Chapter 1: The King's Dilemma

After I ascend throne, I just dey ready to tell palace attendant make e announce say I wan remove the queen put Consort Biliki for her place, when suddenly, some strange bullet screens appear—

[This yeye king no dey see road at all. The queen is so good, but he no even value her, even go as far as destroying her whole family. When the northern invaders come next year, make we see who go defend the kingdom for am.]

[Who even send am to dey like Biliki type? Abi he never know say the pikin wey dey noble consort belle no be him own?]

[Even though he be wicked supporting male, at least he make the male lead son crown prince. After he die, the male lead go still disgrace am. E no even too good for am, sha.]

As I see this one, my hand start dey shake. I sharply snatch the royal decree from the palace attendant wey stand near me. In front of all the chiefs and elders, with my face strong like stone, I announce:

"I no dey feel well. Council don close for today."

The sudden hush that fell on the hall as my words dropped was thick like ogbono soup. Even old Chief Ajayi, wey no dey ever miss chance to clear him throat loud, just look up, confusion full him wrinkled face. Sweat dey gather for back of my ear, but I still raise my chin high as I waka comot. All those palace eyes dey burn my back, but I pretend say I no notice, my heart dey run like Keke napep wey dey dodge traffic for Lagos expressway.

1

I waka go royal study, order say make nobody see me. That time, my face just dark with worry. Removing queen na something wey I don dey plan since, next step na to seize Okoye family property. Those stubborn elders always dey hail Okoye family warriors and General Okoye for my front. Since dem get too much power, dem dey threaten throne. I don tire for Okoye family, but this matter still dey my mind; I never tell anybody yet. How those bullet screens take know before hand?

As I sit down, I dey hear faint chant of palace guards as dem dey change shift outside, their heavy boots thumping on the polished marble floor. Rain begin tap for window, the kind wey dey fall gently like e no wan disturb royalty. My mind dey scatter—these bullet screens, who dey operate them? Na witches from the east or maybe na my enemies dey do juju for me?

...Dem even talk say the pikin wey dey my beloved consort belle no be my own. Abeg, that one na the biggest joke for this world. Apart from me, who else fit near my beloved consort? Abi na queen send some fake prophetess come do this kind thing?

I shake my head, hiss small. For this palace, if you no get thick skin, na so you go just dey carry headache. These palace walls dey get ear, true true.

As I dey reason am, bullet screens show again.

[Strange oh, according to the novel, this yeye king suppose remove the queen today. E be like say e get sense suddenly, abi e don realise say the queen na better person wey no suppose die?]

[As I know Biliki wahala, she go soon show for royal study come cause drama.]

I never even finish read the bullet screens when I hear movement outside the study. Before I fit call anybody, door just open. Na so her pink lace wrapper flash enter, vexing. She point at the chief attendant, complain: "Your Majesty, this useless man block me, no gree make I see you. You must stand for me o!"

Her voice sharp, like tomato seller for Onitsha market when dem price her goods too low. Her wrapper tight, she waka with confidence of person wey know say na her time to shine.

I look Baba Sani, frown. Baba Sani pout say, "No vex, Your Majesty, this old servant really no fit stop noble consort."

Baba Sani even shift small, look down, dey fear to meet my eye. Him grey beard dey tremble as he scratch him head, mumble one prayer for mouth.

"Hiss, His Majesty talk say I fit see am anytime I want, and you, old man, dey block me?"

I remember say I really give that order before, so my face come calm small. As she see am, Consort Biliki just collapse gently onto my lap, wrap her arms round my neck. Her sweet perfume dey fill my nose. I nearly lose guard. For my mind, I dey reason say if elders see this one now, wahala go burst.

My hand wan stroke her back, but I hold myself. Her skin cold like early morning breeze for Jos. She dey whisper my praise like she dey recite oriki. Na so palace story dey start—one whisper, two touches, next thing gossip don fly.

But those strange messages—bullet screen—flash for my eyes again.

[Wahala dey on top woman matter o. This yeye king go fall because of woman.]

[I think say e don change, but e good as e dey so. No wonder he lose both him kingdom and the women. Na the male lead wey dey face him work sure pass.]

My face come strong, I sharply push her from my body. Biliki, as she no expect am, just fall for ground, land well for her backside. I still dey confused, never understand wetin dey happen, when I hear her begin sob from ground.

Her cry sharp and high, cut through the room, even mosquito for window pause small. One of her hairpins roll for the palace floor with tinkling sound.

"Your Majesty no love me again. You talk say you go make me queen today. I wait for palace all day for the royal decree, e no come. I come find you with hope, dem still block me. If you no wan make me queen, you for no dey give me hope. Now, other wives dey laugh me."

Her voice carry both pain and pride, her tears and stubbornness mix like pepper inside jollof rice. Her lips dey shake, but her eyes dey sharp—calculating.

She point at one red pillar not too far, eyes full of tears like small rabbit. "I better just knock my head die here."

She hiss, stamp her foot like market woman wey wan make you pity am but still win argument.