The gentle radiance of the unripe sun highlighted Ugegbe's skin as she sat primly in the queen mother's room. There was an ethereal glow to the dark pigment of her complexion. Yet, she was empty on the inside. Onochie's words had gorged a cavern into her. Even now, they trundled aimlessly through her mind, refusing to let her gather her thoughts.

Dread had wound itself up, ready to strike from within even as she maintained a proper, undisturbed front. Ezinwanyi faintly paid heed to how the women's stares had not left her since. However, she had all of her focus on sitting still and not making any unnecessary movements that could leave a mistake or mark on the Uli art being rendered.

"She is most beautiful, is she not, Wise One?"

"None can say otherwise," Ugegbe heard the smile in the native doctor's voice and, behind it, a tinge of marvel that had formed. "Only the gods could bring about this perfection in mortals."

"Praise be to our gods." The dowager queen agreed, ambling past her fanciful stool to the midpoint of her chambers where Ugegbe was. She was glorious in her white wrapper, wound around her chest and gracefully draped over her shoulder. The left side of her face was marked with Nzu that complemented the tiny Uli art imprinted on her skin.

"Will you finish soon?" She queried the servants who had been working silently since their arrival.

"Yes, Your Majesty. We are merely adding finishing touches to the patterns on her hands and feet." The oldest of the three replied. Indeed, one maid was crouched on the ground pressing dyes to Ugegbe's ankles and foot.

She found the process to invoke a tickling sensation but kept her discomfort to herself. She would continue to pose as if she did not want to jerk her legs away, retracting them to herself. Indeed, for fear of kicking the servant and making a mess, she would swallow the urge.

Her Majesty seemed to be pleased by their work. Ugegbe was not sure how to feel. She could not see herself, though she imagined she looked like a maiden eager to marry the man of her dreams. Ironically, she was not.

Though Onochie was the man worthy of ruling her dreams, she was far from keen to become his wife. Not after what he'd told her. Ugegbe gritted her teeth as the memory crashed upon her, wincing at the acerbity of his indifference toward her.

"I shall marry you, but I will not love you, Ezinwanyi. You are not obligated to dote on me, either." He'd said with a wry smile. "Here, I grant you this freedom, that you may love whomever you wish even though you will live as my wife. For you do not owe me your heart. I will never ask it of you, as I have nothing to give you in return. Hence, I make you this promise today, my queen: I shall never stop you from doing what your heart truly desires."

Ugegbe had almost crumbled into dust before the king. She was utterly crushed by his blatant apathy and cold disinterest in her. Who knew the man she had fallen for could be this cruel?

What life would she have with him? Ugegbe found that her inventiveness was lacking in envisioning that. Even her brain stuttered at forming an image of the misery she would live with for the rest of her days. I do not owe him my heart? She scoffed under the disguise of a sigh. The man really was block-headed. How could he not know that her heart belonged to him? That he'd ripped its autonomy from her guarding grasp. And now, he'd left her bereft and empty.

A feathery light touch fluttered over Ugegbe's throat, prompting her to pitch her head back. She was glad the neck was not a hairy part of the body because she had no intent on letting the maidens draw a blade against her neck as they'd done to her legs, which apparently had too many strands of hair that had prompted a shave down. There'd been only a tiny nick at her calf, but that would be a wholly different story if it'd been on her neck, a most susceptible part of the body.

When the servant was satisfied that she'd applied enough camrose powder to her skin, she set out to lay out her design using a thin metal rod specially made for delicate motifs. Ugegbe braced herself for the cold pinch of the instrument, then immediately relaxed afterward.

Unfortunately, her respite did not last for so long because her mind darted to the king again. She conceived him to be in the room with her, paying heed to every swirl and swoop on her body. She pictured his deep, intense gaze grazing her from her neck to her bare chest, and bit her lip at the earnest reaction in her tight core.

It was fool of her to consider him this way even after he had shown her the door, but she could not help it. She recalled the rasp of his voice, and every ounce of sensibility deserted her. What would she give for him to touch her how she'd imagined to no end? How would she survive knowing that Ozioma would be the subject of his affections while she would be left to rot and collect dust like an abandoned calabash gourd?

She wouldn't.

Moments later, Ugegbe had her mouth pinched in a line as she watched the queen mother dismiss the servants. The Wise One also took her leave. Her job was done as she had confirmed and documented Ugegbe's purity before the king's mother-who she now bowed to, then finally to his dubious bride.

Ugegbe was left alone with the older woman, who seemed to be in no mood to converse. That was all fair and square for her, as she did not feel up to saying anything that would not betray the actual nature of her sentiments. The queen mother certainly would not want to know the extent of alarming apprehension worrying the intended queen into unease.

Seated in the empty room, the silence about them was encouraged to stretch on as Ugegbe studied the abstracts sprea on her hands. They were befitting of a bride, flawlessly fashioned in eye-catching rings and curls to complement the designs on her thighs and ankles. She had no doubts they also matched the ones on her neck.

The Uli was rapidly drying on her soft skin, and she could feel the dye prints hardening. It did not particularly inconvenience her, but she could not wait to rub oils on her throat once it was dry.

"Ezinwanyi," the queen mother called, and Ugegbe tore her hand from stroking the precise lines and curves on her thighs. The dye had small bumps, having not air-dried entirely, and felt nice under her finger pads.

"Your Majesty," Ugegbe rose to kneel before her mother-in-law but was waved to her feet.

