You are reading The Birth of Rekiya

How she saved Tia.

Dressed in a white lace gown, Rekiya beamed at her mother who sat far away from her. It was rare to have her dressed in a lace gown woven with a gold thread. The length of her gown was the type that needed to be held by someone to avoid falling to the ground. Rekiya had never worn a dress as beautiful as that before. Her smile was lively, brighter, and extremely cute that it was capable of stealing many hearts around her.

She was looking simply heaven and breathtaking in her dress. 

On her neck were round crystal beads made only for the wealthy families of Akugba. An average family of Akugba would never be able to afford it without saving for days. Rekiya wanted to know what was happening, especially a day like this where her mother allowed her hair down in the presence of a stranger.

The plenty times Rekiya moved her head was because of the mirror beside her mother. The mirror was the special one that never left her mother's room. The one that made you look even more beautiful, and would get your eyes shine so brightly. Rekiya sparkled, astonished by her own elegance. Many times, Rekiya's hands were glued on her head, that the crystal head band holding her hair must have recognised what the princess' hands looked like. 

Rekiya repositioned herself towards the mirror to steal quick glances at herself. A chuckle escaped her lips everytime Ruki gestured with her hands repeatedly, telling her to concentrate on the man whose hands moved skillfully on a large paper.

He was the man capable of making Rekiya looked real on a paper.

Ruki didn't mind the outrageous amount she had to pay.

With Rekiya's head and body moving about, Ruki was rest assured she had appointed someone who will make her sister, Reba fall in love with her daughter's portrait. She was fulfilling her sister's wish to see what Rekiya looked like.

Ruki's smile widened, her daughter's smile extremely contagious that she couldn't help the big smile on her face. She couldn't believe her eyes. The little girl she brought to the palace had become a Lady. The little girl whose smile stole her heart the moment she saw her had grown into a beautiful woman. Her bossom had grown really huge. Her smile had become more beautiful. Her face looking more matured.

How time flies. Her baby had become a Lady.

The smile on Rekiya's face was suddenly gone. Had she remembered something? She stood on her feet. She had remembered someone whom she shouldn't have forgotten. The cute smile on her face was replaced with a frown, and worry settled on her face. Everyone looked up at her with concern on their faces.

Startled by her sudden attitude, Ruki was already on her feet. "What is the matter?"

"Mother, Tia. I have forgotten Tia."

The young girl who had helped her.

The young girl who smiled all through her pain.

The young girl who didn't know Rekiya was a princess, but still treated her nicely.

She wanted to appreciate her.

"Tia! Who is Tia?" Ruki asked. "Another friend in the palace?" 

"Mother, she's one of the lowest ranking maids in the palace. She...she,,," Rekiya stammered, realization setting in. She was about spilling her own secret. She was smart enough to know her mother must not find out she helped the Crown Prince. She changed whatever she planned to say to her Mother. "You see Mother, she saved me from the Crown Prince. I have forgotten about her and that is unfair Mother. I should thank her for her kindness."

Anyone could tell Ruki became relaxed. If the Crown Prince had actually offended Rekiya, she would have known because if words could pull things out, Rekiya would have probably lost her tongue by now. Infact, her face would have remained as if she went to war. Unfortunately, a smile from Ruki was always enough to dissolve her anger and worries. And when Ruki asked her why she slept on the Crown Prince's bed, she complained she was too tired and wanted to sleep.

When Ruki never mentioned she heard anything, Rekiya understood her Mother never found out what happened to her.

Rekiya still had the worried look on her face. "Mother, I really need to thank Tia. I want to take from my clothes and jewellery." She remembered how tattered Tia looked when they met. "Mother, Tia is a wonderful person. Or can I get some money for her?" Rekiya persisted, moving towards the door. She also remembered Tia saying she came to the palace to make some money to repay her father's debt.

"I have new jewellery I bought for you. She would like them more since no one had worn it yet. I will also give her some money for your sake."

"Mother!" Her voice came out too loud, but the smile that settled on her face was much more evident in her eyes. Rekiya's eyes turned brightly, turning in Ruki's direction, she said sweetly. "Mother, you are the best." A smile popped on her face and she relaxed. As if she teleported from the door she stood close to few seconds ago, Rekiya was back to her seat. This time, her smile was ten times beautiful, her cheeks sitting up with excitement dancing around it. The lines around her eyes came together, and everyone in the room could tell her eyes came alive and looked happier.

Beautiful would be an understatement. Rekiya was gorgeous on the paper. The image Rekiya was staring at seem to be more beautiful that she couldn't believe her own eyes. "Mother, thank you," she said. "I am so beautiful."

Ruki's mouth curved into a small smile. She touched Rekiya's face. Looking at Rekiya was more like she was looking at her sister, Reba. Though Rekiya had another kind of beauty her sister never had. "You are beautiful Rekiya, and every time you stare at yourself on this paper, always remember this girl, remember her smile, her kind heart, also remember Mother's love for you, because when you get older, you might have forgotten what this young girl looks like, also mother's love for you, including your dreams the moment life becomes challenging. We forget so easily Rekiya."

"Thank you Mother. I will always remember everything you taught me." Rekiya looked up at her mother. "I promise to always remember this happy young girl. And her dream is to make everyone happy like how Mother makes me happy. But Mother, why do we have two? One is okay. The second one should be you, Rekima, and me together."

Ruki smiled. "He wil come back and draw us together. Have you forgotten our Tia again?"

