The cook frowned.
“Ajimka? What for?”
“They didn’t say.”
The cook paused. Then she walked out to meet them.
Outside, the cook looked at the men.
“Why are you looking for Ajimka?” she asked.
One of the men replied,
“Our boss wants to see her.”
The cook narrowed her eyes.
“Who is your boss?” she asked. “Did she do something wrong?”
The man shook his head.
“No. She actually helped him. She did him a favor. He wants to repay her.”
The cook went quiet for a moment. Then she spoke slowly.
“I know where she stays.”
She gave them Ajimka’s address.
The men nodded.
“Thank you.”
They turned and walked back to the vehicle. Moments later, the car drove away.
The next morning, around 11:00 a.m., the same luxurious SUV stopped in front of Ajimka’s compound. The same two men stepped out again. They walked into the compound.
A neighbor saw them.
“Who are you looking for?” the neighbor asked.
“We are looking for Ajimka.”
“She went out this morning,” the neighbor said.
Just then, Ajimka walked into the compound. She was holding a small bag.
The neighbor pointed.
“That is her.”
The men walked closer.
“Good morning,” one of them said.
Ajimka stopped.
“Good morning.”
“Our boss wants to see you,” he said.
Ajimka frowned slightly.
“Who is your boss?” she asked.
The men looked at each other. Then one of them brought out an envelope and handed it over to Ajimka.
Ajimka opened the envelope and read.
It was an invitation to a palace.
She looked at their vehicle and noticed “HR” on the license plate. Her heart skipped slightly.
“I hope I’m not in trouble,” she said.
“No,” they replied.
Then they showed her their ID cards, explaining that they were private security officers.
After hearing that, Ajimka agreed to go with them. Then she went inside and changed into another set of clothes.
Moments later, she stepped out, ready to go with them.
Her neighbor looked at her and said,
“Don’t hesitate to call or notify me if you notice any problem.”
She nodded with a small smile.
“I will,” she replied before stepping into the SUV.
The car pulled away.
The drive to their destination was long. They had been on the road for over four hours. Ajimka kept looking out the window, her mind racing as she wondered what all of this was about.
Finally, the SUV slowed down in front of a large, towering gate. Four well-equipped security guards stood watch. One of them stepped forward and opened the gate.
The SUV drove inside.
Ajimka looked out the window. Her eyes widened.
Big buildings. Gardens.
It looked like a palace.
The SUV stopped. The men stepped out. One of them opened the door for Ajimka, and she stepped out of the car.
She looked around.
“The person you want to see is inside.”
They led her in.
They walked into a large, well-furnished throne room.
Then suddenly, Ajimka stopped.
Her eyes widened.
She saw someone seated on a throne.
She looked again.
Her heart slowed.
It was Ogbon.
But not the weak man she knew. It was not the poor-looking elderly man she usually saw by the roadside.
He looked different. Clean. Strong. Royal.
He stood up slowly with a soft smile on his face and said,
“My daughter, welcome.”
Ajimka stepped back slightly. Her voice came out slowly.
“What is going on here?”
Ogbon gestured toward a couch.
“Please sit down. Let me explain everything to you.”
Ajimka sat down calmly. Her heart was heavy. Her mind was full. She looked at him carefully, not sure what she was about to hear.
Mr. Ogbon sat down across from her. He looked at her for a few seconds and said,
“I did not mean to deceive you, but I had to pretend to be a poor man for a reason.”
Ajimka kept looking at him. She did not understand what he was trying to say.
Ogbon continued,
“I am getting old. One day, I will leave the throne.”
He paused.
“My only son, the heir to this throne, just completed his studies abroad. He will soon return to this community.”
Ajimka listened carefully.
Ogbon’s voice became more serious.
“But there is a problem. My son has never brought a good woman to me. All the women I saw around him were only after the throne, the wealth, and the influence. I do not believe any of them would make a good queen for my son and for the good people of this community when he finally becomes king.”
He shook his head slowly.
“So I decided to do something. I disguised myself as a poor man. I went to nearby towns to see how people would treat me. I wanted to find a kind woman, a good woman, a woman who looks beyond material possessions, a woman who can make sacrifices without expecting anything in return, because true leadership involves sacrifice.”
He looked straight at Ajimka.
“But I found no one until I met you.”
Ajimka stayed silent.
Ogbon continued,
“You helped me when you believed I had nothing. You gave me food. You spent the money you were saving to fix your leaking roof to save a sick man whom you knew and believed could not pay you back. You did not know who I was, but you still helped me.”
He paused again.
“I knew then. I had found the person I was looking for.”
Then Ajimka spoke in a quiet voice.
“So all this time, you were not a poor man.”
Ogbon shook his head.
“No. I am the king of this land.”
Ajimka leaned back slightly.
“I’m just a simple lady who grew up without parents. I never had the opportunity to attend any tertiary institution, and I do not look anything like royalty. Did you ever consider the possibility that your son and I may not be compatible? I suppose your son doesn’t even know about this arrangement. He might not like me, and I might not like him either.”
