Kano State, Nigeria.
2012.

Falak made her way back into the room and find the maid standing with her head bowed slightly. Won't she sit down or doesn't she get tired? Falak not wanting another enemy, didn't talk and the maid didn't also, she just passed a yellow binding bow embroidery maxi dress, crew neckline and regular long sleeves to her. Falak almost jumped at how soft the fabric is but caught herself before.

The maid excused her and said she'll wait outside till she's done wearing the clothes. Falak wrestled into the clothes and asked the maid to come back in, not before admiring herself in the beautiful clothes. She doesn't know how to get dressed here and is not ready for another embarrassment and laughs from Asad, not to forget about the glares she received from Mr grumpy and Mr beard, she doesn't want another one.

"You should apply some lotion and cream. Here!" The maid gave her three long containers and two has a woman's face and the other is plain clean white with the name of the oil.

With the help of the maid, Falak applied the creams and lotion which made her skin feel so soft and fluffy. Oh, people in the city are enjoying life. Yes, she also used to apply versaline back in her home but it is not always. That only happens when Marawiyyah will ask her more like force her to apply it, that her body will look like Crocodiles' or snake's which will annoy her.

Done with that, the maid brought out red flats and a small veil. The maid tied it expertly around her head to which Falak is very grateful to. She doesn't know how to tie it in this city way and watched intently as the maid did it for her. She zoomed her legs into the beautiful shoes and true to her words, it's her size. She wants to deceive herself into thinking that her mother bought everything for her but she doesn't see any sign of that.

"Let's go, my Lady." The maid mumbled almost robotic. This is very weird and it's getting really uncomfortable because how can she be my Lady when she was just stupid unmarried Falak who everyone is avoiding back in her village.

She shook her head and follow her out. She stopped to gape at the place and the maid patiently stop next to her but a ghost smile appeared around her lips because the girl in front didn't act like she knew everything. She literally stopped to take everything in and then continue to walk only to stop some seconds later to see everything more clearly.

The long hallway has so many chandeliers, the cream walls stretch down to a never ending hallway. They kept walking slowly and she could see four doors arranged there. Her room is the last one in the hallway. After three turns which Falak memorized, they finally reached a huge brown door where the maid said she will allow her in.

Nervous, Falak's hands starts to sweat all over and she looks like she'll bolt out of the place in no time if asked to. The maid told her to calm down that she's just going to meet her step brothers and that's all. Even though when the maid said it's just, there was an uneasy look that passed her face which took every ounce of her strength but she's hungry and can't wait to taste the city's food.

She knock at the door as the maid asked her to and magically, it opened by itself. She stood there, eyes wide like saucers and hands shaking slightly by her side because of the people watching her from the dining table, not to talk about the guards that magically appeared by the door. She thought she was going to her mother's chamber? Guess not because her mother is here with more people.

"Come in, dear." Her mother's voice jolted her out of her trance and she released a small smile before swallowing hard.

The place is very huge, with long dining table and many chairs around it. A larger three tier chandelier that hung in the middle of the table and a lot small ones all around. There are so many foods, meats and fruits all around the table and she could see it from where she was standing.

How can there be so many foods here when there are a lot of people that haven't eaten breakfast in her village. Maybe because the other people in the house will eat the rest. She just hopes that they don't throw the rest of the things away when they're done.

Several pair of eyes are on her so she travel her eyes to the red carpet that adorn the whole place and matched forward. She's letting her legs to take her blindly to where they are sitting but then bumped into someone whose cologne made her want to close her nose, it was very strong. No, not to block out the scent, but to lock it away in there.

"Watch where you're going, will you?" He hissed harshly but that didn't stop his deep hoarse voice from making shivers run down her spine.

Why are they all rude? She silently mused not knowing that she's already by the dining table and they all heard her.

From the head table, the King's voice boomed as he roared with laughter with his wife by the right and another 11 years old boy by the left side. They are all laughing except the rest of the people sitting around the table and they're all males and many. ,Huh!

"Falak, come here." Her mother called, tapping the chair next to her which was close to Asad and it looks like he was the only one who laughed apart from the King and his wife.

