behind her, her face burning with shame. —This has gone far enough. A servant and her child have turned the palace into a market square. Nneka stood quickly. —Your Majesty, forgive us. —Forgive you? Since when have you been using your child to get close to my son? Nneka looked up as if struck. —I have never done that. —A woman with no husband, no name, no place sees a kind prince and teaches her daughter to call him Papa. Is that not your plan? Ifeoma jumped down from the chair. —Don’t talk to my mama like that. She is not a liar. The queen stepped forward. —This child needs discipline. Chinedu moved between them. —Nobody touches her. —You challenge your mother for a maid? —I challenge cruelty, no matter who wears the crown. The room froze. Then footsteps pounded in the corridor. Commander Musa entered, breathing hard. —Your Highness, we found something under the main stage. A hidden device inside a box of sound equipment. It was timed for your speech. Nneka covered her mouth. Ifeoma shut her eyes. Queen Amara staggered back. Musa continued. —Two men tried to run from the rear entrance. We arrested 1. The other escaped. There was also a red hibiscus flower placed near the back stairs. Chinedu turned slowly toward Ifeoma. The little girl whispered, —I saw it. For a moment, no crown, no title, no wealth mattered. The truth had come from the smallest mouth in the palace. Chinedu knelt and held Ifeoma’s hands. —You saved my life. Then Musa lowered his voice. —Your Highness, Minister Dike left the palace minutes after you canceled the journey. His car has vanished. Chinedu stood, his jaw tight. —Lock every gate. Search his office. Find him. And from this moment, Nneka and Ifeoma are under my personal protection. Queen Amara stared at him. —Do you know what people will say if you keep a servant near your chambers? Chinedu looked at his mother without blinking. —For once, I care more about what the kingdom nearly lost.
Part 3By sunset, the whole of Aruoma was burning with rumors. Market women in
“Daddy, Don’t Go!” The Maid’s Daughter Stops the Prince and Reveals a Terrible Plot
