Darlington Palace was the most majestic palace Ayo had ever seen.The fact that it had no main gate, which made it open to the people, did not reduce the beauty of the impressive walls decorated with intricate designs and tall towers.Beautiful gardens filled with colourful flowers and lush plants surround them. Wide steps lead up to the red-brick main building. With its open doorways welcoming visitors into its grandeur.A uniformed valet came to meet Ayo as he stepped out of his car, “You are welcome, Prince Consort,” the man said before he raised his hand for the key.Ayo almost looked back to be sure the man was talking to him.“Prince consort? Me?” He wondered for a second before he realised what it meant.“Oh, because I…oh, okay,” he said with an awkward smile as he gave the man his key.“Your car will be well taken care of, consort,” the valet said with a bow before he entered the car.“Consort? Can you believe that?” Ayo wondered with a smile as he thought of what his sisters
Everyone was dressed so tastefully that he was a bit embarrassed by his casual wear.“Who does he think he is, coming here dressed like that?” a prominent sneer showed on Dowager Charlotte’s face as he entered.She was seated close to the head of the table with a boy on her lap. The boy, who was showing her his car before Ayo entered, turned his curious eyes to him, just as the other guests turned to look at him too.Ayo could count at least two kings whose faces were familiar and other prominent people that he had no idea who they were.The Darlington’s idea of a private dinner was definitely far from what he had imagined.“Mother,” King George called his mother quietly, then he gestured to Ayo in welcome. “Welcome to my home, Mr. Taiwo. Come join us.”Charlotte scoffed as she sipped her spitzer.“Thank you for having me, Your Highness,” Ayo said in greeting.“Your Majesty,” Charlotte said immediately, “You address the king as Your Majesty. If he doesn’t even know something as simple
“Then you have to give a toast too. It is a family thing,” Brianna said with a wink.Ayo’s smile bloomed as he looked at her," You are right, Bri.”He wasn’t going down without a fight. All he did wrong was that he didn’t keep his heart in check. If he was rejected, at least he needed to try.Brianna smiled and said, “You are up next,” Then she laughed as George’s best friend tossed in some embarrassing details in his toast that had the king groaning out loud.Ayo laughed as well and turned around to see Tanya looking at him. She turned away when he looked back.He took a step towards her just as the friend wrapped up his toast with a boast to beat the king the next time they got into the ring together.“In your dreams,” King George said as Brianna whispered, “Your turn,”********“That was such a great toast you gave,” King George said as he followed them outside.“It definitely can’t beat that of your friend, your Majesty,” Ayo said.King George laughed, “That scoundrel. You should
Even the sky wept on the day King George was buried.The heavy clouds opened with a continuous drizzle that started while they were in service by the graveyard.Dressed in black, the people who came to pay their last respects to the well-loved king filled the royal cemetery to the brim and beyond the gate.People tried to hold back their sniffles and cries as the pastor spoke about the eternal home which awaited the righteous.Ayo kept looking at Tanya, who stood rigidly beside her sister-in-law while her bodyguards held umbrellas over them.“I wish she would hold on to me like that,” he thought when he saw the way she held Brianna’s hand tightly.He could see how their shoulders shook occasionally even as they stood strong without making a sound.He wanted to comfort her. He wanted her to turn to him at that time of her life.He wanted to share his grief with her.He had only known George for a little while after all, but still, he couldn’t help but feel the magnitude of the loss.He
Just like that, they stayed talking until morning.“I have to go,” she said as the shaft of light brushed the sky.“Okay,” Ayo said even though he had a lot more to say.“Yeah,” she said without disconnecting the call and they both grew quiet again, each listening to the breathing of the other.“I miss you,” Ayo said suddenly. “I wish I could have been there with you. I hope I can help you through this. I want to be there for you.”He heard the catch of her breath before she said in a low tone; “We need to talk. After.”“Okay, but…”“I need to go. The queen… we are having a meeting with the councils of kingsmaker today. They say it's a condolence visit, but I don’t think it is that simple. So, yeah. I need to go. To prepare and stuff.”“Can I come and see you?” Ayo asked hurriedly before she could disconnect the call.“I will be busy,” she said before the call was disconnected.Ayo’s heart grew heavy again as he stared at his phone. At first, it seemed like things were better between t
“No, I would not.” Five faces turned to look at Tanya in surprise.“Princess, you mean you don’t mind if the title leaves your lineage?” One of the kingsmen asked.“No, she can never say that. My daughter, do you have a fever? I am sure it must be the stress of everything, right?” Dowager Charlotte asked as she gave Tanya a meaningful look.Tanya shook her head and said; “I am fine. My mother is right though. I don’t mean that the title should leave our lineage. What I am saying is that there is another alternative that we are not thinking of.”“What alternative? What other alternative is there, princess?” Another kingmaker asked while Brianna looked at her with interest.“I can’t be queen. I was never meant to rule. George is…was the perfect person for that. Not me.”“But the king is no longer with us, my princess. In the history of our land, we have never had a queen rule before, but time is advancing, and we are willing to allow change too. That is why we wouldn’t mind crowning yo
“You are Unleashed?” Ayo’s heart leapt as he heard her voice.He turned back with an automatic smile which died immediately as he saw the look on her face while she held his laptop in her hands.He had been buried in his new book throughout the night. He stayed up all night in the study which he had turned into his temporary office, and he just stepped out to clear his head with some fresh air.“You are back,” he said with the excitement he felt about her return still showing in his voice.“Answer my question,” she said in a deadpan tone while looking at him. When he hesitated, she looked at the laptop in her hand and back at him, “When did you even get a laptop? What else are you hiding from me?” she said in a raised voice.Ayo looked away from her.He blamed himself for not closing his laptop before coming out. He didn’t want her to find out like that. He was going to tell her after all.“Answer me!” she shouted at him and that surprised him.Even though her staff were always so q
“Give me your best,” he said to the bartender as he sat on the stool.“You’ve got it, boss,” said the bartender. In a few seconds, he had slid a drink in front of him.Ayo took the frothy brew without hesitation and downed it immediately.The burn made his eyes water and numbed him a bit. Good.He slid the glass towards the bartender again. “Keep it coming.”“Anything you want, boss,” the bartender said right before he gave him another glass.Ayo downed it again, and he could finally feel his racing heart slowing down. Even better.He slid the glass across again, “More,”The bartender gave him a look even as he filled up the glass again.The glass was halfway to his mouth when he heard, “Hey handsome, fancy meeting you here.”“Get lost,” he said automatically before he downed his drink again.“How rude. You are lucky that I take no offence.”“Yeah, lucky me.” Ayo thought in annoyance as he turned towards the lady who was dragging the next stool closer. “I said…”She turned to him, and