Chapter 1: Sade and the Palace Gossip

Everybody for the palace sabi say if you just give me small food, me, this mumu and playful princess, I go do anything for you.

For this our palace, e don turn to joke. Even the cooks dey hail me when dem see me for corridor: "Sade, na food you dey find again?" Sometimes the old steward go chuckle, shake him head like person wey no tire for my wahala.

Chief Tutor, noble and upright like early morning breeze, once give me one small meat pie, and since that day, I dey disturb am for years.

Dem say Chief Tutor Musa dey do like say im no send me, but sometimes when I show for his side, I go see am look me with one eye, like say, "Sade, you and this your wahala no dey ever finish." But who I be, na pikin wey sabi where food dey sweet.

Even though e no dey show for him face, for my back he dey vex well, dey talk say I no get shame and always dey try fall on top am.

Palace maids fit gather whisper for backyard, "See as Sade dey do anyhow, she no even fear, na so so Chief Tutor she dey follow." I go just waka pass, do like say I no hear, but my ear long pass monkey own.

Me, I no even sabi wetin "no get shame" or "throw myself on top am" mean. I just know say Chief Tutor give me better food, so he be good person. I like am, and I wan repay am for the kindness.

Abi na food wey dem dey give people with plenty? I no know, but I happy say person remember me. For this palace, kindness na something wey dey rare like dry season rain.

Until news of defeat reach from war front, and Papa King’s favourite Third Princess gats marry for political reason.

Dem blow gong for palace courtyard that day, news spread reach even goat pen. Palace everywhere quiet small, everybody dey wait to hear who go carry this heavy matter for head.

The Third Princess’s mama, Senior Wife, come find me by herself, even dash me full box of meat pies, beg me make I go marry instead of Third Princess.

Senior Wife, she no dey come my side before o, but this day she come with wrapper tie well, face serious, hand dey shake as she give me box. My eye shine as I open am—meat pies full everywhere. My hand dey shake as I reach for the pie. Wetin be this kind offer? My mind dey run, but hunger dey push me.

I wipe the pie crumbs from my mouth and wave my hand anyhow. "Mama, no worry. Na just to marry. If Third Princess no wan go, make I go instead."

Na that time I sabi say, sometimes, life dey turn corner anyhow. For my mind, I dey do big thing, but na only God know how e go end. I no fit fear where food dey, na my nature be that.