( Get your popcorns. I love this chapter)
Idowu walked back to Adrian's room, and the sight before him filled him with a thrill so sharp it almost made him laugh.
Adrian was on the floor.
William was kneeling beside him, panic written all over his face.
Idowu stepped inside slowly.
Then he began clapping.
Soft at first.
Then louder..
"Oh my… oh my… Master, what's wrong?" he asked, mock innocence dripping from his voice.
William looked up.
Their eyes met.
Understanding dawned.
"You!" William growled.
Minutes earlier—
Idowu had just left. William was just about drinking the content in the cup when Adrian sneezed. He dropped the cup and went to his aid. " Take care, Temi-"
" It's alright. I'm fine. I'm -" Adrian suddenly stopped talking as he felt a sharp pain in his chest. His hand flew to his chest.
A sharp, violent pain ripped through him.
He gasped.
Then collapsed.
"Temi!" William dropped to his knees beside Adrian.
" Temi, Temi, what wrong? What going on?" William asked frightened.
Adrian's breathing turned uneven. His fingers clawed at his clothes, gripping his chest tightly.
"Ba… banging… head… ch—chest…" he forced out.
"What? Chest? Talk to me!"
Adrian tried to inhale. The air wouldn't come.
"Bre—bre… breath…"
His body trembled.
His vision blurred.
His pulse raced so fast it felt like it would tear out of his chest.
"Temi breathe slowly. I'm here. I'm here. Slowly. Easy," William whispered, though his own voice was shaking.
He had no clue of what was happening. He knows Adrian was fine just minutes ago.
What happened then. What changed-?
Adrian coughed.
And something warm spilled from his mouth.
William froze.
Blood.
Dark. Thick. Staining his hands.
His heart dropped.
William stared at the empty cup on the table. Adrian had started acting this way after drinking the so-called medicine.
" Is this the side effects of the medicine" William thought. " Idowu never said anything about side effects and would a side effect be this bad? "
Thoughts...
Then suddenly...
A cold realization crawled up his spine.
Unless...
The door opened. Idowu walked in smiling.
After William saw him smiling and clapping, Everything connected.
"You?!" He called , teeth gritting, voice was no longer confused.
It was furious.
Idowu glanced at William and the look on his face made his heart beat fast. Not because he was scared but because he was happy. His smile widened.
" Ooohhh! Yes! I love this look on your face. Yes! That one! " Idowu said beaming.
Adrian forced himself to look up. His lips were pale now.
" How- how dare you? Did you ..did you poison me?" Adrian struggled to ask, his voice weak.
Idowu shrugged casually. "Err..Isn't that obvious?"
Adrian coughed again. More blood. His eyes widened in terror.
William knelt down beside him immediately and held him tighter.
"Temi… this- this is blood…"
Idowu looked at the scene before him.
A frown crossed his face.
" Uhmmmm.. something is not right here. Why aren't you in pains too? I saw you drin-" Idowu's eyes flicked to William's cup.
Still untouched.
His jaw tightened.
" Tks!!!"
He clicked his tongue irritated.
The plan was to poison both of them but now, one didn't touch his.
"How unfortunate. I was hoping to watch you both suffer."
"Why?" William demanded.
"Why'd you do this?"
Idowu tilted his head.
"Why? What do you mean? Revenge, obviously."
" What revenge? What are you talking about?" William asked still holding Adrian tight.
Then something clicked.
Charles.
The warning.
The strange behavior.
"You… you're the one Charles warned me about."
"Charles?" Idowu smirked. "He had guts. I'll give him that."
" You were the one who made Charles leave so you could replace him. Is that right?" William guessed and asked.
Although he doubted that was possible. He had no idea what he had against Adrian but he doubted he'll go as far as acting as his slave just to get at him.
"You're smarter than you look," Idowu replied lightly.
William's voice lowered, deep.
"Who are you?"
Idowu's smile faded.
The air shifted.
"Me?" he repeated softly.
He straightened.
"I am not a mere slave."
Silence filled the room.
"I am the Third Prince."
The words landed heavy.
"Your greatest enemy. "
Adrian and William eyes widened.
Adrian's breath hitched.
William stared.
No one spoke for few seconds.
" Wh--what--?" Adrian stuttered. He couldn't believe it.
"Hard to believe?" Idowu chuckled. "Yeah, I know. I just can't believe how stupid you are. You really think I was a mare slave? I got close to you for a purpose. Remember when your sickness started? Your sickness began shortly after I entered your life. I've been patient. Playing my role. But now, I'm tired and want to end it."
" Third Prince? You?" William asked.
He didn't want to believe it. He'd been with one of the two other princes all these while? One of his rivals?
Adrian tried to push himself up.
"You bastard," he whispered. "If I'd known—"
"You would have done what?" Idowu laughed. "Killed me?"
He stepped closer.
"Oh please."
William's fist clenched.
" How dare you!?" He yelled and was about to attack Idowu when Adrian coughed.
