After dinner that day, the prince went for a stroll with is personal guard. Ada grabbed Nikita hand and led her towards the kitchen. While they walked in silence, Nikita wondered what the princess was up to this time.
Your high..... Ada what is the matter? Nikita asked with worried look on her face, as they entered the kitchen store room.
Ada looked at her and spoke quietly. Just follow me and do what I say.' When they got into the store room Ada whispered into Nikita ears. Take this basket and go to the ifu tree, I will meet you there shortly. Nikita quickly did as she was told, fearing where the night would take her to.The princess baffled her, sometimes she was shy as mouse other times bold as a leopard.
Ada started walking away from the palace she spoke in a hushed tones when she got to Nikita 'let go it's a little far ahead. Let walk faster she collected the basket from Nikita who had no idea where they were going and why the princess was carrying the basket full of food like a common servant. What if someone from the palace saw them?
Ebuka had given up hope and decided to hunt for food himself. He was twelve years old and had five younger sisters. After their parents death they were all alone because they had moved to Afudo from another village and had no relatives here.
Papa had slumped and died mysteriously while working in the farm and mama followed suite when she heard the news. Mr Dede their father's brother and his wife chroma sent them away blaming Ebuka and his siblings for the death of their parents. They took papa's land and house leaving the children destitute.
Ada would sneaked out of her father's compound to give food to Ebuka every night. If not for Ada the boy and his siblings would have joined their parents resulting from starvation. No one in Afudo would give him job though he was ready to do anything - weed farms, harvest yams, clean houses and compounds. No one wanted anything to do with a child whose parents had died in quick successions. That kind of occurrence was unnatural and such children were to be avoided.
Ebuka walked a little further wondering where he would get food for tonight. From a distance he noticed two women walking towards him the other one was dressed like royalty looked a lot like Ada. He waited, carefully not to approach the women lest he be accused of attempted theft.
Ada saw Ebuka and ran to hug him she looked at his face and saw how sad he looked. Ebuka had always been responsible for the welfare of his little sisters and the two other orphans in the village.
Is everyone in good health? Ada asked.
He nodded in reply
'Take me to them now she requested.
Nikita wondered who this child was to the princess. He looked poor, haggard and obviously hungry.
When they got to the shed where the children stayed, they all ran to hug Ada like their lives depended on her. She gave the big basket to them and they all sat down to eat. They finished the food I a heartbeat and began playing around Ada. She felt a pinch on her hand and looked down to see Ego, Ebuka's youngest sister staring at her.
Please sing for us she asked.
Ada smiled as they all gathered round and she started singing. As she sand her voice pierced through the forest like wind moving through the leaves.
As soon as she finished, Ego cried again another one.
Ada laughed heartily picking her up and placing her on thigh.I have to go now I will send food to you tomorrow she said as she slipped a skin pouch into Ebuka's hands. He smiled and hugged her.
As Ada and Nikita returned to the palace the princess sensed that her servants mind was troubled concerning the night venture.
Those children have no father and mother when I discovered them some months ago, I started sneaking out to feed them in the night, imagine if one of those kids was yours? She said. Just before they got to the palace Ada held Nikita's hands and made her swear that her dealings with the children would stay a secret between both of them after they sneaked back into the palace without alerting the guards.
Ada continue to see the children and the prince was true to his words and built her a big house that can house the orphans before her third month in the palace was over. They barely talked or spent time together except at meals with the king and queen, and he was hardly ever there when she went to sleep. At those times Ada knew he had gone to see the woman he loved, this would break the heart of any woman and she thanked the gods she did not care. Being able to care for the orphans made it worth the whole act.
In her second month at the palace Ada employed Ugomma's daughters to take care of the children's house. She funded the place with her weekly allowance making sure she bought two wrappers every new month so she did not have to answer questions from the queen about her dressing. She visited the house twice a week abd was happy withe the healthy and cheerful appearance of the children.
Ugomma's daughters, Adamma and Chiamake took good care of them and were handsomely paid in return. They were never to tell anybody where they went daily. The large house was well hidden in the forest and except for the men who built it for the prince, the young maidens were clearly the only ones who knew the place.The prince had ordered the men never to return to the house as agreed between himself and Ada.
The relationship between Ada and the prince became less rigid with time she helped him organise some of his stuff in the house, and they began to say good morning to each other.
Even the breakfast and dinner act became less of a burden as Ada launched into the character of a happy wife with ease It was perfect arrangement. Some nights they returned at the same time and she would look at him with understanding knowing where he was coming from.
One night she came back from seeing the children and heard the prince bathing. She was so tired, she dropped her skin pouch on the wooden box which served as a small wardrobe and lay on a corner of the bed, waiting for the prince to finish so she would go in and bathe.
The prince Wonder who Ada's lover was. Was he a hunter? Was he of the rich business merchants? Was he older? When he came out of bathroom he found her fast asleep in her day clothes her legs falling from the side of the bed. He carried her and placed her at the centre of the bed, she was as light as a leaf and he almost chuckled at the gentle at the gentle way her chest heaved up and down.
He really love chi (his secret lover) she was beautiful, classy and made him want more every time he touched her fair skin, yet he felt something was missing well nobody was perfect anyway and he drifted off to sleep thinking of the love of his life.