Chapter 4: Palace Walls and Broken Names

That night, somebody knock urgent for church gate.

Knock wey fit wake dead man—rushed, frantic. My heart jump, thinking maybe na bad news from palace.

I shock as I see Queen Adeyemi, dey stand for door dressed like palace maid.

Her royal bearing still dey show, even as she try hide under ordinary cloth. The gold thread for her wrapper still catch moonlight, betray her status.

“Your Majesty, wetin bring you here?”

I try bow small, but fear and surprise dey mix for my mind. Palace people no dey show for night except matter serious.

Adeyemi hurry enter, move like she don come here many times before.

Her movement quick—she waka like person wey know every corner. She push me aside with gentle hand, anxiety all over her face.

“Ayotunde get injured because of me, I just no fit rest.”

She dey breathe fast, voice dey tremble. Palace life tough, but the worry for her eyes be like river about to overflow.

“I sneak out of palace.” She grab my sleeve, her pretty eyes dey mischievous, “Abeg, help me keep am secret.”

Her grip soft, but her eyes dey beg. For one second, she resemble small pikin wey run away from school.

I follow her quietly, like extra, enter Ayotunde room.

I dey behind, my steps careful, like person wey no wan wake sleeping snake. My chest dey tight—palace wahala fit spoil anybody future.

The moment Ayotunde see her, the Bible for his hand drop, he jump up.

His composure scatter—book fall, prayer beads fly. Even Halima wey dey sweep, pause.

“Nonsense! Why you come here?”

His voice sharp, like teacher wey catch student dey copy for exam. Everybody freeze.

I never see Ayotunde, always calm, so angry before.

His cold scolding make Queen Adeyemi’s eyes fill with tears at once.

Na so, queen or not, her eyes shine with water. Pride and heartbreak mix inside—na only woman wey love deep fit show that kind pain.

She bite her lip, tears gather, mumbling: “Who send you to get injured for me…”

Her voice small, almost disappear for inside room. That kind admission, palace wall no dey hear am often.

“I fear say others no go take care of you well, I just had to come see you myself to rest my mind.”

Her words hover, soft as morning fog, but heavy enough to pull heart down.

I freeze.

My heart just dey pain me small small.

Even though Ayotunde and I don be intimate and engaged, for their eyes, I still be ‘the other person’.

No matter how far I waka, palace wall still dey between me and am. Some barriers prayer no fit break.

“If you no wan see me, I go go.” Queen Adeyemi throw tantrum, turn to leave.

Her voice rise—pouting, but pain dey inside. She no wait make anybody beg am.

Ayotunde stand up so quick his leg hit table.

The sound loud—clumsy for someone always graceful. Na real fear dey drive am.

But he no stop, he hold Queen Adeyemi hand tight.

His grip desperate—knuckles white, blood almost soak through bandage. The way he dey look am, world fit disappear and e no go notice.

The wound I help am treat these days don open again.

Blood spot fresh, dey seep through wrapper. My heart twist, but I keep face strong—palace women no dey show weakness.

Blood stain the bandage, but he no notice, only eyes for Adeyemi.

Na so person fit forget pain if love dey blind am. The air thick, nobody wan talk truth.

Adeyemi see the blood dey drip from his hand, shout in shock, tears dey fall.

Her scream echo for room, her hands dey shake as she press cloth against the wound. True love no dey hide for moments like this.

She ignore everyone, pick Ayotunde hand, gently undo the bandage.

Her fingers clumsy, but her care obvious. Even palace etiquette disappear for such raw moments.

Her fingers dey shake as she put medicine for am.

Each dab careful, lips pressed, breath uneven. The silence in the room na deep river.

I see clear as Ayotunde’s cold eyes melt.

Na miracle to watch. Ice fit melt if fire dey true.

Ayotunde, wey hate people touching am, no pull hand away. He softly wipe Adeyemi’s tears;

His thumb gentle, like say e dey baptise am with comfort. That touch talk all the story words no fit carry.

“Riri, no cry.”

The nickname—private, soft, holy. Like secret only them two fit share.

“It no dey pain me…”

His smile small, voice low. For the first time, I see am put someone else pain above his own.

“And you no suppose risk sneaking out of palace. No try am again.”

His warning soft, but the care inside na pure. Palace matter no be joke.

His voice turn rough: “You be king’s wife, you suppose dey palace with am.”

He dey remind her of boundaries, but even that, na for her good. For that moment, I see the gap between us clear clear.

Riri na Queen Adeyemi pet name.

That name carry memories I no fit touch. Only true love dey form that kind bond.

Five years, yet Ayotunde still only call me ‘Amaka’—my full name.

My chest squeeze—pet name never cross his lips. Na so you go know who truly hold your heart.

Maybe that’s the difference.

Some destinies, no matter how you try, no dey bend.