Falak silently went around the huge table and silently sat herself next to her mother on the plush cream and golden coloured chair. The cushion is so plush that she could feel her bum sinking deep into the chair. She would've squealed and leave the chair but she's pissing her pants because of the eyes that she could feel boring into her soul.

"Let's eat before I introduce you to your brothers. I know they're all famished as I talk." Her Majesty chuckled, looking at the nodding Asad since she knew he's the only one who would talk.

Falak just nodded but didn't raise her head to look at any of them. She could feel their attitudes rolling in waves and she can't risk getting glared at. Not that she doesn't want to see more of those Adonis, even with their attitude but now is just not the time. She's also famished and the glares are just making her feel disquieted.

After eating the most amazing food she's ever had in her whole seventeen years of living, Falak burped which was also a first, she's never eaten to her heart's content. Shed always smile up at her father and tell him she's full when she wasn't, just not to make him guilty for not having enough money to buy her enough food.

She started eating Japanese sweet potatoes sliced into thirds, topped with grass fed yoghurt, chocolate chia seeds and chocolate chips. The other Japanese sweet potatoes is topped with avocado and red pepper flakes.

At first, Falak looked at the plate filled by a maid with the same outfit as the one who dressed her, with a look of disgust and slight astonishment. She wonder how they manage to stuff all these with so many toppings when in her village they'll just boil or roast sweet potatoes, nothing like this.

"So Falak, tell me about your life and dreams." The King stated when he finished eating his food and is now eating fruits.

"Well, my life is just boring if not for the events that took place just today. I don't have dreams but I want to become an interior designer." She shrugged lamely.

"That's very good. You're yet to finish school right?" He probed, wanting to let her feel comfortable since she's very squirmy.

"Yes, I just need to write my waec and jamb." She beamed, already feeling comfortable with the man. Anyone who's willing to help her pursue her dream so that her father will be proud of her, is her hero.

"That's nice. How about you go back to school, ss3 and then you'll write your waec since it's the first session." He suggested, leaning his elbow to look at his wife's carbon copy.

"Really?! O my God, thank you so much. I would love that." She grinned widely which had all the other people on the table swooning even though they're not showing it.

She's just too beautiful and beyond description. Yes, she's the carbon copy of their stepmother but that didn't mean she doesn't have her own secret and hidden beauty and maybe hers is her smile. She has two deep dimples that deepen even when she is talking, talk less of smiling. Her smile Aline can brighten the darkest hearts and defrost the coldest hearts.

"It's settled then, school starts tomorrow." The King grinned back at her, sitting back on the chair to settle like the King he is, which raised Falak's question.

"Why are you not wearing any turban and you're not wearing alkyabba mom?" She asked incredulously. In her village, even the district head's wife wears alkyabba because of how proud they are with their position.

"Because, this is family time and we live like a family when we're alone and not royals." Her mom answered, smiling at her daughter with a little tears shining and making it look glossy.

"Oh?" Her bow shaped lips formed an 'o' before she adjusts it with a smile. "That is very nice."

"So, I'll let you children have fun and Asad will introduce you to your brothers. We have something to check on." The King and the Queen stood up and immediately, five guards are behind them.

"Have a good night, dear." Her mother kissed her temple before waving goodnight to the others, they are awfully quite today.

As soon as they disappeared, Asad beamed at her looking like he's about to declare her enemy's death or is going to remove Adama's head with a scythe. The mischief in his eyes is too much for her to bear all alone, so she braced herself.

"So, I'll introduce you to my uncool, dull, irrelevant, tedious and boring brothers. You open you ears very well." And with that, he meandered back to his brothers one by one before picking in the one to annoy first, it's palpable in his eyes that he knew what he's getting himself into.

"That one over the end, is Shaddad. . ."

*******
Yoyoyoyo!

And who is here again? O, the one and only Aishatu. I'm just feeling myself up there with the cliffhanger. Who wants to meet the one and only Shaddad Muhammad Sunusi? Ah, I can't wait o. Dedicated to Vivian, thank you so so much, your review makes me just want to keep writing wallah😭💕TheOmoope
RQ; Will you ever accept a dare that has a lot to do with your crush and will ruin your image in front of him or her? Ah, I won't.
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©Aishatu.