Chapter 9: Alone in Ile-Ola

I stayed in my room for many days.

Air thick with incense and sobbing. I barely moved from mat, curled under blankets, world outside window a blur.

Sometimes, palace people rushed past.

Feet made soft sounds, voices low, hurried. I glimpsed black wrappers, smell of bitter leaf soup, silence of mourning.

After some time, everywhere calmed.

Drums stopped, wailing faded. Only quiet remained.

Finally, I saw Tola Shun and queen.

They came to my room together, faces pale, eyes red. Queen patted my head, Tola Shun squeezed my hand, both trying to smile.

Queen dey move go Longevity Palace.

Her new palace farther, bigger, with old trees. She packed slow, servants moving silently.

But e be like say she no plan carry me.

The news stung. I stared at shoes, not sure to feel sad or relieved.

Because she said, "Er’er, just continue to dey live for Ile-Ola."

Her tone soft, but final. I nodded, biting lip.

I thought she dey joke. I be just five and half, e sure so?

I glanced at Tola Shun, hoping he’d protest, but he just looked away. My heart sank.

But true-true, I started to live alone for Ile-Ola.

Rooms felt bigger, emptier. I wandered window to window, footsteps echoing, wishing for someone.

For those days, I always dreamed of mama at night.

She’d come in bright wrapper, humming soft, covering me with shawl, calling me her good child.

She go cover me, praise me say I be good child.

Her praise warmed me, even in sleep. I clung to her voice, afraid to wake.

Later, my daily life became three places: early morning go greet queen (now queen mother) for Longevity Palace, then learn etiquette there.

Mornings filled with bows, queen mother’s sharp eyes. I practiced posture, speech, smiles, until cheeks ached.

Then, if I guessed queen mother and Tola Shun finished council, I go Royal Hall near Ile-Ola to eat first food with them.

Food always plenty, appetite small. Tola Shun rarely smiled, queen mother busy. I ate quietly, watching.

Then they faced government matter, I started to crack joke and play.

Sometimes, I’d tell joke to lighten mood. Queen mother laughed, Tola Shun smirked. For brief moment, we felt like family.

Yes, queen na queen mother now, Tola Shun na Oba.

Titles changed, faces same. I tried to remember old days, before all the rules.