??Beautiful??
(Ifeoma)
Written by, Rejoice Jeremiah. C?
EPISODE 10?
The Personal Maid?
?Ifeoma?
And…there he was.
Ebuka…no, Prince Eric.
‘He’s really the crown Prince..’
“Oh my god! He’s so charming.. Just look at him. My Prince is so handsome,” chinyere said.
He was looking at a strange man sitting next to him.
“He’s so handsome. Look at his sweet face,” Chinyere talked on.
‘But…why..why did he disguise himself as a servant?’ I wondered.
Someone bumped into me and I looked at the person.
“I’m so sorry,” she apologized.
“It’s okay.” I said and she walked away.
I turned back to look at Ebuka…no, the Prince but his eyes were on me.
Even though he was far from where I stood, I could bet I was the one he was staring at and I couldn’t look away but stare back.
“Oh my… ifeoma, can you see his eyes? He’s looking over here. Is he looking at me or you? It look like it’s you…no me.. It’s you. Wait, let me check.”
I could hear him through his eyes saying to me.
‘Yes Ifeoma, I’m the crown Prince. You must be in so much shock, right?’
‘Tch! Really? Well you are right I’m in shock but not so much. What you did was so immature’
I took my eyes off him and they went to Princess Ola.
She looked beautiful in her princess dress. The colors matching perfectly to her Africa woman skin tone.
She was smiling to the maidens dancing…but that smile, it didn’t look pure and sincere.
Her smile seemed different like she was forcing it out. It didn’t look real to me.
Could it mean that something strange must be happening to her because of the bracelet.
I saw the bracelet on her wrist and I inhaled.
“I will take that off” I said.
“What? What would you take off?” Chinyere asked.
“Nothing” I said.
I looked at the Prince but his eyes were no more where I was.
I exhaled.
(Two hours later)
Tables had been set, meals and drinks were being served by the palace servants and that was when Uju found me.
“Oh my.. Ifeoma, here you are. Wow you look really nice on this dress”
“Thanks. How are you doing Uju?” I asked her.
“I’m happy to know that you’ll be returning to the palace in two days. Work is now so hectic here,” she said.
“I know that.” I said.
“You’ve seen him right? I told you.. Now he even look more handsome” she said.
I looked up but he was no more on his seat.
He had left together with the stranger and Princess Ola.
“That handsome stranger with him is his best friend from London” Uju said.
“Everyone is handsome to you,” I said.
“It’s the truth. I appreciate good things” she said.
“””””””””””””””
?Prince Eric?
I got into my room and dropped on the sofa.
‘Why did my heart skip that way when I saw her and why did I get so excited while looking at her?’
I took off the crown, dropped it beside and exhaled.
‘Maybe because I was surprised to see her looking quite pretty. She look pretty on that dress and hair, all thanks to me. The look on her face.. She look like she really want to apologize to me….or is that just my imagination?’
“When is she returning to the palace?”
I checked the calendar on my phone.
‘In two days. Next tomorrow. I will wait for her apologies by then or could she be probably looking for me to do that now?’
I stood up, walked out to the balcony and searched with my eyes for her but there was no sign of her at the ceremony ground.
‘Could she be downstairs, trying to get to me right now?’
I headed downstairs and getting to there, there was no Ifeoma there too.
“My Prince, do you need anything?” A maid asked.
“No”
‘Then is she about to cone in?’
I waited for minutes but the door didn’t open and Ifeoma didn’t come in.
’I guess the apology would be in two days’
“””””””””””””””””””””””
?Ifeoma?
Later at night after I got ready to go to bed. I dropped on my bed and my eyes went to the book where I hid the shinning star.
I breathed out.
***********
?Prince Eric?
A knock came on the door.
“Come in” I said.
The door opened and a maid came in.
She bowed. “Good morning my Prince, I’m here to drop your coffee” she said.
I looked at her face and she was different from the maid that brought my coffee yesterday morning.
“Why’s it not just one maid?” I asked.
“Pardon my prince?”
“Nothing. You can leave,” I said.
She curtsied and left after saying “Okay my prince”
“Three different maids are serving me here and I don’t like the idea. One maid should have that job” I said and took a sip from the coffee cup and Ifeoma’s face immediately came to my mind and I made a smirk smile.
“I think she’ll fit the work.”
“”””””””””””””””””””
?Ifeoma?
“What!” I snapped.
“It’s an order from the Prince and you have no reason to decline.” Mrs Ugo, the head of maids said.
She had called me on the phone that morning. First she announced that I’ll have to live at the palace for the next two weeks and then tell me that I’m also going to be the personal maid to the Prince.
“Ma, I…I don’t want to be Eb…The Prince’s personal maid. I don’t want to at all. I’m fine with being the upper floor maid but not the prince personal maid.” I said.
“Like I just told you. You can’t refuse it. Moreover you should be very glad about it. A lot of maids would kill for this opportunity. A personal maid do not do any other work but only the Prince’s. You don’t tidy any other place than the prince’s room. You don’t serve any other than the Prince. You should be happy.” she said.
