Chapter 3: Truths, Slaps, and Silent Fears

I don calm down small by now.

When I first see those messages, anger just carry me—I no even think before I call dem to bring am.

But wetin if those messages na lie?

Or maybe, some bad belle person wan spoil my mind against the eldest prince, hire native doctor to deceive me?

I just order make dem tie Ayotunde without even check anything. E no make sense.

Now, as I see e red eye and hear am mention e late Mama, my heart just dey pain me more.

Emotion just take over my sense.

I stand up quick, waka go untie Ayotunde by myself.

I wan even beg am—

Na so those messages start to dey roll again for my eye—

[I know say this old king go soft. How e wan punish main person?]

[But why e dey behave like this today? E fit be say e don catch the main person dey plan with royal uncle to overthrow am?]

[Thank God say our main person ready. Even if the king no wan leave throne again, e no go last long for there.]

My hand dey for Ayotunde shoulder, but my eye dey for the messages, my body dey shake small.

Ayotunde no even notice, e still dey carry that e vex.

As usual, e pride full body, e never see this kain shame since e small.

As e see me untie am with my own hand, e think say I go still pamper am as before, make e do as e like.

E raise e head, shout for me, no even get small respect: "Papa King, if you no give me reason today, I no dey go anywhere!"

But my mind dey for wetin those messages talk.

Ayotunde—e really get mind dey join hand with people for council?

And e no even dey patient, don dey plan to collect throne?

Suddenly, e shout for my ear.

My body just react—I raise my hand—

Before I know, my palm don land for Ayotunde face, leave big red mark.

The way my hand take shake before I slap am, even me surprise. I remember my papa old proverb: 'Dem say, if pikin no fear slap, e no go fear life.' Na the spirit of my late mother wey dey always say, "If pikin no hear word, na slap go reset am," enter my bone. The slap loud pass anything I don ever give before. For one second, I see my own pain and confusion flash for his face. E pain me, but I no fit show am.

The slap loud well, the sound just bounce for the whole palace study.

All the palace workers and maids drop for ground, fear catch all of them, nobody fit talk.

Everywhere just quiet like graveyard.

Ayotunde touch e face, shock hold am, e look me.

I no look am eye, I just talk with cold voice:

"Somebody—The eldest prince don disrespect. Carry am go back to his quarters. If I no talk, make e no come out."

After dem carry the eldest prince commot, I tell everybody for palace study to go.

Na that time I notice say cold sweat don wet my back.

I sit down for my desk, just dey look the empty space.

I reach for my kola nut dish, but my hand just dey shake—no appetite remain.

As I slap Ayotunde, those messages just dey rush out, one after another.

I just dey look, fear no gree me blink—make I no miss anything important.

[Na which medicine this old king take today? E get mind slap Ayotunde!]

[Just wait, our Tunde no dey forget anything. After this disgrace, e go wan tear the king into pieces.]

[No be say the old king still be him papa?]

[So? Make you no forget say the main person wicked and heartless. That time wey Queen Ireti just talk to am small, na so e push am for stair, make am lose belle.]

I take deep breath.

That time wey the queen lose belle, na me blame myself well.

I think say na because I dey busy with kingdom matter, I neglect her.

I no even imagine—na Ayotunde push am?

As I sit, the old wooden chair creak under my weight, the scent of camphor and dust rise up. I rub my hand over my head, sweat mixing with the old shea butter. My mind dey fly back to those days—Queen Ireti laughter for the courtyard, the way she dey call my name when I return from council. My chest dey heavy. For this palace, everybody dey watch, but nobody dey talk true. If to say my mother-in-law dey alive, she for don shout for everybody head by now. But as I sit alone, I dey fear say the real wahala never even start.