IN LOVE WITH THE COLD-HEARTED PRINCE

The sound from the daily ritual of the cocks woke me up from my deep slumber, turning reluctantly on my small mat I notice the uneven steps from passerbys who seem to be going about with their business. With a sigh, I tried to have a little more sleep but hastily stood up at the remembrance of my early morning fetching of water. With an unsteady movement, I walked towards the backyard as I picked up the jerrycan and a piece of wrapper and left the compound."Adaure" I shouted as I stood under an udara tree near my friend's house. She hastily rushed towards me with her jerrycan and a piece of wrapper as though she has been waiting for me."Otutu oma" she greeted with a deep smile as we head towards the public tap which was built by the king of the village. Being the first village to ever have the privilege of owning a tap, Umuire has turned out to be the most popular and developed kingdom as people from far and near kingdoms always come to the village to fetch water. The tap water is

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

MMA'S POV,He has the aura of great exposure, he is the pure definition of royalty, I couldn't stop myself from admiring him, I didn't fail to notice the seductive gaze of the maidens at him but on a second note, I knew he is someone with high ego judging from his attitude earlier on."I always know our prince is good-looking but no one told us he is this handsome" one of my roommate said from her corner."Common what do you expect from someone who has been in the white man's land half of his life, he is not like any of us here, he is very much exposed than us" my other roommate said."My only prayer right now is to be among his personal maids, getting the previledge to touch any of his belongings will be more than a blessing to me" the initiator of the conversation said as I almost scoffed."Keep dreaming, his presence alone frightens me talk more of being one of his personal maids, I don't pray to be in such position" the other maid said as I slowly left the room. ***********

Osondu POV, To say I was surprised on the prince attitude was an understatement."I need an advice from you" the prince said as I looked up at him."An advice?" I asked unsure of what I heard."Yes an advice, you've been in this kingdom more than me so I know you must know the problems of this kingdom" he said as I nodded."So tell me, what do you think this kingdom needs most?" He asked as I was confused on what to say to him."Uhm my prince, I don't think I'm in a position to give you an advice" I almost stammered."Are you saying that I made a mistake in seeking for your opinion?" He asked as my heartbeat increased."No my prince,I think what the kingdom needs more is a good source of education, children trek to kingdoms far from us just to attend school" I voiced out while praying he doesn't flare up.I was surprised when he placed his left hand around my shoulder, I shuddered why wondering the reason for

MMA'S POV,Visiting my mother during weekends is what I always look forward to every week, I hastened up my feet when I sighted the small hut I and my mother lives in."Mama I'm back" I shouted once I entered the empty room we use as our sitting room. I stopped and searched the room with my eyes when I heard no sound."Mama" I increased my voice but there was no response. "Did she went somewhere without locking the doors?" I asked myself as I kept the cellophane bag containing foods I was holding on the ground and went outside. I sat down on a log of wood we usually use to relax outside as I wondered where my mother might have gone to.I was taken at the sound of strange noise coming from the bathroom at the extreme of our compound which I ignored. The sound came again and I was curious to know the cause of the noise. I took a long stick near me as I gently walked towards the bathroom ready to strike any intruder. My eyes widen at the sight of my mother in the bathroom struggling wi