Chapter 1: The Crown Prince’s Promise

Crown Prince Tobi marry me because he think say I no get wahala—quiet, no ambition. He want make I promise say if my elder sister ever change her mind come back, I go step down as crown princess. But how he go ever understand? Na who dey smile dey win fight wey nobody see.

Some men for this world, eh, their eyes dey see but their mind dey sleep. I fit kneel and shine ground for you, laugh where I wan cry, all na just to get my own. Wetin concern man with my tears, if e no touch im own skin? I learn early say quiet water dey swallow person pass raging flood.

After our marriage, whether outside or inside the palace, I give am everything I get. I even risk my life for am, more than once. The day my sister return, I remove the crown princess wrapper as we agree, and hand over the eagle staff. But at that moment, my spirit no gree—my heart dey shake.

The wrapper—gold and red like sunset for Benue river—heavy pass any day I don wear am. My hand dey tremble, but my heart strong—na so life be. Even the eagle staff, symbol of the house, dey shake for my grip as I pass am on. As I look Tobi, his eyes full of confusion—his hands grip the staff, knuckles white, like say he dey hold last piece of yam during famine—as if he just dey realize say sometimes, wetin you lose no get replacement.

Before I hand over, my mind flash back to Mama voice: 'Ijeoma, no trust promise wey come from sweet mouth. Na dem dey quick forget.' The memory press my chest, make the loss heavy like stone.