chapter 9

As Princess Emajiri left Oma's hut, after achieving what she had set out to. Her mind couldn't help but go back to the last conversation they had before she left.

'There's something I just can't quite work out, why my father, you are young and fairly good looking, it won't take much for you to seduce a wealthy and well connected chief or one of the prince's. So why him.' She asked curiously, her ears wide open.

Oma smiled sadly. 'For power, your father is the most powerful and also the most richest man in the kingdom, there's no one above him. You say I could marry any chief or wealthy man of my choice, but which chief was not an old potbellied man and which wealthy man even if he by some miracle was young, was as powerful as the king. As for the prince's, of course I thought about that, but none of them are serious about settling down now, they are all still in the adventurous faze in their lives, they only court maidens for one reason and one reason only, forget about them taking you as their wives, they won't even give you the title of a mistress. Well except for your biological brother, the eldest prince, but I dare not get close, the crown prince's first wife is no pushover.' She paused, her eyes firm with determination. 'And as for why I chose your father, I guess I thought that if I was to marry an old man, there's no one better than your father the king, he might be way older than me but at the very least he was handsome and not unbearable to look at, he was also in the very best position to give me what I want.'

The princess looked at her closely, finally she saw the real Oma under the cheerful mask she always portrayed in front of her, she didn't bother asking her what she needed power for, she already knew. Finally she smiled. 'For once since I made your acquaintance, I actually admire you, it takes a lot of courage and determination to take the step you are currently taking.' The Princess said slowly, her enunciation clear and precise, she looked at Oma with a real smile for the first time which stunned Oma, so the Princess's smile could be so beautiful. Oma's heart beat rapidly, enthralled by the stunning sight.

The Princess stood up to take her leave, after a few steps she turned and stared at the stunned Oma. 'You know, if you had approached me like this, as the real you, I'd have accepted your friendship no questions asked.' She dropped those words and went on her way.

Oma's legs weakened as she fell on the floor looking out after the Princess, was she wrong from the very beginning she thought as the Princess's back faded from view.

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The Princess finally got to the palace, she went to her cabana. Hiding away from the hot sun, although the heat of the sun still lingered, she preferred to stay here than to get suffocated in her stuffy room. She enjoyed the fruits prepared for her by her maid, and mused, home remains the best place ever. 'You can stop massaging my legs, go and ask where my father is now and report back to me.' She ordered the maid that massaged her leg. The maid quickly bowed and left. She nodded in appreciation at the maids fast reaction, she might not actually have to replace all of them, it seems, they're learning fast.

Her mind drifted back to Oma's situation, she felt she should feel sorry for her, but for the life of her, she couldn't bring herself to summon an ounce of pity. She might actually be as heartless as everyone said she was, she mused.

But Oma was not the only pitiful person in the world, even she herself the Princess had gone through a lot, but who would cry for her or care for her. As they said, not all that glitters is gold. Everybody looking into the palace from the outside would cast envious gazes, wishing they were one of them. She Princess Emajiri welcomes them with opened arms. Anyone who wants to come can come, let them see for themselves if they can bear it. This palace as luxurious as it looked outside, was just a nest of vipers and poisonous insects, a place that can swallow you whole, without spitting out bones.

Her father had once had fifteen wives but now, only five wives remained, and three out of five, were newly married wives. As a member of the royal family you had to tread carefully, else one wrong move and your life would be forfeited. A great example was her m- she quickly cut off her line of thought, she didn't want to think about it.

She leisurely ate and drank waiting for the maid to come back from her errand, she strangely felt calm today, her thoughts and heart felt settled, as she went over her plan in her mind.

The maid returned after some minutes, not daring to stay back for a minute longer. She bowed to the Princess, ' your highness, his royal majesty is in the palace discussing some matters with the chiefs.' She answered.

'Did you find out when he'd be done.' She asked.

'In two to three hours.' The maid said.

The princess nodded in acknowledgment. Her mind wandering, she thought about how to control Oma, she was not stupid, she trusted Oma as far as she could throw her. Lesson number one she learned as a resident of this palace is TRUST NO ONE. And she took that to a tee, the only reason she decided to help Oma was that she knew that Oma and her father getting together was inevitable, she just sped that up along.

Once her father was interested in someone, it was inevitable that they would get together. It happened with Amaka, Oma would not be any different.

She just decided to use this very situation to her advantage, and it didn't hurt that she could simultaneously knock that irritating Amaka down a peg, she had that coming. Now that the arrow had been released from the bow, she needed a way to curb Oma. She brainstormed on ways to control Oma until her brain started to ache, she immediately stopped. She won't stress herself over this, the idea will come when it wanted.

She relaxed, taking in the fresh air and patiently waiting for her father to be done. She later had her afternoon meal which was yam and red oil. She almost dozed off when a guard sent by her father came to inform her that her father was done with his meeting and could see her now.

She stood up, then something clicked in her mind. 'Wait.' She called to the guard, the guard stopped and came before her, greeting her once more.

'My Princess you called for me, how can I help you.' He asked curious as to what the princess might want with him. He was almost frightened out of his skin when the princess started accessing him with her eyes.

'Turn around.' The princess said, she watched as he stiffly turned around. She almost wanted to laugh, this guy treated her like he was facing a big predator, but she held back, she didn't want to ruin her image. She nodded satisfied with his looks. He was perfect for her plan. 'What's your name.' The princess asked, everyone in close vicinity including the guard in question was shocked. Everyone knew that the princess didn't care for irrelevant servants enough to ask for their names, chief guard Tega was an exception, he had been in the palace for a long time.

But this guard was very new, the only remarkable thing about him was his face, he had a good looking face, but his stature was average. 'Are you deaf?' The princess asked, annoyed.

'No no, my princess, my name is Efe.' He said, trying hard to curb his shock.

'Efe, ok, I will remember you, let's go.' She said, the first sentence to Efe the guard and the second sentence to her maids. 'Remember to bring the package I brought from Oma's place.' She told the maid. There could be no mistakes, the package was vital to the next step in her plan.