Chapter 2: A Princess’s Bargain

Na when dem stop me for front of king’s chamber I come realise say I agree too quick.

I dey look the door, dey feel the fear wey dey pinch my belle, but I no wan show am. The guards, dem strong like horse, and their eyes no dey smile.

Papa King don forget say he get pikin like me, so the palace guards no even gree announce me.

I fit hear them dey whisper, "Na which kind pikin be this?" One even point small, "You see as she dey dress? No be princess cloth be that."

But Senior Wife don give me full box of meat pies. If I no fit finish this matter, no be say I chop her food for nothing?

For my mind I dey reason, 'How I go take show say I get sense?' Hunger and courage dey drag for my mind, but I no go back down.

I scratch my head, one idea enter, I turn and shout towards the king’s chamber.

I gather all my voice, no fear if dem go flog me: "Papa King! Papa King! Na Sade dey here! Abeg open door!"

The guards shout, "You dey craze? King’s chamber na big place. Small girl like you, how you go dey make noise anyhow?"

One of dem wey get gap tooth even tap him friend: "No try am o, if king vex, your family go hear am."

Dem raise their spears, wan chase me.

I see as dem begin dey pursue me like small goat wey escape rope, my wrapper dey almost fall as I shout. "Papa King! Papa King! Na Sade o! Sade get something to tell you!"

"Who dey make all this noise?"

The sound just come like thunder. Everybody freeze, even me. Suddenly, the doors of the king’s chamber open, group of people come out.

Big men with red caps, women with gele tall like story building. I sidon small for corner, dey find Papa King face for the crowd.

Senior Wife don tell me before: Papa King dey wear yellow agbada wey get lion embroidery.

Na so I spot am—agbada shine like sun. Him face serious, beard white. I spot Papa King sharp sharp, dey pant, dey wave at am.

My hand dey shake, but I no stop. "Papa King, abeg tell dem make dem stop to chase me. Sade go faint if I run more!"

Some people for back wan laugh but dem hold am. Papa King wave hand, make the guards shift, come frown at me.

He look me up and down, eye like hawk. "You be Sade? Which Sade?"

I kneel down, knock ground two times, answer with clear voice,

I remember say respect dey important. I bend well, touch ground, "Sade dey live for east wing of Olanrewaju Palace. My mama na Amina the Quiet."

"Which Amina?"

All eyes turn, everywhere quiet like church for midnight. The old steward near am quick whisper, "She be one palace maid wey serve Queen before. She vex Your Majesty the first night she serve, so you no call her again. Later, she born Princess Sade, and Your Majesty forget to give her name."

I see Papa King face, him dey try remember. Na so royalty be—pikin too many, name dey lost for corner.