The days that followed were bright and uneventful, just the way Julius liked them. The rains had come early that year, blessing the soil with enough moisture to send his crops springing up with renewed vigor. It was the season of bounty, and Julius, as always, worked tirelessly in his farm.
In the village of Gambe, there was a sense of routine that lulled its people into a kind of comfort one that rarely invited suspicion or unrest. But that peace was a delicate thread, and all it took was a whisper, a doubt, a single accusation to tear it apart.
It began on a quiet Tuesday morning. Julius had just returned from his farm, his shirt soaked in sweat, his face dusted with fine red earth. He sat under the mango tree with Adaora and little Jordan, who was babbling to himself as he tried to stack small stones in a crooked tower. Adaora wiped Julius's brow with a cloth, smiling as she listened to him telling a story about how he nearly stepped on a snake in the farm.
While he was telling his wife the horrific story, a knock came so harshly on his wooden door which scared both Julius, his wife and little Jordan. Julius immediately rose to his feet. "Who knocks like that?"
Before he could reach the gate, it flew open with a loud creak. Two palace guards in red and black uniforms stood in the entrance, swords sheathed but hands resting on the hilts. Their expressions were grim. "Julius Okechukwu," one of them barked. "You are hereby summoned by the order of His Royal Majesty, King Amos of Gambe."
Julius frowned. "Summoned? For what reason?
"The king will make that clear himself," the other guard said coldly. Adaora clutched Jordan tightly, her eyes wide with fear. "Is this some kind of mistake?" The guards didn't answer. Julius turned to his wife, kissed her forehead gently, and tried to smile. "It's nothing. I'll return soon." But he didn't believe that.
The walk to the palace was long and quiet, not because the distance was far, but because the tension weighed heavily in the air. As they passed through the village, neighbors peeked out of their windows and paused in their duties, whispering among themselves. Julius kept his head high, but inside, a storm of confusion raged.
The palace gates, tall and carved with ancient symbols, opened to reveal the vast courtyard where justice was served and sometimes twisted. Julius had only been here once before, years ago, when he had delivered fresh produce as part of a village tax. Never had he imagined returning under tension and fear.
He was taken through the courtyard and into the king's hall. The chamber was dimly lit, filled with the scent of burning incense. Tall pillars held up the vaulted ceiling, and tapestries lined the walls, each one depicting a story from Gambe's history.
King Amos sat on a raised throne at the end of the hall. He was a man in his fifties, draped in flowing blue robes with gold embroidery. His crown, though modest, gleamed under the flickering torchlight. His expression was unreadable.
To his left sat his advisors, stern-faced men who whispered among themselves. The chief of guards stood to the king's right, arms crossed, eyes fixed on Julius. "Julius Okechukwu," the king began, his voice calm but sharp. "You have been brought here today because you are under suspicion of theft." Julius blinked. "Theft? Your Majesty, I don't understand"
"Silence," one of the advisors interrupted. "You will speak only when permitted."
The king raised a hand, silencing the advisor. "Let him speak. This man deserves at least that."
"Your Majesty," Julius said, trying to steady his voice, "I have worked on my farm every day. I've never ever come close to your storerooms."
The king leaned forward slightly. "And yet, this morning, it was discovered that a golden statue, an heirloom from the royal bloodline, was missing from the sacred vault. The vault had no signs of forced entry, and only a select few knew how to access it." Julius shook his head slowly. "I know nothing about this. I have no reason to steal, especially not from you, my king."
One of the guards stepped forward and placed a small sack on the floor. When opened, it revealed a gleaming gold bracelet, one of the king's ceremonial pieces, inscribed with the royal crest.
"This," the guard said, "was found buried behind your yam barn." Julius's mouth went dry. "That's… that's not mine! I don't know how it got there!"
Gasps echoed through the hall. The advisors murmured in low tones. The chief of guards stepped closer. "We had reason to suspect you because one of the palace servants claimed they saw you near the palace storeroom two nights ago," he said. "I was never there!" Julius cried. "Who would say such a thing? This is a setup!" "Enough," King Amos said, raising his voice. The hall fell silent again.
For a moment, the king's eyes softened. Then, almost imperceptibly, he glanced at one of his advisors, a man named Ogbuefi, his younger brother. Then the king straightened. "According to the laws of Gambe, anyone who steals from the royal palace must face one of two punishments: death or life imprisonment. We cannot make exceptions, no matter how well-known or loved the accused may be."
Julius's knees weakened. "Please, Your MajestyI have a family. A wife. A child barely a year old"
"You will be held in the Palace Prison until your trial. May the gods grant you peace."
The king's voice was quiet now. Perhaps there was regret in it. But the decision had been made.
The guards stepped forward and dragged Julius away.
That night, Adaora sat by the fire, her face streaked with tears, her arms wrapped tightly around Jordan. News traveled fast in Gambe, and already the whispers had grown into full-blown conversations in the marketplace.
"Julius? A thief? Never!"
"There must be some mistake."
"Who would believe it? But they found the king's bracelet on his land"
Adaora didn't sleep. She went to the shrine that stood behind their house and cried out to the gods for justice. "He is innocent," she whispered. "You know he is. Protect him protect him"
But her prayers fell into the silence of the night.
Julius's trial took place two days later in the town square. A crowd gathered, some in support, others curious. The atmosphere was thick with tension. The king did not preside directly, custom dictated that the chief judge would oversee such proceedings but his influence hung heavily over every word made by the Chief Judge.
Witnesses were called. The palace servant who claimed to see Julius near the storeroom spoke with shaky certainty. He didn't meet Julius's eyes. When asked for details, he fumbled, unable to explain how Julius had gotten into a locked part of the palace.
The chief of guards presented the bracelet as evidence, and again, Julius insisted it was not planted by him. "I have no enemies," he said. "I live a quiet life. I have no need for gold. My harvests feed my family. Why would I risk going to steal?" The judge, a man named Ogoli, listened in silence, his face unreadable.
At the end of the trial, the verdict was swift.
"Julius Okechukwu," the judge said, "though your standing in the community speaks in your favor, the law is clear. The theft of royal property cannot be ignored. You are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment and you will serve your jail terms in the royal Prison."
Adaora screamed and Jordan cried in her arms.
Julius stood still, his eyes wide with disbelief."
No please no" Adaora rushed forward, but guards held her back. As Julius was dragged away, he turned back just once to look at his wife and son as he was being taken away by the Palace security.
The royal Prison was dark and damp, designed with the rock under the palace. Julius was thrown into a cell with a straw mat and a rusted cup. Rats scurried in the shadows. The air was thick with the stench of mildew and waste. Days passed, and food was scarce. The guards, under orders from someone unknown, beat him when he asked too many questions. Whispers spread that his imprisonment was meant to be a slow death.
King Amos rarely visited the Prisons. But one night, when the moon was high and the town lay asleep, he came alone, cloaked and hidden.
He stood outside Julius's cell in silence.
"You know I didn't steal it," Julius said, his voice barely above a whisper. The king didn't answer.
After a long pause, Julius spoke again. "Why, Your Majesty? Why would you let this happen?"
King Amos clenched his jaw. "Because if the truth came out my brother would have been hanged. And the people would turn their eyes on the royal family. The law must be upheld. Even if it breaks my heart." After saying this to Julius he turned and walked away.