Chapter 2: Father and Son for the Hot Seat

I look the eldest prince, dem don tie am well, e dey kneel down for ground inside the king’s study for the palace.

Dem block e mouth with cloth, e eyes just full of shock.

Since this boy born, na so I dey pamper am—no wan hold am too tight, no wan make e suffer. After the queen die, I come dey treat am like my own eyes.

I never even let am see any small wahala.

Not long ago, I even promise am say I go make am crown prince, soon I go leave the throne for am.

Na today be the first time wey e go kneel down for me.

I sigh, my mind just dey scatter.

Before dem bring the eldest prince come, those messages just dey waka for my front.

Na so I begin learn plenty things.

Dem talk say, this world wey I dey so, na just storybook.

Me, I be just side character—na to help the main person gather power.

Once the kingdom don sure, the main person go use my dead body waka enter throne.

And the main person wey dem dey talk about—na my first son, Ayotunde.

I raise my hand, signal make dem remove the cloth for him mouth.

Ayotunde finally fit talk, e just shout:

"Papa King, so you don forget say na my Mama die for your hand?"

E talk am with serious pain and vex, like say if I no explain, e fit use head break wall die here.

As he kneel, the moonlight from the high window just shine for his face, show the tears wey dey try hide for corner of his eye. The palace guards shift leg, their faces hard, but I fit see say even dem dey pity am small. For that moment, I remember when I carry am for back as small pikin, his laughter dey echo for my ear. But now, the boy wey I raise with all my sweat and prayers dey look me like stranger. My chest tight, but I force my face make e hard like rock.