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HADEWA CALIPHATE,

NIGERIA.

The day the Royal family would bring the bridal gifts to Tayyu Safwan's home came. Aria, who is still not fully familiarized with the Nigerian wedding traditions depended on her sister and cousin to tell her all about it.

Then again, her sister barely knows much too so she's a hopeless case. That leaves them both to rely on their cousins who are their only hope now.

Their mother's sister, Aisha, who married a Nigerian man and resides in Hadewa plans on coming to receive the bridal gifts along with a couple of Maya's aunts who had flew over to Nigeria for the wedding. Aisha and her husband are the ones that had been helping Maya's parents with the whole wedding plans seeing as Aisha's husband is Nigerian, so he's well accustomed with the culture.

Plus, he is a council member too, so he knows how these Royal weddings are and all.

"So...let me get this straight. I'm going to stay locked up here when the family comes, and I will stay here till they leave?"

"Yup" Said Sofia, or Safiya as her aunts call her. Sofia is Aisha's daughter and first child, who also happens to be about the same age as Aria. She sat on Maya's bed as the trio are all in the bride's room, while the elders are downstairs preparing to receive the royals. Crossing her legs and resting her head on Aria's thigh, she unlocked her Iphone and scrolled through her Instagram feed, "That's pretty much the tradition. Most times, you won't know when the family arrives but I'm sure you will know this time around. I mean, girl, you're getting married to a Royal. You should prepare to see traditions at its finest!"

"The good side is that I love Nigerian traditions"

"You do know it's based on people's culture's yeah?" Sofia cut Maya off, wanting the girl to realize that it's not as easy as she presumes it to be. "Your husband is Hausa, so our traditions are different from others"

Aria playfully narrowed her eyes at Sofia, "She said 'our' tradition" Her eyes met her sister's when she said that, the two chuckled.

Sofia lightly smacked Aria's arm, "My father is Hausa so obviously it's our tradition. Now listen up, will you? You might just end up marrying a Nigerian too if you're not careful"

"Ha!" Aria couldn't hold back the snort, and the short laughter that followed afterwards. "The day that happens is the day pigs grow horns and fly"

Maya and Sofia hummed, exchanging knowing looks. The girl can be against marrying a Nigerian all she wants, but they'll leave that argument and the teasing they have in mind for the day the girl would fall head over heels for a Nigerian.

They'll see what she'll do then.

Maya who had been pacing in the room glanced at the compound of the house they're staying in. She wouldn't exactly call it a mansion per se, but it is deserving of being called that. The house looks a bit like their home back in Turkey and a part of her feels there's no need for her parents to have purchased such a big house when they won't be living there.

After the wedding, they're all heading back to Turkey—her being an exception—so who would live in the house then?

Then again, she feels as though her parents bought the house so they won't be looked down upon by these Royals she's marrying into. It's no secret that the Royals are loaded, it's the first thing they found out the minute Maya told them about marrying one. So, it's only natural that they try to look well off too—which isn't that hard considering they are well off.

Maybe not as much as the Royals, but they are well off to not be looked down on by the Royals or anyone.

It's their way of letting the Royals know that Maya is not poor either. She grew up in a rich family just like theirs and that she is just as influential as they are—maybe a little bit less but still.

"They're here...I think" She glanced at Sofia who sat up quickly, scrambling off the bed and rushing towards the window just in time to see the Prados driving into the house.

"Oh...my...Allah" Sofia's mouth hung slightly open as she stared at the sleek cars that just kept coming in. She knows first-hand how rich the family is but seeing them arrive at that precise moment is one thing.

But that was nothing compared to when the Royal guards stepped down, and opened the doors for the Royals that brought the bridal gifts. Each woman that stepped off the car dressed chicly. Their dressing is so chic that Sofia had to blink. Sincerely speaking, standing next to one of them would make one conscious of their look.

Next came the sun glistening boxes that were brought out and trolled into the house.

"I can't stare...this all looks surreal" Maya looked away, hand fanning herself as she blew out low, shaky breaths.

Aria who remained seated on the bed flashed her sister a smile. "I'm not going to ask you to calm down because obviously, it won't work" She chuckled, making Maya join her.

Maya took a spot on the edge of the bed, then intertwined her fingers as she tapped her feet on the floor repeatedly.

"Hey..." Aria called out softly, noting how nervous her elder sister looks. This made Maya look up, eyes resting on her sister. "It'll be okay"

Maya tried to offer Aria a smile, but she couldn't pull it off. She didn't want to tell Aria, knowing how the girl is but deep down, she's scared of whether the family would love her or not. She really did underestimate the riches these Royals own.

Seeing them now, all dolled up elegantly and such, she's doubting whether she can fit in or not. Normally, she would've called Muneer to rant so he can calm her down, but for some reason, she feels like she shouldn't.

He's already worried about the wedding preparation and all, she didn't want to bother him more than he already is.

