THE CROWN - EPISODE 42

We were at dinner, it was quiet and everyone simply ate their food.

My eyes were fixed on Emenike, he looked like something was bothering him and I couldn’t help but notice his mood.

He picked on his food and had his head down all the while.

I wonder what is going on with him

“Why are you not eating?”

I heard mother ask. So I wasn’t the only one noticing him.

I turned to her and realized she was referring to Adenike who was seated beside me but I didn’t even notice.

I guess I was caught up with my brother

I looked at her plate and she hadn’t even touched the food, it was a meal of roasted yam and vegetable stew.

“I don’t want to eat this” Adenike replied like a little kid, her lips were pouted.

Everyone’s attention was on her

“You’ve never rejected food, are you feeling unwell?” I said almost in a whisper even though we had just left the room together and she was fine all through.

“I don’t want to eat yam today” she whined.

“What do you want for dinner? I will have them make it quickly” I asked her. She looked around and hesitated to reply.

We all waited for her to say something, the head maid paid attention to take orders but Adenike wasn’t saying anything.

“Go on” Father chipped in.

She turned to me

“on our way here I think I perceived native rice made with Nchawun”

her expression looked like she was about to cry. What is going on with her?

“Your Majesty that was Yesterday’s left over and some maids and guards will be having it for dinner”the head maid replied.

“Is that what you want to eat?” Father questioned.

She nodded

“Get it for her”

“Yes your highness” she bowed

“And green oranges, get me green oranges too”

We all looked at her confused but I was more confused. Her appetite and moodswings of recent are alarming.

“What?”

I nodded and continued my food.

We had dinner and went back to our chamber. She said she was feeling hot and so went to bath again for the third time just this evening.

She came out and changed into a very light wrapper. I could slightly see her her skin from the fabric.

“Are you sure you’re okay? You’ve seem acting strange”

She walked pass me and went to lie down, ignoring me completely.

I shrugged it off and laid beside her, I cuddled her and sniffled on her scent.

“Space Ikenna, I’m sweating so much”

I moved away from her.

It was quiet but I still couldn’t sleep, I was thinking about Adenike but I was also worried about Chioma.

I can swear that I’ve not set eyes on her for a few days now. She’s carrying my Child, if I had wronged her I can’t do the same to my child.

Adenike started tossing and turning, she opened her eyes

“Get something to fan me, my whole body is dripping sweat” she ordered.

I nodded like an obedient child and went ahead to get something to help.

I sat up and started fanning her, I did it for a long while before she finally slept off. I sighed heavily

Should I go see Chioma? No,

I have to tell Adenike first but she’s asleep. Should I just wait till it’s morning? I really don’t want to spend another second being a bad father and neglecting my responsibilities to my child and his mother.

I slowly got off the bed, stole a glance at her before storming out.

The guards were still on watch. I walked straight to her hut and went in. She was asleep in a light wrapper too like Adenike’s. What is it with these women and heat?

I walked closer to the bed and bent down to her obviously protruded belly.

“Hey!” I muttered

I smiled knowing the even more Joy I’d feel talking to my child in Adenike’s womb. But I needed to accept this, no child should ever be punished for the father’s mistake.

Those were Adenike’s words. While trying not to neglect my duties as a husband I’ve been neglecting my duties as a Father.

“I’m your Father” I cracked, it felt so good saying that.

“You finally realize that?” It was Chioma.

I hesitated to look at her face. I bent my head for a while and stood up.

“Urhm, hmm” she made all sort of sounds trying to sit up.

“What are doing here and at this time of night?”

I turned to face her.

She had added so much weight and her complexion was lighter, she was usually fair anyway.

“I came to check on you and my baby” I replied.

She stood up

“Did your wife finally grant you permission to check on your unborn child? Or did you sneak out on her?”

I didn’t have the right words to say to her, I knew I was wrong and that this whole situation is my fault.

“Answer me Ikenna, you got me pregnant and abandon me? You let that woman keep you away from your child and then you let her take on your fatherly duties”

She was raging with anger

“She is not ‘that woman’ she’s my wife and she has done nothing but love this child. My negligence has nothing to do with her”

I said calmly. I knew she was angry and I wasn’t stopping her from expressing her anger.

She kept quiet, I looked at her and noticed she was in pains

“Are you okay?”

“My stomach” she cried out. I held her shoulders and helped her sit down on the bed.

We both stayed quiet for a while and soon she started smiling

“What?” I asked confused

“He’s kicking” she giggled.