"Save your efforts, Ezinwanyi. You will no longer have to kneel before me again." She said in a sombre tone. Ugegbe nodded, righting her posture in a manner that was too cloddish for a queen. She needed to work on the defect in her rising motion.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." She replied, regaining her balance.

The dowager queen gave her a close-lipped smile. "I have been merciful, have I not?"

Ugegbe frowned slightly. She wasn't sure where their discussion was headed but replied all the same. "Yes, Your Majesty. You have been so to the people of Zoro and to me."

"Hmm," the older woman grunted vaguely. Ugegbe noted her guardedness and rubbed a fist over her chest at the twinge. It hurt to consider that the queen mother was displeased by her marrying her son.

She had been cordial and maybe even friendly in the past few days since the king introduced her as his future queen. Perhaps this was a reflection of her true notion. They had, after all, been stuck on lukewarm grounds since both their confessions. Ugegbe contemplated what the queen mother's dissent would mean for her.

"Bring that box to me." She instructed Ugegbe, tugging her out of her reverie.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The room was really so bare that Ugegbe heard each sound she made lash against the walls. In return, she willed her feet to shuffle more quietly.

The wooden case was of considerable size but was heavier than one would have presumed from afar. Ugegbe retrieved it from the corner where it'd lazed on a clay pot, overturned on its mouth, and refrained from shaking it to deduce the contents.

"Here it is, Your Majesty," she bowed as she heaved the plain box onto the small, centrepiece table.

From the outside, the case appeared to be ugly. It was not adorned by any valuable items or beautiful designs. Its clasp was wrought from iron, which had collected some rust. But appearances could be deceiving. Ugegbe tamped her curiosity and exercised patience as the queen mother wrestled the chest open.

Alas, inside of it were the most beautiful ornaments Ugegbe believed to have ever existed. Large coral beads strung into necklaces and waist beads, and heaps of brass anklets and golden bracelets were laid without disturbance.

Having grown up as close to royalty as attainable, she'd seen and even worn the most expensive jewellery, but this was different. The beads were of the deepest red she'd ever laid sight on. They swallowed every vestige of light that struck them. And judging by the burden on the queen mother's wrist as she wrapped five strings around her hand, they were worth their beauty in weight also.

"Hold this," was the command, and Ugegbe immediately stretched out open fists to receive the gift. "You will wear those five on your neck. Another five"-she pulled out strings of beads marginally bigger than the first-"will be donned on your waist." Ugegbe reached to collect the second bunch, but the dowager queen withheld it from her grasp. She gestured with a pointed index. "Put those around your neck first."

Ugegbe obeyed and gently passed her coiffed hair through the beaded loops.

Earlier, another group of maidens had already braided her hair into small circles that rolled from her nape to her temples. It was as if she was carrying a row of moons on her head. The servants had tittered to themselves and deemed the hairstyle fitting since she was to marry the sun of Zoro. Apparently, she was, therefore, his moon. The idea had made Ugegbe roll her eyes, especially since the sun and moon were not only as distinct as fire and water but also separated by the vastness of night and day. Yet, it had warmed her-though she couldn't tell why she cared-to realise that not everyone was against her ties to the king.

With the last of the necklaces perfectly fitted on her, Ugegbe admired their contrast against her lush, dark skin. They were heavier than she was used to, but she mused that it would keep her grounded if anything. She was not likely to stumble with the weight of hundreds of tiny rocks pieced together.

"They suit you as I had hoped."

Ugegbe was enthused by the compliment. She beamed brightly. "Thank you, Your Majesty," she glanced down at them again, happy that her breasts were not ample. The low swoops of the beads covered nearly all regions of her chest, keeping her sensitive flesh concealed as she often preferred.

"Wear the waist beads. Let me see how they fit.

The beads melded to the slopes of her waist and hips like they'd been fashioned onto her body with magic. Ugegbe gasped aloud, surprised by how they accentuated her figure. Delight rushed in, filling her up so raptly that she forgot how she'd nearly died from suffocation while dragging the beads down from her bosom.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. You have brought me great joy today. I shall not forget all you have done." She rambled, swamped with a sea of gratitude. Truly, she was overwhelmed by the queen mother's benignity and goodwill. It didn't take much for her eyes to begin to water.

"It is my pleasure." The dowager queen patted Ugegbe's shoulder as the tears broke free of their restraints. She had clearly softened from before, even consoling her. "Do not cry, my dear."

"I am sorry." Ugegbe apologised but could not stop herself from sobbing. Much too late, she realised the reason for her effusive display. It happened that it was because the king's mother had treated her as if she were her real daughter.

Having grown up without a maternal figure, Ugegbe had never been the subject of motherly love. Her father had done more than any man could have done in his situation, but he could not replace what she had already lost. Ugegbe often had considered a world where she had a mother to weave her plaits and eventually prepare her off to the man she loved.

Anguish rasped at her knowing that neither her mother nor her dear father was with her today. Still... At least she had the queen mother. And as the woman pulled her into her embrace, Ugegbe allowed herself to seek solace in her arms. She allowed herself to be small and vulnerable. To pretend she was being soothed by her mother, who knew all her secrets yet loved her in spite of them.

"You have done well." The woman's voice was smoother than usual in Ugegbe's ears, a soothing hum over her feeble bones. "You have done well, Ugegbe."
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A/N: Hey lovelies. This is just a filler chapter for now. But I promise the next chapter is going to be juicy! Stay tunedXD