Chapter 5: Return to the Palace

As I reach palace after three years, my mind no be the same.

The air for palace different—smell of power, old memory, and small dust. As I cross gate, even the floor dey remember my leg.

Three years ago, na me be the big villain wey dey control everybody. Now, I be like goat for slaughter, just dey wait make dem finish me.

For my mind, I dey remember the time I fit make guard dance skelewu just by snapping finger. Today, na only fear I dey dance.

How I take play villain before—

Na because of the system and the fact say I sabi the story before e happen.

Na small secret dey make lion roar. If I no get system, maybe na fowl I for be.

For the original story, the main man, Femi, na pikin wey the late king born with side woman. Even though dem give am prince title, everybody sabi say e no get correct background.

People go dey whisper, "That boy, e mama na outsider." For palace, this na big thing.

The late king no like am, so people dey bully am for palace.

If na food, dem go serve am last. If na meeting, dem no go call am. Palace wicked, I no go lie.

As for me, Morayo—I be the king only daughter, him favourite. Even with many brothers, na me he love pass.

Na my picture full palace wall—birthday, festival, even the day I first talk. Everybody dey hail me.

He even give me same power as the princes.

For council meeting, my chair no dey empty. Even elders dey greet me special. Dem dey serve kunu and puff-puff during late-night strategy session.

Papa think say, “Na woman, how much wahala she fit cause?”

But palace wahala no dey look gender—if you sabi move, you go reign.

Until one day, he realize say I don hold half of the palace for hand.

Even cook dey ask me before dem serve king. That day, papa just look me, sigh heavy, like say spirit dey worry am.

Papa begin fear me.

Fear dey quick enter old king body if pikin sabi pass am. Na there problem start.

But me, I no gree let go the power wey I hustle get.

If you taste power for palace, you no go wan return to groundnut oil business.

I set up some of my brothers, come support small Femi.

I use brain, arrange some brothers for early retirement—some to farm, some to far town. Small Femi come dey shine.

After king die, I help Femi take throne, but na me dey control things for back.

For front, people dey hail king; for back, na me dey sign cheque. My plan strong.

As for Halima, she meet Femi when he almost die (after I deal with am) for one festival, come save am.

That festival, masquerade almost carry Femi go. Halima show, carry him escape, even fight one small masquerade join.

From that day, light enter Femi dark world. Na Halima be that light.

If no be Halima, Femi for don turn real shadow for palace, no joy for him face.

Musa, on his own, na former council elder pikin and top scholar for WAEC.

For village, dem dey call am "Baba Book." Even girls dey form near am for tutorial.

I like am, want make am be my husband.

I even send old women go beg him mama, but the boy head strong like old yam.

But he refuse—he rather disobey king than marry me.

E stand for palace hall, talk am plain. Even king vex, but Musa no shake.

As anger catch me, I kidnap am come my palace.

Na my own way of showing love—Naija style. But e backfire.

I still get mouth talk, “If you no go be my husband, you go be my man.”

All the palace guards dey look ground, dey pity am. But my own mouth no dey hear word.

Musa hate me well, run join the main man and woman.

That one pain me pass. Na me teach am chess, now e dey play me for back.

Like that time I hide pepper inside Femi's shoe before festival, make am dance skelewu for nothing.