Chapter 5: The Trap and the Truth

As those messages appear, I hold my breath quick.

I never breathe in the perfume too much, I press my finger for my palm—the pain wake me up.

I join her act, hide my face for her neck, dey breathe heavy.

"My wife, you fine well tonight."

She laugh small, her finger dey rub my back gently.

"Your Majesty, abeg tell me—why you tie eldest prince today?"

"Because I…"

My heart jump. This perfume strong—just now, I almost talk true.

I bite my tongue, force myself make I no lose guard.

"I just wan test Ayotunde, see if e fit calm down for trouble."

"So I go fit trust am with the throne."

I feel Royal Wife Sade relax for my body.

"Then, Your Majesty, fit release the eldest prince?"

Release?

I no even plan to hold am for long. Once I finish my check, if e innocent, I go let am go.

But after her visit, I don see everything clear.

Those messages na true.

My own son don dey work with Royal Wife Sade since.

Royal Wife Sade see say I quiet, she push me, hold my face, ask again.

As she dey look me, I just roll eye, fall back for bed like say I don sleep.

Royal Wife Sade shock. As she see say I really sleep, she throw pillow for ground, vex.

"Useless old man! When e reach important time, you no dey useful!"

As she talk, she pinch my waist.

E pain me so te I almost blow my cover.

As she pinch me, my mind flash back to when we dey young, how she go always find way to get wetin she want. Na real Lagos babe—if she no get am for left, she go try right. I bite my lip, hold laugh inside. My body dey shake, but I pretend say na sleep dey worry me. Palace clock for the wall tick slow, like say time wan freeze for this wahala.