Thirty -two

Apeke felt like the happiest girl in the world to be getting married to the one loves. She was busy getting ready,she could already hear the ongoing festivities. The singing ,the dancing and most importantly,the prayers for her to have a good and happy marriage. She couldn't help but blush as she was led to her husband,Micheal. She was so happy, everything was okay until it wasn't. The groom was about to bow to his inlaws according to custom when he was suddenly stabbed. Apeke froze for a second before letting out a cry of agony. She rushed to him and cradled him in her arms,she looked up to see the perpetrator but all she could see were a sea of bodies, making it hard for her to know who her enemies are. She then heard a voice telling her that she was in danger and so were her loved ones.

She woke up with Michael's name on her lips.

It was all a dream,she sighed I'm relief. Even though it was only a dream,she was still scared,she wished to reach out to Michael somehow just to make sure he was alright. The thought of how she couldn't even speak to him now made her remember how much she missed him. Seeing Omowumi embracing her brother reminded her of how good it felt to be held like that,so lovingly. She missed him so much,she wished she could have also run into his arms after they were released but ,alas she found herself alone.

She wished he was okay wherever he was.

She needed some fresh air,she decided.

She left her room and did her chores and was prepared to leave when she realised that she hadn't seen Adunni since she got back. She shrugged. She was probably looking for them without realizing they were back but it was the next day already so she expected her to be home. She went to her room and heard her singing. She sighed I'm relief,knowing she was okay.

She made her way to the market,she was told to get a few things.

.

Apeke was on her way back from the market when she saw The stranger that had tried to make her help her friend fighting a palace guard. She went closer to find out what was happening. Apparently,the guard would sometimes come to collect food without paying in the name of the King.

She had refused to give him this time,saying she would loose everything at this rate.

The guard then asked her if she dared defy the king and her reply was ,"This isn't from the king,thus is just to satisfy yourself,you greedy fool."

"Omoremi ,how dare you! You will pay for this."The guard said and walked away.

Omoremi,so that was her name. Apeke thought to herself.

"How may I help you,oh great Queen?"Omoremi said to Apeke , sarcastically.

"I'm no Queen."

"You don't say."

"What do you want,Apeke?"Moremi sighed.

"What are you going to do if he comes back?" Apeke said instead of answering her questions.

"Is that consern I hear?" She mocked."If he comes again I'll fight him with all I have. What's the point of living if you can't fight,you might as well be dead."

"That's true." Apeke said.

"Of course it is. Now,you can either help or keep walking,either way I'll figure this out." Apeke was amazed and amused at her confidence but decided to help anyway.

.

Apeke stood at the entrance of the palace wondering what she was even doing here. She was a little scared but she remembered the reason for doing this in the first instance. This wasn't about her,she had to push her fears aside and do what was right.

"What do you want?"A guard asked her rudely,seeing as she had been standing at the entrance for a while trying to gather the courage to go in.

Apeke had already thought about the best way to approach this matter. She decided to talk to someone she felt she could easily reason with;the crown prince.

"I'd like to see prince Adelaja."

The guard looked at her with contempt and burst into laughter.

"You maidens' attempt to catch the crown prince's attention is getting old. Don't you people have shame? You should know your place."

Apeke froze for a second before regaining her composure. She was angry and she could think of a lot of ways to get back at him but now was not the time for that. She wasn't used to holding back her tongue,instead she was used to saying her mind but she couldn't do that this time. No,this time she needed to keep calm,not for herself but for the good of others and she wasn't willing to jeopardize the livelihood of others.

She took a deep breath and said,"You're the one who seems to be blinded by the luxury that comes with this."She said referring to the palace. "Have you so quickly forgotten what you are? A guard and nothing but. Or have you been duelling on an illusion that says otherwise?" Apeke smirked. She reveled in the look of defeat on the guards face.

"Now,why don't you do your job and inform the crown prince of my presence."

"That won't be necessary, seeing as I'm right here." She turned back,to see the source of those words.

"Apeke, it's been a while."Adelaja said.

"Yes, your highness,it has."

"To what do I owe this visit?"He asked, getting right to the point.

"Don't be rude,invite the lady in."Adeniyi said.

Adelaja looked up at his friend,in surprise. What was he up to now?

"That won't be necessary. I'm here to.." Apeke said trying to state the purpose of her visit. Key word being, 'trying'.

"Nonsense!"Adeniyi interupted. "Come in."He said with such authority that Apeke couldn't say no,if she did it would be considered disrespect and she could be in trouble for that.

"Of course."She said with a forced smile.

She felt uncomfortable with the stares she got from the workers at the palace. There were whispers of all sorts; some wondering if she was a new maid or the prince's play thing.

They soon ruled out the possibility of her being a new maid as the prince as never conserned himself with chosing a maid. They were still contemplating whether she the second option would suit her when someone suddenly recognized her.

"She's the one." The maid gasped in surprise.

"The one? What do you mean?" Her colleague asked her.

"She's the one that seduced the crown prince just to refuse the Queen's offer of marriage."

The maids began to whisper in surprised and hushed tones, wondering if Apeke had finally come to her senses and decided to accept the marriage proposal.

"She was pretending to begin with." One of them whispered.

"Exactly. Who wouldn't want to marry the crown prince."

Some of these hushed whispers reached Apeke's ears making her baul her fists in anger. How dare they speak about her in such a manner? They didn't even know her.

"Apeke?" Adelaja called out as she seemed lost in thought.

"Yes, my prince."

"Don't tell me their insignificant words bother you?" He asked.

She felt a little embarrassed because the prince was right;the words were infact insignificant. She shouldn't have let it get to her.

