💔BENEATH THE CROWN💔
(AMANDA’S TALE)
WRITTEN BY:RuchinaBlog
CHAPTER 15
AMANDA’S POV
I got home feeling happy and proud of myself. I just love being me, and I don’t hesitate when helping people in need. I placed the things I bought and began to make some adjustments to my room to accommodate them. I was soon done with the needed adjustment. Now I don’t have to go to the kitchen; I have all I need to cook and the foodstuffs that will last me for a while.
I began to prep ingredients needed to make a delicious okro soup. I had craved this very soup for a long time. I was halfway through cooking the soup when I felt a familiar hand on my waist.
“What is the love of my life up to?” he asked, planting soft kîsses on my neck. I just don’t understand why he likes to do that.
“Alex, when did you get in, and how did you do it without me noticing?” I asked as I turned to face him.
“I just wanted to surprise you, my love. What are you cooking? The aroma is making me salivate,” he asked, looking into the pot.
“I am sure this food is going to be so delicious, and this aroma is getting me hungry. Is there anything I can do to help?” he added, putting away royal garments, revealing his abs. I couldn’t get my eyes off him; he was a sweet man, but I can’t fully trust him. I don’t want to get hurt anymore.
“You love what you see, cutie. Don’t worry; it is all yours,” he said, placing his hands on my waist and dragging me closer to him. I snapped out of my reverie and looked at his smiley face; he sure has his way with women.
“So what can I help you with?” he asked again.
“Oh no! Your Highness, just relax. The food will be ready in no time; I don’t want your mother to have my head for making you do kitchen work,” I replied, not minding the glares he was sending my way. I just laughed because he looked kind of cute with his angry face.
The food was ready in no time. I placed a portion of the soup with fresh fufu in front of him, much to his delight. I was about to go back to get my portion when he caught my hand and dragged me to sit on his lap.
“What are you doing? You are my wife, and we are meant to eat together; don’t you know that?” he asked.
“I didn’t know that,” I replied, rolling my eyes.
“Now you know; whenever we are together, we would eat in the same plate,” he said as he fed me some fufu, giving me no room to reply.
We ate in peace, with him mostly feeding me. I stood up to pack the plates, but Ikenna stopped me.
“My love, let me do this. I just want you to rest while I clear here,” he said as he proceeded to clear the place we ate. That is so sweet of him, but I knew he had an ulterior motive, and I was right.
He came back and insisted he helped me wash off the heat from cooking; I protested, but he picked me up and took me to the bathroom, and I let him have his way again.
He wore a cheeky smile on his face as he put me on the bed and kîssed my forehead.
“My love, your meal was delicious, and I enjoyed it. I had the best time, thanks to you, my love,” Ikenna said with a big grin as he walked out of my room, leaving me to sleep.
I woke up in the evening and dressed to go to the market. I stepped out of the palace, enjoying the evening breeze when I came across my brothers. It’s been a while since I saw them. I smiled and walked forward to meet them, but they walked past me as if they did not know me. I could feel tears sting my eyes; has it gotten to the point that my very own family treats me as an outcást? I watched them as they walked past me, not minding to look back for once.
I continued my journey feeling heartbroken; if everybody could turn their back on me, why my own family? I got to the market and walked over to the woman’s stall where I met with smiles all over her face.
“Ah! My queen, you are here; welcome,” she greeted excitedly.
“I can see you are happy; what is going on?” I asked.
“My queen, your prayers worked; immediately you left my shop, I began to receive customers, unlike before. Now my goods have finished, and I have to go to the market tomorrow to restock my shop. My queen, may you live long and be fruitful. Your prayers wiped away the sháme and reproách of this old woman,” she said with tears in her eyes.
“That is wonderful news; I am really happy for you. Your story will change from now on,” I replied with a smile.
“Are you ready? Let’s go to your house; I would like to meet your son,” I said, placing the bag in my hand down on her table. “I brought for you and your son some of the soup; I know it will take time before your food will be ready,” I added.
“Ah! My queen, that is so kind of you; thank you so much. Let me lock up so we can get to my house on time. I don’t want the queen to be walking at night,” she replied with joy written all over her face.
“Ma! I can be your daughter; please stop with this ‘my queen’ title. Just take me as your own daughter. My family has abandoned me,” I said.
“No problem at all. Ha! People don’t value what they have until they lose it. Come, I am sure we would bond well like mother and daughter,” she said softly.
She quickly locked her shop while I helped her carry her things. We made our way out of the market towards her house. We got there in no time as it wasn’t far from the market.
“My daughter, this is my humble home where I live with my son; please make yourself comfortable,” she said as we entered the house. The house looked old and dusty with few pieces of furniture.
