CHAPTER THREE

MMA'S POV,

A loud knock followed by the deafening sound of a bell woke us up as we all ran hecter scarter to put on our clothes.

"Don't tell me you guys are still sleeping till now" one of the old maid asked as she stood hands akimbo at the entrance of our room.

I almost ended up wearing the back of my clothes, I was so consumed by the enjoyable feel of the bed on my skin that I didn't know when morning came.

"You all should come down fast, miss Margaret has been waiting for you guys and I pray she doesn't skin you guys alive today" the maid said as she turned to leave the room.

"Our bath, won't we atleast take our bath?" Nkechi, one of my roommate asked as the maid stared at us in surprise.

"Oh no, you mean you guys haven't taken your bath? The time for that was an hour ago when the first bell was rung, I guess you guys were sleeping then, that means no bath today till nightfall" she announced.

"What" we almost shouted.

"Yes, that is the way things are here" she said and left almost immediately.

Walking into the big hall, we were met with a full hall, it was almost as if I and my roommates was the only late comers, I sighted Adaure at the far end of the hall as I tiptoed towards her trying not to get the attention of the head maid.

"You are late" Adaure whispered to me.

"I didn't hear the cock crow, that was why" I replied in a low voice.

"Mma, this is the palace not your house, there are no cocks to do that, didn't you heard the bell, it was so loud" she said almost like she was angry with me.

"Okay, I will try to wake up early from now on" I said in summission in order to stop the argument.

"Better, I know you won't like it getting a punishment from miss Margaret, that woman seems too mean" she said as I smiled not saying a word.

"I noticed some of you prefer sleeping than following the palace policy, this is  the last time such attitude will be condoned here" Miss Margaret said while inspecting everyone with her eyes.

"Now you" she said as she pointed towards my direction.

"Me?" I asked almost in fear, her serious countenance is something I seem not to stand.

"No you" she said as she pointed at a girl beside Adaure. I heaved a sigh of relief but my happiness was cut short when she pointed at me too.

"You also" she said before pointing at Adaure.

"You guys will take care of the Queen's garden today, water the plants and make sure you don't step on any of them, Oge will direct you guys on how to do that" she said as she pointed at the maiden that earlier came to wake us up.

She went about giving different chores to the servants excluding the royal guards who left with us to their respective positions.

"Wow, this place look beautiful" Adaure said excitedly as she touched one of the plants.

"You guys should be careful so you don't step on anything. Look, take this" she said as she handed a kettle-like equipment to me.

"This is used to water the plants, it is called the watering can" she said as she sprinkled water from the can to the plants before gently removing her hands leaving me to water the plants.

She went ahead to hand other equipments to Adaure and the other maid while explaining what they are used for. The work wasn't as hard as we imagined as we find ourselves playing with the equipments after working on the garden.

                *******************

"Mama hope you like the food?" I asked my mother as we were having our dinner.

"I don't only like the food, I love it, I haven't eaten this kind of food all my life, this is really delicious" my mother said while licking her fingers.

"You know mama, I promise to bring so many delicious foods to you every weekend from now on" I said as I gupped down the remaining water from the local cup.

"I can't wait, may God bless the king for his kindness" my mother said.

"Hope they are treating you well over there?" my mother asked as she looked up from her food.

"Yes, infact more than I expected, although we have been busy since two days now, I heard the prince is coming back so we have been trying to beautify the palace" I replied.

"The prince is coming back?" My mum asked.

"Yes, the head maid said so" I replied as I ate the last piece of meat on my plate.

"Well, that's good news"

"Yes" I supported.

            *********************

Coming out of his room, he was interupted by a phone call, he stopped as he carefully tapped on his phone screen, his eyes litted up in happiness when he saw the caller.

"The son of his father" he hailed as he sat down on a chair beside him.

"Long live the king" a voice said through the phone.

"Long live the future king of this kingdom, the only true son of his father" the king said louldly in happiness.

His loud voice attracted the presence of the queen as she gently stood beside him.

"Father, I am on my way to Nigeria, my flight is about to take off" the caller said.

"Safe trip my son, I await your arrival, the whole kingdom awaits your arrival, we all are waiting" the king said in happiness.

"Alright father, see you then" the caller hung up as the king stood up immediately.

"My son is on his way home, where are my guards" the king shouted.

"Yes your highness" a guard rushed towards the king.

"Run to my elders, tell them their presence is needed in the palace, my son is on his way home, let the whole kingdom know, let the neighbouring kingdoms know, tell them the first and only medical doctor of our time is finally on his way home" the king said in happiness as the guard also jubilates in happiness before rushing out.