"Sit." He said and looked at her as if telling her to go on and say the reason for her presence.

"My prince, I came to report an issue in the village."

"Oh,go on then."

"Some guards have been collecting food from the vendors without paying using the name of the King."

"Hmm...who is it?"

"I don't know but I can describe him."She said confidently.

"How do we know you're not lying?"

"I'm not and you're free to confirm it. I've done my part, I'll be on my way now." Apeke said and left the Palace.

Adelaja called the head guard.

"Sunmi"He called out.

"Yes,your highness." The nervous guard replied, wondering why he had suddenly been summoned.

"How long have you been working as the head guard?"

" Two years,your highness." Oh ,no. He hoped he wasn't about to loose his job.

"Have you learnt nothing in that time?"

"I have ,your highness. I have."

"Oh really? Yet,you have failed to learn one of the most important things,which is?"

Sunmi wasn't sure what to reply with,so he was quiet,not wanting to get into even more trouble.

"Have you lost your ears or is it your ability to speak? I'll help you since you seem lost,as expected of an incompetent worker. One of the most important things you should have learnt by now is keeping track of those under you;the guards but you don't do that do you? Instead you spend your time on drinking and girls."

"No your highness that isn't true." The guard lied.

"So, I'm lying right?"

"I never said that your highness."

"You're saying I'm crazy now right?"

The guard was to tongue tied. When did he say that?

"I never said that ."

"But that's what you're implying by saying I'm hearing what you didn't say. Isn't it only mad people that do that? Yet,again the poor guard was short of words. He didn't know whether to agree with his words or disagree.

"I.. I'm..

"Guards,arrest him." Adeniyi ordered. The guards responded swiftly even though they were scared of what the head guard would do to them if he were released.

"Please your highness. I'll do anything." He pleaded.

"That's not necessary. You didn't do what you were supposed to do so your services aren't needed anymore."

"Please..." The crown prince looked at him with a mischievous smile.

"Take him away." He ordered.

After the departure of the guards he gazed at his friend as if telling him to get to the bottom of this.

Adeniyi nodded in reply.

Jumoke sighed. She had watched the whole scene from afar. She was afar was frustrated and pissed. That nasty commomer just didn't know her place. To her,she had already warned her nicely but it seemed she didn't want to listen ,she was going to have to punish her,she thought to herself.

..

The head guard kept a bold face while crying on the inside. "He was done for."He thought to himself. What was he going to do now?

He had never been prison before ,he had only ever brought people in it. The guards taking him there were filled with mixed feelings. One of them that had already been offended by the man was glad for an opportunity like this but was scared of what would happen if the crown prince decides to forgive him.

Another one of the guards had nothing against him and wasn't scared of putting him in jail because he was simply following the price's orders.

The head guard was met with his arch enemy as a cell mate.

"Noooo!"He yelled

Far from the cell Adelaja sat with his mother who had heard of the news of Apeke's arrival.

" I knew it." His mother said.

"And what is it you are talking about,my Queen?" He said in an oblivious tone.

" Oh don't pretend. You know I'm talking about that girl that thinks she's smart. I've lived this life longer than her , I can see right through her act ." The Queen said confidently.

The prince chuckled at her words.

"Your age doesn't mean you know everything,dear mother."

"You have no respect for your mother." The Queen huffed.

"Oh,but I do." He said in a distant voice.

"Them teach shut the people up and marry her. Can you believe there are rumors that she is refusing to marry you because she found out you are impotent? "

Adelaja chuckled. Impotent? If they thought he was they could come and see for themselves,he smirked.

"Mother, I'll handle this my own way,leave it be." He said.

"If you say so." The Queen said but Adelaja knew his mother,he knew it didn't end there and she simply said that for him.

..

The head guard was busy living his nightmare in prison. His arch enemy,Gbenga was laughing at him while he tried not to shake in fear.

"What's wrong head guard? Are you scared now that you no longer have the power you were so proud of? Remember how you mocked me? You said you'd never be in here ,that only scums would end up here. So,tell me how does it feel to be scum?" Gbenga smirked.

"I am not like you. "He gritted his teeth. He was suffering for a reason he wasn't even aware of. What had he done to incur the prince's anger?

"You definitely aren't."

"Don't you dare bring that up again?"

"Why not? Scared?" Gbenga said, trying his best to taunt him.

"It wasn't me. How many times do I have to tell you that I didn't kill her."

"I didn't say that now, did I? Your guilt us getting the better of you. "

"What guilt? How many times do I have to be tell you that it wasn't me? I didn't kill her."

"I know you didn't but I know you saw who did but you have refused to tell me who did. How can you do that to someone you called your friend? How can you let her killer walk around freely like that?"

The head guard gulped. Memories of that night rushed to his mind. Memories he had tried to keep buried for so long by all means,

even drinking but nothing worked. He had indeed seen what happened that night, he wished he could unsee it.

"I.." He was about to say something when he was interupted by the Adelaja.

"I see you've met your old friend? Rekindling old memories?"

The head guard was quiet. He was wondering what the prince wanted now. Did he come to see how much he was suffering or did he come to release him?

"Release him."The prince said to a guard.

The guard was shocked but did as he was ordered. Immediately Sunmi was released he postrated at the feet of the prince.

"Thank you my prince."

"Hmm. I have a job for you,if you can't do it then you're coming right back in here."

"I'll do it. I'll do anything."

"Of course you will."

The prince told Sunmi to follow him as he left the place.

"I want you to find the guard or guards who have been collecting things from people forcefully in the name of the King."

So,that's what this was all about,Sunmi thought to himself. He was the reason he had been arrested. He was going to make whoever it was pay.

He was going to make sure of it.