Stronger Now

Nena couldn't take it anymore. She had believed she would somehow forget what her family was going through and blend into the servant life, but it was hard . It was even harder whenever she remembered that her family was once one of the nobles and that her father was now in prison. Unable to control her tears when she remembered his state when they had brought him into the palace, tears threatened to overwhelm her as she made her way towards the queen's chambers with the leaves she had gathered. 

Nearly choking on her tears, she rushed into the room, hoping for a moment of solitude, only to be confronted by the head servant.

 "What do you think you're doing, idling at this hour? Have you forgotten your duties, slave?" the servant barked. Nena stared back, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. This was someone who wouldn't dare speak to her when she was the daughter of a chief. Yet she was barking at her. 

"Are you deaf? I said get to work right now!" The head servant barked, dragging Nena forcefully into the room by her delicate ears. 

She stood in there, trembling, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to focus amidst her terrible fate.

 "Oh, you spoiled brat! Do you think your tears mean anything to me? Back when you were served by many servants, did you ever give any of them a moment of rest?" the servant continued to berate Nena. In the midst of this intense moment, the queen entered the room and was appalled by how the servant was treating Nena.

 "Stop it this very moment! Let her be!" the Queen commanded in her sternest voice, before dismissing the servant from the room.

 "I apologize, my queen, for the disturbance I have caused this morning. I am sorry for neglecting my duties," Nena said, finally composed.

"You don't need to apologize, Nena, I understand. Come," she beckoned, leaving Nena puzzled about her intentions. "Come, I have no intention of harming you," she reassured in a kinder tone, closing the distance between them as Nena approached and knelt in respect.

"Don't fall at my feet! I understand more than anyone what it means to lose your loved ones and be subjected to living with the one responsible for your loss!" The Queen's voice carried more force than Nena had ever heard before.

"Sit with me at my balcony. Today, you will do nothing but keep me company. Come," she invited, leading them out onto the balcony as if they were mother and daughter.

"I know your father was brought into the palace today and humiliated like a criminal. And I also know that the king has sent his men after Asha. It pains me that I have no power to help you. Your condition reminds me too much of…" she paused and sighed before smiling at Nena. "You know, your mother and I were once friends when we were just as young as you."

Nena was astonished to learn of the queen's close ties to her family. Her mother and the queen were friends? Her eyes widened even without her saying a word. 

"Are you surprised?" 

Nena nodded

"I wasn't always a queen and I wasn't always the wife of a noble man" she paused again like she had remembered a painful memory. 

Although she wanted to ask about the rumors surrounding her husband's death allegedly due to the king's fascination with the queen's beauty, she opted to keep silent. She had yet to comprehend the Queen's fondness for her, and probing into sensitive matters seemed rather unwise.

"Consider me your friend, Nena. I know you need one now, and so do I. I won't let anyone hurt you because I know you've been through a lot. Now, tell me if you know how to properly grind leaves and make medicine like your mother did," the Queen said.

Nena shook her head, feeling overwhelmed by the Queen's kindness.

"Don't worry, I will teach you. You will be like the daughter I never had," the Queen reassured, gently touching Nena's hand. Nena kept her head bowed, unable to meet the Queen's gaze. And thus began a great friendship between the queen and Nena.

———

"Scrub those legs more! You lazy servant!" Soma's harsh words echoed through the room as she splashed water over Zeep's clothes and it reminded Zeep of her own self. She felt a wave of shame for her past behavior towards those below her.

"Are you daft? You're doing a terrible job and not improving at all. Don't tell me you're incompetent even at being a servant because that's all you'll ever be! You'll never be a chief's daughter or even a king's wife," Soma's voice grew even more venomous as she struck Zeep across the face, making her gasp in pain.

Just then, Mayo entered the room, witnessing the scene unfold.

"In fact, you'll have to wash my pile of clothes. Your presence in the prince and his wife's royal chamber seems to have inflated your sense of importance," Soma declared, preparing to throw a heap of dirty clothes at Zeep.

"What do you think you're doing, Soma?" Mayo interjected, taken aback by the cruelty.

"Punishing our silly servant! She's no good at anything. I should strike her with my footwear,"

"Are you insane? Have you forgotten she was once the daughter of a chief! She's not a maid for menial jobs, do you understand? I have an interest in grooming her to become my personal servant for sexual favors or a second wife, and you will assist her"

"What? Are you serious? Don't you no longer want me?" Soma questioned, feeling a mix of shock and insecurity.

"I do, but one woman will never be enough for me no matter how skilled she is in bed. That's why you must teach Zeep how to please me.

