Love and Liberty

Chapter 4

Your Majesty the ship that was sent to England just sent news that they had arrived at their destination". Gbenga said

"So what is the next course of action for the masses?" Ademola asked his hand

"Your highness, we shall discuss that in the upcoming meeting" Gbenga answered the king.

"What is my position and function in this empire?", Ademola asked Gbenga rhetorically in a jeering manner.

"You are the usurper, king, and subjugator of the Oyo empire, you have power over all living and nonliving things in Oyo."Gbenga hailed the king and prostrated before his feet.

"So you mean I have power over all", Ademola said as if he didn't know the duties of him that sits on the Ága Ájanaku meaning the sit of the elephant. The Oyo empire is one of the most powerful empires in the west, they bear the title of the elephant that cruises the wild.

" Since I have power over all, I have overruled the next of the royal meeting and I hereby decide on behalf of my council. Hence The masses shall pay every 25 percent of their farm produces, money, horses, and weapons to the Royal office." King Ademola commanded.

"But, your majesty our political structure states that we can't decide if two-thirds of the house is absent." Gbenga tried clarifying to the king.

"Are you trying to explain my government to me, leave now and inform the remaining members of the council about my decision" King Ademola yelled

"Yes, your Majesty" Gbenga replied while standing up swiftly to execute the King's orders.

"Aduke! My love, how are you today? Hope the maiden have served your lunch." King Ademola asks his new queen who happens to be the mother of Olamide. "I am fine my king". Aduke gave a cold reply to her spouse. "Why are you still behaving like this towards me? " Ademola inquired. "You kidn*pped me for goodness sake and also coerce me to be your queen" Aduke sobbed."I did it out Of love you will understand that soon". Ademola retorted whilst leaving her presence with a kiss on her forehead.

Aduke sitting in Ademola's room abruptly relived her youthful days in her mind.

20 years ago King Adetunji named his firstborn son Adewale the heir to the Àgá Ájanaku while Ademola was named successor of Adewale if he remains without a male heir to the throne.

King Adetunji was a very feared king that other kingdoms could not involved in combat with him, he was simply a force that could not be reckoned with. He was a king that was fierce in battles and exercises his mercy by feeding his enemies to wild dogs because he perceives death by animals as a merciful death. But he also cared about the people he ruled over although it was estimated he killed 20% of the population he ruled over for treason. The whole empire feared him and wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of his law.

Immediately after he picked his heir, Adewale commenced the princely tests and rituals that are performed for the king-to-be of the empire.

Although, Adewale was not loved by his father because his father perceived him as a weakling that would compromise the integrity of the empire after his demise. So, to prevent this he vowed to train him as hard as possible for the position of a fierce monarch. He created training sessions that would make transform his son from the prey to the predator.

Two weeks after the lessons began Adewale went to complain to his father about his health.

Ademola walks into his father's throne room trepidly, but to amazement. His timorous fire was burning wildly before he plodded into the throne room, but all he saw was the empty beautiful throne without an occupant. Immediately he felt a temporal peace from within. Nevertheless, he knew he was going to face him anyway. The thought that facing his father was inevitable gave him transient courage to do so. "Where is my father?" Adewale asked a palace guard.

But to his amazement, the palace guard was mute. Adewale added, "Are you deaf where is my father answer me or I......"Suddenly Adetunji's voice was heard loudly across the hall interrupting Adewale in mid-sentence. " Or you would do what? you weak offspring". "I gave the orders that no palace guard, servant nor maiden must listen to your request not to speak of responding to them, you must complete your training unless you would be belittled even in your home" Adewale continued with a sip of palm wine.

"Father these sessions are stamina exhausting please I need time to recuperate from this endless fatigue," Adewale said.

"Leave now and continue with your lessons immediately". Adewale uttered coldly whilst drinking his palm wine.

Adewale eyes became flooded with tears and leaves his father's throne room with an ambling gait.

Adewale was a weakling physically but his intellect was very bright, he dived into fields that were not developed by that time. Fields like literature and political sciences.

Adewale method of evading depression and sadness was expressing himself in the village stream which he deemed appropriate because of the peace.

Now, everyone recognizes my name.

But something about it still strikes me as odd.

Like looking at my reflection while trying to maintain my balance and seeing someone else, only now everything is different.

Our entire existence seems to have transformed.

Maybe when I get older everything will calm down, but right now it's killing me.

Imagine having everything, but no one to call.

If you knew me, you may understand how lonely it is for me because I have everything, yet no one is listening.

I feel so alone.

Lonely

My history is now widely known.

I felt like no one cared that I was sick because my house was constantly constructed of glass, which may be the price you pay for money and royalty at a young age.

