DETHRONED
Dethroned – Episode 9
When our lips were almost about touching each other,
I abruptly pulled my lips away
I wanted the kรญss yet I couldn’t proceed further. It would have been my first kรญss but I will rather not do something that will incur the wrath of the gods.
Thankfully a maiden came at that exact time to inform me that my presence was required by kinsmen at the throne room.
The throne room is the place I had handpicked in my compound for meetings and consultations from villagers who usually troop in to see me with their various problems seeking for profound solutions.
To Eze’s displeasure, I had used the kinsmen’s request to see me as an excuse to leave him sitting there.
I later met with the kinsmen who came to discuss a land dispute. I proffered a solution and after the meeting I went to bed exhausted.
A week passed yet ever since that day we nearly kรญssed, I couldn’t stop dreaming and thinking of Eze.
We also gradually became close and even made it a norm to go on evening strolls almost every day.
Today’s evening stroll was memorable as always.
I had fun touring round the village, visiting some beautiful places I never knew of its existence and laughing a lot at Eze’s occasional funny jokes.
I felt more like a child without a care in the world especially with Eze’s intentional efforts to impress me.
Afterwards Eze offered to walk me to my compound as were his usual routine.
On the way we begun conversing on random things until he directly threw in a question I have been trying to avoid for a while now
” Rana I know you’ve been trying to avoid this but I am still curious to know your answer….
…it is about my offer of friendship that we had spoken about the other day… have you thought about it and what is your reply…?”
I heaved heavily knowing fully well that there is no way to avoid this anymore. But either ways, the truth still needs to be told no matter how hard it will sound to the ears.
I stopped walking and stood at a spot close to my compound. Eze stopped walking too and stood facing me
” Thank you so much Eze but I do not think that our friendship is necessary. I also think that it is about time we cut off this closeness we have developed”
” What are you even saying Rana..? why would you want us to cut off a closeness we had only begun nurturing..?” Eze quizzed sadly looking at me
” Eze you know how our people can be…? and honestly I wouldn’t want to raise unnecessary rumors considering the fact that you are a male and I am a female, a Priestess for that matter!” I explained my concern
” Leave people out of this Rana.. think of yourself first.. for the gods sake you are going to be lonely hence you need company… Please Rana don’t be this way by turning down my harmless offer of friendship please” Eze pleaded in an attempt to try convincing me otherwise
I shook my head and moved further away in other to keep distance and severe any sort of closeness between us.
Inasmuch as I may not fully understand the feelings developing in my heart towards Eze. I am willing to fฤซght it with everything within me.
” Well I will be fine, you don’t have to worry about me Eze… anyways it is almost nightfall. I think you should be on your way already” as I said this I kept trying to avoid eye contact with Eze
” Are you pushing me away from you..?” Eze asked moving closer and soon covered the little distance I kept between us.
We are now standing facing each other
” No Eze.. I am just being considerate of the fact that it is getting late and your presence may be needed at home”
” Oh common Rana! I am a grown man and besides I have younger siblings at home… Aside all that, you are so important to me Rana that I don’t mind staying here with you all day” Eze answered trying to touch my arm but I was quick to move away from his reach
” Go home Eze.. I really don’t need you around me!.. thank you for the stroll and for keeping me company for this long.. I do appreciate but please get going now!” I said with a firm voice and an emotionless facade.
” Rana why are you trying to push me away..? why does it feels like you are trying to hide the feelings we are clearly developing for each other…?” Eze queried shocking me with his ability to see through my steely facade
” Eze I am not pushing you away neither am I hiding anything because there is no feelings in the first place.. besides I am a Priestess, have you forgotten that..?” I asked still maintaining a firm demeanor
” Common Rana…” Eze begun talking but I cut his words off midway
” Priestess Rana! that is my new title so please learn to address me as such!” I blurted out to show how serious I am
” Oh! now you want me to address you as Priestess Rana?… I thought you said before that you love how I call your name without attaching the title to it..?” Eze asked staring directly at me with so much emotions in his eyes
” Well I made a mistake Eze… The statement I made that day was as a result of the euphoria of the moment so forget all what I said…” I replied also staring directly at him whilst trying all I could to mask my true inner emotions.
I paused to observe Eze’s facial reaction to be sure that what I said earlier had begun sinking in.
When I was satisfied with the look of perplexity I saw on his face, I continued undauntedly
“…Eze the fact still remains that I am a Priestess so it is only appropriate that you address me as Priestess Rana from today onwards!”
After I was done talking,
I turned to walk out on Eze but he held my left hand ultimately halting any further movement from me.
” No Rana!.. I have fallen so deep in love with you and can not imagine a life without you in it…
“..Rana no matter what it takes to have you by my side I will do it… and whether you are a Priestess or not I do not care!… all I do know is that I Eze Dede will do all I can to ensure that you will be mine because I love you so much to let you slip away from my hands”
I was taken aback by what I just heard from Eze
” You.. you love.. love.. me Rana who is a Priestess..?” I asked to be sure I heard him correctly
Eze nodded vigorously still holding firmly onto my left hand.
And slowly he begun confessing all what he kept hidden in his heart
” Yes Rana.. I love you so much and it started from the very first day I had set my eyes on you back then at the bush… after that fateful day I was hoping to develop something meaningful with you and eventually ask for your hand in marriage… that is the reason I broke down in tears after the story of you being the chosen Priestess came into the picture and disrupted my beautiful plans for us.”
(Do NOT take credit or Plagiarize AMAH’S HEART stories)
