Chapter Four: The King’s Judgment

The sound of galloping hooves grew louder, echoing off the cobblestone streets, and with it, the weight of fate hung in the air like a thick fog. Chike’s heart pounded in his chest, every beat a painful reminder of what was at stake. He turned to see the royal riders emerge from the shadows, their cloaks fluttering behind them like dark wings, their horses’ hooves striking the ground in perfect unison. At the front, King Adeyemi rode with the authority of a man who had ruled for decades, his face a mask of cold fury.

The guards quickly fell into line, their expressions shifting from hesitation to rigid obedience. Damilola stiffened beside Chike, her grip tightening on his hand.

“No one moves.“

The king’s voice was low, powerful, and it silenced the air around them. There was no question that this was the moment of reckoning. Damilola’s gaze flicked to Adebayo, and then back to their father. There was no love in the king’s eyes, no sign of mercy—just an unyielding command to restore order.

Adebayo stood tall, his jaw clenched, eyes locked with his father’s. “Father,” he began, his voice steady but filled with the weight of his defiance, “this is not just about you or your kingdom. This is about her heart. Damilola is not some piece in your game. She deserves a chance at happiness.”

King Adeyemi’s expression did not change. He looked at Adebayo with cold contempt. “You have no right to speak here, Adebayo. You’ve betrayed the crown. You’ve dishonored this family.” His voice was thunderous, and every word seemed to shake the very ground beneath their feet. “You may be my son, but you are not above the laws I have set in place.”

Damilola stepped forward, her heart in her throat. “Father, please,” she pleaded, her voice trembling but unwavering. “Chike is not just a commoner. He is the man I love. You have no right to separate us because of our status, because of our bloodlines. It is my heart you are breaking, not just my future.”

The king’s gaze turned cold, his eyes narrowing as he looked from Damilola to Chike, who was still standing quietly beside her. His lips curled in a bitter sneer. “This… man?” The word dripped with disdain. “He’s nothing more than a lowly shoe-shiner. How dare you suggest that someone like him could ever be worthy of a princess?”

Chike swallowed hard, his throat tight with the weight of the king’s words. But in that moment, something inside him snapped. He was no longer the humble shoe-shiner, invisible and unseen by the world. Not when Damilola was beside him. Not when his love for her had become the one thing that mattered most.

“Your Majesty,” Chike said, his voice surprisingly steady despite the fear that gripped him, “I may not have wealth, or a title, or a palace. But I have love. And I will love Damilola with everything I have. Even if it means losing everything else.”

The king’s eyes flared with anger, and for a long moment, the silence was deafening. It was as though the entire kingdom held its breath, waiting for the king to strike, to condemn them both. But then, Adebayo stepped in once more, his voice firm and resolute.

“Father, I cannot be a part of this. I cannot stand by and watch you destroy what little is left of her happiness.”

The king’s gaze flicked toward his son, then back to Damilola. The tension in the air thickened, and Chike felt a chill creep up his spine. This wasn’t just about him and Damilola anymore. This was a battle for the very soul of the family.

Adebayo’s defiance seemed to crack something in the king. The great monarch’s lips pressed into a tight line, and for a long, painful moment, he said nothing. It was clear he was weighing his options, but what choice did he have? His kingdom was built on bloodlines, on traditions that held the power of life and death. To let Damilola marry a commoner would be to destroy the very foundation of his legacy.

“Enough!” King Adeyemi shouted suddenly, causing the guards to flinch. He swung down from his horse, landing with a heavy thud that seemed to shake the earth itself. “I will not allow this to go on. The kingdom demands order, not chaos.”

Damilola’s heart sank as she saw the finality in her father’s eyes. She stepped forward, her voice trembling but fierce. “You may rule this kingdom, Father, but you do not rule my heart.”

There was a long, painful silence, and in that moment, Chike realised something he had not wanted to accept until now: They were standing at the precipice of a battle that could break them both. Her father would never accept him. His love would never be enough for a king.

And yet, he refused to let go of her.

The king turned toward Adebayo, his voice cold and cutting. “You’ve chosen this disgrace over your own family. And you will pay the price for it. The entire kingdom will know of your betrayal, and you will be cast out.”

Adebayo stood tall, his chest heaving with anger and frustration, but his voice was clear. “I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit, Father. But I will not abandon Damilola. I stand by her.”

The king’s face twisted with fury. He turned to Damilola, his voice low and full of venom. “You are no longer welcome in this house. No longer my daughter.”

Damilola’s knees nearly gave way beneath her, but she held herself upright, refusing to let the weight of her father’s words crush her. She reached for Chike’s hand, gripping it with determination.

“Chike,” she whispered, her voice a breathless plea. “Let’s go. Let’s leave tonight. We don’t need them. We don’t need anyone but each other.”

For a moment, Chike hesitated, his eyes flicking between Damilola and the royal entourage, knowing the path ahead would not be easy. But in the depth of her gaze, he saw only love—the love that had once seemed impossible—and in that moment, he knew there was nothing left for him in this palace.

“Let’s go,” he said softly, his voice firm with resolve.

But as they turned to leave, the king’s voice rang out one last time.

“You will never leave this kingdom alive.”

The words cut through the air like a blade. But Damilola, undeterred, held her head high.

And just as they began to walk away, Adebayo’s voice called out, his tone now softer, but no less defiant. “Father, if you harm them, you will have lost both your children. I will never come back to this place if you do this.”

The king’s gaze flickered to Adebayo, his eyes hard as stone. For a moment, it seemed like he might strike, but then something changed—something flickered in his eyes, something far deeper than anger.

Adebayo’s words had struck a chord. Could a king, who had lived his life by the rules of tradition, ever bend to the power of love?

Damilola and Chike kept walking, hearts entwined, the sound of the king’s wrath still echoing behind them. But at that moment, Chike could see the faintest glimmer of hope. Was it possible that love would win the day?

As they neared the gates, Damilola’s hand tightened in his, her voice a soft whisper, “Do you think he will ever accept us?”

Chike stopped, looking back over his shoulder. There, on the horizon, the future seemed uncertain—one step away from freedom, and yet, still so far.

“I don’t know,” he said softly. “But I will fight for you. For us. Whatever comes.”

And with that, they stepped into the night, together.

(Written by AI With Big input from Femi Soewu)