"Of course, my husband," Soma forced a smile, though inwardly she wished she could banish Zeep from the room. The thought of sharing her husband with a mere servant stung her heart, igniting a desire to remove Zeep from the palace, perhaps even have her imprisoned like her father.

"You know, she can learn from watching us!" Soma attempted to seduce Mayo, but he pushed her away.

""It's too early in the day. I am not so useless a man to be wrapped around a woman at such an early hour of the morning. Just don't ever let me catch you abusing Zeep. She's not that type of servant!" he declared, his gaze still fixed on Zeep, who kept her head bowed.

"I must ensure that Odomodu and his men are well rested. By nightfall, they will be on their way to find Asha, and nothing would please me more than for her to be brought here and punished," he concluded, before exiting the room, leaving Zeep and Soma amidst a swirl of emotions and tension.

While Zeep contemplated for the first time the hardship Asha must be facing being far from home and being falsely accused of killing the king, Soma harboured thoughts of getting rid of Zeep.

"I see you think you are something special! You have found your way into my home, and now you have charmed the prince against me!" she accused Zeep, her eyes piercing into Zeep's face

"You never had the prince! He has only managed to deceive you, which isn't hard!" Zeep retorted defiantly.

"You seem to be forgetting your place! You don't want to be on my wrong side, slave!" Soma warned.

"Yes, my mistress, or maybe co-wife soon enough!" Zeep sneered.

Soma felt the urge to squeeze Zeep's neck but refrained, remembering Mayo's warning not to harm her. However, she vowed to find a way to reduce her to absolute nothing. With a grunt, she stormed away, realizing that being the Prince's wife was not as glamorous as she had imagined. She had no real power. She must speak to her father about all of this! 

——

She had worked all morning, cleaning and setting tables while Ada and her mother barked orders at her. Exhausted from lack of sleep and proper food, Asha was supposed to fetch more wine but instead decided to curl up in a corner for some rest. That's when Ada stumbled upon her, unable to believe her eyes.

"I cannot believe this lazy girl!" Ada shrieked, rushing to find water to douse Asha. Without hesitation, she hurried into the kitchen and fetched a bowl of water which emptied the water onto Asha.

"Why?" Asha cried out.

"Get up and do your job! Who do you think you are, sleeping while we have men in need of more wine? Get up now!" Ada demanded.

Asha rose to her feet, breathing heavily, staring back at Ada with defiance in her eyes.

"How dare you? I am supposed to be your guest, not your servant. Elim paid your father, and I'm done working for you! I'm tired! I have done nothing to you to deserve your cruelty. I am done being treated like a slave!" Asha exclaimed, pushing past Ada towards the back. However, Ada grabbed her, causing her to slip and fall to the floor.

Filled with fury, Asha rushed to attack Ada, but Ada's father walked in.

"What's happening here? We have customers waiting to be served! Ada, get in there and serve them wine!" He shouted.

"But father, she's here, and I shouldn't have to do all the work!" Ada protested.

"Shut up! She's our guest. What will Elim say if he finds out we treated her like a slave? Have you thought about that?"

"That's if he even comes back for her! We need more help; let's put her to work. She can't sleep all day while I do everything!"

""But he paid handsomely so I wouldn't be subjected to such slavery. I would have gladly helped, but you turned me into your servant. And you don't even know whose daughter I am!" Asha exclaimed in anger, the words slipping out before she could stop herself.

"Whose daughter are you? Who's after you? Why are you here?" Ada's father pressed, but Asha remained silent, remembering her promise to Elim not to reveal anything about herself. It was for her own safety. 

"It's not important. I need my rest. I am ready to help, but I can't be treated like a servant here for whatever reason. I hate it more than anything to see people treat others poorly. I won't stand for it!" She spoke like someone who had authority, Ada's father observed. 

"It's okay. I will make my wife see reason. Just go and rest!" the man reassured, his gaze still fixed on Asha. She didn't resemble a servant at all. She must be the child of a wealthy man, but why was she fleeing? He needed to know! It could mean a reward for him if he aided whoever was pursuing her. But then, Elim... he suddenly remembered. Elim would surely come for him if he returned to find Asha missing.

Asha collapsed onto her bed as soon as she entered her room, but she didn't cry. Being away from home for weeks had somehow strengthened her. She had no money or place to go, but in that moment, she resolved to take control of her life. She began contemplating how to earn money and leave Akwara village, instead of waiting for Elim to decide her fate. She was seizing control of her own destiny now!