Chapter Three: The Price of Defiance

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale, silver light over the narrow, winding streets of Iru-Oba. Chike’s footsteps echoed as he hurried through the city, his breath coming in sharp gasps. His heart pounded in his chest, as though the very act of disobeying the palace had set his blood on fire. Every shadow seemed to hold a threat, every corner a potential trap. He had never been one to worry about much, but tonight, everything felt different.

The message had been clear: Damilola was in trouble. But how could he help her when the entire weight of the kingdom was bearing down on both of them? She was a princess, heir to the throne. He was a shoe-shiner, a commoner with no wealth, no power. Nothing. Yet, somehow, they had found each other.

As he reached the outskirts of the city, the silhouette of the old bridge appeared through the fog, like a forgotten relic from a bygone era. This was where they had met in secret before—where everything had begun. It seemed fitting that it was here, at this ancient place, that their fates might change forever.

Chike paused, his hand resting on the bridge’s cold stone. The city lights flickered in the distance, casting a glow over the rippling water below. But the only thing on his mind was Damilola.

The sound of soft footsteps echoed in the distance, and Chike’s heart leapt. He turned, breathlessly scanning the darkness. And then, she emerged from the shadows.

Damilola.

She looked like a vision—her long hair flowing like silk in the wind, her eyes wide and filled with something he couldn’t name. But there was no mistaking the fear in her gaze.

“Chike…” Her voice was a whisper, as if speaking any louder might make the moment break.

He rushed to her, taking her hands in his, trying to steady the tremble that had started in his own limbs. “Damilola, you’re here. But why? What happened? They said you—”

“I had to leave,” she interrupted, her voice faltering as she looked around nervously. “I couldn’t stay. My father… he’s going to disown me. I’m not allowed to see you, to be with you. But I had to come. I can’t stay away from you.”

The weight of her words hit him like a blow. Her father—the king—had disowned her? Damilola was willing to risk everything—her title, her wealth, her very future—just to be with him.

“Damilola, this isn’t just about us anymore,” Chike said, his voice hoarse. “You’re the princess. They’ll do anything to keep us apart. They’ll hurt you… or worse.”

“I don’t care about that,” she said fiercely, her eyes locked with his. “I would rather have nothing than live a life without you.”

His heart swelled with both pride and sorrow. She was willing to sacrifice everything. But what about him? What was he willing to sacrifice for her?

“I can’t let them destroy your life, Damilola. You deserve so much more than this. You deserve to be happy, to be free,” he said softly, his hands tightening around hers. “I love you. But I can’t be the cause of your ruin.”

Her face softened, and she took a step closer to him. “Then come with me. We can leave this place. We can find somewhere far away, where no one knows us. We can be free.”

The words hit him like a punch to the gut. Leave? Run away? It felt like the only way they could truly be together, but it terrified him. He knew what it would mean. A life on the run. A life where they would be hunted. A life where there would be no place for them in the world they had known.

But then, her eyes—her trusting, hopeful eyes—broke through his doubts. For the first time in his life, he felt like he wasn’t just some invisible man. With Damilola, he felt seen. She loved him, despite everything. Despite their differences. Despite the world telling them they couldn’t be.

“Chike, I can’t live without you,” Damilola whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Before he could respond, a voice shattered the stillness of the night.

“Princess! Get away from him!”

Chike spun around, heart in his throat. Emerging from the darkness were several men, tall and imposing, their eyes cold and menacing. Palace guards. They had been waiting for her.

Damilola’s grip tightened on his arm. “Chike, we need to go. Now.”

But the guards were already closing in, their eyes hard and unforgiving. “You’ve broken the king’s law,” one of them sneered. “You will pay for this. Both of you.”

Chike felt a surge of panic. They couldn’t fight them. There were too many, and they were too powerful.

He turned to Damilola. “Run,” he urged. “Go, now. Get away from here.”

“No.” She shook her head vehemently. “I won’t leave you.”

A shiver ran down Chike’s spine. Her defiance, her bravery—it was all too much. She was willing to risk everything for him. But he couldn’t let her do this.

“Damilola, please, go.” He turned to the guards, his fists clenched. “I will take the punishment. Just let her go.”

The head guard sneered, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword. “It’s too late for that. You should have known better than to defy the king.”

Before Chike could react, a sharp, unexpected shout cut through the night air.

“Stop!”

A new figure appeared from the shadows, a tall, commanding figure with a cloak of deep red. His face was partially obscured, but his presence was undeniable.

The guards froze.

“Who is this?” one of them muttered.

“Get out of my way,” the figure growled, his voice cold and authoritative.

It was Adebayo, Damilola’s older brother.

Damilola’s eyes widened as she saw him step forward. “Adebayo?” Her voice was incredulous, mixed with shock and relief.

Adebayo didn’t look at her. He only focused on the guards. “Let them go.”

The lead guard took a step back. “Prince Adebayo, this is not a matter you can intervene in. The king’s orders—”

“I don’t care about my father’s orders,” Adebayo interrupted sharply, his eyes blazing with defiance. “I am the one who will decide what happens here.”

A long, tense silence fell over the group. Chike couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Adebayo—Damilola’s brother—was defying the king? Was he really willing to risk his own position to protect them?

But before anything could unfold, Adebayo’s eyes narrowed as he turned back toward Damilola. “You should not have come here, sister. You have put everything at risk.”

Damilola swallowed hard, guilt and fear flickering across her face. “Adebayo, I—I love him. I couldn’t stay away.”

Adebayo took a step forward, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone. “And now, we must all face the consequences.”

The air grew thick with tension, and for the first time, Chike feared they might not make it out of this alive.

Suddenly, Adebayo turned, his hand raised. “Get them out of here,” he ordered.

And just as the guards hesitated, a loud, thunderous sound erupted behind them—the sound of galloping horses.

Chike’s heart stopped.

From the distance, a dozen royal riders appeared, their faces hidden beneath their helmets. And at the front of the group…

It was King Adeyemi himself.

“No one moves.”

The Princess And The Shoemaker (Chapter 4: The King’s Judgment)

(Written by AI With Big input from Femi Soewu)