William attention diverted back to him. More blood came out from his month. " Adrian." He called in fright.
" How cute. He'll die soon though. The only obstacles left is you and I'll get you out of the way too."
" What? How's William an obstacle to you? Leave him out of our business." Adrian said gritting. Face fuming with anger.
" Oh! That right! I'd forgotten you aren't aware. Since I've dropped a bomb shell that I'm the third prince, I should drop one last one to you lovebirds before I leave."
" You bastard! You think I'll let you leave this room?" Williams said angrily. He'd said that but he wasn't sure if he'll leave Adrian side just to chase after Idowu.
Idowu's gaze snapped to him.
"You? Oh oh..I'm scared." he said mockingly. " You think you can catch me? Uh? You think you're the best? You're skilled? Feared by many? Uh? The mighty, feared, untouchable you?"
"But let me tell you.." he continued. " I'm not sacred of you.. not one bit."
His voice hardened.
"You wretched First Prince."
. . .
The room went still.
Adrian slowly turned to look at William.
William did not deny it.
His silence was louder than any confession, though his eyes burned with fury.
"First Prince…?" Adrian's voice was barely there.
William stare would have killed Idowu if it could. His jaw tightened.
" You bastard!" He said veins forming In his neck.
Adrian, the man he loves, has finally opened his heart to him. He had told him everything about him but his true identity.
He had wanted to tell him himself.
After everything.
After trust had fully formed.
Now it was exposed like a wound.
Idowu watched them with delight.
" You- you- " Adrian was saying but he chose not to believe.
There's no way William was the first prince, his rival. He then turned to Idowu.
" You lie! You stupid prince. If I'd known you were the thrid prince, I would have cut your throat myself!"
" Hahahahhahaha" Idowu laugh thundered the room. He laughed so hard tears started to fall from his eyes.
He wiped them and got a hold of himself. "Oh? Is this awkward?" he mocked. "Shocked that you fell in love with your rival? Why don't you ask him yourself if he isn't the first prince."
A pause.
William's eyes burned.
"You will regret this."
"Oh I doubt that."
Idowu's smile widened further.
"And since we're revealing secrets…" He turned to Adrian. "Why don't you tell him yours too? About your true identity"
William's eyes flicked to Adrian.
" You! I will kill you!" Adrian yelled. The action caused a sharp pain in his chest and the yelled.
William moved to hold him but he couldn't bring himself. Not after his secret had been leaked to the man he loves. He'd wanted to be the one to tell him.
' and what does Idowu mean about Adrian's true identity?"
Idowu looked at the scene before him. He had always dreamt about it.
And now that it was happening, he was so glad. So happy. although he isn't done with his goal, not until the poison finally kills Adrian and he finds a way to kill William too.
"Go on," Idowu urged softly. "Tell him. Tell him you are the Second Prince."
Adrian eyes widened at Idowu revealing his secret.
Silence. . .
Adrian's fingers tightened against the floor.
William stared at him.
Seconds passed.
And neither denied it.
The truth hung in the air between them.
Heavy.
Betraying.
Idowu laughed.
Thunderous.
Unhinged.
William was shocked, couldn't say anything. He stared, face expressing disbelief while Adrian couldn't bring himself to face him.
" Oooh, What's this? What's this?" Idowu questioned happily.
" Why are you both quiet? Are you that shocked to know you both fell in love with your rivals? Oh my! You guys are so foolish. How did fools like you become princes?" he taunted. "The throne deserves someone worthy, like me."
Adrian tried to shout back.
Pain exploded through his chest again.
He collapsed forward.
William finally moved fully to him, cradling him close.
Blood stained his hands.
"You're not dying," William whispered fiercely. "You're not."
Idowu watched them one last time.
He had dreamed of this moment.
Their shock.
Their silence.
Their love cracking open.
But he wasn't finished.
Not yet.
He turned and walked out.
And froze.
Dada stood outside the door.
Still.
Watching.
Idowu's heart skipped.
How much did he hear?
Does he know I'm the Third Prince?
Questions flowed his mind as he stood in front of him. He wanted to explain, wanted to make sure Dada didn't see him as the bad guy but right now, wasn't the time.
His expression softened instantly.
All the madness wiped clean.
"We're leaving," he said quietly. Controlled, authoritative. "You promised."
Dada's eyes flicked past him into the room.
He saw blood.
Saw William holding Adrian.
He felt something twist inside him.
But when he looked back at Idowu—
He didn't see a prince.
He saw the man who had held him.
The man who had kissed him.
The only person who had made him feel alive after learning the truth about his ruined village.
Idowu had brought color into his darkness.
And he wasn't ready to lose that.
Dada stepped forward.
He walked past him.
Idowu smiled faintly and followed.
Outside the inn, the morning sun felt too bright for what had just happened.
Behind them—
Two princes sat in a room filled with blood, betrayal, and silence.
And ahead—
War was coming.