The Kind Young Lady And The Crown Prince

once upon a time, in a small village called OTORO, there lived a girl called chioma, Chioma was a very beautiful and kind girl but she was been abused by her step mother and sisters, her mother died from a sudden illness when she was five, and her father married Rosemary who had already have two daughters from her previous relationship. they were called Titi and Chisom, the both of them were 6 and 5 years old approximately then. she was living happily with her father and stepmother and sisters until the death of her father. Her step mother Rosemary start to maltreat her, she would be the one to clean the house, cook , wash their clothes and fetch water from the river, her step mother never allow her daughter to help her, they just woke up every day eat and sleep, if they are not sleeping they would be busy beating her. One morning, Chioma was on her way to the house from the river, she came across a young beggar who was wearing rags and was sitting on the other side of the road, the young man was asking for water from the villagers who was passing by with calabash of water in their head, but no one reply him. Chioma look at the beggar all through he was wearing rags, he look very handsome. Chioma never lack, when it comes to suitors, she was a very beautiful girl, she was kind and hardworking than most men in the village. Many men from the village and outside the village want to make her their wife but her step mother spread a false news of her having a incurable disease,this make all the suitors to lose interest and run away, this rumours spread around the village even to the neighbouring villages. Chioma looked at the beggar and walk up to him, she put down the calabash she was carrying on her head, she use the Lin of the calabash to serve some water for him. “ thank you miss, you are very kind” the beggar smiled and he took the from her and he quickly drink it and hand over the Lin back. “ you are welcome, don't stay too long in the sun, all least you will get a heat stroke ”. Chioma took the lin from him and use it to cover the calabash. “ miss please I am very hungry, can you help me with some food, please” The beggar asked, he tried to stand up but he couldn't because of his cripple legs. Chioma looked at him and took out a load of bread and Akara from her pocket bag, she had prepare this in the morning and was planning to eat it in the afternoon when she is working in the farm, her step mother only allow her to eat once a day , even if she is the one who cooks the foods, she did not dare to eat secretly because if her step mother or sisters catch her, she would been beaten and even starve her for a week. But she still hand the bread and Akara to the beggar. “ Thank you, God bless you ” the beggar thanked her and happily eat the food. When chioma saw how happy he was, she felt that it worth it, then she remembered that she have to go to the farm to harvest yam. “ Good bye, see you another time” Chioma carry the calabash on her head and walk away. “ yes, I will surely meet you”. the beggar whimpered to himself. A young man walked out of the bush behind him. “ prince, how can you eat very thing they give to you what if it is poisoned, I don't think this your idea is good ” the young man looked at the beggar, who was sitting on the floor. “ how can the crown prince used this kind of method to look for a bride, if the late king was here, he can't imagine what will happen ”. the young man thought. “ what did you know, did you see the beautiful kind girl just now”. the beggar said and finished the food in his hand.