“My daughter, let me go and check on my son; I will be back,” she said as she went inside to check on her son. She came a few minutes later, looking scared.
“Mama, what happened? Why are you looking so scared?” I asked, wondering what was wrong.
“My daughter, it is my son; I couldn’t find my son. Someone that is weak and unable to move. Where could my son be?” she asked with tears in her eyes.
“Mama, what is it? Why are you crying? Who did you offend?” a voice from behind me asked. I turned to see a young man around my brothers’ age.
“Chukwuma, where did you go, and how are you able to stand up? What is going on?” she asked as she went to meet him.
“Mama, I was lying down feeling weak and hungry, and I knew you didn’t leave any food at home. But I suddenly felt strength enter my body, and I was able to stand,” he replied. The woman turned to look at me with tears in her eyes, tears of joy.
“Mama, what is the problem, and who is she?” Chukwuma asked as he pointed at me.
“My son, she is Amanda, the king’s wife that was accused of being unfaithful to tradition. And the very reason you are able to stand on your own two feet,” she said as she came and held my hands.
“My queen, thank you for this; your prayers have been answered, and thanks to you, my son is well and recovering,” she smiled softly. I wondered what she could have been through to be like this.
“No problem, ma. Please, you and Chukwuma should eat something. I am sure you are very famished,” I said as I sat on one of the chairs.
She smiled and went to the kitchen to get plates. Chukwuma was busy staring at me; I wondered why.
“My queen, please don’t be offended. Were you really a viîrgin when the king slept with you?” he asked, looking at me.
“Chukwuma! Why will you ask such a sensitive question? Is that what I taught you?” Mama Chukwuma asked as she set the plates on the floor.
“Mama, it is ok. Yes, I was a vîrgîn, Chukwuma, but no one believes me because there was no blood on the cloth,” I sighed with a heavy heart.
“I believe you,” Chukwuma said, shocking me and his mom.
Chukwuma came to my front and knelt before me, shocking me more.
“My queen, I am willing to be your servant for as long as you like. I will only follow your orders,” he said. “Mum, remember that every queen of our land comes with a unique gift once she has slept with the king. This proves that she was a vîrgîn, no matter the circumstances surrounding it,” he added.
“How did you know that?” I asked curiously.
“You have the power to bless and to cûrße, my queen, and this only comes when you have slept with the king. This proves to me that you were a vîrgîn,” he replied, shocking me to the core.
“Ok, please stand and go and eat. You need to recover your health fully. We have plenty of time to talk because I will be coming frequently,” I said. I watched him return to his spot besides his mom, leaving me to my thoughts. How come I didn’t know this? What will happen now? Will it be enough to prove my innocence? I sighed as I pushed all thoughts to the back of my head.
I watched them eat in silence. I really wished I brought more food for them; they were really famished.
“My queen, thanks for the food. The soup was really delicious; I hope some more of your food one day,” Chukwuma said, but his mom slapped his head.
“Ah! Mama, what did I do now?” he asked while rubbing his head.
“Is she your servant that she will cook for you? You are the one meant to be cooking for her to eat,” Mama Chukwuma replied, glaring at him.
“Mama, it is ok, and I will be more than happy to let you eat my food again, and please treat me like your sister and stop calling me ‘my queen.’ I am not a queen, just the king’s wife,” I said, smiling at the mother and son cute fight.
“Chukwuma, how did you know about the queen’s gift?” I asked.
“My father was an elder before he dîed, or should I say was kîlled. He told everything about the tradition and the queen’s gift,” he replied.
“What do you mean by he was kîlled?” I asked.
“My father died mysteriously in his sleep and had a black mark on his head, just like the king when he died. My mom was accused of kîlling him, making her an outcást in the village. All our properties were taken by my uncle and his children. He even took over the position of my father in the palace,” he replied in a somber tone.
“That’s why we are like this, my daughter; no one was willing to help us or fight us. My other son had to travel to the city in search of greener pastures. Even the women’s association abandoned me,” Mama added.
“Who is this your uncle you speak of?” I asked.
“ELDER AMADI!!” they replied in unison.
We chatted for a long time, and I enjoyed every bit of it.
“Well, I guess it is time for me to go. We would see tomorrow,” I said as I stood up.
“No problem, my queen; I will be expecting you,” Chukwuma said as he stood up to walk me out.
We got to the gate and turned to me. He looked at me and sighed.
“My queen, you have to be strong and be careful. Darknèss is looming around the palace,” he said, shocking me.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Don’t worry; everything will reveal itself in due time,” he replied. He bade me goodbye and went inside. Different thoughts were going through my mind, but I pushed them to the back of my mind.
I took out my phone and sent a message to a number before walking back to the palace.
“I HAVE SEEN A PLACE WHERE WE COULD MEET” – it read.
TBC
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