Prince Ire moved closer to where Ara was sleeping. He tried not to look at her legs that were exposed but then, he found himself just staring at Ara completely from head to toe. He couldn't have imagined meeting Ara on his bed. This was exactly what he was avoiding, but his brother, Prince Adedamola would never listen.
He waved his hand over Ara's closed eyes but Ara didn't blink. He moved away and dropped his watch when he noticed his shoe rack had been arranged either. Instead of placing the sneakers he was removing on his shoe rack, he just left them where he removed them. He could remember opening his cupboard while looking for what to wear when his mom's call came in. Prince Ire dragged the two doors of his cupboard open and saw his clothes sitting on each other and hanged very neatly. His clothes were no longer packed together somewhere, somehow, anyhow.
He knew his room was nothing to write home about and he was guilty of that. Even when he arranged it himself, he still would not put his things back in the appropriate places. It felt like a big work for him. He always had everything done for him until he was mature and decided he wanted some privacy for himself and he didn't want anyone touching his things anymore. Slowly, Prince Ire bent down. "Hey," he said, but didn't touch Ara who shifted slowly. "Momma I'm tired," Ara murmured.
Prince Ire knew she was going to end up being tired because the work was much. He realized she had not even ironed his clothes too. Prince Ire moved to where his clothes were, packed them and returned it back into his cupboard. He picked up his iron and did the same, but then he heard a sound which indicated that a new message had entered a phone. It wasn't his phone so he looked around until he saw Ara's phone. He picked up the small phone that caused him straining his eyes to see who the sender was.
Hey, thank you so much for today. I'm honoured to be blessed by a beauty like you. Let's do this again tomorrow. Good night.
Prince Ire looked down at Ara who was sleeping comfortably. He didn't want any closeness between her and Ayoola at all. Yes! He knew Ara saw Ayoola before him and that must have been the reason she liked him, but Prince Ire couldn't trust his friend with Ara. He knew Ayo too well. Adedamire looked away from Ara, deleted the message Ayoola sent and slowly, he bent down and scooped Ara up carrying her in a bridal style. Ara snuggled even closer to him, wrapping her hands around his neck with her head resting on his chest.
A small smile crossed Prince Ire's face. Ara was acting like a baby. But the smile didn't last. Adedamire wasn't comfortable smiling or laughing, but somehow, Ara knew how to draw out the smile from him. He wouldn't have carried Ara in the first place but he didn't want to wake her up. He knew she was tired and he wasn't that extremely wicked. He realized Ara really had weight or was it because it had been long he carried someone.
Prince Ire carried Ara down the stairs, taking his time. He knew her room, but he wasn't sure if the room was opened. The moment he got down, he was met with two shocking eyes staring with surprise. "Sir..." Sewa dragged, pointing to Ara's door with her eyes staring down at Ara who wrapped her hands around Prince Ire's neck as if she was being carried by her groom.
"Is it opened?" Prince Ire asked, ignoring Sewa's looks and instructed her to check for him.
Sewa tried the door handle but her mind was not there. "Emm...sir... The door is locked. She should be with the key sir."
"I will drop her in your room then." Prince Ire said and immediately, Sewa ran to her door. "Please come in sir."
Prince Ire entered Sewa's room for the first time since she had been working with him. He does not put his nose where it does not concern him, so he didn't care. All he wanted was for his workers to do their jobs and not offend him. The moment he tried to drop Ara, she dragged herself even closer to him causing Sewa to smile at the corner she stood watching. She had never seen Prince Ire acted in a caring way like that. Everyone working in the palace was scared of this man because he does not talk, yet he never showed mercy. Could it be that he likes Ara? Sewa couldn't think for long when he heard his voice again.
"Hey," Prince Ire whispered. As if Ara could hear him, she released his neck and finally allowed Prince Ire to drop her. Immediately he dropped her, she turned to the other side of the bed.
Prince Ire turned to Sewa. "Did she take her supper this time around."
Sewa shook her head. "She only ate once."
