And Open Your Eyes (2)

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Princess Ada took a sip of the guava juice, then set the glass down, disgruntled. She looked up and eyed Lady Oyoyovwi who sat to her left. “I expected a better show from you this time, Yoyovwi. But what is this,” she lifted a fruit fork to jab a slice of papaya on the porcelain dish before her, “guava juice, fruits, and nuts? Are you hosting a play date for children?”

They sat at one end of a stone veranda, whose wide, central steps led down to a flagstone walk. The walkway meandered through a garden planted with palm trees, yellow plumeria trees, and various other blossoms. The air was filled with the scents of the blooms, and the irresistibly sweet fragrance of plumeria permeated through all.

Princess Ada sat at the head of the great cherry wood table spread with silk cloth and laid with an assortment of fruits and nuts: papayas, cashews, pistachios, mangos, and various others.

Oyoyovwi smiled pleasantly. “I thought I might send you back to the palace sober today. At the last meeting Asa and Ewoma hosted, the palm wine flowed in abundance. If we indulge thus at every meeting, we may not live to see our grandchildren.”

The twins mentioned, Ladies Asa and Ewoma Imodu Mitaire, who sat to Princess Ada’s right, giggled. Daughters of the Minister of Personnel, they were petite in frame and resembled adorable kittens with big springy afro curls, trillion-cut rubies, and round brown eyes.

Ewoma, the younger of the two, wiggled her eyebrows at Oyoyovwi. “So, you are already contemplating grandchildren?”

Oyoyovwi cast her eyes down bashfully.

Lady Oyoyovwi O-Jiban Onovughe was nineteen years of age, and beautifully endowed. She had gorgeous, even dark chocolate skin, a slim face with a radiant-cut ruby adorning her forehead, full lips, and deep dark eyes. Her silky black hair fell down her back and about her slender shoulders, her neck long and beautiful. And though her figure was willowy, there were no sharp edges, only lean and supple curves. She was, in one word, Oyoyovwi (Beautiful). Yet, as if that were not enough, she was also the only daughter of Prime Minister Onovughe, and renowned to be the ideal proper lady.

Princess Ada sighed, thinking, What use is beauty and decorum if you cannot attain your heart’s desire? She stabbed a papaya slice and took a bite of the juicily ripened fruit, the chilled flesh melting lusciously in her mouth. “I suppose it will suffice, since you gave such consideration to our health. But it is all a bit like you, Yoyovwi.” She swept a hand over the table of delightfully carved and arranged refreshments, “Beautiful and delicate, yet entirely uninteresting.”

Lady Ufuoma Imodu Oghomena, the voluptuous granddaughter of the Minister of Rites who sat beside Oyoyovwi, rolled her hazel eyes. “We grow tired of finding things to interest you, Princess Ada. We have experienced everything from riding elephants, to swimming with otters when Ovye granted us a holiday at Ofure Palace in the Ejokpa Province. What more would you have us do? Ride lions to the Erhinyoja Desert and have oases parties with nomads and camels?”

Princess Ada perked, beaming. “How surprisingly ingenious of you, Fuoma!”

Asa laughed. “If we intend to party with camels, we must invite your grandfather, Fuoma. He would meld right in with his humpback and droopy eyes.”

“And would fulfill our requirement of a chaperon,” Ewoma added with a chuckle.

Princess Ada clapped her hands elatedly. “All wonderful ideas! But I do not think it will be necessary. There shall be plenty entertainment in the palace for some time yet!”

“What do you mean?” Oyoyovwi questioned.

The princess turned a devious grin to her. She jauntily placed an elbow on the table and rested her chin on her hand, her amber eyes sparking with mischief. “I mean that there are more pressing matters, Yoyovwi, so you would do well to stop contemplating grandchildren.”

“Of course, she must contemplate grandchildren!” Ufuoma contended, reaching for the display of peeled and cored lychee. “Continuing the royal line will be her foremost duty!”

“Fuoma!” Oyoyovwi called demurely, embarrassed by her friend’s suggestive statement.

Princess Ada shook her head. “How can she pluck stars if she cannot see the sky? Yoyovwi has yet to marry into the Royal House, much less bear children!”

“That is nothing of consequence,” Asa said, forking a tangerine wedge, “she is already Ovye’s betrothed.”

Ewoma snatched the fork and tangerine from her before she could eat. “Fool! That is of the most consequence! Until she marries Ovye she will continue to simply be Lady Oyoyovwi, not Ovyeraye Oyoyovwi.” She clicked her tongue and consumed the fruit.

“But we all know it is not just the title of Ovyeraye that Yoyovwi is interested in.” Ufuoma said, looking teasingly at their friend.

Oyoyovwi lowered her eyes, and Princess Ada could practically feel the heat radiating from her. Since they were children, she had looked fondly upon their king, and none of them had missed this. Of course, Princess Ada knew, there were many ladies who admired her Sovereign Brother.

Of the three of them, she and Prince Etegah took after their Sovereign Father with their sable locks, Prince Etegah acquiring his dark brown eyes, as well. Aslan alone had absolutely inherited their Sovereign Mother’s devastating looks and was nearly a carbon copy with his charming amber eyes and burnished copper locks. There were many noble ladies who would swoon at just a glimpse of his smile, Oyoyovwi not being the least. But as far as Princess Ada knew, though they were engaged, Aslan had never given Oyoyovwi a second thought. In fact, she was sure of it now.

Princess Ada leaned forward. “Yoyovwi, if you wish to be with my Sovereign Brother, then you might do a little more than merely wait for him to marry you. You must assert yourself!”

“What do you mean assert herself? She is not some common harlot!” Ufuoma protested.

Asa laughed. “You cannot expect the model of a proper lady to be as bold as you, Princess Ada. Yoyovwi could never be so forward with her affections.”

“Nor would she ever have the opportunity,” Ewoma added, finishing some almonds and taking a sip of her juice. “Ovye could not spare her the time, preoccupied with court matters as he is.”

Princess Ada smiled an impish smile. “I was also under the impression that Sovereign Brother’s interests began and ended with the court, but that may not be the case!”