💔BENEATH THE CROWN💔
(AMANDA’S TALE)
WRITTEN BY:RuchinaBlog
GRAND FINALE PART 1
Amanda smirked as she watched Elder Amadi and his family shiver in fear upon hearing Ikenna’s words. She turned back to Elder Ejike and said, “Like my darling husband said, my punishment is final. Guards, lead them out, and make sure to parade them around the whole village for everyone to know the perpetrators of the calamity.”
“You can’t treat us like this! There are no elders remaining in the king’s cabinet,” Elder Ejike yelled as he was pushed away from the courtyard.
Amanda turned to him with a smile and halted the guards. “And who said there are no remaining elders? Chukwuma, bring him in.”
Chukwuma nodded, went into the palace, and walked out with Elder Chibuzo looking all hale and hearty. Elder Chibuzo walked up to Amanda with a smile and hugged her.
“Dad!”
“My darling daughter! I am so happy to see you again. I used my time in prison to reflect on my actions, and I am deeply sorry for all I put you through. I wasn’t there for you, but you were there for me and still made sure I was well taken care of. I am really grateful,” Elder Chibuzo smiled with tears rolling down his eyes.
“Dad! It’s okay! I forgave you a long time ago. Let the past be the past,” Amanda smiled.
Amanda faced Elder Ejike and smirked. “As you can see, he is fine and will continue as the chief adviser to the king. You don’t have to worry.”
“On second thought! I want you to witness this joy and celebration for the very last time. Guards, tie them to a chair. Let them witness with their eyes that evil can never defeat light,” Amanda yelled, causing the villagers to shout in joy.
“People of Egonna, the evil perpetrators have been fished out. The calamity is hereby seized from now henceforth. The strange sickness will now depart from our lands, health is restored to our lands, peace and joy are restored to our land. We will continue to grow in prosperity, love, joy, happiness,” Amanda yelled.
“Iseeeeeee!” the villagers responded.
Amanda smiled with full joy as she watched her people jubilate as her prayers worked with immediate effect. Ikenna smiled and walked forward, collecting his crown and kingly garment from Chidi. He walked towards Elder Chibuzo, placing the crown in his hands before kneeling down in front of him.
Elder Chibuzo smiled as he lifted the crown above Ikenna’s head. “People of Egonna! We are here to crown our king, a king who has our best interest at heart, a king who embarked on a dangerous journey with his wife just for our peace and joy, a king who will lead us to greater heights.”
“My people, I give you King Ikenna Alexander Tobechukwu, our king!” Elder Chibuzo said as he placed the crown on his head. The villagers jumped in joy, with Ikenna waving at them.
Chukwuma brought forward another beautiful crown and gave it to King Ikenna, who collected it and walked towards Amanda with the crown in his hands.
King Ikenna stood in front of Amanda with a smile and slowly went on his knees in front of her, causing the villagers to yell in shock.
“Ahh!”
“My king! You are not to kneel for any woman, and you know this,” Elder Chibuzo said.
“Elder! I am first her husband before being a king. If I can’t kneel as a king, then I must kneel as her husband to plead for her forgiveness.”
Ikenna turned to face Amanda. “My dear Amanda! I keep thanking the gods for bringing you into my life because if it wasn’t for you, I would have been long dead and forgotten, and this kingdom would be in serious chaos. Even the gods will be angry with me if I don’t plead for your forgiveness. You went through a lot to save this kingdom; I subjected you to inhumane treatment even though we planned it. I kept regretting it every day for allowing you to go through the plan and even hated myself for being weak to rely on a woman. Right now, I plead for your forgiveness, forgive this husband of yours for every humiliation, disgrace, reproach I melted out to you from the very day you became my wife.”
Tears rolled down from Amanda’s eyes as she stared at Ikenna; surprisingly, the villagers present went on their knees, bowing their heads.
“Forgive us, our queen!”
“Forgive us, our queen, we are sorry for everything we did to you,” the villagers said in unison.
Amanda looked at the villagers and smiled amidst her tears; she turned back to King Ikenna and lifted him up before hugging him. “My love! I never held any grudges against you; I have forgiven you and the villagers a long time. You all may rise.”
Ikenna smiled and kissed her forehead and disengaged from the hug. Amanda went on her knees as King Ikenna lifted the crown and gently placed the crown on her head, crowning her the new queen.