Prince Ire brought out the drugs she bought for Ara while coming and gave it to Sewa. "I guess this works for body pain." He gave the Ibucap he bought to Sewa, including Ara's phone. "She's free to take enough rest tomorrow." Prince Ire said and walked out of Sewa's room.
"Yes sir." Sewa still answered Prince Ire who had walked out already. She knew she had to cook up another lie for Ara tomorrow if she was willing to keep her job. Even if the Prince didn't tell her what to say, she knew he didn't want Ara getting to know he carried her or gave her anything. Like, every man wants to show off they care. Why is he just different?
•••
The next day, when Ara opened her eyes, she found out she wasn't on her bed. When she turned around, she saw Sewa dressing up already. In her mind, she believed Sewa must have been the one to wake her up from Prince Ire's room. She dragged herself up. "Momma thanks for yesterday."
Sewa finally looked to Ara's side. "For what madam?"
Ara managed to laugh. Her laughter was not clear enough because she just woke up. "Thanks for waking me up before the fastest palace assassin came. I swear, he would skin me alive if he had met me there." She could remember taking a quick nap in Prince Ire's room. But what she couldn't remember was if she later came downstairs or not. But then, she believed Sewa woke her up because she found herself in Sewa's room. Ara got up from the bed and yawned, covering her mouth and dropping herself back on the bed. "I'm so tired." She murmured, sleeping back on her chest.
It was Sewa's turn to smile. The same man Ara thought would have skinned her alive brought her downstairs but she dare not mention that. Instead, she let Ara imagined whatever was on her mind.
Ara found her phone checking for missed calls but found any. She remembered Ayoola promising to call, yet he didn't. Not even a message from him. She decided not to call him too. Ara told herself she wasn't in any position to do that. May be he was too busy. She stood in for Ayoola with an excuse and successfully took her mind off it.
"Expecting a call?" Sewa who sat on the bed with Ara putting on her shoes asked when she noticed Ara was checking her phone.
Ara admitted. "Expecting a call. He promised to call me and I just wanted to say thank you too. He really helped me too."
Sewa knew who it was already. She knew the he was Ayoola. "You like him?"
"It's obvious he likes me too. I'm still watching him."
"What about hmmm.. do you like the Prince at all? Like, what if he likes you?" Sewa popped out the question to Ara. She was fifty percent sure already that Prince Ire liked Ara even when she knew it would be extremely hard for the two to be together. The King wouldn't even allow such relationship. And besides, Prince Ire was trying to deny it and hide it too. Who knows if the guy actually cares too. Sewa couldn't believe it too.
Ara laughed. Her voice was finally cleared. It seemed she wasn't feeling sleepy anymore. She looked at Sewa with a smile of...Momma what are you saying? Even though Prince Ire had confessed to like her that midnight, how could she believe him despite how mean his words were that night too. Somehow, her mind diverted to how she angrily spoke to him too. Then she thought that must be the reason she received such punishment from him. Who was she kidding? This was the man who wouldn't say a word but make sure you don't go scot free. She would have to apologize quickly. "Momma, please let's not talk about that. I need paper and pen to apologize."
Sewa was done putting on her shoes. She smiled at Ara. "Why paper and pen? Why not go to him?"
"Ehnn!" Somehow, Ara was scared of Prince Ire again. "Will join you in the kitchen now."
"Don't worry. Just take enough rest. I will cover up for you," Sewa said and left. Ara found a pen and paper immediately Sewa left. She told herself she had to apologize to Prince Ire. She finally
realized how she talked to him in a rude manner. After she was done penning down her letter of apology, before she knew it, she was long gone again.
Few hours later, Sewa came into the room to drag the sleepy Ara up. The first Queen had demanded to see her. When Ara heard, she was scared already. She blamed herself for not going to the first Queen immediately to apologize properly on time. She rushed to her room to take her bath, dressed up and immediately followed the worker Sewa said was waiting for her. Sewa knew if the Prince was around, he wouldn't let Ara go because both the first Queen and Prince Ire never agreed with each other. And because of that, Ara might be in trouble. But there was nothing Sewa could do. Prince Ire had gone for the meeting called by the King.