BENEATH THE CROWN Chapter 14 – Ruchinablog

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💔BENEATH THE CROWN💔
(AMANDA’S TALE)

WRITTEN BY:RuchinaBlog

CHAPTER 14

Queen Chiamaka barged into the king’s room and found him sitting lazily on the couch.

“You requested me, mother. What is the problem?” Ikenna asked, turning to face her.

“Ikenna, my son, did you see what your wife displayed in the kitchen this morning?” she asked, stomping her foot on the floor.

“And what were you expecting from her, mother? That she should allow you to bûlly her as you like?” he replied.

“Ikenna, I know she is your wife, and that one mistake I made should not make you divórce that girl and get someone who befits our status,” Queen Chiamaka said.

“You wouldn’t dare, mother. You know very well I won’t accept any woman for a wife except her,” Ikenna snapped.

“Amanda is a good girl, no doubt about that, and she will make a fine queen if only she had kept herself and been faithful to the crown like other maidens are. But no, she had to be dislóyal and still have the guts to rub it on my face. That I won’t take,” she said.

“I love Amanda a lot, and you more than anyone knows that. You know what I faced when I didn’t see her. All I want is for her to love me in return, but you are making it worse by confronting and making her think of another man. You know all this,” he sighed.

“And I want the best for this kingdom, and your father would want the same, young man,” she replied.

“So my happiness doesn’t matter at all? I didn’t want to pursue her matter, but you and the elders insisted that it was a normal thing to do. Doesn’t my opinion matter at all?” he said angrily.

“You are the king and must have the interest of your people at heart to have a successful reign. And Amanda is only a scápegóat to ensure that. You have to make some sacrifice,” the queen replied.

“Just so you know, Amanda can’t be queen, not on my watch. In the next two weeks, I will get you a bride; one fit to be queen,” she added, not minding the look on her son’s face.

“You would do no such thing. Why are you hêll-bent on frustrating me? Please, mother, try to understand that it is only Amanda I want—just her and no one else. Please, mother, consider me for once,” he pleaded. Why can’t anybody understand he loves Amanda so much and can’t bear to lose her?

“I am sorry, son, but I won’t let your sîlly love ruin this kingdom,” she sighed. “He needs to understand that this isn’t a child’s game,” she muttered.

“Then I will step down from the throne if it has come to making sacrifices,” he said, standing up and looking at his mom in the eye.

“You wouldn’t dare. You will sit on that throne if you want your dear Amanda to live peacefully,” the queen snapped. Ikenna looked at his mom, not believing what he is seeing.

“You will do as I say, or else you know what it means,” she smirked. He sat down, wondering what went wrong, where did everything go wrong.

“Look, son, I want the best for—”

“Mother, please leave. You have said enough. Please just leave,” he cut in, wanting her to go far away from him. She was no longer the mother he knew.

“Get ready. You’ll pick a bride in two weeks’ time, or I will get you one,” she said before walking out.

Ikenna slumped on his couch, feeling frustrated and dèpréssed, with tears in his beautiful eyes.

“I am sorry, Amanda. I am so sorry.”

AMANDA’S POV

I made my way to the market, not minding the déâth glares from the villagers as I walked by. I didn’t mind; it was their cup of tea if they couldn’t mind their own business.

I got to the market and walked to the first trader I could find.

“Good morning, ma,” I greeted but got no response. I greeted again and again but still got no response. I proceeded to pick the item I wanted to buy, but my hands got slapped away.

“Are you blînd and stûpîd? Can’t you see that I don’t want to sell to you?” the trader shouted.

“Oh! I thought you were déaf; that’s why I wanted to show you what I wanted to buy,” I responded, not minding her look.

“Even if I am déaf, I will be déaf only to you. Don’t you get that I won’t sell anything to you, you shameless thing?” she snapped.

“Okay! But be careful what you wish for; it might come to pass,” I said. “See, I don’t want any problem; just sell me these items. I will pay double,” I pleaded.

“You don’t get it; even if you are the only one, I won’t sell. I’d rather let the goods spoîl. Useléss girl, shâmêless thing,” the trader replied.

“Since you want to be deâf and pôôr, no problem. The gods will grant your wish, and don’t have any problem when it happens,” I said.

“See the one. Who are the gods going to consider? The gods that abândoned you when you committed the atrôcity. Get out of here; nobody wants you,” the trader grinned.

“You will end up with unnecessary BP for what does not concern you,” I looked at her and walked away. I could hear her laugh, but that wasn’t my business. I tried some other traders, but they refused to sell to me.

My eyes caught a lonely old woman; it seemed as if she hadn’t made any sales. I walked up to her.

“Good morning, ma,” I greeted, not expecting much.

“Good morning, my dear. What do you want to buy?” she responded with a smile.

“Oh! Ma, I want to buy these items,” I said, showing her the list. She rushed off to get everything, shocking me. I thought she wasn’t going to sell to me.

“My dear, this is all I have. I don’t have all the goods you want,” she said, placing the goods on the table.

“Ma, why are you selling to me? Didn’t you notice that the other traders refused to sell to me?” I asked curiously.

“I noticed there, but it isn’t my business. And of course, I know who you are, but I don’t care. I really need money now, and I would be fôôlish to insûlt you,” she replied, looking dejected.

“What do you mean, ma?” I asked, wanting to find out more.

“My daughter, I don’t make enough sales. Nobody wants to buy from me because they see me as an outcâst like you. I barely make enough to survive, and right now, my son is seriously sick. Nobody wants to treat him, and I don’t have enough money to pay for his treatment,” she muttered with tears in her eyes.

“How then do you survive with all this going on?” I asked.

“I sometimes sell my goods in the other village to raise money for myself and sometimes plant some crops to get by. But now, my son is sick, and I have severe waist pain, and I can’t do farm work, making things really hard for me,” she replied, pouring out her mind.

“Hmm! Ma, pack up these things for me, and for the items that you don’t have, please get them for me; I will come get them tomorrow. Take this and begin treatment for your son,” I said, placing the bundle of money in her hands.

“Really, thank you, my queen. Thank you so much,” she said excitedly, going down on her knees, but I dragged her up.

“Thank you so much, my queen. I won’t disappoint you. I promise,” she added.

“No, and please stop calling me ‘my queen.’ I am no queen, just ordinary like you. And please, for your farm work, I will help you with it since I am idle,” I said softly.

“Ah! My queen, I can’t allow you to do that,” she said, pleading with me.

“It is fine; don’t worry. Things won’t be the same from today. Your business will turn around, and your son will be healed and up in no time. Your body will be healed totally,” I prayed with all my heart.

“Amen,” she answered.

“Let me go home and drop these things and cook; I will come out later, so I could know your place,” I said, picking up my goods to leave.

“Take this; get something to cook at home for your son,” I said, placing more money in her hands.

I could hear the traders môcking us, but that wasn’t my business. I am happy to put a smile on someone’s face. I smiled as I made my way out of the market.

Unknown to Amanda and the traders, she had the power to bless and cûrße as well.

UNKNOWN POV

A man is seen sitting with a woman, their face not visible. He took a sip and said,

“It is time to plant one of our own in the palace.”

”Who are we going to send?” the woman asked.

“THE TWO OF THEM,” he said with a glint in his eyes.

TBC

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