When my father told me, "Life itself hits differently; we'll just have to accept whatever it gives us as our doom," I thought he was just being my motivational speaker, as he always was. That changed a week ago when I watched the military carry my father into his grave and cover him with sand. To my greatest surprise, I even poured the first shovel of dirt onto his casket. I watched them bury the only man who had ever genuinely loved me on this planet. I thought I was going to wake up from this terrifying slumber anytime soon, but here I am, awake at another break of dawn. God! What is this life all about?
"Aina! Aina!" A heavy knock amidst a loud voice came at the door, bringing me out of my grief-stricken inner turmoil. I promptly wiped my eyes, which were already streaming with tears, before going to open the door.
"Aina! The daughter of the great Alaafin (king) Olawale of the Oyo Empire, are you crying?" My stepmother narrowed her gaze, gesturing toward my eyes with a sympathetic glance, her fingers dancing on my chin slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. "You are 22 now, my ebony black beauty. Stop killing yourself over what can't be changed."
I know whenever Yatunde comes up with such a calm demeanor, she's only trying to get something from me. "No, I'm not," I replied with a calm but firm tone. "You forgot to add 'late' to my father's name. Is there a trace of tears in my eyes? Or were you expecting me to be flooded in tears by now? Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you." I gently took her hands off my face, as well as a strand of my long, curly black hair that was sticking to my face, before turning my back on her.
She took a deep breath as if stealing a moment to think of what to do next. "Well, I have come to inform you that Olumide, the son of Morounkeji, has come to ask for your hand in marriage. They are in the living room. Don't keep them waiting for too long," she uttered with a strict voice, pivoting to the exit.
"It would be better if you tell him I said I'm not interested than letting me come to give him a lifetime insult. Don't you think so?" I spoke with a calm demeanor, turning to face her.
It was as if my words triggered the wrath she had been trying to hold back. "What are you going to tell him, Aina?" She asked turning back and raising a brow.
"That I will not marry someone who steals from the poor to feed himself and his family, all in the name of politics. I will not marry his useless and lazy son for the sake of making a strong alliance," I stared back at her, widening my eyes, speaking fearlessly. "All thanks to my 5.64 feet height that allows me to be at eye level with powerful females like me."
"Hmm, I see you have grown so much wings after the death of your father," my stepmother clapped her hands slowly, giving me a devilish look. "You don't have a choice, Aina!" She spoke with authority, each word slowly following the other. "You should even be happy that a young, rich, handsome, and smart guy like Olumide is asking for your hand in marriage. All thanks to the beauty you inherited from your late mother, because obviously that's the only thing she could offer to the king."
"Don't speak about my late mother in such a manner. Let her rest in peace," I interrupted with a louder tone than I would have spoken with if I could control my voice at the moment. "It's a good thing men are after me because I'm beautiful and a virgin. Not like those useless, ugly children of yours who can't even stand to defend themselves."
The next thing I realized was a heavy slap on my face that left me completely speechless. It was as if the slap reminded me how many times my late father had warned me not to speak to Yatunde in such a rude manner.
"Dress up quickly. We are waiting for you in the conference hall. Don't keep us waiting for too long," Yatunde muttered furiously before slamming the door behind her.
The thunderous sound of the door brought me back to the present. I hesitated on the edge of my Alarokun, it's carve old frame worn smooth by generations of royalty, the dim oil lamp light filtering through the latticed windows cast shadows on the intricate partterns of the bedspread. I pondered the marriage proposal debating whether or not I should accept it. as it's a way of leaving this palace for Yatunde and her children. Before memories of how she killed my mother and swore to eat without dying flooded my mind.
I was only three years old at the time I saw Yatunde with my own eyes, poisoning my pregnant mother's food. I tried to tell her not to eat it, but she didn't listen to me because my words sounded like those of a child — which they were. Maybe because Yatunde was my mother's younger and only sister, she didn't believe her sister could do such a thing just to marry her husband.
It baffles me how my stepmother and aunt seem to have forgotten that the only reason my father married her was to be sure his daughter was in good hands. Little did he know he was only handing me over to a snake hidden under a beautiful flower. All thanks to my supernatural instincts, I'm sure that's why I'm still alive today.
I'm pretty sure that if I conduct a proper investigation, Yatunde's hand will be found in my father's death. The thought that Yatunde might be involved in my father's death pains my heart so badly.
"No, I'm not going to let her ruin my life more than this. I must come up with a plan before it's too late."
I jumped up from my bed, walking around my room to come up with a plan. Suddenly, a thought that sounded strange yet intriguing surfaced in my mind.
I remembered the white people who came to my village to pay their tribute to my late father since he was doing business effectively with them. They would be leaving in two days' time. Maybe I should just run away and start a new life there.
I didn't even realize a trace of a grin appeared on my face at the thought, although I doubted it was a bad idea. That means I'll go very far away where no one considers me a princess. I won't have to be stuck indoors all the time anymore; no royal guard will be stalking me all the time, and no maid will be following me around all the time. I'll be able to walk freely and even choose how I'll live the rest of my life.
"What a pleasant idea," I muttered to myself excitedly. "I can't wait to get away from all this trouble."
"Well, it's not like I'm running away, but just as my late father always said, 'he who fights and runs away shall live to fight another day.' I'll definitely come back to the Oyo Empire to take what rightfully belongs to me at the due time."
I carefully tiptoed through the walkway covered with an awning. I used the back door to head outside, leaving Yatunde to entertain her visitors while I went to see if the white men would agree to help me.
I was relieved to know that slavery had been abolished worldwide over 30 years ago
so even if they wanted to sell me, no one would be interested as slavery is now considered illegal in every country and empire. This alone gave me confidence to go and try my luck.
As for Olamide, the son of Morounkeji, I'm sure he can't face me alone because obviously, he can't do anything without his father. Perhaps his father can't force his son's ring onto my finger, so they are obviously the least of my problems right now.
So many thoughts flooded my memory as I sneaked through the large compound with many houses, like a thief in my own father's empire. I was careful enough to not be caught by anyone until I got to the tall exit gate. I knew there was no way I could slip away from the gate as it had more than 10 guards, being the entrance of the Great Alaafin's residence. It had to be well-guarded as always, even though my father was no more.
I stealthily approached the guards and ordered them to open the gate for me, saying I wished to go out alone. At first, they resisted, but not until I threatened all of them with their jobs. They pleaded with me to allow two of them to follow me just to make sure nothing happened to me.
At this point, I was sure they weren't trying to stalk me but were only being protective, as I was loved by literally everyone.
After considering the idea for a moment, I agreed, on the condition that they wouldn't follow me directly to my destination since I wanted it to be a secret.
The streets were empty… or so I thought. a single silhouette moved swiftly behind me.
My chest tightened. They were faster than I expected