THE CROWN - EPISODE 44

The loud noise from outside woke me up. I flattered my eyelids open and groaned angrily. What is all the noise for?

I looked around and jumped up. Not again! I spent the night here again,

“why do I always fall asleep here?” I cursed myself and brushed my hand into my temple.

“Because you find more peace here than with her” She walked out a corner.

I looked at her and almost hissed.

I want to be a good father but why doesn’t it feel like I’m becoming a bad husband by doing that.

“Greetings my prince” she smiled.

“What’s all the noise outside?” I asked. It was making the ache I felt in my head worst.

“The King and elders are accommodating the dance performance of the Royal dancers to celebrate Prince Emenike’s Victory”

she replied.

Emenike went out for official assignments and we returned victorious.

“I should leave, they must be looking for me”

She held my arm

“I told them that you left for personal errands”

I looked at her. What?

“Why did you lie? What about my wife?”

Adenike, I’m hurting her so much and I really don’t want to but I want to be a father to my child and I don’t know why I can’t do both.

“So you can spend more time with your child, forget everything else only for this moment”

She walked to my back and hugged me from behind. Her grip on my waist was tight.

“Your baby needs you and I do too” she left me and I felt the weight of her wrapper on my legs.

It better not be what I’m thinking, if it is then I should leave at once. I took a step and she hugged me from behind.

Her erect bosom touched my bare back and I could feel her warm skin on mine.

“Chioma let go of me immediately, it’s an order”

I commanded

She did and walked to my front.

“I know you miss this”

I took a view of her and felt even more disgusted.

She didn’t seem to be as beautiful or as elegant.

All I saw was desperation and dishonour.

To a man who had a woman like Adenike for a wife? The fully unclad woman standing in front of him was nothing.

I raised my head when someone barged in. Adenike? She looked from me to Chioma and back at my eyes.

She turned and left. Oh no! What do I do? What words will convince her this time?

“My Pri….”

“Don’t you dare” I pointed out my index finger.

I ran after Adenike and found her at our chamber.

She sat on the bed and bent her head into her knees.

I was lost at words to say. I opened my mouth and nothing came out

“Adenike” I summoned courage.

She slowly raised her head. Her expression was Plain but her eyes said a million words.

“I promise it’s not what you think…I… she.. you see…” I stammered and stopped.

She stood up and walked slowly to me. She looked at my eyes

“I can explain, Please trust me.. I swear it…”

My face turned from the resounding slap she landed on my cheek. I looked at her and tears rolled down her cheeks.

“How dare you??! How dare you stand there and talk to me about explanation? What exactly do you want to explain? Another woman carrying my husband’s child ? Oh yeah..you already explained that and what did I do? I took her in, cared for her and the baby. Ran to her every call like a proud slave just to make you happy and make sure that your child doesn’t suffer for your foolish mistakes” she was mad,

she was raging with anger and I understood where it was coming from.

From a woman hurting. From an angered wife and a Princess whose ego was being broken into pieces.

“Did I ever stop you from seeing your child? Did I stop you from caring for your child? Have you exchanged your duties as my husband to be a good father to your child or lover to your mistress?”

More tears streamed down

“I promise you, there’s nothing going on between us. I’m already there for her because she’s carrying my child. ihunanya m biko tukwasim obi”

There was nothing else to say. I too was unconvinced of what’ll happen

“Trust you? I trusted you enough that I convinced myself that the nights you spent with her was nothing”

Her words were starting to hurt and tears were piling up in my eyes.

I love this woman too much, I don’t want anything to come between us. I don’t want to lose her.

“Why can’t you just listen to what I have to say?!!” I yelled before I could stop myself

“What do you have to say about what I saw? Your mistress was naked in front of you, the very woman who is carrying your child and whose arms you spent the night!!” She yelled back

I was losing my sanity, anger took over, mixed with frustration and pain.

I was tired of the bickering.

The tears in her eyes and the pain I heard in her voice broke my heart.

She broke down in tears, she cried and muttered things under her breathe. I pulled her into my chest and hugged her.

“Please believe me, Please!” I kissed her head

I closed my eyes and simply held her.

She pulled away from me and wiped her face

“I want to be left alone” she said.

I looked at her, she looked so broken and I hated the sight of it.

She has been nothing but understanding to all this and this is how I repay her every single time.

I moved to her, inches away

She closed her eyes “please” she said lowly.

“I’m sorry” I said and held her head

I pecked her forehead “I love you so much, don’t forget that”

I caressed her head and left. I hope she forgives me again. I hope this too will pass.

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Adenike (POV)

My eyes were to heavy to open, the tears in them weighed my eyelids. I felt him leave

I covered my face with my palm and cried, I couldn’t help it.

I was tired and confused, the pain was too much. My heart was broken and I felt stupid.

Did I do wrong by trusting him completely? Why did it have to get to this?

I knew he spent the night with her for the hundredth time.

I braced myself up and convinced myself that it must’ve been something serious otherwise he won’t disrespect me so much.

I walked there to check on her even with an heavy heart and what did I find? Ahhh,

the thoughts angers me yet leaves me broken again and again.

I walked to my bed and sat down, the noise from outside was making me even more tired.

They are celebrating but my marriage is on the edge in the hands of my husband’s mistress.

Or am I too blind to see the truth? Am I being fooled here?

“The Queen is coming” I heard the guard announce

I cleaned up quickly and adjusted myself.

She walked in

“Greetings mother” I bowed my head but I was too sour to stand on my feets. I tried to avoid eye contacts with her.

“You nor your husband have join in the celebration outside, is anything the matter?”

She questioned. I nodded

“Nothing serious mother” I replied. My head was down and my hands beside my hips.

“Nothing serious and you’re crying so much?” She said. I kept mute and we both stayed quiet for a while.

She sat on the chair opposite me, I raised my head and tried not to break down. Not in front of this woman.

“Did something happen? Are you and my son having issues?”

Why does she care all of a sudden? I thought she didn’t consider me as her daughter or even her son’s wife. She was ready to watch them kill me months ago.

I looked at her, she dropped her horsetail on her thighs.

“Whatever it is, don’t let anything or anyone come between you and your husband just like how you have been doing” she stood up and left.

Yes, I’ve been doing just that but I don’t know how much more I can endure and tolerate.

I love Ikenna, I I’ve grown to love him, this marriage and everything we have together. It hurts too much.

Right now I don’t know what to do or how to act. Should I forgive him? It’s so difficult.

Will that solve the problems? Oh gods of our land,