Immediately Adewale set his eyes on a living mesmerizing embodiment of beauty. Her midnight-black moist hair flowed over her shoulders, she had glossy skin, her pair of arched eyebrows looked down on sweeping eyelashes, her delicate ears framed a button nose, and she wore a wrapper round herself to cover her gorgeous dignity.

With a caring tone asked Adewale what he was doing alone by the river pouring out his emotions through such representation. But it appears obvious that she didn't know whom she was speaking with. She spoke so causally with him without knowledge of his position in the empire.

Although, Adewale enjoyed the conversation because he hated how people care for him because of his position as the successor of the king.

"Maybe I can say I am in desperate times to express myself but no one was ready to listen," Adewale said

"So what possible loads would be on those shoulders that warrant such sad literature" whilst attempting to get his name with facial expressions and pointing fingers to obtain his name?

"My name is Adewale" He mentioned.

"Mine is Adufe Olaitan" She replied to him while extending a hand to lift him from the riverside. Adewale was non-hesitant to receiving her lift.

"So why were you so kind to a stranger like me, you could have just let me wallow in my sorrow?"Adewale inquired.

"With your tone of expressions my instinct saw the need to save you from whatever put you in that kind of sorrow" Adufe replied. "and I forgot to ask what is the cause of that kind of misery." She added.

"Hmmmmm it's deep and more complicated than you could ever imagine just don't let me talk about it I beg of you". Adewale explained while trying to read the time of the day.

Abruptly, he remembered the words of his father to return to the monarchial domicile before sunset. "Hmmmmm thanks for your time and help but I have to go I meet you by the stream later in the future bye!" He blurted after he took to his heels a journey to beat time to get to the palace before his 'loving' father finds out.

Adewale's witty nature was always an advantage for him in the battle against his whole family. He has created a shorter route to his room in the palace without passing through a host of royal guards.

Adewale felt addicted to his goddess of beauty that goes by Adufe all because he knew she cared for him regardless of his identity as the successor of Adetuji.

Days, weeks, and months went by the fantasy relationship between the secret prince and the commoner was growing like a forest wildfire. They always met themselves secretly at the village stream, they communicated with secret codes no one could decode just because of the confidentiality and privacy of their relationship. He always returned from her company to the palace at late hours, so his movements were monitored by his younger brother without consent.

Eventually, Adewale was caught red-handed with Adufe by the spy whose job was to report to their gracious Father.

"You weakling have deserted your training sessions and my rules without cunctation. For this violation, I will kill that lousy lover of yours and it shall be done before you" Adetunji fumed.

"No father it was not her fault I started it, I spoke to her first if anyone should be punished it is me. " Adewale implored for Adufe's life.

"Hmmmmm well said, no one would be punished but my decree is so..........., Adufe would be alive but she must never be seen close to Adewale. She would be given enough money to find a nice environment to keep away from the palace and you. But if she is seen later in the future with you would be executed together in the palace." Adetunji commanded.

"Ademola! Ademola! Ademola!

Why are you peeping into your father's chamber," His mother asked him.

"It is like father and wale are having a duel, and I just want a glimpse into the action." Ademola said childishly without remorse for his actions." leave now and eat your lunch now". His mother sends him away from Adetunji's toxic environment.

"So you would go and meet her in the river stream, give her these(A rough bag of gold was tossed to Adewale) or she would face the consequences accordingly" Adetunji smirked.

"What is this man's deal was he sent by the gods to torment me in this world

Why is he so hard on me

His cruelty is top notch

Maybe the gods are angry at me

But why

Why! Why! Why!

Maybe if was not from the royal family my pains won't be this much

I have everything but it is obvious I don't have a say on even a needle on my hands

Maybe the looms of the Agà Ajanaku is greater than anybody in the family

Love! Love! Love!

I found love like a seed growing among thorns

But it is always not so easy to find love in her purest form without any impurities of Lust, covetousness, ambition and greed.

I hope I'll find such in this miserable life I have suffered on earth."

Adewale recited passionately with tears rolling down his cheeks with the sounds of water bodies splashing as he tosses peebles into the river.

Suddenly, he sees Adufe very far away but seems indifferent about her coming towards him.

"What's wrong, Ókómi?"( Yoruba meaning for my husband) She inquired from Adewale.

Without ado he responded sadly "My name Is Adewale Adetunji the heir to the king."

"Haaaaaaaaa!" She exclaimed loudly. "You didn't tell me that I was the future queen" She blurted loudly with joy.

"I am sorry but I think the looms of the throne is greater than every one in my family" Adewale said.

"What did you mean by that!" She extorted.

"I don't think we'll have to hang out anymore" Adewale said while forcing the bag of gold Into her hands,embracing her tightly leaving her with a kiss on her forehead while he disappears swiftly.

"Why! Why! Why! You used me,left me alone without remorse and left me with this distraction to pay for your sins" Adufe screamed and throwing the bag of gold into the river with anger.