Amanda stood up with smiles all over her face as she faced the villagers. “My people! Today is a great day in our land; peace has finally been restored to our land. I, Queen Amanda, pledge to be a selfless queen who has the best interest of her people at heart. I pledge to move our lands in peace and harmony to greater heights with my dear husband by my side. I will also do everything in my power to make sure that women are treated right in this village with respect and dignity, and also promote fair and equal judgment in our land. We may now merry and enjoy ourselves while evil is sent out of our midst”
The villagers continued in celebration as the maids served food and drinks. Amidst the celebration, Adaku, Nonso, Abigail, and Elder Amadi were led away from the village, facing the consequences of their actions. King Ikenna and Queen Amanda smiled at each other and went to sit on the designated chairs left for them.
Amanda turned to King Ikenna and whispered, “This is a dream come true. We’ve overcome so much together, and now we can truly build a legacy of love and prosperity for our people.”
King Ikenna smiled and replied, “Yes, my love. Our journey has been challenging, but it has led us to this moment. I am grateful for your strength and wisdom. Together, we will lead our kingdom to greatness.”
Suddenly, the celebration came to an abrupt stop, and everyone looked at the center of the courtyard to see Michael on one knee in front of Ifeoma.
“Ifeoma! I am not a man of many words, and I haven’t known you for a long time, but I feel I have known you forever. My feelings for you are genuine. You came to lighten up my world with your beautiful smile, you made me fall hopelessly in love with you with your mesmerizing beauty without even trying. I know you see me as a friend, but I want to be more than a friend to you. I want to be the man you wake up to every morning, I want to be the man you lean on, I want to be your helpmate. Allow me to love and cherish you. Ifeoma! PLEASE, WILL YOU MARRY ME!”
“SAY YES!”
“PLEASE SAY YES!
“PLEASE SAY YES!”
Ifeoma nodded with tears rolling down her eyes; Michael smiled and slid the diamond ring on her finger. He drew her closer and placed a wet kiss on her lips before taking her aside for the celebration.
“And that is what I call a double celebration. I really can’t wait; I have a big wedding,” Amanda giggled like a kid. Now Ikenna was silently watching her.
“Do you really like weddings so much?” Ikenna asked.
“Oh, yes! I like it so much. I dreamt of having a big wedding, but I am over that,” Amanda replied.
“I will make it come true,” Ikenna said seriously.
“Oh babe! It is just a childhood fantasy; I am over that now. Besides, I am a mother now and should focus on you and the children,” Amanda muttered. Ikenna kept silent with thoughts going through his mind; he looked at Amanda and smiled.
================================
The celebrations ended in the evening with everyone retiring to their various homes. Ikenna and Michael walked into the garden after putting the babies to sleep. They met Amanda talking with her sister. He sat beside Amanda, drawing her into his arms, and Michael did the same.
“Today has been really entertaining and stressful as well. I hope I can borrow my wife; we have a lot to discuss,” Ikenna said with a smirk.
“Well, that won’t be possible because I also want to borrow her from you,” Ifeoma replied with a smirk.
“Do you know she is my wife, and I really just want to speak with her? You will have her all to yourself tomorrow,” Ikenna pleaded with mischievous eyes.
“Well, she is my sister before she married you, basically I met her before you, so let me have her to myself for a while,” Ifeoma replied with the same mischievous energy.
Ikenna smirked, looking at Amanda before turning his gaze back to Ifeoma. “Now let me shock you! You were still a baby when I met your sister. She saved me from drowning when we were just six years old, and ever since then, I fell madly in love with her and vowed to make her my wife. My mother and father were aware of it.”
“WHAT!”
“Wait! You are that little boy who couldn’t swim. Imagine you were older than me but couldn’t swim,” Amanda laughed.
“And that’s why I have you,” Ikenna replied, tickling Amanda, causing her to laugh more.
Their play was brought to an abrupt end, and everywhere went silent as Queen Chiamaka walked into the room with a sweet smile on her face. She walked over to Amanda and sat close to her and held her hand.
“Amanda! Please, I know I have offended you, but I want your forgiveness. I am really sorry for all the pains that I have caused you,” Queen Chiamaka pleaded.
“I am sorry, but you won’t be getting my forgiveness,” Amanda replied, slowly pulling her hands away.
Tears cascaded from Queen Chiamaka’s eyes; she looked at Ikenna with pleading eyes. “Son! Please help me—”
“I am sorry, but I support her decision; you don’t deserve her forgiveness,” Ikenna said, cutting her off.
Queen Chiamaka turned to Michael but got shunned off too. “I actually support her too. Use time to reflect on the things you did to her and even the ones you were planning to do.”
“Like I said, you don’t deserve my forgiveness, and you won’t be getting it. That is my punishment for you.”
TBC
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