Ogbon smiled a little.
“No,” he said. “Even if you do not accept my son, I will leave the rest for God to handle. But I will still make sure you are taken care of.”
Ogbon spoke softly. He looked at her for a moment, then added,
“My findings made me understand that your parents passed away when you were much younger. If you and my son don’t get along, I would like to adopt you, if you permit me.”
Ajimka stayed quiet as King Ogbon continued,
“You will live in this palace and be the daughter I never had. You will never have to toil again.”
Then Ajimka slid down from the couch to kneel and thank the king.
“Thank you, my king.”
King Ogbon quickly held her.
“Stand up,” he said. “Your good heart and sacrifice have earned you this.”
Ajimka stood up slowly. Her eyes were wet with tears.
“Thank you. Thank you so much, my king,” she said again.
King Ogbon smiled.
“Just keep being good,” he said. “That is all I ask.”
Then he looked around the throne room for a moment, as if thinking.
“I want you to settle here from now on.”
Ajimka nodded as she smiled through her tears.
King Ogbon clapped his hands. Almost immediately, maids entered the throne room and bowed.
“Take her to one of the rooms and help her freshen up,” he said.
They bowed again.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As she followed the maids out, she looked back one more time. King Ogbon was still watching her with a calm smile.
But deep inside Ajimka’s heart, one question remained.
What kind of life had just opened for her? And what would happen when the king’s son finally returned?
Days passed slowly in the palace. Ajimka was still adjusting to her new life and her royal attire. The king had instructed some maids and a palace guard to accompany her to the market to buy the necessary items she needed to adapt to a royal lifestyle.
Everything had felt strange at first. The big rooms, the maids, the guards. But little by little, she began to get used to it.
One morning, she was called by King Ogbon. When she entered the throne room, he looked at her calmly.
“Ajimka,” he said.
She stepped forward.
“Good morning, Your Highness,” she greeted, bowing slightly.
Then King Ogbon spoke.
“My son will return to the palace tomorrow.”
Ajimka blinked.
“The prince?” she asked softly.
King Ogbon nodded.
“Yes.”
Ajimka bowed slightly.
“Okay, my king.”
But inside her heart, she felt nervous.
The next morning, the palace was full. Drums were playing. The king had organized a royal welcome party for his son. Dancers were performing. People were singing. Everyone was waiting under the canopy in the king’s compound.
Then a black car entered.
The door opened.
A young man stepped out. Tall, calm, well-dressed.
The crowd bowed. The drums got louder.
The prince walked forward. He reached his father and bowed.
“Welcome back, my son,” King Ogbon said with a smile.
“Thank you, Father,” the prince replied.
Then King Ogbon turned to Ajimka, who was seated beside him.
“This is Ajimka,” he said. “And this is my son, Prince Ikenna.”
Ajimka stood up and bowed slightly in greeting.
“Good morning, Prince Ikenna.”
The prince looked at her.
“Good morning,” he replied.
When the welcome party was over, they all walked into the palace together.
Inside the throne room, they sat down.
King Ogbon looked at Prince Ikenna.
“How was your journey?” he asked.
“It was fine,” Ikenna replied.
“I hope you were not stressed.”
“No, Father.”
King Ogbon was trying to catch up with his son, whom he had not seen in four years.
That night during dinner, King Ogbon cleared his throat and looked at Ikenna.
“My son, there is something I need to tell you,” he said.
Prince Ikenna looked at him as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.
King Ogbon continued,
“The lady you met earlier, she is not like the others. I tested her.”
Ikenna frowned slightly.
“Tested her?”
King Ogbon nodded.
“Yes.”
He explained everything. How Ajimka helped him when he disguised himself as a poor man. How she fed him. How she continuously sacrificed her lunch for him. How she even helped him when he was sick.
Ikenna listened quietly.
“That is why I brought her here. I want you to get to know her. I am not forcing her on you. Neither am I forcing you on her. Your position as the next king after my reign is a huge responsibility. You need a good woman by your side to help you carry out this responsibility.”
King Ogbon’s expression softened as memories of his late wife surfaced in his mind.
“Your mother, the late queen,” he continued, “was a good and intelligent woman. She stood by me when I ascended the throne as a young king.”
He paused for a moment, his voice heavy with emotion.
“Everything I have achieved today was possible because I had a woman like your mother by my side.”
He looked at Ikenna with calm seriousness.
“That is why I took it upon myself to find you a woman who carries the qualities of a true queen. Someone who can stand with you, support you, and build with you just as your mother did for me.”
Ikenna looked down for a moment. Then he spoke.
“Father, you really did all this?”
King Ogbon nodded.
“Yes.”
There was silence.
Then Ikenna sighed.
“All right. I will get to know her.”
King Ogbon smiled slightly.
“That is all I ask.”
One evening, Ajimka was sitting in the garden area when Prince Ikenna walked up to her. She greeted him.
