Thirty-eight

Apeke woke up a little scared. She was disoriented as she didn't know where she was. She was scared because the last thing she remembered was being kidnapped.

"Calm down."Adelaja rushed to her side.

"You're okay. Everything is fine." He said.

He pulled her into his arms in other to calm her down. Apeke was startled by this but eventually calmed down and pushed him away.

At first it felt nice to simply be held but then she realized what position they were in and she felt like she had betrayed Michael.

Adelaja was stunned by how quickly she pushed him away but let it go.

"I'm sorry. I just.." She tried to explain but couldn't find the words.

"It's fine." He smiled despite him wandering how things would be after their joining.

She was taking a little too long to adjust to him especially since she was the one who asked for his hand and not the other way around.

"What happened?" The last thing she remembered was being captured. She could not imagine her captor being the man who stood before her. "How am I here?"

"You were brought here by me." He smirked. He loved her puzzled expression as she tried to understand the situation.

"But it wasn't you who captured me." She stated.

"How are you so sure?"

"You have no reason to."

"You're right about that. There's nothing I won't get from you if I simply ask nicely. Am I right?"

"Right." She faked a smile.

"Jumoke was the one who captured you."

Apeke had already suspected it.

"You're not surprised." He stated.

" I had my suspicions

"She shall be punished,I promise you."

"Don't make promises you can't keep."

Apeke thought she knew better than to believe his words. She meant so much to him. Did he expect her to believe he would fight the one he loved for her.

"What makes you think I won't keep them?" Her words surprised him. He wondered what made her think that he wouldn't keep his promises.

She scoffed."You love her." She simply said.

"Honestly I don't know why you're marrying me instead of her." She seethed. She regretted her words as soon as she said them out loud but it was to late to take it back. How could she say something like that with Michael's life on the line?

"Hmmmm." He thought about her words and let them sink in.

"You must think me a fool then." He smirked.

Apeke quickly got on her knees and apologized for words.

"I apologize,your highness."

"What for?"

"Pardon?"

"Why are you apologizing? I've told you before,I have no need for an airhead as queen. Beauty isn't all it it takes to be queen you know and neither is kissing my feet."

Apeke thought about his words well before replying,"I'm sorry for doubting your words but you haven't given me much reason to believe in it especially when it comes to the matter of your lover."

Adelaja chuckled. This surprised Apeke as she heard the Crown prince didn't laugh. Guess that was a lie? Who knows what else was? She really couldn't jugde based on what she had heard and not even on what she had seen so far because up until now she had mearly been an outsider.

Adelaja noticed her surprise over his laughter. He knew the whispers about him in the Kingdom. Some people said he never laughed. She must have heard of it as well but he chose not to comment on it.

" Correction,former lover. Only a fool claims be wants one thing when he actually wants another."

"Fool? Isn't this what most people do?"

"Well most people are fools. I'm not most people. If we are to be wedded you must know at least that much of me. If I wanted Jumoke.." He paused,moved closer to her and held her chin with two fingers. "If I wanted Jumoke she would be the one in my bed and not you. I pursue what I want and only what I want. And I want you,my beautiful girl."

Apeke swallowed as he looked deep into her eyes.

"Yes she meant something to me but not anymore. I chose you my dear,only you. Now, don't ever doubt my words again? Is that clear?"

"Yes,your highness."

Adelaja gave her one last look before leaving her.

Apeke burst into tears of guilt once she was left alone. Oh if only he knew. He would hate her so much!

Apeke cried herself to sleep in his bed. She was woken up by a maid that came in to clean his room.

"Hey whore! Wake up before I hit you with this broom!" The maid said , practically yanking Apeke out of the bed.

"Are you nuts! " Apeke yelled. She had almost hit her head. She could have had a serious injury all because the fool here thought her to be the prince's enjoyment for the night.

"A whore who knows to speak back? Shamelessness seems to be spreading like poison in this land. One shamelessly doing it out in the open and another speaking to me with such courage when she should she be running away."

"Why would I run away? I am no whore. You are mistaken." Apeke stood and hoped that she would recognize her after taking a good look at her.

"You aren't a whore? Then what are you? " The maid considered her words as she remembered that the Crown prince wasn't even in his chambers last night and she didn't look like a prostitute either but what was she doing here then? Was she a theif?

"You must be a thief then?"

"I would have run away form here if I was. The prince brought me here himself. I am to be married to him."

"Why should I believe you?"She looked at Apeke suspiciously.

"I don't care whether you believe me or not."She said with finality. "Now do your job quickly and leave."

The maid did her errands under the Apeke's watchful glare and ran out immediately she was done.

Apeke wondered if she should wait for the Prince first before leaving.

No,she would find him herself. She had to go home now. Her mother must be worried sick.

She left the chambers in search of the prince. She couldn't find him so she went closer to some maids in order to ask about his where about but ended up overhearing their conversation.

"Did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"The news of the Princess of Majekodunmi. Apparently,she was caught in the square laying with a married man."

The shock was evident on the recipients face.

"What? How does that even happen? It must have been a set up of some sorts."

"Obviously. She stepped on a lot of toes, that wrench; always so full of herself. Serves her right. I heard the wife of the man almost tore her face off." They both laughed.

"But do you really think it possible for the princess to have slept with the man."

"Impossible! That girl's pride is as large as an ocean."

"That is true but what if she was not in her right mind?"

"I guess that would make it possible but it really doesn't matter. Someone has done the world a favour by teaching her a lesson."

"He really did it." Apeke said to herself. He really did it for her. She could not believe what she was hearing. She should never have doubted him.

Now,she had one more reason to thank him.

She was going to interrupt the maids' chatter and ask for the prince when she heard someone clearing thier throat

She looked back and was met with the crown prince's signature smirk.

"I believe it is rude to eavesdrop." Adelaja said.

"Your highness, I wasn't eavesdroping. I was going to ask them where I could find you and ended up overhearing their conversation."

"If you say so. Why did you want to see me?"

"I-i wanted to thank you."

"Thank me? For what?"

"For saving me,your highness and for keeping your word."

"You don't have to thank me for that. You are mine so saving you was just like saving myself. What sort of King would I be if I couldn't protect my Queen?"

"Regardless,you have my thanks."

"Hmmmm. I suppose you're on your way home now?"

"Yes,your highness."

"Send my regards to your parents."

"Yes, your highness." She said and walked away.

..

"Fabumi what is wrong with you?" Ajani asked his wife as he watched her prepare a meal.

"What do you mean?"

"You haven't heard from your daughter in almost a day and you aren't worrying?"

"My daughter is no longer a child. She can fight her own battles." She said as she placed the boiled yam in the mortal and began pounding.

"Fight her own battles? Since when do we fight her battles for her? This has nothing to do with that and everything to do with a mother caring for her child!" Ajani wondered what had come over his wife. He couldn't understand her behavior. It was suspicious. He wasn't falling for her ridiculous act.

"How dare you! How dare you insult my devotion to my child? She is my daughter. I had her in my womb for nine months. Everything I'm doing is for her and her only."

"What do you mean? What are you doing? " Ajani said.

Fabumi had already spoken before she realized the weigh of her words. She had just slipped up and she couldn't let it happen again or it would have all been for nothing.

She had to keep fighting for the sake of her child.

In the midst of her thoughts Fabumi heard Adunni's voice. "If it isn't the prodigal child?"