5: SPOILED

It was her last day working for the Prince and Abike couldn't wait to finally be rid of his shadows; to finally be rid of the constant fear that he could walk in at any time.

After that first encounter, she had not set eyes on him and she was so grateful for that divine intervention. She couldn't stand being in the same room with him, surely not after what had happened -or almost happened- between them.

It was 08:00 a.m, and he was absent, so she relaxed by reading a book. His room was spotless, as usual, so there was no work to do.

After this morning round, she would be reassigned to another task. Hopefully, she would work close to Teju this time. She had missed him. She needed a familiar face after almost a week in this dreadful place.

Thankfully, Abike finished the book just in time to go get the Prince's breakfast and disappear from his life forever. By the time the clock hit eleven, she was already heading toward the kitchen. She planned to get his breakfast tray and leave it in his room before he arrived, to avoid any encounter with him. No matter how minute.

The walk back from the kitchen was a bit slower because she was carrying a tray of food, but it was okay because she still had about ten minutes before he would show up. Balancing the tray with one hand, Abike pushed the door open. It was only by sheer miracle the tray didn't drop from her hands. The Prince was sitting on the bed, his gaze on her.

Abike was scared of him, she realized. And as she waited unfailingly for recognition to dawn in his eyes, she thought she just might hate him more than she feared him. He took her innocence and couldn't even be bothered to remember her. 

She shuffled forward, disappointed in herself for expecting more from someone who has shown more than a few times that he was simply an animal who had nothing to offer.

She should dump the tray on his beautiful head.

"My Prince, I brought your food," she said, sighing in relief when he took the tray without a word. She made for the exit but stopped when his voice reached her.

"What is this?"

She turned to him, her fingers curling around the knob as she eyed him speculatively. "Your breakfast," she answered, quelling the urge to roll her eyes.

He looked up at her, his expression harsh. Abike couldn't look away. It was like he expected something from her, but what?

"Is there a problem, My Prince?" She asked sweetly, pretending to be concerned. He stared silently for a few more seconds.

"Are you one of those servants from Amu?" He asked with a tilt of his head.

"Are you one of those servants from Amu?" Abike repeated in her head. This man thought the world revolved around him.

"Yes," she gritted and his mouth widened in a very cold smile.

"I would like to believe that is why I am sitting here with this rubbish on my lap." His voice increased with every inflection. "I would let Mrs. Jamila know to educate the servants properly before they are allowed to serve me." He covered the plate. "Get this away from me," he ordered.

How very rude! Abike couldn't believe his rottenness.

"Are you deaf, perhaps?"

"No!" she answered and marched towards him, lifting the tray.

"What?" He looked ready to pounce on her, but the door swung open in the nick of time, and Mrs. Jamila breezed in with another tray.

"I am so sorry, My Prince. This stupid girl confused the dishes. This is supposed to be yours." Her eyes pleaded as she spoke. The Prince took the tray from her and opened it.

Abike derived a twisted satisfaction in seeing the fear and hysteria in Mrs. Jamila's eyes. So she knew how it felt to be at the mercy of another person but kept treating others like trash? Wow.

"You've been saying sorry a little too much these days, servant," the Prince barked at the woman, his lips pulled back in a snarl.

"You are one more 'I'm sorry' away from losing your position."

The woman's eyes watered immediately at the threat. The thought of losing her job didn't go down well with her.

"I am so sorry, My Prince. Please forgive my negligence and her stupidity." She eyed Abike with hate.

"I think in addition to stupidity, she is also deaf. And somewhat slow. Maybe you should have her checked at the clinic. Get her away from my sight."

Abike's mouth fell open in disbelief as Mrs. Jamila drew her out of the room. The arrogant bastard.

"You would not work for him anymore. You would hand over your duties to someone else," Mrs. Jamila snapped as they exited the Prince's room.

"It was my last day." Abike pulled away.

"Good. And better be careful, I have Iroko and I am not afraid to use him," the woman snapped. "You had better be very careful."

"I am sorry, ma." Abike lowered her head.

"As punishment for what you just did, there would be no other meals for you today."

"But I haven't had any meal at all..." Abike raised her hand to stare at the woman in disbelief.

"That means no meal for you today." The woman nodded. "Now off to the kitchen, there would be a meeting in the Great Throne Room today and all hands need to be on deck."

"Yes, ma," Abike said and left without another word.

***

The meeting in the Great Throne Room was ongoing; Abike and eight others were currently waiting in the large kitchen for their signal. She couldn't believe her bad luck. If only she hadn't confused the dishes, she wouldn't be standing here.

She wasn't looking forward to standing in wait while the high and mighty slandered her beloved Amu Kingdom. The little she heard from the last meeting was enough to break her heart. Plus, it was too soon to encounter the Prince again.

The kitchen bell rang. That was their call.

