.

I walked pass him to go inside and he pulled me back holding my wrist tightly.

I stared at him

He started pulling me to go with him

“Stop, let go of me”

I told him

“I want to show you something, let’s go”

“I’m not going anywhere with you” I yelled

“You are, c’mon”

He wrapped one hand firmly around my waist and held my wrist with the other dragging me like I was some sort of slave.

“Emenike stop, you’re hurting me!” I whined.

Ikenna ran in front of him

“Let go of her now” he ordered

“What’s the noise all about?” The Queen walked in too.

“Get out of the way Ikenna, we’re going somewhere” Emenike replied.

“I said let go of her immediately”
Ikenna said calmly again.

The Queen walked to Emenike

“What are you doing? Leave her alone”

“mother step aside” he told her and continued dragging me

“Stop, you’re hurting me”

Ikenna punched him from the side. He spat out blood and left me

“Ikenna why did you hit him so hard, Emenike please that’s enough.. go back to your quarters”

“No mother, he has to pay for hitting me.. I won’t let this one slide”

He yelled angrily.

I looked up and suddenly got dizzy, my head ached and then I remembered I wasn’t so strong.

I fell down. They rushed to me

“Adenike!”

“Adenike are you okay?”

“Guards!!”

I heard. Tears streamed down to my ears
from my opened eyes.

Ikenna carried me up and went inside our bedchamber. He placed me on the bed gently

“Mother” I mumbled

“I’ve sent for the herbalist, he’ll be here soon” the Queen said.

“What’s happening?” I heard the King’s voice.

Ikenna kept staring at me. He stood to face them

“I beg of you all for the second time, please stay away from her. If you’re not willing to help her then please leave her. Even after knowing she was sick Emenike still tried to hurt her…”

He sighed

“Father, if you don’t do something about all this then you leave me no choice. Please leave” he added and they all left quietly.

I closed my eyes and sighed heavily. My whole body felt weak

The herbalist came and examined me

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Ikenna (POV)

He examined her and turned to face me. Everyone was present again to know her health condition.

Mother stood firmly in front of the herbalist

“Yes? She is pregnant isn’t she?” She asked confidently

“Yes your majesty, she is indeed with child” he said and I was shocked.

I looked at her and she looked away.

How is that even possible?

She’s married to me but I haven’t crossed her so how can she be with child. whose child?

I walked slowly to her

“Whose child are you with?”

I asked. She kept quiet

“Answer me!” I half yelled

“My child, brother. She’s pregnant with my child” Emenike said from behind.

I scoffed almost angrily

“Is he saying the truth?”

I asked her still

“Yes, he succeeded in having his way with me but I was too scared to tell anyone”

She replied crying.

“Shut up woman, you opened your legs willingly. My son will never force himself on a woman” mother fired at her.

“He threatened to harm my parents so I was scared to speak up”

“That’s a lie, my son is harmless”

“Shut up all of you” Father yelled.

“Your son slept with his brother’s wife and you open your mouth to talk shamelessly?” He faced mother.

I stood there staring at Adenike, It was both disappointing and embarrassing.