Chapter 3: Illness and Suspicion

4

News say I favour queen spread for palace in one day. When Consort Biliki hear, she scatter everything for her room. By evening, one maid from Peaceful Court come report say noble consort dey sick.

All the palace maids dey gossip for kitchen, their voices like mortar pestle wey dey pound yam. Even guards for gate dey whisper, side-eye me as I waka pass.

I dey paint for my desk, when I hear am, my hand pause. These days, I don dey used to checking bullet screen, so I look up. As expected, bullet screens don dey talk again.

[I talk am, noble consort go come play victim, even pretend say she sick.]

[No, this time noble consort really sick—her face red with fever.]

She really sick?

My heart jump, but I miss the next line—

[She use cold water soak herself for night, just dey pity herself.]

I rush go Peaceful Court, as I open bedchamber, I see Lian face pale, still try stand up kneel greet me. I quickly help her. Her body hot—she really dey sick.

The scent of camphor and bitter leaf dey for air. I press her hand, feel the fever. Her breath dey come short, tired.

"Where the royal physician? Where dem dey?"

The maid beside her kneel sharp. "Abeg, Your Majesty, talk to madam. The physician wan check her, but she no gree, say she dey fear medicine go harm the royal baby, say she wan bear am herself."

The other maids hide for corner, peep with worried eyes, their lips dey move in silent prayer. The room heavy, only Lian weak cough dey break silence.

My body stiff. True, I nearly forget—Lian dey pregnant. But... those bullet screens talk say the pikin no be my own. Make I believe them or believe my beloved consort?

5

As I dey think am, my beloved consort begin cry.

Her sobs soft, but full of pain, like person wey dey mourn inside darkness, no one to console am.

"Your Majesty, you still remember wetin you promise me for Makoko Jetty? Who I dey do all this for, to the point say I harm my body? After plenty prayer, I finally get this pikin, but if na to come suffer coldness and insult for palace, I for rather no born am at all."

She hit her belly hard. I quickly hold her hand, rush talk, "I remember, my son go born as rightful heir, I go make am crown prince."

That time, dem pursue me, I wound, I blind. If no be Lian risk her life go find medicine for me inside forest shrine, I for don die since. How I go dey doubt her? I no get conscience.

I still remember the day: rain fall heavy, river swell, Lian covered in mud, run come my side with calabash of bitter herbs. I owe her my life, my breath.

"But Your Majesty, if crown prince mama na just consort, where he go stand? Where I go stand?"

True, since olden days, crown prince na queen pikin. That day, I stop the decree to remove queen, but never fulfill my promise to make Lian queen. No wonder she dey worry.

Her eyes search my face, dey find hope, assurance. Her hand shake as she wipe tears. Palace politics—ehn, e fit chop person heart finish.

"The queen get Okoye family warriors, her papa na grand general, but me, I get nothing—na only Your Majesty. When time reach, queen no go leave me."

Lian words na warning. The idea to remove queen come back small. But for my mind, that clear, fine face from yesterday dey show. But she get Okoye family warriors. General Okoye don dey argue with me for council, dey make me shame. If I favour his daughter again, no be to make Okoye family stronger, come put Lian for more danger?

I fit almost see court elders, all their eyes sharp as blade, ready to pounce. For this palace, love dey follow power, but power no dey follow love.

"No worry, Lian, that decree to remove queen, I go..."

Before I finish, bullet screen appear—

[Na wa o, this yeye king wan foolish again.]

[That time for Makoko Jetty, na no be Consort Biliki save am. When e go wise up?]

My eyes open, I stare bullet screen, no wan miss any word. But this time, I wait tire, nothing show again.

I listen for more, hold my breath, but silence fill air. Even night cricket stop sing.

"Your Majesty?"

I come back to myself, look Biliki hopeful eyes, my throat tight. After small time, I talk:

My voice gentle, like small breeze dey pass: "As for removing queen, make I think am well."

The smile for Lian face fade. She wan talk more, but one tall person enter, kneel, talk:

"This humble official greet Your Majesty and madam."

The person wear Royal Medical Bureau uniform, no dey fear, no dey too humble. My eyes shine, I hold Lian hand, talk with meaning:

"Doctor Musa, you don come. Check my consort well. She catch cold to save me before, now she get belle. E go affect am?"

Bullet screen talk say na no be noble consort save me. Then she no fit catch cold because of that. I wan see who dey lie.

6

I watch as Doctor Musa come forward, open medicine box, put handkerchief for consort wrist. I dey look am, dey bite my teeth, talk strong:

"Check her well o."

Doctor Musa lower him eyes, answer gently. The pulse check take long. My heart dey beat fast.

Room quiet, only distant sound of drumming from palace festival enter through window. Sweat prick my forehead, I clench my fists.

Suddenly, Doctor Musa remove him hand, talk clear: "Three years ago, cold enter madam body, spoil her health. Even though e better small after many treatment, she still dey worry and think too much. If e continue, e go affect both her and the royal baby."

As I hear the doctor talk, my heart finally rest. But before I fit even hold Lian hand, those strange messages—bullet screen—just burst everywhere—this time, I no sure who dey control my life.