Chapter 2: Biliki's Tears and Queen Adaeze's Calm

2

I wan stop her, but those strange messages—bullet screen—flash for my eyes again.

[No be this same trick Biliki dey use everytime?]

[Na only the supporting male dey fall for am. Biliki no go ever really die; na just to control king.]

The hand wey I stretch out, I withdraw am. I just watch as Consort Biliki rush go the pillar. But I see am well—she pause for front, and even as her head knock the pillar, na just small red mark show. Biliki turn, before she faint, she give me one bad eye. "Your Majesty, you wicked, I swear." Then she fall for ground, close eyes.

The way she fall, her wrapper arrange well, no stain. I just dey watch her for ground; even the tears for her cheek dry quick-quick. For my heart, I sigh—how many times we go act this kind drama for palace?

As I dey look the 'dead body' for ground, for the first time, she come dey strange to me. I finally realise say she dey pretend. Before I fit talk or do anything, bullet screen don appear—

[Omo, the supporting male go don dey cry now. I bet one kobo say this yeye king go rush go carry her, beg, cry join.]

[Na so.]

[+1.]

Before, anytime she cry like this and threaten say she wan die, I go don soft. But today, these bullet screens don scatter my mind; I no even get patience again. As I see them dey mock me, I wave hand and knock table hard.

My voice loud, echo like thunder for rainy season: "Somebody! Noble consort dey disturb my rest. Carry her go her quarters now."

The 'dead body' for ground just shake small. I hiss, glare at the bullet screen, then smile small. Make I see wetin una go talk now.

3

The bullet screens really quiet, dem never show again since then. But after that day, Lian come dey far from me, she no come visit again. Before, when she dey my side, her gentle company dey make me sleep well. But these days, na nightmare I dey get.

Every night, the wind from the east wing carry faint whispers—stories of past kings wey let heart rule head. Even my shadow sometimes look like ghost of my own regret.

One night, as sleep no gree come, I wear robe, waka anyhow. Before I know, I reach New Dawn Palace. I tell the attendant wey dey on night duty make e no talk, I quietly enter the palace wey I no even like at all.

My footsteps echo for the polished marble floor, the faint light of oil lamp dey tremble like heart wey dey fear. I pass hallway wey dem line with painted calabashes with stories of our ancestors, each one holding memory of those before me.

My marriage with the queen na the retired king arrange am. But I no love her. I vex say she gree for the marriage, come block me from being with Lian. Even after I later ignore all the elders and bring Lian, a commoner, into palace, raise her to noble consort, I still dey guilty for her. That time I dey among commoners, na she take care of me well, I even promise her forever. Na because the queen take her place, Lian suffer.

I remember the first time I meet Lian for riverside, as she balance calabash for head, laughter free and bright. Her kindness, her stubbornness—na backbone wey hold me when my spirit break. All the palace wahala wey follow pain me.

As I dey reason am, I feel more sorry for Lian. My steps to inner part of New Dawn Palace stop, I wan turn go Peaceful Court to see Biliki instead. But as I just wan turn, I hear dog dey bark. One small, short-legged white dog run come, circle me, then rub body for my leg. I find am cute, I wan carry am, when I hear woman voice from front.

The dog fur soft, e wag tail like say e know me. I smile, my worry ease for one second. Then her voice come—calm and clear, but get that edge only woman wey dem offend fit get.

"Your Majesty, you come so late for night—wetin bring you come?"

Her voice soft, but get small coldness and familiar feel. One memory flash for my mind but disappear quick. I look up at the woman in white, face show small vex.

Her wrapper was snow white, tied above her waist, her hair plaited in neat lines. The scent of shea butter and jasmine dey follow her. In the dim light, her face shine like fresh yam after rain. My chest twinged—something about her presence strong, like iroko tree wey no dey fall for wind.

"I no fit come if I no get anything? The whole kingdom na my own, talk less of this palace?"

Queen Adaeze frown, purse lips. "No be wetin I mean. Just say Your Majesty never enter New Dawn Palace for long. I just dey worried."

Her calm face come get small shyness. I see her bend down, pick Ofu from ground.

"Ofu misbehave, come disturb Your Majesty. Abeg, forgive am."

She cradle the dog, pat am gently. Ofu lick her hand, and for that moment, queen eyes soften, like moonlight touch quiet water.

I no even hear wetin she talk well, because those strange messages—bullet screen—flash for my eyes again.

[Wetin dey worry this yeye king, come New Dawn Palace for night? E be like say e don realise say queen na better person?]

[I always talk am, e no sabi woman. Queen fine pass Consort Biliki, get dignity and grace, but na Biliki sharp mouth and wahala he like.]

As dem remind me, I no fit help but move closer, till I fit hear her breathe. E shock me. Before, when my mind full of Lian, I dey always see queen as one kind. But today, as I look her, she dey sweet my eyes. My eyes move from her fine face go her slim body, then stop for floor.

For the first time, I notice her feet—bare on the cold marble, toes curling small. Her skin dey glow for lamplight, and faint smell of shea butter and jasmine dey fill air.

"Why you come out without shoe or socks?"

Before queen talk, bullet screen don answer for her.

[No be because she hear say you dey, rush come out to see you, forget shoe?]

[Think am, how many times you don visit this palace since una marry?]

[Queen Adaeze keep empty bed for you for years, still dey do her duty as wife. If na me, I for don keep secret lover since— you no go even know.]

My face come dey small shame, but as bullet screen talk, I feel small pride inside. Men dey be like that sometimes. My mind come sweet, so I carry queen with small play, carry her and Ofu like bag of garri, enter her room.

As I hold her waist, she gasp, surprise flash for her eyes. Ofu bark, run in excited circles as I set queen down gently for soft mat. The air for room change, warm and full of old longing.