Decietful Allure (Around the fireplace series)

 The night sky began to brighten as a new day dawned, the cock crowed three times announcing the new day, sounds of activities broke the deafening silence of the early morning as people began their day.

 The princess Emajiri slept on unbothered by the brightening sky, her maids already familiar with her habits tightly guarded the windows and doors, careful not to let any light escape and disturb the princess's beauty sleep.

 The princess slept on peacefully, smiling in her sleep at the beautiful dream she was currently having, the maids stood sweating as they tightly guarded against the light of the day while another maid fanned the princess on auto pilot, careful not to let her feel any heat lest the princess wake up in anger, her second on the side ever ready to seamlessly replace her at any sign of tiredness. Emajiri slept on until the sun was high up in the sky and woke up only when she felt too hungry to continue her sleep, immediately a maid came in with a wash basin prepared, her toiletries were brought in by the maids as she had a simple wash and waited for her food to be brought in growing impatient as to why her food was not brought in immediately after her wash, the maids at the side shivered at the sight of the princess's darkening expression, a maid came in and before the princess could lose her temper, the maid fell to her knees and after greeting the princess immediately got to the point.

 ' My princess, His Royal Majesty seeks your company for a meal at his royal palace' the maid said with a bowed head. Princess Emajiri looked scornfully at the maid and stood up briskly but before she departed for the the king's palace she paused and glanced at the maid coldly. ' take her back to the slavers, her services are no longer required.' She sneered directing the order at the guards guarding the door and went on her way as the maid collapsed on the floor, her face pale with despair.

 Princess Emajiri walked with grace and bearing as she traipsed the palace floors, her long legs lightly treading the palace floor with the grace of the panther, her buttocks dancing to the rhythm of her footsteps, her leg beads clicked and twinkled, creating a lovely music that drew ears like a siren song, Princess Emajiri was truly a sight for sore eyes but no one dared look at her longer than necessary lest they drew her ire.

As she walked on, her maids scrambled to please her lest they become the next Oghogho, the maid that was just sent by the Princess back to slavers.

The one in charge of fanning the Princess moved her wrists so fast that they became after images, the one with the umbrella made with crocodile skin leather from one of her suitors held it high above the princesses head, covering her tightly lest the sun darkens the Princesses glowing caramel skin , making sure to always remain half a step behind her, her long legs proved to be useful as she kept with the Princess pace unlike her fellow maids who scrambled to keep up with the princess's pace, though the Princess might look to be walking slowly but she was anything but slow, the Princess's long legs were not just for show, for the first time in her life the maid thanked God for her height, which finally became useful, her arms ached, but her face remained expressionless, she might have succeeded in looking at ease with her work if you ignore the slight trembling of her arms.

 Finally they reached their destination, the maids and the Princess all bowed to the king who sat at the head of the long table accompanied by his favorite and fifth wife, Amaka, the seductress who held the king's heart tightly in her palm since she was given as a tribute to the kingdom a year ago.

 Princess Emajiri, rolled her eye in disdain at the nymph draped on her father's body, her eyes dripping with disgust as she stared at the girl younger than her by more than 3years.

 'Asanido, Mérigwé' she greeted the King with their local dialect bending at the knees as a show of respect to her king and father. The maids followed laying on the floor in greeting, standing up only when told. 'Ovie, you sent for me.' The king or Ovie as he was called by his people, forcefully tore his eyes from his tempting wife, reluctantly eying her from the corners of his eyes. 'Ah yes, Ajiri.' As she was fondly called by her father. ' sit, come and join us, it's been long since we last ate together.' He finally focused on his daughter, his eyes accessing her, he thoughtfully stared at his beloved daughter, whose beauty overshadowed even that of her mother who was once the most beautiful maiden of her time.

 Princess Emajiri sat down, shifting uncomfortably under her father's stare, she may be impetuous and arrogant to others, but when it came to her father she was like a quail, a perfect daughter and an epitome of grace and beauty. She waited until her father told her to eat, aware of the mocking gaze of Amaka, her arch nemesis, her dislike for Amaka grew like poison within her, she almost gnashed her teeth but quickly remembered she was in the presence of her father the king. She forcefully ate her meal, her favorite soup, Egusi and Fufu, which now tasted like bile in her mouth, even her favorite smoked goat meat tasted like bitter leaf. Finally after what felt like years, they finished the meal, amidst Amaka throwing gloating glances and all the while purposely seducing the king, just to rub in Princess Emajiri's face her hold over the king. Princess Emajiri held herself back from cursing her in front of her father, her fingers clenched tightly, almost turning white at the force she used.

 ' uh uh uhm!' The king cleared his throat as he received the hand kerchief from the outstretched hands of his maid, wiping his hands and lips. ' Ajiri my daughter, my gem, I called you here today because of the pending issue of your marriage, you are my most beloved and only daughter, it is unbecoming and even shameful for you my daughter to still be single at this age, it's not even because of lack of suitors but because of your pickiness. My daughter, it's not because I don't like your company, but it's because no matter how much I want to keep you with me, a time comes in a woman's life when she needs to move from her father's house to her own husband's house.' He paused looking at his daughter and making sure his words sank in. ' Ajiri my daughter, you are now 20yrs old, you are no longer a child, do you know how many petitions I get from the elders and the various community union? It's been 6yrs since able bodied men started asking you for your hand in marriage, we've had princes from neighboring villages, even princes from far away land, the bravest of hunters, hunters that killed lions with their bare hands just to impress you, we've even had the wealthiest of men, men with caliber and you've rejected them all. ' he took water from the proffered hand of his maid and drank from it to wet his now dry mouth. ' what do you want in a man Ajiri that so many suitors cannot satisfy you, it's either this one's leg is bent, or he is too fat or too thin or his mouth is crooked or his teeth is not straight enough or he is too dark, the most ridiculous one is the one you said his eyes are too shifty, like what does that even mean! I am the great Asanido Ovrughe Ovrawah of Enale, I can't have a spinster as a daughter, enough is enough, you'll not bring shame to my great reign. And so, with this, I've made the decision to hold a great festival and invite all the able bodied men from this kingdom and all other neighboring kingdom to compete for your hand In marriage-' he was cut off by Emajiri .

 'But father -' she whined

 'Enough! My decision is final, no matter who wins the competition, whether his leg is bent or his mouth is crooked will have you as his wife, don't try to persuade me, I have already given the order to the town criers announce my decision' he said curtly, in a tone that brooked no argument, his stern eyes softened as he watched his favorite daughter's lip quiver and her eyes welling up in tears. 'The only thing I can do for you is to let you choose one of the games on that day. You can now go, but think about what I said and make a decision in regards to the game you want to add.' He said in a softer voice than earlier.

 Although Princess Emajiri wanted nothing more than to storm out of the room crying, she forcefully held herself back, no matter what, she'll not let the stupid girl Amaka see her cry, she bowed to her father one last time and walked out of the palace with hurried steps, wanting nothing more than to rush into the security of her room to cry, but she stopped short of her quarters turning back and walking hurriedly in another direction, wanting nothing more than to be alone. 'Don't follow me.' She spoke through gritted teeth.

 'But Princess-' a glare was enough to get them to shut up.

Asanido - is a title of respect

Mérigwé - is a form of greeting for the isoko tribe, one of the many tribes in Nigeria (kind of like; good morning, good afternoon) but you only greet your elders that way.

Ovie - means king.

Ajiri - means praise

Asanido Ovrughe Ovrawah - a form of praise to the king describing strength, power and authority.