Grace found herself consumed by a whirlwind of emotions as she struggled to come to terms with Ekene's arrest. Desperate to see him, she attempted to gain entry to the palace, only to be barred by the guards. Nobody, it seemed, would be permitted to see the accused until the day of the trial
Left with no other option, Grace reached out to Samuel and Cynthia, her voice trembling as she relayed the news of Ekene's plight. Overcome with concern, the two friends hastily made their way to Amosu village, determined to help in any way they could. However, even they were denied access to the palace, their efforts thwarted by the unyielding sentries
"What do we do?" Cynthia asked, her brow furrowed with worry. "How can we save Ekene?"
Samuel, his own concern etched on his face, voiced the seemingly insurmountable obstacle they faced. "I don't know. We can't save him if we can't get into the palace"
"The people are adamant that he must be tried," Grace lamented, her voice heavy with resignation
"But I don't get it. Were we supposed to just let the snakes devour us? It doesn't make sense!" Samuel said, his frustration mounting
Grace's jaw tightened. "They are just stupid idiots"
"We have no choice but to wait," Cynthia concluded, her shoulders slumping in defeat
Deep within the palace dungeon, Ekene was a captive. Even Princess Adaeze, her heart aching for her beloved, was forbidden from seeing him. Yet, the king, in a small act of mercy, ensured that Ekene was well fed during his confinement
The princess' resolve was stronger than any royal decree. Driven by love, she disguised herself as one of the maids tasked with bringing food to the prisoner. She donned a simple uniform, her face hidden by a cloth and her voice altered, and she carried a covered tray of food toward the dungeon
"Food for the prisoner," she announced, her voice a low murmur
Unaware of the ruse, the guards granted her entry, and as soon as the heavy door to the dungeon swung shut behind her, she cast off her disguise, revealing her true identity to Ekene
"Princess Adaeze?" Ekene's eyes widened in surprise, a mix of relief and confusion washing over his face. "What are you doing here?"
Princess Adaeze gently reminded him of her wish for a more informal address. "Ekene, please, I told you to address me as Ada or Adaeze"
"Oh, sorry," Ekene apologized, still reeling from her unexpected appearance
"It's fine," Princess Adaeze assured him
"Ada, what are you doing here?" Ekene asked
"I came to see you," Princess Adaeze replied, shifting the covered food to him, "Here, I brought food for you as well"
Ekene's eyes narrowed, his expression hardening as he struggled to come to terms with his predicament. "I'm not hungry. You shouldn't have bothered"
Taken aback by his response, Princess Adaeze questioned his uncharacteristic lack of appetite. "Huh? Why?"
Ekene's voice turned to a plight of Amosu village, the weight of its curse, and the seemingly futile battle against its serpentine oppressors. "I feel like the village is cursed. Snake attacks have been the order of the day in this accursed. Your mother, the Queen is also a snake. That means it's possible to turn human beings to snakes. It also means that it is possible that your mother, the Queen isn't the only one that has been turned into a snake. If that's true, then, just how many of those snakes used to be humans? And yet, even with all these, the people only worry about upholding the tradition? Pathetic! I now understand what your father meant when he said it wasn't simple. This issue is deeper than we thought. We have to do something to save the people of Amosu village. But what?"
As Ekene voiced his determination to help the very people who sought to condemn him, Princess Adaeze found herself in awe of his selflessness.
"Ekene, these people want you dead for nothing, and yet you still want to save them? That attitude of yours – one where you put your life on the line for the sake of others – I admire it. Ekene, I really want to be with you for the rest of my life, even if it means losing everything I have. As long as I have you, I have everything I want" Princess Adaeze thought to herself
As Princess Adaeze prepared to take her leave, she paused, remembering a crucial piece of information, "Oh, eh, one more thing," she said, breaking the silence
"What is it?" Ekene asked, his curiosity piqued
"Samuel and Cynthia are here in Amosu village," Princess Adaeze revealed
"I see," Ekene replied, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes
With her disguise back in place, Princess Adaeze moved toward the dungeon door. As she reached for the handle, Ekene's voice called out, halting her in her tracks
"Adaeze."
She turned to face him, her eyes softening as she replied, "Yeah?"
Ekene met her gaze, his voice laced with gratitude and affection. "Thank you,"
A smile graced Princess Adaeze's lips, her own feeling mirroring his own. "You don't need to thank me. I owe you my life. See you later, dear"
And with that, she slipped through the doorway, leaving behind the food she had brought for Ekene, who eventually ate it
As the darkness of night shrouded Amosu village, the king, heavy-hearted and burdened by the weight of the impending trial, made his way to the dungeon. His footsteps echoed through the dank chamber as he approached Ekene, a look of paternal concern etched upon his features
"Ekene, my son, how are you today?" the king asked, his voice tinged with worry
"Igwe, I'm fine, thank you." Ekene replied, his demeanor steady despite the uncertainty that lay ahead
The king broached the topic that had consumed his thoughts. "Tomorrow is the trial"
"Yeah, I supposed so," Ekene acknowledged, his eyes meeting the king's, a silent understanding passing between them
Leaning closer, the king confided, "My son, I'm on your side. Believe me."
Ekene, touched by the sincerity in the king's words, nodded. "Yeah. I know. I saw it in your eyes the day I was arrested. I understand that this is beyond you, so it's fine"
The king breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for Ekene's empathy and understanding. "Thank you very much, my son"
"It's nothing, Igwe. I understand how you feel, really," Ekene assured him, his voice a balm to the king's troubled heart
"My son, one last thing," the king said, his tone turning solemn
"What is it, Igwe?" Ekene asked his brow furrowed in anticipation
"Promise me something," the king requested, his eyes imploring Ekene to heed his words
"What is it, Igwe? I'm listening" Ekene asked his curiosity piqued
"If anything happens to me, promise me you'll protect Adaeze for the rest of your life," the king pleaded, his love for his daughter transcending the rigid confines of tradition that had define their lives
Ekene, momentarily taken aback by the gravity and meaning of the request, began to protest. "Huh? Bu-"
The king, his eyes blazing with intensity, cut him off. "JUST PROMISE!"
Recognizing the depth of the king's concern and the trust he had placed in him, Ekene acquiesced. "Alright, I promised"
The king's sigh was a mixture of relief and gratitude. "Thank you very much, my son. I'll now take my leave. Get some rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow"
Ekene's expression grew somber as he watched the king leave. "Yeah," he whispered to the empty dungeon