Ara followed the lady who came to call her. They walked till they got to the building of the King's palace. Ara wondered if it was the King they were going to see or the first Queen. But she didn't ask because of the attitude and mean looks the lady who came to call her was already giving her. She wouldn't want to be insulted or cause any trouble so she followed closely beside the lady.
Ara could hear different laughter making an exciting noise not far from where they were. The King's palace himself was magnificent to Ara's eyes. Ara had only seen something like that in the movies. Looking around, the decorations were simple yet shouty. It was exceptional and extremely worth people's stares and time. The building was ten times neat, tiled up and well spent on.
"Hey, why are you looking like you've never seen a building in your life before?" The lady hissed. "Come here and let's stay here jhoor! We are waiting here till she's done and stop acting like a bush girl."
Ara wasn't really bothered. She knew it was okay for her to admire something beautiful she was just seeing for the first time. The lady's noise was not getting to her at all. She could only imagine how the lady's first time must have been when she saw the palace. All these people who claim to know so much know nothing and have seen nothing. Besides, some people are just rude. And it's a waste of time trying to act the same way they reacted to you. They would only make you look bad.
From where they stood, Ara could see a round table designed and decorated with food, fruits, drinks and people surrounded by it having a good time. She could see the King laughing. The first Queen doing the same as well. That made Ara remembered her home. It had been long her family sat together like that laughing. What would they even discuss? Slowly, her eyes found the only person not laughing or enjoying what was happening around him. He was pressing his phone and as well putting something in his mouth.
While Ara was watching, she could hear greetings coming sharply from the workers that stood at the front where she was standing. She stylishly looked up and immediately she recognized him. It was the first Prince. He was as tall as Prince Ire. A little bit chubby. He looked more like the first Queen, but a lot different from Prince Ire. Ara had seen him before and seeing him again, he walked in with designers from his shirt down to his jean and white sneakers. Ara noticed the workers were a lot free with him because of the way they were greeting him. He winked, smiled at them and even shook their hands. From afar, Ara could see the first Queen detesting the act with her eyes.
Immediately he took his seat, the first Queen started the familiarity as if her son was the only one doing well, but the King who had been expecting him since didn't give him that cordial welcome. Instead, he stared at his son with a stern look. "Adewale!" That was enough to make the first Prince began to apologize.
"Dad I'm sorry I came late. I rushed down here immediately I got your call. I would be leaving in the next thirty minutes again."
"Anyways," the King said. "I called you because I need you to represent me at Abuja for two weeks and--"
"Dad!" Prince Adewale cut in. "I'm very much busy for this month. So so busy."
The King was not happy at his response. "Adewale you've always been busy these days. I don't even see you here in the palace anymore. Is there something I should know."
"Dad it's work." The first Prince smiled. "Your boy is working really hard big man." He said proudly, getting the first Queen smiled with pride in her heart and immediately gave Prince Ire a pompous look of some people came out with first class yet doing nothing. Just going about the street. We don't even know what they are doing. Prince my foot.
From where Ara was, she could see the look the first Queen was giving Prince Ire. With that, Ara sensed the first Queen hated Prince Ire or may be the two actually hated each other. Prince Adedamola who was getting tired of the whole focus on the first Prince coughed. "Dad remember I have a message to deliver for you."
"Yea." The King said, turning to Prince Ire who mentioned not a single word since he got to the table. "Ire, you will have to do the job for me. I know you have a lot too, but someone has to help Dad here." The King knew exactly how to talk to his son. He respected his sons, but he respected Adedamire more because of his patience to things and of course, he knew Adedamire would go no matter what his plans were. It was Adewale he never trusted that much. But he wanted Adewale more because he was an extrovert who could talk really well for him. And besides, Adewale was already known by his colleagues. He appeared many times for him and he was always immediately recognized as the Prince unlike Adedamire who always appeared like a commoner. The King didn't really like that about his son, but he knew his son simplicity made him even more a fearful person.
"What do you say my boy?" The King said.
"No problem Dad. When do I have to leave?" Prince Ire finally looked up.
"This evening. Will book your flight now. But Ire, someone has to follow you. Don't you have a girlfriend at all? You need to appear with someone beside you because my colleague sons are coming too and they will definitely show off. I don't want my son looking odd and be the talk of the event. I told you to let me introduce you to "
"Dad!"
"Yea, pops understand. You all want to choose your girls. Just choose wisely. Not someone out of your class. You are all princes. Have it in your mind I would never accept someone below your class. You all must make me proud. I don't want some pepper seller girl with my sons."
Prince Adewale laughed and Prince Adedamola couldn't hold his laughter too. The same man who said that was still planning on introducing him to an American girl.
"Hey you!" The King saw Ara from afar and called her. Ara looked back wondering who the King was calling, but the lady who brought Ara immediately pushed her to the front to answer the King's call. The King could not remember Ara's face. He just wanted someone to serve him and he was just like that to always call on any of his workers, trying to know little about them. When the first Queen saw Ara, she threw her deadly looks and sent the rest back to the lady for being stupid to bring Ara to where she was. Couldn't she have taken Ara to her place to have Ara wait for her?
"Please serve me little from that." The King was very polite. Ara couldn't believe her ears. The word please coming out from a King who owns everything in his palace. "What's your name?" The King asked.
"I'm Aramade your majesty."
The King chuckled a little. "I like your voice. You sound really good. Which university did you finish from?"
