13/08/2026
THE LOST PRINCE OF AYEDE
CHAPTER 1
King Adelaja, ruler of Ayede town, was a great and honorable man.
The people loved him deeply, not just because he wore the crown, but because he ruled with kindness and wisdom.
Wherever he went, one person was always by his side his young son, Prince Aderopo.
The boy was only eight, but the king loved him dearly. He took him to council meetings, festivals, and even hunting trips. When the chiefs asked why he carried such a small boy everywhere, King Adelaja would smile and say:
“I want him to grow into the throne with knowledge. Let him see how a king thinks before he becomes one.”
No one knew those words would soon become a painful memory.
One fateful afternoon, the king rode home from a council meeting with Aderopo seated proudly before him on the royal horse. The sun was setting. The road was quiet.
Halfway home, the boy whispered,
“Father… I want to urinate.”
The king laughed softly and stopped the horse.
“Be quick, my son.”
Aderopo jumped down and ran into a nearby bush. The king waited.
And waited.
Minutes passed.
Then more minutes.
“Aderopo?” the king called.
No answer.
His servant, Keshinro, approached nervously.
“My lord… is the prince not with you?”
The king’s heart dropped.
“You mean he did not return to you?”
Both men began searching wildly. The forest grew darker. Panic spread like fire. The king mounted his horse and rode blindly into the bush, shouting his son’s name.
In his desperation, he did not see the deep pit ahead.
The horse stumbled.
The king fell hard.
A terrible crack echoed.
He had broken ribs and his leg.
Keshinro managed to lift him back onto the horse and rushed him home, but the prince… the prince was gone.
Days turned into weeks.
Weeks into months.
Months into years.
Search parties went into forests, villages, rivers, and markets. No sign of Prince Aderopo.
Then the native doctor gave the final blow:
“My king… your leg will never walk again. Only your hands and head will remain strong.”
The king did not cry that day.
But inside, something in him died.
For fifteen years he sat on his throne, ruling with wisdom but living in sorrow.
Every festival reminded him of his missing son.
Every child’s laughter pierced his heart.
He waited.
He hoped.
But hope grew thin.
*Fifteen Years Later*
One early morning, a woman appeared at the palace gate with a teenage boy.
“My name is Idera,” she told the guards. “I must see the king.”
She was brought before King Adelaja.
She bowed deeply.
“Long live the king. Fifteen years ago, my late husband found a young boy wandering alone in the forest at night. He was a hunter. He brought the boy home. We raised him as our own and named him Odetunde.”
She paused, then continued.
“Recently, I heard of your lost son. I saw the drawings shown across villages… and I believe this boy may be yours.”
The boy stepped forward.
The king stared.
His heart thundered.
“My son…?” he whispered.
He tried to stand.
He could not.
Tears streamed down his face.
“Queen Aderonmu!” he shouted. “Our son is back! Aderopo has returned!”
The palace erupted with joy.
Drums sounded.
People danced.
The king stretched out his arms.
“Come… hug me, my son.”
The boy embraced him.
For the first time in fifteen years, the king smiled with true happiness.
But Something Felt Wrong
The boy, now called Aderopo again, requested a favor.
He wanted a boy named Akin a farm helper from Idera’s house to come live with him in the palace as his companion.
The king agreed.
But as days turned into weeks, whispers began to spread across Ayede.
“Is that truly the prince?”
“He is arrogant.”
“He insults elders.”
“He has no royal manners.”
Chief Aloba spoke quietly to the Iyalode one evening:
“I remember Prince Aderopo. Even at eight, he was humble and respectful. This one… does not resemble the king. Not in face. Not in spirit.”
The Iyalode nodded slowly.
“And that boy Akin… have you noticed? He carries himself like royalty. He is gentle. Respectful. Brave.”
Chief Aloba lowered his voice.
“Yoruba people say: omo ti a bi ni yio jo ebi re. A true child resembles his family. Something is not right.”
Cruelty in the Palace
Soon, the returned prince began to show his true colors.
He insulted servants.
Ignored elders.
And worst of all he began to hate Akin.
No one knew why.
Perhaps jealousy.
Perhaps fear.
One afternoon, Aderopo accused Akin of stealing royal jewelry. The king, heart blinded by love for his “found” son, ordered:
“Throw Akin into the prison!”
Queen Aderonmu fell to her knees.
“My king, please! Something is wrong here. Investigate first!”
Reluctantly, the king delayed the punishment.
But life in the palace became unbearable for Akin.
He was mocked.
Beaten.
Framed again and again.
Yet he remained respectful and calm.
And the more people watched…
the more they began to wonder:
What if the wrong son had returned?
What if the real Prince Aderopo was still missing.....
TO BE CONTINUED IN EPISODE 2
❤️ Continue
😎 This is getting interesting
👍 I’m hooked
🥰 Next episode
> If this gets 30 REACTIONS and 5 SHARES, Episode 2 drops immediately!