Aria on the other hand, wanted to say more and calm her sister down but she's horrible when it comes to calming people down. She finds such situations too awkward and she hates awkward and serious situations.

They definitely aren't her thing. Not at all.

"I know what will take your mind off this" Sofia said, finally moving away from the window seeing as all the women and boxes had been brought into the house already. Aside from the royal guards situated at the gates, by the cars, and by the threshold, everyone else important was already in the house.

Sofia returned to her original position, head laid on Aria's lap. She brought out her iPhone and turned it on—immediately logging into her Instagram account. She typed in the first handle that came to her mind; Hasnain Bin Bello II. Tilting her phone to the side enough for both women to watch clearly, she clicked on the first picture in his feed. "Ladies, meet Hasnain Bello!" She chuckled, eyes resting on the man she had been crushing on for years, "One of the most handsome men in the Bello family. Wait...who am I kidding? All of the Bello men are fine like wine!" She glanced at the two women who shook their heads. "I mean like; these men are all Hausa but guy! They one fine Hausa people Masha Allah"

Maya looked up, her gaze falling on her sister who had an amused look plastered right across her face. "What she means is...Hasnain--the one man she had been in love with for years and the man she has been sending dms to"

Sofia's eyes widened as she fought hard to keep the smile threatening to break on her face. She fell though, ending up chuckling. She simply shrugged, "What can I say? The heart wants what it wants. Plus, he replied my dm wallahi"

Maya huffed lowly, "Yeah, and his heart wants his wife" She resisted the urge to roll her eyes, choosing to ignore the part about him replying her. She doubts he says anything other than a 'thanks' to her compliments.

Sofia playfully narrowed her eyes at her cousin, "You never know, they can separate and I, ladies, will be there willing to give him a shoulder to lean on---figuratively though. I'm not ever joining the haram train"

Aria simply shook her head, having no words to say to her cousin sister. What do you say to a woman in love with someone else's husband? Get well soon?

If that works, then most of the situations some women are in now would've been avoided long ago.

"Moving on..." Sofia called out, before Maya starts to lecture her on her crush on Hasnain. She left his account and headed back to the search icon, typing the name of her favorite Royal of all, "The one and only Princess of Hadewa" She typed in the handle.

A knock landed the door's room, before the door knob twisted and in stepped one of the girl's aunt all dressed up in a traditional Hausa gown—or at least, what resembles it. Her head tie was maneuvered by Sofia, who is of course, an expert when it comes to that. And a moderately big veil covered her upper half of the body. She is Aria's mother's youngest sibling.

"Hey aunt..." Maya said, offering the woman a smile.

Aria facial matched her sister's while Sofia was too caught up in what she's doing to notice her aunt's presence. And when she did, she made little move to acknowledge the woman.

The woman flashed the women a grin, "Aria, come join us downstairs"

Aria's eyes bulged out. She glanced at the two piece pajamas that she had thrown on after taking her shower earlier, then snapped her gaze back to her aunt. "I...I'm not really dressed for that"

"Nonsense" Her aunt waved her off, her grin not wavering one bit. She knows Aria—the girl probably thought of the possibility of them asking for her so she dressed up in pajamas to avoid that. She won't let her off the hook that easily though. Just like most aunts, she has that stubborn bone in her, "Hurry up and change into something Hausa traditional—ish and come down. The groom's family wants to meet you"

"Ah!" Aria's mouth hung open slightly, "They want to see me? But I no be the bride now"

The minute those words left her mouth, Sofia was the first to laugh; hunching back in the process as she held her tummy. She had been hanging out with Aria a lot recently, so she's happy to see that Aria has started to pick up on her Nigerian lines. The funny fact is that she's sure the girl doesn't realize that she's doing it. Sofia's phrases is slowly rubbing off on Aria.

Aria's aunt narrowed her eyes at her. It seems as though if she sticks to being friendly and requesting her presence, the girl won't do as requested. So, she has to play the stern aunt role. Hands akimbo, she tilted her head to the side slightly. "Aria Tayyu Safwan"

Maya looked away, folding her lips in to hide her smile. If there's one thing their aunts have in common, it's their 'I'm not joking with you' attitude whenever they call someone's full name. It's time like that when they resemble their mother a lot. "Get up, get dressed and be there in fifteen minutes or so help me Allah; I'll drag you down there in your pajamas. If you want to meet them dressed like that..." She gestured to Aria's outfit with her index finger, "...then don't be down in fifteen minutes"

She turned around on her heels and headed out, not waiting for the girl's response.

Maya and Sofia burst into fits of laughter the minute their aunt was out of the room. They couldn't hold it in any longer. That look Aria is featuring on her face is comical—not to mention what just transpired between the aunt and her.

The woman isn't joking—she was never one to kid around. If she said she would drag Aria down in her pajamas to meet the royals, then she would.

There was really no way out of that. And Aria knew that; hence the look on her face.

Maya glanced at her sister, a teasing smile on her face. "Looks like you are about to meet the in-laws"