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"Why are women so many out here?"

A smile appeared on Prince Toro's face upon seeing Rekiya's curious expression. He expected that since Rekiya was just coming out of the palace for the first time. "Min is fifteen," he responded. Of course, he didn't expect her to understand immediately.

"Min?" Rekiya repeated, her eyes rolling, trying to connect all the dots to know who her brother was referring to. Her eyes widened in confusuon as they settled on Prince Toro. "Crown Prince? Why is he the one causing commotion?"

"Well, it's another time of the year when these two, old women come to the market to sell hairpins they claim every future King gets attracted to, and most Queens in the past was said to have worn before they were selected. More like, if you wear this hairpin, Min will fall to your feet, and say welcome my Queen."

Rekiya's lips curved into a wide smile, then it broadened into a huge laughter by the time her eyes followed the long queue that seemed not to have an end. "They really believed this? Where will the rest of them go to?"

"Hmm." Prince Toro chuckled, surprised by Rekiya's question. He found it really funny. He took a quick look at the long and coordinated queue. He had run out of patience to see where it ended. "They've been coming to buy since Min was thirteen."

"Wow! Min is mean brother. I think he should be called the lord of commotion."

Prince Toro finally laughed. Rekiya wasn't just beautiful, but managed to have made him laugh twice already. The truth is, he never really cared about anyone in the palace apart from his Mother and brother. He never really cared about how the young women of Akugba flocked around and only dreamt of becoming the Queen or marrying one of Princes. If he wasn't at the camp with the other soilders, he would be at the training field. But when his mother came to meet him this time and told him to get closer to Rekiya, he didn't like the idea after what his mother had told him about Rekiya's secret. He had only seen her as a commoner, even when other called her princess. He doesn't see her as his sister like his mother had warned him several times, so he avoided meeting with her, not to talk of her calling her brother.

He scoffed several times, and wondered how a commoner wore pride like her lengthen gown. Now he had experienced otherwise, but for years, that was what he was told and he chose to believe. Whatever his mother must have found suspicious, he told himself everyone who found a jewel like Rekiya will protect her just like Ruki had done to her. She was pure, beautiful, intelligent, with a sense of humor.

Rekiya smiled at something else that caught her attention as she moved away from the ladies who fought for their spots on the queue to another set of young ladies like her. Some were obviously older than her, but danced gracefully, their waists moved at the sound coming from the drums that had hefty men sitting before them, drumming the hell out of them. Rekiya thought they must be making lots of money for satisfying many eyes. "Brother, let's give them some money."

Prince Toro's expression mocked Rekiya. "They are learning to dance Rekiya. They are learning for Min."

"Just to Marry the Crown Prince?" Rekiya's tone was flat. Anyone could tell she had suddenly become bored. Everything...Min, Min…. "So, all these for Min?"

"Yes. Once he's sixteen, he will choose as many concubines if he wants. Then he will choose a wife. Only if he wants. He can always choose to wait till he's eighteen again."

"Wow!" Rekiya quickened her steps. The Crown Prince came to her mind and she thought of how he must have drank the medicine again. How he must be growing weaker and weaker. The decision she suddenly made shock her. She was going to help him regardless what Mother told her. She would have to be careful. Though he was nothing but mean, arrogant, picky and always angry towards her, she would help him. She would find a way. He was the Crown Prince. Lives were out here totally waiting to be at his feet. He had a bright future.

As they continued walking, Rekiya saw how hard these market women were trying to sell to people under the sun. The morning sun had come out in its glory, beating the market women who had no shade on their heads mercilessly. She didn't understand why some were under a very beautiful building, sitting comfortably with their skin as fresh as a new born, while some had sweat rolling down their rough skin to the neck of their clothes.

Most of the women weaved their hair unlike the women in the palace. The cornrow was so beautiful, but the ones who added beads on their head look dignified. Their clothes had shinning lace around them. They also had silver stones. Their shoes decorated with flowers. Their earrings were made of gold, including the necklaces that sat on their round necks. They drove wagons to the market, the horse rider coming to a halt as they made their way down with the help of servants surrounding them. Rekiya didn't guess any second. They were daughters of the great lords of Akugba Kingdom. They were daughters of great men of the Kingdom. Everyone treating them specially and bowing to their feets just to have them patronize them. They were dressed to perfection. Those who didn't weave their hair wrapped their hair with hairpins worth prices that could feed many families.

Rekiya noticed something. Those who didn't weave or wrap their hair. They let it fall, and none of it was beyond the shoulder level, compare to hers that had gotten to her waist level.

Another commotion!

Rekiya's gaze rested on Prince Toro who was next to her for explanation. She knew it would only end as…for Min…but still, she wanted to know why these ladies occupied the front of the cloth seller.

"This is where to get the perfect dress and make-up that will attract you to the Crown Prince. The Queen was known to patronize them before she married father."

Rekiya paused, thinking loudly what she was about to say to her brother. She raised her brow with a smile playing on her lips. "Could that be true? It worked right?"

