prologue

"Apekeola,we have been summoned by the head queen to join in the festivities at the palace .put on the best of your dresses.You must look your best.Who knows ,you might catch the eye of royalty."

"Okay,mama but I don't want to be a royal."Apekeola replied.

"Shut up!You know nothing.You will do as I say."

"Yes mama."

She listened to her mother and got dressed.As she walked out of her room she overheard her stepmother and sister speaking.

"You have to enchant the crown prince with your beauty,my dear."Her stepmother said.

"You should trust me ,mother.He won't be able to look away once he sets his eye on me."

"I do my dear.Afterall you are the most beautiful maiden in this land.We won't let that obnoxious, useless sister of yours get her way this time."

"No,we won't."

Her stepmother was about to say something else but she shut them out.How dear they insult her like that. They would pay,she would do the impossible and get the crown Prince's attention.Then,we'll see whose useless!

How was she going to do this?The crown prince is known for his ever emotionless expression and his never ending silence.Hmmmm...

She had an idea.

.....

Fabunmi, Apekeola's mother sat comfortably enjoying the festivities at the palace but she couldn't stop her worries as she failed to spot her daughter anywhere."Where is that bundle of trouble.?"she asked herself.

"My dear friend,how have you been?"she suddenly heard the voice of the headqueen behind her.

"My queen."She paid her respect.

"Always so humble.How many times do I have to tell you you don't have to do that but you never listen ."

"And I never will,my queen."

"You.....Wow!Is that your daughter among the dancers?"

Fabunmi looked in the direction she was pointing at.She was surprised to see her daughter dancing so audaciously and even daring to wink at the crown prince.

"Oh my,I am going to kill that girl."

"But why?She dances so beautifully.And I think the prince likes her ."

"You mean,the crown prince?"Fabunmi had doubts in her mind and she didn't want to have false hope of her daughter becoming royalty.

"Yes,of course."

"How can you tell?"

"He is my son.Is he not?"

"That is true my queen."The Queen's words didn't do much to convince her.Being someone's mother doesn't mean you always know what they want.Just look at her,she didn't know what her daughter was doing half the time.She didn't want to be embarrassed by the prince's refusal.

"So,do you agree?"

Did she have a choice?She had to do what's best for her daughter."Yes,my queen.Who am I to deny you of anything?"

"Oh,you flatter me."She said and walked away.

Fabunmi had learnt this trick years ago; flatter them ,fuel their egos and they'll give you what you want without realizing they were only being used.

...

Apekeola couldn't bask in her Victory as she was soon informed she would be married to the prince.Just as she was about to tell this to her friend she heard a beautiful voice behind her."Excuse me?"He was the most beautiful man she had ever laid her eyes on and the more she talked to him the more she liked him .But there was only one problem,he was a foreigner and she was now bethrothed to the crown prince.