“I’m not happy ma. I’m not happy. I don’t want to be the Prince personal maid” I said.
“Well then, you should come to the palace and tell him that yourself Ifeoma” she said and ended the call.
“Ahhhh what is this now!” I lamented. “I’m going cr@zy because of that wounded sheep!”
“”””””””””””””””””””””
?Prince Eric?
At the royal dinning, ten dishes of fried rice were lined up on the table, each cooked by each maiden.
The maidens weren’t there so I had no idea who’s meal is first or second or third but I was hoping to pick Rose’s meal as the best since she’s always at the last, I think I might guess right.
“My prince, you should taste each food and go with the best cooked” My mother, the queen said.
I began from the first till I got to the right, I ate a spoon and wondered if it was Rose’s.
‘I don’t think’
I moved to the ninth, then tenth and I picked the tenth as hers.
Truthfully, Tenth was the sweetest I tasted.
“I pick the tenth” I said and began eating it. “Who cooked it?” I asked.
My mother looked through the book she held.
“Ngozi Ozo” she announced.
I paused my chew.
‘What? D@mn then which one is Rose’s?’
“””””””””””””””””””””
(Next day)
?Ifeoma?
“My daughter, are you ready to leave to the palace?” Papa asked me.
“Yes papa, I have to leave very early,” I said.
“It’s okay nne. You should go. Be careful and take care of yourself ehn” he said.
“I will papa and you have to take care of yourself too. I promise to visit you on weekends. I will ask Princess Ola to grant me the chance” I said.
“It’s okay. You don’t need to visit me. It’s only two weeks. I will be fine okay. Go now” he said.
“Alright papa” I said.
Soon, I was on my way with my small luggage..
I haven’t walked far when I heard my name.
“Ifeoma.. Ify”
Obinna.
I stopped and turned.
There he was coming with his bicycle.
I waited for him.
“Ify, are you already going this early morning?” he asked once he got to me.
“Yes I am.” I answered.
“Alright. Here” he stretched a small bag to me.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“What I promised you, the bracelet” he said.
I gasped.
“You bought it already?” I asked.
“Yes.. It was very easy.” he said.
“Oh my goodness. Thank you so much Obinna. You have no idea how much this mean to me. Thank you so much” I said.
“It’s nothing compared to what I dream of giving you,” he said. “..but I’m so sad that I’m not going to see you again before I leave. You are going to stay in that palace for two weeks.”
“Obinna, don’t worry… I will find a way to see you again before you leave, I promise” I said.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes I am.”
“Promise?”
“I promise”
He smiled. “Then let me escort you to the palace. Let me carry your luggage” he said and took the luggage I held.
“No problem. Thanks you a lot”
‘Now, the bracelet would swapped. I will find a way to do that’
“”””””'”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
“Welcome back to the palace Ifeoma” uju jumped on me immediately she saw me enter the palace.
“Uju, I missed you” I said.
“I missed you too” she said. “Are you really going to do this?” she asked.
“Do what?” I asked.
“Be the Prince Personal maid?” she asked.
“I can” I said.
“Ifeoma,” mrs ugo called me.
“Yes ma”
“I will help you keep your bag, go and answer her” uju said and took my luggage.
I got to Mrs Ugo.
“So what is your decision?” she asked.
I inhaled. “I will do it ma” I said.
“Good. How’s your hand?” She asked.
“Healing” I answered.
“Well come with me. You’ll need to introduce yourself to the Prince as his personal maid” she said.
‘Introduce myself?’
I followed her to the living room where I met Princess Ola and the Queen.
“Hello my Queen.. Hello my princess” I greeted with two curtsy
“Welcome back Ifeoma. We missed you,” Princess Ola said.
“Thank you my princess” I said.
“The prince personal maid?” The Queen asked.
“Yes I am, my queen” I answered.
‘Where’s that wounded sheep?’
Just then, I heard footsteps descending the staircase.
I looked up and it was him, the sounded sheep…no, Prince Eric walking down the staircase in a royal wear.
He look stunning.
His eyes met mine and I felt a strange feeling within me.
But he wasn’t looking away and I wasn’t either.
Our eyes were on each other until he got down the staircase and walked a bit close, just a bit.
Our eyes still into each other’s eyes.
“Hey! Face down, how dare you stare straight at the prince!” The Queen hurled at me and I quickly face down.
“Now introduce yourself!” she hurled again.
I inhaled.
‘I can do this.’
“I..I..my name is Ifeoma Okeke, I’m the personal maid to you, my Prince. I will work hard and obey every of your…your command,” I said.
Everywhere became silent as everyone waited for his response.
It took him a whole lot of time to respond.
“Your report says that you’ve been a very hardworking servant for five years. Then work harder” he said and went to a couch.
‘Work harder? Is he being serious?’
“Don’t just stand there, go up and tidy up the Prince room” Mrs Ugo said.
“Ah yes..” I mumbled and headed upstairs.
‘Can I do this? Maybe…..I don’t know. This is fustrating’
________
TBC???