Chapter 4: Sade's Perfume and Palace Secrets

To know whether those messages na true, I order secret investigation sharp sharp.

Before the result come out, make nobody release Ayotunde.

After I arrange everything, I wan go rest when the palace attendant for my room rush enter: "Your Majesty, Royal Wife Sade dey beg to see you."

Royal Wife Sade…

True, I almost forget her matter.

As I remember wetin those messages talk, na so my body just vex.

Right now, I no even wan see her face at all.

"Tell her make she dey go."

I wave hand, wan go sleep.

Who know—wahala start outside, sleep no gree me again.

Chief attendant enter, face dey worry:

"Your Majesty, Royal Wife Sade say if you no see her today, she go kneel outside, no go stand up."

Kneel? She?

I sabi Royal Wife Sade style well. All these years, I don spoil her, her wahala don even increase.

How she go kneel outside? Na just show she dey do, wan make my mind soft.

For this palace, kneeling na serious matter—no be play. Even the guards shift, dey whisper.

Forget it.

Whether those messages na true or not, I still dey check. Since I never get answer, why I go dey worry?

I raise hand, make dem bring her in.

Royal Wife Sade wear red lace, waka enter like queen. As she enter, that her perfume just full everywhere—sweet like zobo and sharp like atarodo. The rustle of her lace dey loud as she settle down.

I close my eyes small, the smell calm my mind.

Suddenly, my neck heavy. As I open eye, Royal Wife Sade don already sit for my lap, her fine hand wrap my neck.

"Your Majesty, I miss you die."

She rest her head for my shoulder. Before, I for carry her go bed sharp sharp, no waste time.

But today, nothing dey move me at all.

I push her gently.

"Royal Wife, wetin make you must see me this night?"

She lift her head, her neck fine and long. I fit see as her chest dey move as she breathe near my ear.

My mind begin dey turn small.

[This king na real old man wey like woman. Main person do well to send the royal wife—see as e body dey hot quick!]

[This her trick dey always work. She rub something for her cloth, make the king believe say na always him dey with her.]

[For this kain time, anything wey royal wife talk, king dey always agree.]

As she sit for my lap, her gele big like peacock tail, gold earrings dey dance for her ear. I fit smell the sweet mix of atarodo and hibiscus for her perfume, e remind me of the first time I see am for Eyo festival. Her skin dey glow like fresh palm oil for market. For another day, I for don forget all my wahala, but today, my spirit just dey stubborn. Palace lantern dey flicker, cast long shadow for the wall. I clear throat, try compose myself as king, but inside me, my body dey betray me small.