With Iroko in tow, they made their way to the Great Throne Room, each servant carrying a tray.

There was a man in front of the door; tall and gorgeous, Abike recognized him as the guy that was with the Prince the other day in his Quarters.

Who was he?

Iroko swung the iron door open and the servants filed in, each taking their place behind the Ministers they were assigned to wait on. Abike found herself searching for the Prince, but stopped when she realized what she was doing.

"Shall we eat?" The old man with the youthful body and ancient eyes asked. Everyone chorused in agreement. Abike had learned he was called the Grandfather.

She could feel the tension in the room. It was even stronger than the last time. What did they discuss that caused such tautness among them? What was it with these people that made them this way?

She placed the tray in front of the Minister she was waiting on and uncovered the dish for him. He washed his hand immediately and dug into his food. Abike wondered what the Prince was having since he had his own 'special dish'. Curiosity won and she looked across the table to find him.

There he was. As intimidating as ever, his fine brows snapped together in an ever-present scowl. His tray was in front of him, but his plate was unopened.

He seemed very relaxed, his back against the chair, a finger under his chin. His mouth was set in a pout so pretty, it was a blinding ray of sunshine in his stormy face. He was busy glaring at the Minister sitting in front of him. Abike recognized the Minister as the man who stood up to him during the last meeting.

What was the deal between them?

"Balogun, why aren't you eating?" The Grandfather asked.

"Not hungry," he answered, finally looking away from the Minister.

"You haven't even opened your dish," the Grandfather continued, his tone friendly.

"Open it!" He ordered the servant assigned to the Prince. Abike realized it was Fatima. Again.

"Leave it," the Prince said as the girl reached for the tray.

The Grandfather laughed. "Come on, let her open it. Open it!!"

Abike watched as a frightened Fatima reached for the tray with shaky hands. "I said leave it," the Prince said forcefully and Fatima jumped in fright, knocking the bowl of water right into the Prince's lap.

The room grew quiet as everyone waited for the Prince's reaction. Fatima was too stunned to even apologize. The Prince reached for a napkin. Before he could make another move, Iroko appeared.

"I am so sorry, Your Highness. This stupid girl would be properly dealt with." He raised his beefy arm and struck Fatima across the face, sending her sprawling to the ground.

Abike gasped in rage. She watched the Prince dab at his wet clothes with the napkin, while Iroko dragged a sobbing Fatima out of the room.

Prince Murewa turned to his King. "Excuse me," he said and left the room.

Abike boiled with rage at the unjust act. Fatima did nothing wrong. It was a mistake. One that could have been avoided if the Grandfather minded his business, or if the Prince wasn't such a child.

As soon as the large doors closed behind the Prince, Minister Jolayemi shot to his feet. He was the Minister the Prince was glaring at; the one who seemed to have the most problem with the Prince.

"My King!" He bowed. "For how long are we going to be under the mercy of the Prince?" He cried. "He is a tyrant who does whatever he wants whenever he wants. He has no respect for his elders and he never listens to counsel!"

"Jolayemi," another Minister countered him with a slight shake of his head. "Please sit and eat your food. Why didn't you say this when he was here? Leave all this ranting for later when he would be present."

Everyone laughed.

When no one else said anything, Jolayemi bowed to the King and exited the room, his back rim-rod straight. It was very quiet in the room after that.

By the time the servants met in the arena hours later, Abike was weak with hunger and fatigue. She had been working tirelessly since morning without food. The only joy she had now was that she would see Teju, even if it was for a minute.

As the sliding doors opened and the men trudged in, Abike found Teju on the other end of the room. She wondered how she could get to him in this thick throng. The Arena was full, and it was impossible to take one step without physically struggling.

As she tried to figure it out, Mrs. Jamila started to call names and reassign tasks. Abike listened while keeping her attention on Teju. Minutes later, she heard Mrs. Jamila assign Teju to the garden. Her name was called soon after and she almost jumped for joy when she was assigned gardening too.

To her dismay, Iroko threw the doors open and the men were asked to leave again. Teju who was closer to the door stepped outside and soon disappeared into the crowd.

Her heart sank as she realized she had been the only one searching. Teju didn't so much as move his head or pretend to search for her.

Had he forgotten her so soon?

That night, when the doors were closed finally for the night and Abike still couldn't find Fatima, she felt real fear.

She hadn't noticed if Fatima was present in the arena because all she wanted to do was see Teju, but after then, she had searched for Fatima to no avail. Some of the girls she asked even claimed they didn't know anyone by that name.

It was like Fatima just disappeared. Where did Iroko take her to? What was happening to her right now?

As Abike curled up in her bed for the night, it dawned that she wasn't the only one who was beginning to resign herself to working in the Palace. The other girls no longer cried themselves to sleep. Instead, they were already forming little cliques and groups. She shook her head sadly.

Was this going to be her forever?