Dada's POV
Dada and Idowu walked through the crowds. After taking a few turns, they stopped in front of an inn.
"My master and young master William are here. Let's head inside." Idowu said, pointing at the building, smiling again.
Dada simply nodded.
Idowu and Ayo walked in, and he followed. Idowu greeted the inn manager and a few workers along the way. They must have been staying there for a while. Idowu seemed familiar with everyone.
They climbed the stairs. Idowu stopped in front of a room.
"Young master William stays here. I'll get him."
He knocked.
No answer.
He smiled awkwardly at Dada. "Heeh… probably sleeping. Let's just meet my master. He stays next door."
Idowu began walking again while Dada stood still for a few seconds, staring at the door where William was supposed to be.
Why are you with him? he wondered.
"Master Dada?" Idowu called, brows raised.
"Dada. Just Dada," he corrected.
A small smile crossed Idowu's face and he nodded. "I'll take you to my master. He stays right here."
Idowu knocked on the next door.
Three seconds later, a voice came from inside. "Come in."
Idowu opened the door immediately, and as he stepped in, Dada wondered—
Whom exactly do you dare call master, Idowu?
He followed Idowu into the room.
The first pair of eyes he met were William's.
The man's face shifted from mischief to curiosity the moment he saw Dada.
"Hahahahaha!" William burst out laughing, hands on his waist.
Dada guessed the first prince recognized him instantly. He wasn't surprised. The rumors about William being sharp were clearly true.
"No way! Master, have you come to finally claim the child? Didn't you run away? Why change your mind now?" William asked once he finished laughing.
Dada couldn't see what was so funny. He noticed Idowu staring between them, surprise written all over his face.
Doesn't he know the story between me and William? he wondered inwardly.
"You… you know Dada, Master William?" Idowu asked.
Creak—
Dada heard movement from the corner of the room.
He turned.
A man was hovering over something.
He could have sworn no one had been there when he walked in.
He stared at the man's back.
Is this the man Idowu calls his master?
He couldn't continue his thoughts as William's voice cut through the room.
" Know him? He is Ayo's mother. He abandoned him though. " William said walking to the bed and hopping onto it like he owned the place.
" Get off! This isn't your room. " The man at the corner of the room ordered. His voice—low, calm, sharp enough to slice the air.
Dada turned to him again. He still couldn't see the man's face clearly, only his back. But even from that angle, he knew. The posture was straight. Controlled. The kind of stillness that came from discipline, not comfort. The clothes were simple, yet worn with quiet authority. Nothing about him looked ordinary.
"Temi-mine, be kind. We have a guest." William said playfully but Dada really couldn't be concerned by that. He was more interested in why Dada and Idowu were in the same room right now and who the mysterious Master was.
Something about the room had shifted. He felt it in his bones.
" Shut up!" The man ordered from the corner and after two seconds, he exclaimed. " Ah! found it!"
Dada watched as he finally stood up. In his hand was something - something that looked like a book.
" I can't believe you're more interested in a book than me." William pouted.
Dada stared.
He was a bit shocked to see that.
The first prince of the kingdom… pouting? - Behaving in such manner- Guard lowered. Comfortable. Exposed.
Who could be the person that made him behave this way?
Idowu cleared his throat. The sound was small, but deliberate. Dada knew that was intended to remind William to be serious as they weren't alone in the room.
William rolled his eyes and stretched across the bed, one arm tucked behind his head as he faced Dada lazily.
" Who have you brought here.?" Dada finally heard the man ask.
The man took a few steps forward- Dada eyes never leaving him for a second. He placed the book on the small shelves and slowly, unhurried, deliberate—he turned to Dada.
For a moment, the room felt silent.
He bowed his head slightly.
" Forgive me for that. Young master. How can I help you?"
His voice was calm. Low. Beautiful in a way that didn't beg for attention but commanded it anyway.
Dada's breath caught..
His mind stalled.
Dada couldn't believe his eyes.
Seco-
second prince?
The kingdoms' second prince??
Why is he here?
What's he doing here.?
No-
More like -
What the hell are they doing in the same room?
The air suddenly felt too tight. Too heavy.
The Princes.
The targets.
Standing within arm's reach.
Dada's fingers twitched at his side.
Instinct screamed. Calculation roared awake in his head.
Distance. Weapons. Doors. Windows. Angles. Timing.
He could kill them.
Right now.
The thought flashed bright and violent.
And for the first time since entering the room—
Dada felt fear.
Not of them.
Of himself. He knew what he was capable of.
He thought - should he do it right now?
He had never had to think before murdering before. It just - this situation was different. For the first time, he needed to take real precautions.
(THIRD PERSON'S POV )
Idowu noticed Dada's reaction upon seeing his master. William noticed that too and for a spilt second, the thought that Dada might have fallen for Adrian's beauty and that was the reason he froze, crossed his mind. He felt something he couldn't pit point and the next second he found himself in front Dada.
He planted himself in front of Dada, blocking out Adrian from his sight.
" You're staring too much. That's my man."
Dada then focused on him. He was smiling but he could catch a bit of seriousness there.
' Doesn't he know he's the second prince? His rivals.? Really?' Dada thought.
But then he recalled the part of the emperor's order that entails them never revealing their true identity.
' Have they hidden their identities and cross paths without knowing?' Dada thought.
" Crazy." He heard the second prince say and he thought - if the first prince had known it was actually the second prince that had insulted him, the two kingdoms would be at war right now.
Idowu, realizing the matter at hand was being dragged, decided to speak.
" This is Mast- uhm! I mean this is Dada. I sort of lost Ayo in the middle of the festival but Dada found him. Turns out, he's the man I help a few days ago and Ayo also seemed to know him. "
" Ah.. thank you for finding him. Master Dada. " Adrian spoke taking a few steps closer.
Dada got a closer view of his face - he really was the most beautiful of the three princes.
" Please, call me Dada."
" Yeah yeah... finding him after abandoning him. " William said sarcastically, flopping back onto the bed.
Dada frowned a bit. " You would have also abandoned him if I hadn't left first that day. " He countered.
William simply made a sound with his throat and looked away.
" I see. Seem we were fated to meet. You had met William previously. My servant saved you and you in turn, found our lost kid.
"Servant? Really, this is so absurd " Dada thought.
"Our?" William asked. He had risen up from the bed again. Eyes wide, lips beaming, joy screaming all over his face.
" Slip of tongue." Adrian replied already regretting he said that. He knew William will definitely not let go of it.
" I heard you're all heading to Irele. That my destination too but it has been a lonely journey. Can I bother you by traveling along with you." Dada asked and hoped they'll agree.
" Nah. Thank you but go join another party. " William replied from the bed.
Dada really had expected that from William but- he turned to Adrian and caught him staring at him.
Adrian stared at Dada as if he was trying to uncover his deepest secret.
William noticed that and as if he had already discovered what Adrian response would be , he spoke again. " Temi- mine, no."
Five seconds passed.
" Sure. You can. " Adrian responded at last without sparing William a glance.
" Arggh! " Dada heard William groan.
'Great' Dada thought within himself. 'Now i can carry out the two missions at the same time. Find out about my old village and murder the princes "