Love is wonderful thing that the whole world needs pleating of it. one Her name was Rose. The only child of the king of Ekpene. A tall and ebony- black beautiful girl. She had a pointed nose with dreamy eyes, and was the cynosure of many eyes in the village. Her set if teeth was immaculate white, and was always beaming with unprovoked smiles. She had a long, shining and curly black hair, which descended loosingly to a considerable portion of her back. Above all, she was humble, homely and with an unmistakably alluring gaiety. Princess Rose was a prospective lover and she had a pathological love for flowers. Her supercilious demeanour and insensitivity over marriage was very disturbing, not only to her parents but the entire community and it's neighborhood. She had vowed on her dead body never to marry until a man of her heart desire would come. A man who adored in life; but the paradox of it was that she neither described not disclosed the flower t anybody. However, she had hinted discreetly that this particular flower was planted by her sometimes back in a certain forest, but the forest, she did not disclose. At her spare time, she was always found among flowers. She was so enchanted by and greatly enamored of flowers sent to her by prospective suitors, as she was always showered with a flurry of flowers from men seeking her hand in love. But, none of the flowers had met her taste and demand. Although, she was ripe for marriage, she abhorred and expressed great resentment against the misguided conception of her parents choosing a husband for her. Again, this traditional bestiality of her people did not permit marriage outside the confines of the village. Since she knew that she was greatly loved and adored by her people, she viewed herself as the best instrument to diametrically shatter this stupefying myth of traditional degradation and bondage. Many suitors had turned up with different flowers to seek her hand in marriage, but all to no avail. Each time Rose had disparagingly dismissed them with a wave of the hand. This state of apathy towards marriage was of great concern to the people of Ekpene especially her father, chief Benjamin. Chief Benjamin was so much disturbed to the extent that, with the help of his subordinates he consulted an oracle to know this particular flower and where to find it. One thing was the flower and another was the man to find it, who would eventually marry Rose. Chief Benjamin wanted a man of good and high disposition to marry his daughter a man who was wealthy, famous and above all, from a royal family. After consulting the oracle, it was revealed that the flower could only be found in a little valley know as 'Ikpa" forest in ikpe village. Ikpe was a small village and not too far from Ekpene, but a river must be crossed before reaching it. History has it that ikpe has a long standing conflict with Ekpene, which had since strained their relationship. Chief Benjamin of Ikpe had vowed never to be in terms with the people of Ekpene and marriage or any other transaction between the two villages was a taboo. This enmity originated from the fact that Ekpene had fought a war of attrition with ikpe and had forcefully acquired a large portion of land belonging to Ikpe. After consultation with his people, chief Benjamin had no other alternative but to make a reconciliatory move to appease the Chief and the people of Ikpe in order that suitors could be sent to the search for flowers. Before Chief Benjamin could successfully pacify Chief Okoro, the piece of the land in dispute was returned to the people of Ikpe. This singular and salutary action of Chief Benjamin was highly appreciated by the Ikpe people and consequently, Chief Okoro and his people unanimously agreed to allow suitors from Ekpene to enter and search for this elusive and keenly contested flower in the valley. Infant, this reconciliatory move by Chief Benjamin really served as a soothing ointment and thus the best panacea to completely destroy this problem of enmity and antagonism between the two villages. Chief Okoro was so pleased at the propitiatory move by his foe, in that, apart from recovering their legitimate land, it paved the way for him to present his two grown up sons, Kelvin and Ray, who were of marriageable age, to Join others suitors from Ekpene in seeking the hands of Rose in marriage. Chief Benjamin felt highly honored at this request of his colleague and quickly consented to it. Chapter two Kelvin was the first son of Chief Okoro and an apparent heir to the throne. He was an extrovert, arrogant, weathy, proud and was deeply involved in the traditional rites and customs of his people. Although, he had little education, everybody looked up to him as the eventual King of Ikpe. He commanded great respect and love from his people. His fame also spread far and wide, including Ekpene. Despite the fact that Kelvin was not handsome, he was short and stoutly built, every girl in the vicinity was looking for