I watched her act so excited, the pain slowly disappearing into a very wide smile.

“Don’t you want to feel it?come on”

I brought my right hand and placed it on her protruding stomach. I felt him kick hard

“He kicked, I felt him kick” I laughed. He kicked even harder

“Doesn’t that hurt?” I asked her, she smiled.

“It does but I enjoy it”

So this is what it feels like, I can’t wait for Adenike to carry my child. I’d rest my head on her everyday just to hear our baby’s heartbeat.

“He has stopped” I said and she nodded.

I sighed softly

“Chioma I’m sorry, I know I apologized before but this time nothing will separate me from my child again….”

I looked away from her face and lower, I placed my hand on her belly

“I am never going to neglect you again, I promise. Now you’re have the attention of not just your mothers but your father has well”

“Mothers?”

I paid no attention to that.. I stood up and smiled.

“I will leave now, Goodnight”

“Spend the night with me, with your baby”
I looked at her.

“I can’t Chioma, my wife!”

“My feets hurt, please help me massage them then you can leave”

She looked like she was really in pains and it seemed like it was the first time I’ll be doing for my child’s sake. I sat down, she laid and placed her legs on my thighs.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you this soft” she said. I looked and her eyes were closed.

My eyes were heavy and I was so sleepy and tired. First I had to fan Adenike to sleep now I’m stucked with massaging Chioma’s feet

She whined and tossed a little. My eyes were starting to get teary and tiring.

I felt new presence and a different scent from the one I usually wake up to. I stretched a bit and opened my eyes. I jumped up

“Good morning my princes” she bowed her head.

“Yes? Yes? Why am I waking up on your bed?” I rubbed my fingers on my eyes.

“I don’t know, you must’ve fallen asleep while massaging my feets” she replied and I remembered.

I cursed myself for it, Adenike! How do I explain this to her?

I stormed out of the hut and headed straight for mine. It was already a bright morning, the palace looks swept and clean already. Oh goodness!

“Greetings your highness” the maids lined up said in unison.

Adenike sat on the bed and they were dressing her up. She didn’t bulge, she’s mad. What do I do now?

“We’re done my princess” one of them said.

I stood there waiting for her to acknowledge my presence.

“You can leave”

“Yes my princess”

They bowed

“Ngozi, please make sure my breakfast is prepared just as I’ve instructed”

“Yes your highness”

They all packed up and left. She sat there still, her back to me and not a single acknowledgement.

I walked to her and simply fell on my knees

“I..urhm.. it’s.. I’m” I stopped and swallowed nothing. I was lost at words to say.

“Why are you on your knees?” She placed her hands on her thighs.

“For spending the night, I fell asleep while massaging her feet and I’m sorry”

I heard her sigh

“you had to sneak around to see check on your unborn child? Did I stop you from doing that?”

Her voice was calm and I could hear the sadness in it. What exactly is hurting her? That I slept in Chioma’s hut or that I did it sneakily?

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Adenike (POV)

I wasn’t hurt with the fact that he fell asleep while checking on his unborn child and the mother.

I was upset or rather hurt that he was sneaking around.

I had so much trust in him and whatever he was going to be having with Chioma but he obviously had so little on me and my understanding towards the situation.

“You have so little trust in me” I blurted.

I took my eyes off him and on my thighs. I didn’t know how to keep staring at him, I was hurting so much.

“I do, I trust you completely that I end up neglecting my duties and leaving it all to you. I just don’t want to hurt you or give you reasons to doubt what we have”

“That’s where you get it all wrong Ikenna. I opened my arms and welcomed your mistake into my life, I accepted your child as mine even though I should be throwing a tantrum everyday that another woman is pregnant for my husband. Yet you doubt my understanding to the situation, you don’t think I will understand?”

I stopped to take a deep breath

“I can’t believe we’re still on this”

I wiped the drop of tears on my eye. He leaned forward and held my hands

“While trying not to hurt you I keep doing everything wrong and end up hurting you. Now I will ask for forgiveness for the hundredth time cause it seems like I’ve been upsetting you alot”

I raised his face

“I’m not stopping you from performing your duties to your child or his mother. While you’re my husband you’re also a Father to your child who is yet to be born. I take on my duties as a Stepmom so why would I stop you from your duties?… I trust you completely that you won’t hurt me”

He took my hand and kissed it “I love you so much and I promise you, I’d never hurt you, Never!”

I’ve long accepted the fact that things will always be like this.

That as long as Chioma is going to bear his child and heir, they will always be a third party in our marriage and we really can’t change that anymore.