Chapter 6: The Quiet Wedding

Musa Garba finally gree. He dash me to Musa Yunusa as low-level palace wife, no big wedding. Three days later, I go enter Crown Prince Quarters. My fate done set like cement.

Musa Yunusa insist to help me as we waka leave main compound. Maybe na because of him wounded shoulder, he dey frown, pain dey show small for mouth. Him hand gentle as he guide me through palace corridors.

Guilt wan swallow me. Even if we just meet once, he risk him life for me. To say I no dey moved na lie—but the feeling fade quick, my heart don turn hard like unripe mango.

He be Musa Garba son, my enemy pikin. Even if I set am up, he deserve am—na wetin I dey tell myself.

For palace gate, my sister dey wait, worry nearly finish her. She must don try beg for me, but dem no let her enter, she just dey outside dey suffer. Handkerchief almost tear, eyes red from no sleep.

She see me, almost cry from relief. Her body weak, tension just leave am.

"Amara, he touch you?" Her voice dey shake, hand dey fly check my body for bruise or shame.

She hold my hand, check me well. When she see say I dey okay, she relax. Then she notice crown prince beside me, shock catch her.

"Your Highness." She greet am, quick bow—respect but not submission.

Musa Yunusa say, "Consort Ifedolapo, abeg no do like that. Stand tall."

Maybe as he see worry for her face, he add,

"Consort Ifedolapo, abeg no worry. Papa don already give Second Miss to me. Even if na lowest rank, I go treat her well. She no go lack anything so far as I dey alive."

My sister stare, shock. Na there she understand wetin I do. The thing dawn for her like thunder.

She drag me away silent, waka so fast I nearly fall. Her grip tight, steps sharp.

"Sister, slow down..." My voice small for her hurry.

I dey pant, try catch up, till we reach her palace. Corridor dey blur, my heart dey drum.

But na hot slap welcome me. The sting make my eyes water. Hot tears threaten, but I bite my lip—palace no dey pity woman wey show weakness.

"Amara, kneel down." Her voice low, shake like thunder far away.

My heart sink, I kneel, hold her hand to my face. Skin rough, callus from years of palace wahala.

"Sister, you save me. Fit beat me as you like. I deserve am."

She glare, too angry to talk. But she no fit slap me again. Her shoulders drop, anger finish.

After a while, she begin cry, touch my red cheek gently. Her tears fall like rain, hot and heavy.

"Sorry, Amara. I vex too much. I just want make you safe."

I quick shake head, voice soft.

"Sister, e no mean anything. As long as you dey, I go manage."

She hug me, tears dey her eyes.

"Amara, abeg tell me—wetin you dey plan? No let me lose you too."

My body stiff. I no fit hide again—I scheme to marry crown prince. How I go tell her? The peaceful life she want for me, I scatter am myself. My destiny no dey her hand again.