I opened my eyes and realised I was no longer in my kingdom. I was not in my royal chamber, neither was I surrounded by my family or the familiar faces of the palace servants.
For a moment, I thought I was dreaming. I tried to convince myself that everything was just a nightmare, but the painful truth eventually caught up with me.
Everything had happened was gone,
My kingdom was gone. My family was gone. My people were scattered, and I was no longer a princess. I was nothing but a commoner, a girl who had lost everything she had ever known.
I regretted not accepting the marriage proposal. Perhaps, if I had agreed to marry that old king, my family, my people and my community would still be alive. Perhaps the men would not have been slaughtered, and the young girls and women would not have been taken away by slave traders.
But who would have thought that refusing to become the seventh wife of a man old enough to be my grandfather would cost an entire kingdom its existence?
My name is Arya, the princess of Odumodu Kingdom, and the only child of my father, King Arinze.
But that was before everything changed, before I lost the only who ever protects me, the only man who ever loved me so dearly, my father, my protector but it is too late to regret I started sobbing but I think sob will not solve the problem.
A few days before the tragedy, my life was completely different.
I was sitting with my friends in the palace garden, discussing preparations for our upcoming cultural festival. It was an important celebration in Odumodu Kingdom, and I wanted that year's festival to be the most memorable one in the history of our land.
"Princess Arya, I think we should invite dancers from neighbouring communities," one of my friends suggested.
"That is a wonderful idea," I replied excitedly. "We should also organise a cooking competition and a traditional fashion parade. I want everyone to talk about this festival for years."
My friends laughed at my excitement.
I loved moments like that. Despite being a princess, I enjoyed spending time with ordinary people. I never wanted anyone to feel uncomfortable around me simply because of my position.
As we continued discussing our plans, I noticed that it was almost lunchtime.
"Girls, I think we should end today's meeting here. We can continue tomorrow."
"Yes, my princess," they answered together.
I smiled, gathered my things and headed towards the dining room.
One thing I disliked about being a princess was the unnecessary distance between me and the palace maidens. I wanted to be friends with them, but they were always bowing and addressing me with respect.
Don't misunderstand me. I appreciated their kindness, but sometimes I wished they could treat me like an ordinary girl.
Being a princess was not always as beautiful as people imagined.
Sometimes, thinking about certain customs and traditions in our kingdom gave me headaches. For example, I could never understand why a dead king had to be buried with seven virgins.
It was a tradition I had promised myself to abolish when I became queen.
Unfortunately, I never got the opportunity to fulfil that promise.
"My princess, your food is ready."
One of the maidens interrupted my thoughts as I entered the dining room.
I was about to sit down when I heard a familiar voice.
"Good afternoon, my beautiful daughter."
I turned around immediately.
"Daddy!"
I rushed towards him and wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Good afternoon, sir. You hardly eat lunch with us these days. I hope everything is alright. Or did you miss me so much that you decided to come and see my beautiful face?"
My father laughed.
"Ah! So my daughter thinks I cannot survive without seeing her?"
"Of course, Daddy. Who else will give you this much happiness?"
"Perhaps there is another daddy somewhere who is receiving all your attention these days."
I immediately frowned.
"Daddy, please!"
He laughed harder.
"Look at your face! I think I have discovered something. Who is the young man making my daughter blush like a ripe tomato?"
"Nobody, Daddy!"
I loved teasing my father. He was the most handsome man I had ever known, and seeing him laugh always made my day.
I was still smiling when I heard him instruct one of the maidens to serve him food.
"Please bring my meal, but make it small potion, I'm not very hungry.
I returned to sit.
"Daddy, how is work? How is the kingdom? You look stressed. I hope everything is alright."
His smile slowly disappeared.
"My dear, things are not as good as you think. There have been some disputes between our kingdom and neighbouring kingdoms. You are aware of the tension, especially between Odumodu and Amabuzo."
I nodded.
"Yes, Daddy, but I thought the elders were already handling the situation."
"They are trying their best. After yesterday's meeting, the council of elders presented a peace declaration petition to the King of Amabuzo. However, his response was unexpected."
"What did he say?"
My father paused before answering.
"He said he would only agree to peace if you became his seventh wife."
For a moment, I thought I had heard him wrongly.
"What?"
I turned towards the entrance and saw my mother standing there.
Queen Amarachi was a beautiful woman. Even after all these years, she carried herself with the elegance of a true queen.
But at that moment, her beautiful face was filled with anger and disbelief.
"Mummy!"
I rushed towards her.
"Tell Daddy that I cannot marry that man. He is too old for me!"
My mother held my hands.
"Calm down, my child. We will find a solution."
I turned towards my father.
"Daddy, please. I don't want to marry him. He already has six wives and fourteen children. Does he want to add me to his collection? What kind of marriage is that?"
My father remained silent.
"Please, Daddy. I am begging you."
I looked at him with pleading eyes, hoping he would say something reassuring.
Instead, he lowered his head.
"Forgive me, honey pie. There is nothing I can do.
My mother shook her head.
"There must be another way. We cannot sacrifice our daughter's happiness for a man who has threatened our people."
My father sighed.
"I know, Amarachi. But we must think about everyone. Thousands of innocent people could lose their lives."
I stepped backwards.
"So my happiness means nothing? My life means nothing?"
"That is not what I said, Arya."
"Then what are you saying, Daddy? That I should marry a man I do not love just because he wants me?"
Nobody answered.
Tears filled my eyes.
I had always believed that my father could protect me from anything. I believed that no matter what happened, he would stand between me and danger.
But now, the same man who had promised to protect me was asking me to surrender my future.
"Daddy, please don't do this to me.
He stood up and walked towards me. He gently held my face.
"If I had another choice, I would take it without hesitation."
I pulled from him and run out from the dining room I did not know where I was going. All I wanted was to escape from the painful reality waiting for me.
That evening, the palace became unusually quiet.
I locked myself inside my chamber and cried until I fell asleep.
I had no idea that the decision I was about to make would change my life forever.
And I certainly had no idea that someone inside our palace had already begun planning our downfall.
Someone who knew every secret of Odumodu Kingdom.
Someone who wanted the throne.
And someone who would make sure that the peace we were desperately trying to protect would never come.