Queen Ohonmi

However, the king was not an unbiased man. Eventhough the king, had four wives, it was widely accepted that he marginalized two of his wives.

In fact, it was known that according to marriage, the first and second wives who were queen Esagho and queen Idia, were his favorites.

The third was queen, was Oloi Ohonmi. The fourth queen, however, was not very popular.

Rumor, claimed that the fourth queen was actually the first, but soon after the king married her, she contracted a strange incurable illness. Which later paralyzed her and made her unable to move.

Later, she was kept in a separate place, where she could be taken care of. Since then nobody ever heard from or saw her again.

However, other later news, claimed that she gave in to her sickness and was thrown into a river, on her request.

Nonetheless, the palace, never officially announced her death. So the story of her death was generally accepted to be a false news.

Queen Ohonmi, the third queen was however, very much known by everyone. She was a gentle and beautiful black woman.

With shoulder–length curly hair, a smooth spotless face, and a pointed chin; shaped into a v face. Charming as she was, she was a paradigm of elegance.

Although, she was not as beautiful as the two other queen Esagho and Idia, it was generally accepted that her intelligence made up for her slight loss in terms of beauty to the other queens.

In fact some people even argued, that her intelligent and supportive nature even, made her far more superior, to the other two queens, since she was also very beautiful.

However, it was believed, that her docile and gentle nature also denied her and obscured, other rights and benefits, which otherwise, would've been hers.

An example, was the time when she presented her newborn son, a prince to the king. For the child's naming.

She observed, the king had sensed that her son, prince Idubor, had a older bone age, than his two other half brothers and was therefore the eldest son.

Although, the king did performe his fatherly duty, and gave a name (Idubor) to the then, newborn prince.

However, he decided against declaring Idubor, as a first prince, like he had done, for the two other prince he named earlier, therefore, denying him his birthright. Even though he was the eldest son of the three.

Queen Ohonmi, already knew that the king, had sensed that her son, Idubor was far older, than the time she brought him for the child's naming consecration, and the ensuing rites.

She knew, from king's reaction, when he first touched the baby prince that he already discovered that her son was elder to the other two newborn prince. However, she decided not to ply hard, when the king didn't declare her son as an heir.

She believed that the king must have his own reasons for not declaring her son as an heir to the throne.

Moreover, someone had already warned her beforehand, not to bother the king with the details of her son's true birth time.

So when the king didn't ask about it, she believed, it was probably for the best, that her son wasn't declared an heir. Moreover, she believed, that even if she'd spoken up and try to fight for the right of her infant son, the king would've shunned her.

She had already heard the news of the weird conditions of the other newborn prince; queen Esagho's son although totally normal, had eyes with pupil that alternated four different colors, while queen Idia's son, was born initially unable to cry or breath, which was similar to, but less critical than her own infant.

Her intelligent mind, reasoned that if she made public, the situation of her childbirth, it might incite a commotion, and several people, will definitely come up with different rumors. While some other people may even think that the royal family had been cursed by the gods.

She therefore, decided to confront the king in private.

However, her innocent intentions and goodwill, was deliberately misunderstood by the king, later, when she approached him, about the matter.

The king, rebuked her. He told her to never bring up the matter again; She had been shor–changed by her lord.

The king, could've easily declared the prince, Idubor as an heir to the throne, without any reason at all, and nobody would've dared to challenge him. However, for reasons best known to him, he didn't.

Unknown to him, however, his very singular act of prejudice, was going to serve, as a rudiment, for the many crisis to befall the Nation later.