THE CROWN - EPISODE 23

We walked side to side, taking every step like we were being forced to.

The guards and maids behind us walked few steps behind

She picked on her fingers, I glanced at her on intervals.

She looked at me sidely and fell her hands down

“Greetings your majesties” a middle aged woman walked pass in a hurry.

I watched her smile at everyone that greeted, I’ve never seen her smile before this. Thanks Father

“Your highness, May you live long” a woman bowed with the bunch of firewood on her head.

“Greeting mother of our land” Adenike stopped her.

“Permit me” she added and tried to bring down the firewood. I went quickly and assisted her.

She called one of the guards

“Take this with her and bring it to her destination” she told him

“Yes my princess” he bowed

“Oh my daughter, Thank your majesties” the woman said.

She smiled and watched them leave. She turned to me and her face straighten.

We continued walking

She’s so humble, I stared at her on more intervals.

“Stop” she suddenly said

“Stop what your highness?” I replied her

“Why do you keep staring at me?”

“I wasn’t, you probably observe too much” I told her

“You’re unbelievable” she looked at the other side.

It was quiet now, we both said nothing but walked.

I still couldn’t stop stealing glances, she looked more beautiful since the urge to make things work swept through me.

I want to get to know her, I want to give this a try.

It’s more of my responsibility to make my marriage work.

My Father would say

‘A man who can’t build a family can’t build a nation’

and it makes sense considering how a man will lead hundreds of people without being able to lead in his home, to take control and be committed towards achievements.

“Should we see your parents?” I asked her

She said nothing.

“Kelechi, we’ll be heading to my in-laws” I yelled to the guards ahead of us.

She turned to me, we stared at each other for a while and she looked away.

We arrived at her father’s compound after a long quiet walk.

“Mother, Baami” she called excitedly

Her mother hurried out of the hut, her Father followed.

They looked surprised to see her but even more surprised at my presence.

“Ekaaro” she fell on her knees. Her father helped her up

“It’s afternoon already my dear”

he said and they laughed.

“Your highness” they bowed their head. I smiled and bowed too

Mother said that the first step to winning a woman is to respect her parents.

I don’t know if I want to win her but I want to give the union a try.

I watched them have their time with their daughter. I’ve never seen her this happy

“My prince please sit” her Father said

I went ahead to sit down.

Adenike sat beside me and her parents beside her. Her mother didn’t let go of her hands

“You should’ve informed us that you were coming” she said

“I should inform you before coming to my father’s house, no way” she said like a child

They smiled.

“Your highness, let me offer you kola” her father said. I nodded

“I will prepare you lunch quickly” her mother said and I nodded again with a smile

Adenike stood up and left with her while her father came with some kola and drink.

“My daughter looks happy and healthy, Thank you your highness” he said

“No, Thank you for raising her properly” I told him instead.

“There’s a piece of land I’ve preserved for you, I heard that one of your lands was affected because of the issue with the neighboring village” I took a shot of the drink.

We talked for a while before the ladies returned with food.

“Seems like a serious conversation there” Adenike said dropping the food in front of us.

Her father opened his arms and she sat on his thighs.

What a baby she is at home, no wonder she’s a cry baby too. I smiled

“Mother, I will eat with Baami”

“Get up from my husband young lady, you have yours now”

Adenike’s smile fell and she came to sit beside me

She served

“My prince, I hope you enjoy the food” mother said

“I will definitely”

We washed our hands and she started eating

I will be eating with my wife for the first time thanks to this official walk parade.

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Adenike (POV)

I can’t wait to get back to the palace and away from all this pretense. I have to force a smile when I’m with him and beside my parents. It’s tiring and my cheeks are starting to hurt.

Eating in the same plate with him, sharing my space and parents attention with him.

Everything feels like a charade

We finished the meal and the maids cleared out.

The smiles on their faces made me happy no doubt but the smile on his face made me wonder.

What’s with his sudden changes?

While try to be nice with me when he still secretly sees his mistress?

I don’t care what he does but he should respect my space.

“We’ll get going , I want us to visit other places today” Ikenna said and we all stood up.

I hugged Baami and mother, they smiled

“Your highness, thank you for the offer” Baami said

“What offer?” Mother and I chorused

“Men business” Baami replied.

“Urhmm, okay o!” Mother expressed.

I glanced at Ikenna

We bid them and walked away into quietness.

Answering greetings from the villagers, the day seemed like a busy one. People moved about a lot.

I could feel his eyes on me, he stares too much recently and it makes me feel uncomfortable.

“Do you want to tell me something?” I asked

“Do you want to hear something?” He replied always effortlessly annoying

“Question for question, thought you went out of the land to study? What a waste” I retorted.

He chuckled. I’m a joke to him, no doubt about that.

I stopped walking and turned to face him

“What is your problem?”

“You”

“I know I am a problem to you and it’s mutual, I can’t stand your recent mischief”

“Me either, you suddenly make me feel a sort of way” he said

“Meaning?”

“I don’t want to be here with you either” he responded and I nodded

“Then the feeling is exactly mutual”

I rolled my eyes and he smiled. Ugh? What’s amusing him?

Just earlier he touched me in a way I didn’t understand,

it was the longest my wrapper has had to be tied.

The heat from his body matched with mine.

His body against me made me feel a bit vulnerable.

“Greetings my prince”

I turned to the person and it was Chioma.

She made eye contacts with him before attempting to walk away.

“Stop there” I said and she did.

“Maiden of Umuagwo, is the princess not worthy of your greetings?”

I asked and she kept mute

“Speak!”

“A worthy princess is to be greeted” she replied like I expected

Pride comes before a fall

“On your knees immediately, Guards!” I called

“Adeni….”

I pushed her shoulders down before she could complete my name

“Even my husband hardly address me with such disrespect, Who are you?”

I said.

Almost pouring all my frustrations on her.

She was on her knees now with the guards holding her down.

“Now greet me properly till I reply your greetings”

She kept staring at Ikenna, he better don’t say a word. It’ll be best for us both

“Greetings my princess, may you live long”

She said but I said nothing

“Greetings my princess, may you live long. Greetings my princess, may you live long”

She continued bowing her head along.

“Adenike, what are you doing?”

Ikenna whispered from behind

“Punishing your mistress for disrespecting me” I replied.

“Greetings my princess, may you live long”

“Greetings maiden of Umuagwo”

I replied finally after several greetings from her and walked away without minding if Ikenna came along or not. Surprisingly he did.

If I can’t have my peace then I will have my respect.

She’s a mistress to the crowned prince and not his wife. I will not be taken for granted henceforth.

Nobody better test my patience anymore or push me to limits….