Prince Toro rolled his eyes. "Lies. They were lovers."

Rekiya squeezed her mouth not to laugh, rolling her eyes for the uptenth time but eventually chuckled. "Wow!" Then she quickened her steps again. She was surprised to see the level these ladies and their mothers were going to just to be favoured in the palace. Rekiya loved everywhere she had seen. Outside the palace was more beautiful, more busy, lovely, and truly she agreed Akugba Kingdom as they say was indeed the wealthiest with all the lovely places and buildings she had seen. Of courses, she hadn't been to other villages under Akugba Kingdom. She had only seen her city where the King and the Queen lived. To her, everyone seemed to be doing fine. Suddenly, a sound penetrated too quickly into her ears calling for her attention. It wasn't just a sound. Someone's cry had reached her.

"Did you hear that?" Rekiya stopped on her track. She wondered why someone was crying so loudly. "That person must be in pain." Her eyes totally became warm, concern boring out of them. She followed the sound, and behind her was Prince Toro who had eventually regretted his decision even if he had enjoyed it from the start.

Prince Toro studied Rekiya all through. His mother's sudden interest made him get closer to Rekiya to know who she was. Excitement danced in her eyes anytime she was happy or fascinated about something. She was very transparent for Prince Toro to read, and he slowly found her adorable. He tried to notice what his Mum was suspicious about and saw nothing but a pure and beautiful Lady. Even while she was dressed in men's clothes, she was irresistible. Ladies eyes were on her thinking she was just another fine young man. Smiles played on his lips mocking all the young girls as he guarded Rekiya around.

Rekiya stood shock. She watched the first person that caught her attention. Her eyes widened and her heart clutched together in pain. It was sudden. She had never expected to see what she was standing before. She could see all his ribs. The tiny lines were so visible, that no flesh was left to cover it up. His stomach had terribly sucked in, making it a bit hard for Rekiya to know the gender if not because he had no hair as many men in Akugba either keep a low cut or short hair. He was so small. Being skinny wasn't even the right word to describe the small boy. His head was bigger than his body. Rekiya moved closer to him and he stopped crying. Her heart immediately went out for him. Rekiya could tell, a good food, a good cloth, and a place to rest would be his dream and the rest that suddenly became interested in Rekiya.

Rekiya wondered. Why are there people living like this?

Rekiya then saw a young girl hurried to where they were. She came forward to the boy and handed him the small bread she brought with her. Rekiya's attention was more on the poor boy and the rest. Tears found their way down to Rekiya's cheeks as she watched how the boy attacked the bread while another child attacked the crumbles that made it to the ground full of sand. Was this really the Kingdom pronounced the wealthiest?

Prince Toro's expression was void. He didn't want Rekiya to stress herself over these people but she snatched away his money and ran before he could say anything. He knew these were children who ran away because they didn't want to be slaves, and some families who left their villages to live in the city and live a better life. People like them must have been robbed and have all their properties stollen.

Rekiya came back with her hands full. Her eyes teary as she said. "See, I have come back with food." She lifted the bags in her hands. Then she dropped them. When she realised they weren't coming forward. She opened the bag and brought out a bundle of banana. She peeled one banana and began to eat. Cut one and walked towards the girl who had brought food for her younger brother. Rekiya froze. Whatever she saw had frozen something inside of her. Heat crept up to her face and it was as if her memory was shutting down as she stared back at the young girl before her. "Take," Rekiya had managed to say. "Give your family. I will come back again. I'm Rekiya. Re-ki-ya. I live in the palace." She didn't say she was a princess. Instead she said. "I work in the palace. I will come back. What is your name, and how old are you?"

The girl stared at Rekiya for what seemed like forever. Even if Rekiya had managed to shove it aside, the young girl couldn't. Her hair was curly like that of Rekiya. But not as long as Rekiya. She was fair, but not as Rekiya. She was pretty, but clearly not as Rekiya. Rekiya was seeing herself. Though, her version was beautiful with grey eyes, with her bossom that could barely stay under the men clothes she wore. Her version had matured, and was taller.

"Rekiya!"

Two heads swung in the direction where the yell came from. But Rekiya kept back her eyes very quickly listening to Prince Toro. She couldn't admit to that name. If anyone had recognised her, she wouldn't agree to that name. Watching with wide eyes, Rekiya watched the young girl before her. The young girl had just answered to her name. She stopped and stared back at Rekiya. "Mother has called me. I should go."

By the time Rekiya turned, it was too late. Wherever the Mother turned to, she couldn't figure it out, but watched as the young girl who didn't just look like her, but also bearing her name walked away from her.

A/N

Guys, even me, I don't think I know what is going on😂 where is the look alike coming from????
She bears Rekiya again?
What is Barbra and Toro planning?
We haven't seen Toro's brother🤔
Anyways..... coming up next

Crown Prince and Rekiya ❤️

You wanna guess how Rekiya will save the Crown Prince 😁

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