OPENED

When entering the dinner hall, Special had her arms intertwined with her husband's as they moved. The intimacy of their closeness was too distinctive to miss. As they walked towards their seats, everyone stood up to acknowledge the presence of the king.

The astonished expression of Cleopatra was not hard to miss as well as the others. They wondered what had happened behind the scenes. Everyone was there including the culprit Obi who was imprisoned between seats by Uyi and a guard. He was fully dressed this time.

"Please be seated everyone. Sorry for having the dinner so late" King Derek offered.

"Oh you mustn't apologize your majesty. Being here with you is such an honour after all" Special's grandmother responded to the king.

"I heard a tiny displeasing incident occured. Your grace, My Queen, are you alright? i was worried"

"Am fine grandma" Special replied her grandmother smiling.

"Once again you are all welcome to this dinner. Now, please let's eat before the dishes gets cold" King Derek declared.

Suddenly Cleo vetted out in anger" I can't believe you brother. You mean after all she did, she is going to still be called your Queen? That's absolutely Impossible. A cheat and adulteress cannot be a Wife to my brother. I won't allow it."

"Excuse me, I want to believe you were not referring to my daughter with those useless names?" John challenged in anger.

"I am sure there's a misunderstanding somewhere. Miss Cleo, were you referring to Queen Special?" Mrs Lola asked fuming in fury.

"Who else would I be referring to ma'am? You can go ahead and ask Treasure, Susan and the culprit Obi here.You should see the expressions on their faces. After all, I saw the whole thing with my eyes." Cleopatra replied in angry.

"ENOUGH!!!!"barked King Derek.

Everyone was startled by the tempo of the King's voice and the room appeared to have vibrated from such a trembling roar.

"I know you are upset and worried about the situation but think about what the people will say when they find out the sort of woman you married. Remember what you did to me when i..." Unable to finish her sentence as the king cut her off.

"I will like to remind you that I am your king. Don't get ahead of yourself before I have you locked up for the night." King Derek clearing his throat continued.

"I will advice you one last time, to keep your bad opinions, wrong misguided thoughts and assumptions about my wife to yourself before you provoke me any further tonight"

"Then i would like to leave this dinner right now" She said.

"Are you sure everything is okay?" asked Felicia once again.

"Everything is fine mama. Cleo will remain seated all through this dinner until I sought this foolish matter out"

"Special are you okay?What happened at the beach" John asked his daughter to which she immediately replied. "Daddy I'm fine. Everything is fine"

"Now I recalled this young man Obi clearly told all those present at the beach front that he has been sleeping with my wife since Susan's marriage which is about three years now."

The expressions on those who were in the dark about the subject matter was utter surprise with mouths opening and no words coming out.

"I would like him to repeat that same statement right here to everyone now!"

"We have been lovers your majesty. I love her very much and I couldn't say no. I am sorry your majesty" Obi stated shivering.

"But she is married now and you have to let her go. I thought you loved Treasure now" Hope stated.

Special glared at Hope as she spoke and the woman smiled in return.

"So love brought you back here to still have sex here in my resort"

"Sir, she pleaded with me and I couldn't reject her."

" This is so embarrassing to listen to. This is wrong" Cleo said

"Are you sure of what you are saying? Special is very decent."Hope defended.

Special looking at her step mother wondered what was going on.

"Mr Obi I would like to ask you one more time before I met out my vengeance. Are you sure you were having sex in real life or you were doing it in your mind?"

"Oh what sort of question is that Brother?"

"Were you doing it in your mind or in real life?" Derek asked once again and Obi began to stutter.

"Because if you have been having sex for years, how did she remain a virgin just up to this week?"

Everyone gasped at the King's statement.

" Oh yes! Cleo my wife was a virgin until this week and I took pride in claiming her virtue as a prize to which I have proofs. So I want to know how she had sex and then became a virgin again?!!! I will bury you alive for soiling my wife's name with your lies!"

"My king i can explain it. Its Treasure. She said I should say I have sir. I've never slept with her or even seen her nakedness my king. Have mercy on me." Pleaded the scared Obi.

"What are you saying? Are you stupid?" Treasure screamed. "When did I tell you such nonsense?"

"Please do not bring my daughter's name into your madness and your lies" Hope defended.

"Oh mummy please stop. You must have had a hand in this first class disgrace for the Queen. Things like this make you extremely Happy" Susan attacked.

"My darling, why are you speaking this way to me? I did nothing wrong" Hope pleaded. However, Obi did not relent.

"She said if i set the Queen up, you wouldn't go forward with the wedding celebration. Infact they want Special dead!"

"Oh my God!"Cleo exclaimed.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Oh my goodness, after all these child has suffered, Hope you will not let her enjoy for a second. Why the hatred?" Mrs Lola questioned as Toju glared at the culprits.

"I have no hand in this Mrs Lola. I swear" Hope defended.

"I told you my sister was too decent to sleep around"Susan declared boldly to Cleo and this made Special smile.

"I don't know what game or agenda you have in motion but I saw the note you sent to her telling her that you have information about how Hope here wanted to kill John here!" King Derek stated, adding fuel to the fire.

"Oh my goodness! My husband no such ploy like that. Obi must just have been looking for avenues to see the Queen hence he lied woefully"Hope said getting from her seat to her husbands to beg him.

"It is not true Daddy" Treasure cried out.

John was perplexed. Out of the need of not wanting the matter to go any further, he relaxed.

"Its very clear that this young Man is full of vices your majesty and your grace.

Please do not mind this boy. He clearly has no truth in him. He has nothing to say and he's just looking forward to causing mischief in this gathering." John stated.

"Your grace, I have clearly misjudged you and condemned you without proper verification of the facts. Please forgive me. Your majesty, please forgive my emotional outbursts. They were done in utter foolishness" Cleopatra apologized.

"It is alright my princess. I bear no grudge against anyone" Queen Special stated.