Eze was not just a tall and handsome prince, he was also his father's favourite because among all his father's 6 children, he was the only male child. Not only that, he was his father's last child who came at the very point his father was already giving up hope on ever having a heir. His father, king Odigwe had simply refused to take a second wife, even after his wife had pleaded with him to disregard his promise to her and take a second wife. "Adaobi, I have sworn never to marry another wife after you, and you know that." King Odigwe would reminded his wife severally. "But, what is the use of a promise when you don't have a heir?" She would always ask him too. "Adaobim, at the appointed time, you shall bear me a son." He would say, touching her stomach. So many girls were brought to the king by his Chiefs and his own parents, but he refused them all. At a point, people started abusing Adaobi that she had bewitched the king and that she controls him with her witchcraft. When she got pregnant the 6th time, a lot of people raised eyebrows, and it was obvious that the entire Ikedike village had eyes on her. On several occasions, she would pray to her Chi to make the foetus a boy, and when she eventually gave birth to Eze, the entire village was thrown into celebration. Odikwe himself declared a 3-day work free for everybody in the entire village. He told people to come to the palace to eat whatever they wanted and take as much as possible home. "The gods has smiled on me." He said.
The early years of Eze was filled with so many eyes on him. He was looked after by everybody in the palace, and even in the entire village. There was hardly a compound he would pass without being greeted with respect and honour, not just because he was a Prince, but because he was the long-awaited prince and heir of their most generous king. Every Chief showered one or two gifts on him on a daily basis, and the villagers also gave various gifts of clothes, farm produce or palm wine at every point in time. No doubt, Prince Eze never lacked anything right from his first day of life. As his father grew older and weaker, so Prince Eze grew bigger and stronger. Every now and then, his father would call him into his chamber to tell him some of the ancestral tales of their family. Some of the tales, he would simply say to him, "I will tell you when you come of age." Sooner than expected, Prince Eze came of age, and he grew up to be every girl's future husband. So many girls started flirting around him, as some of the Chiefs started encouraging their daughters to pay regular visit to the palace. Even neighbouring kings indirectly asked his father if they could seal a royal marriage between their daughters and the handsome Prince Eze. "I can not decide for him." King Odigwe would politely reply them. Almost every lady in the entire kingdom had made various moves to get the attention of the handsome Prince, but still, he chose none of them. But one evening, he was on his way back from the river when he met a company of four girls. Immediately they saw him, three of girls went on their kneels to salute the Prince, but one of the girls acted as if she had not even seen a fly. "Can't you greet?" One of the Prince' bodyguards asked. "Let her be." Prince Eze quickly interfered before the girl could give a response. "Let's go." The Prince ordered. Later that evening, the Prince called his most loyal bodyguard and asked, "who was that lady we met on her way back from the stream?" The bodyguard thought for a while trying to remember. "Oh! You mean Ifeoma?" The bodyguard asked. "Is that her name?" Prince Eze inquired. The bodyguard answered in the affirmative. "I think I like her." Prince Eze declared.
© 2015. Austus Ofmat Nwanne
Would you say this saga is between the beauty and the beast? Well, that decision is yours. As for me, I would say, this is a love saga between a very precious Prince and a rude, disrespectful, but beautiful lady. Nobody can determine how this would end. So, let's keep our fingers crossed as we follow this story episode by episode.
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HAPPY MID WEEK !!!
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AUSTUS OFMAT NWANNE (Mr. Tackle)
Inspirational Speaker and Business Consultant,
TYO Konsult Services.
+2348072970850
tackleyourobstacle@gmail.com
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