Ara found it a bit hard to reply. Her self-esteem suddenly dropped after knowing how education meant so much to the King. Prince Ire looked up at Ara and their eyes met. Immediately the first Prince saw Ara, he recognized her too. As the girl who served Ayoola at the event he attended with his brother, Prince Ire. He didn't think too much about it. He immediately thought Ayoola worked her into the palace so she could earn more. He knew Ayoola liked girls. Prince Adewale thought he might have gone down with Ara before getting her the job. He knew Ayo too well even though he was once Adedamire's friend. The stupid thought came to his mind too. May be just once.
"Em..." Ara stammered. "I haven't gained admission into the university yet."
The King wasn't surprised. There are many people like Ara doing fine without complete education but he prefered everyone having the certificate because there will be a need for it someday. He had plans for his remaining two sons already and couldn't wait for them to finish secondary school, enter the university of their choice and have their masters immediately like their brothers. The King didn't make Ara feel bad. Instead, he encouraged her. "You sound more like a graduate to me. Your intonation is wow. So which school do you wanna go and what are you planning to study?"
"I would love to go to UI your majesty and study French."
The King paused from the food he was eating. He was suddenly intrigued by Ara. "You wanna study French?" He smiled up at Ara. "That's beautiful. I speak French too. I have a degree in it. I want to study Spanish too. Can you speak it. Okay.. let's do a quick test." The King was enjoying Ara's company. He bragged about little of his achievements and just like he said, he was looking forward to learn Spanish. But at that moment, he was really looking forward to hear Ara speak in French. While the King was happy to have discovered Ara, the first Queen was burning with jealousy and hatred for Ara. The Queen felt like the King was smiling too much. In her mind, she would have to find a way to pursue Ara out of the palace before the King would begin to favour her. She knew the King too well. Easily moved by lies. To her, she thought Ara was just telling fabricated lies.
The first Prince who was also mesmerized by Ara's beauty couldn't hide his stares. He was also the type who jump from one lady to the other. He was not ready to also stay committed but he told himself a little look won't hurt the body. He listened carefully to the conversation going on, but caught Prince Ire giving Ara a good stare several times. If he was a stranger to the family, he would have agreed they both had the same thoughts in mind. Just to stare and feed the eyes.
But he knew his brother too well. Prince Ire's time was too precious to be staring at someone for that long. Prince Adewale kept quiet instead. He couldn't think of anything yet.
"Okay. Ara are you ready," The King tried to scare her. Everyone at the table laughed except from Prince Ire and the Queen. The King encouraged Ara to calm down and he spoke in French. "Service le tour de la nourriture."
Ara got that and began to serve round. The King simply told her to serve everyone round. The King was proud of her and praised her "Guys she got it." Then both Prince Adewale and Prince Adedamola clapped while Prince Ire just stared. He wasn't moved a bit. But he couldn't help stealing quick glances at Ara's smiles. They were too lovely. But for the Queen, she was almost on the verge of exploding.
The King gave Ara more test and she passed. She explained to the King on how she attended French classes to have knowledge on what she wanted to study and how passionate she was about becoming a translator and working for a big firm. The King encouraged her and told her to keep learning. He promised to look into Ara's matter later.
"I guess I will have to steal you from who you work for. I need someone to speak French with when I'm around." The King said with a smile, really enjoying Ara's company and loved the fact that she could even speak another language apart from English. He encouraged his children, but none of them ever planned to. "Who do you work for so we can request for your transfer." The King asked.
It was Prince Adedamola who burst out laughing, commanding all attention on him. "Dad you are trespassing." He said glancing at Prince Ire who couldn't wait to get out of the whole talks and enjoy his time alone. He didn't want the King giving him looks at all.
"Em..." Ara threw a quick look at Prince Ire who wasn't even looking at her. She didn't know whether to still talk or not because of the way Prince Adedamola laughed.
"What nonsense!" The Queen shouted. "Are you not the one his majesty is talking to?"
"She works for me Dad."
Less than a second, all eyes were on Prince Ire. Prince Adewale coughed with a smile, but immediately the King saw a solution. Nothing came to his mind than seeing Ara has a solution. Then he spoke up. "Never knew you employed someone new already. That's good actually." The King turned to Ara. "How does it sound to get paid with a sum of one million naira by just traveling with the Prince to attend an event?"
One million naira. Are you kidding me King! What do I think? I think I am more than ready your majesty. Ara thought and smiled back at the King. "Thanks for finding me worthy your majesty."
"What do you think Ire?" The King threw the question at his son.
Prince Ire got up, ready to leave. "Anything you decide on Dad. Please excuse me." He left the table without waiting for the King's reply. Prince Ire does not care about all that. He knew the King was doing all that because he always wanted his children to appear just the way he would have appeared but all his sons could never be like him. Not even him. Whatever reason he wanted Ara to follow him, that was his reason. Whether she followed him or not, she wouldn't change anything about him. He would have to cancel his plans for the whole two weeks to attend the event. When he saw Ara the moment she walked in, he was glad she was a lot better and not stressed out.
After Prince Ire left, the Queen also gave a silly excuse and left. The moment she was alone with her worker who brought Ara to where they were, she sounded her a very hot slap. She wanted to punish Ara not have her favoured by the King. The first Queen felt like a fool because Ara outsmarted her and made her feel she wasn't capable of really punishing her. She would have to show her what she was capable of doing. The Queen promised to wait till next two weeks to successfully send Ara out of the palace. She was determine to deal with Ara who never knew she had offended many people again. Not just the Queen this time around.