Rekiya chuckled, and got up. She rolled the paper in her hands and tied it with a black rope. "I will make sure to tell Tia about you Mother. You haven't met her, but you love her already. I'm jealous Mother."

Ruki's grin was heart warming. She was eager to see this Tia who had been on Rekiya's mind. As Rekiya's Mother, Rekiya must have loved this Tia so much because Rekiya doesn't give out her things that easily. Would she say she was jealous too? No. She was happy instead. Her daughter was growing to love people, but she hope they were as kind as she was.

..........

Nothing gives a fearsome feeling to Rekiya than the sound of the whip. Rekiya could recognise the sound of the long, deadly, black whip anywhere. This whip had done more harm than good. It had brought tears to many maidservants' faces. It was the best tool for punishment in the palace.

Someone was severely being beaten because the sound that was coming from the whip never stopped.

Whosoever that was, about twenty lashes would have damaged the person's body. Ruki pushed the wooden door before her, stepping inside. The place belonged to the lowest ranking maids in the palace. She was the Lady in charge of them, but she hardly visited. It wasn't as beautiful as other maids' places in the palace. They were the set of maids who were not favoured or known by any important men outside and inside the palace. So they started from scratch.  

Ruki eyes roamed everywhere. She wouldn't have taken the trip she took if not because of Rekiya. But what she saw was much of a surprise to her. Her heart went out to the young lady who doesn't seem to have any strength left in her to survive the hell she was going through. 

All activities were put to a stop. All noises gone at the presence of Ruki. Immediately, all knees went to the ground acknowledging Ruki and Rekiya.

Kneeling before the woman whose hair was combed to the back was Tia. She looked like she was about to pass out. The level of which her eyes were red, and worn out made her look like a zombie. With her rough hair, torn, and wet clothes,  showing the places the whip had hit her continuously like a horse, ripping part of her clothes away.

Her back, her arms, legs, cheeks, and neck were red with visible marks. They bore the scars of the black whip. Stain of blood all over her entire body.

Rekiya gasped.

"Tia!' Rekiya yelled, then immediately, her feet sprinted towards her dear Tia. Her knees graced the harsh ground that instantly bruised her skin. The scratch was painful, but she never mind, looking at Tia who could collapse in short time.

As if she had never seen any maid being flogged, Rekiya's eyes were quicky flooded with tears. She couldn't believe what she had witnessed. Tia being flogged couldn't have been the reason her eyes became wet. She had seen a lot, but definitely, it could be because Tia now held a place in her heart, or because she had never seen anyone being flogged mercilessly to the point that it seemed difficult to breathe. 

The way her heart tightened was painful. It hurt deep down that the tears she was holding back cascaded down her cheeks like a heavy down pour. 

What could Tia have done to deserve this pain? 

Rekiya felt for the poor girl.

"Your Highness," Tia still managed to greet Rekiya.  "I heard...you were...sick. How--"

Rekiya's tears flooded her face, embracing Tia carefully. The light hug was everything and made Tia relax, using Rekiya for support. She found out Rekiya's identity and couldn't believe she had spent her precious time with a Princess who was very humbled and treated her nicely.

Rekiya wondered, had she brought this upon this poor girl? Could this be because she helped her? Tia couldn't hug Rekiya back. She said slowly with the strength left in her. "My Lady, I'm too weak to hug you back."

The statement broke Rekiya to more tears. Tears rolled down her face slowly, wishing she could do anything to take Tia's pain away.

The culprit went unto her knees when she saw Ruki picked up the whip she had suddenly dropped, out of fear upon seeing both Mother and daughter walked in. She was one of the maids who had spent many years in the palace just like Yasmine. She was the head of the maids there, assigning works to everyone excluding herself. She didn't know what Ruki was about doing so she spoke up quickly. "My Lady, she didn't do her--"

The first lash that landed on her back made her yell louder, pleading with her innocent eyes. "My Lady! She didn't--"

There came another one.

Then another one that hit her on the cheek.

Another one hit her by the neck too quickly.

Intentionally, Ruki hit her leg more often. Ruki's eyes were frosty, that nothing would make her forgive the old maid for her wicked act.

"My Lady!!!' the old maid yelled, tears feasting on her scared face.

"My Lady!!!" She sang over and over again but they all fell on deaf ears. 

Ruki tossed the whip away finally. 

Ruki then bent slowly to Tia's height. Ruki touched her face gently and looked into her eyes. "Dear Tia, it is over," she said as a tear rolled down from the corner of her eye. Poor girl being treated this way made her extremely angry.

Tia burst into tears instead. "She will flog me..."

"Don't ever treat a heartless person nicely Tia. Even the gods are angry at them. My father was a warlord, and he never taught me to be nice to the enemies coming with swords to kill my entire family. And no one would ever be able to flog you again as long as I'm here." Ruki touched Tia's wet face again, very gently.

Tia's swollen eyes were filled with more tears as much as she didn't want to, but she was grateful to Ruki and Rekiya.

Ruki turned her back to them, more lower. "Rekiya, put Tia on my back," Ruki said. "Tia, please climb. This is what any Mother will do for her child. Let's take care of you," she concluded.

As the three of them stepped out, the maids on their knees rose to their feet again. Many loved how the old Lady was punished, and Many feared Ruki more.

Author's Note

Hello everyone, how have you been?
How was the presidential election at your side.
I hope everyone is safe? Please be safe 😊 because you can't miss reading 'The Birth of Rekiya' in this lifetime☺️.

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Give me some accolades 😊 cause today's chapter is longer than the chapters updated already.

And I'm deeply sorry for the late update ☺️

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