Chapter 1: Secrets Under Agbada

Tunde Garuba get one adviser—a woman wey dey dress like man, dey give am sharp advice for day, then warm am for night. Na wah o! Even for town, people dey gossip say Tunde always get correct person for him corner, but nobody fit pin am. Sometimes, if dem see adviser pass, dem go hail, but nobody suspect say under that big agbada, na woman dey shine eye for General. Only sharp people fit notice say adviser go waka soft-soft for night, her voice go low, like person wey dey guard secret wey heavy for chest.

As Tunde reach house, he package himself like say serious wahala dey worry am. He act the part—head down, shoulders tight, as if heavy load dey press him chest. For that kain mansion, when Oga dey carry face like that, even the walls dey pick the tension. If you dey watch, you go sabi say something dey boil, but he no wan show am. He dey squeeze face, dey sigh, dey tap foot like person wey no get rest.

"I just hear say my adviser na woman. She don dey take care of me well. People fit talk anyhow, so I wan marry her as second wife."

As he talk am, he pause, eye dey run round like person wey dey measure if room cold or hot. He know say this kind talk fit cause wahala, but e no even fear. Him voice steady like soldier, no dey shake.

"Next month, fifteenth, you and her go enter house together."

He no blink, just dey drop am like market matter. The authority for him voice strong, you go know say he no like delay.

"Prepare another wedding gown."

His eye dey command respect as he talk. E no get time for story.

I nod. My mind dey run like generator, but I still nod. For this kain matter, if you no get strong heart, na so life dey humble you. The air for the room even heavy—like say rain wan fall anytime.

As I dey go, I talk, "Oga, one letter from palace dey your study. Abeg, check am by yourself."

I add respect for my voice, make e no look like say I dey force message. For Naija, when palace matter enter, everybody dey humble. I just drop am soft—no need for plenty mouth.

He think say na another reminder from Queen to treat me well—same old talk. E no even reason am. He just wave hand, no even carry mind reach the matter. Palace letter dey come steady, so e no see any wahala.

He no know say na our annulment letter from palace. He no fit imagine say ground dey shift under him foot, say e fit soon lose wetin e dey take shine for town. As I waka commot, my heart dey strong, small joy dey hide for corner my mouth. But for my heart, I swear, e no go ever turn back to the way e be before.