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This story is pure fiction but.....

The novel is inspired by the many kingdoms in the Melayu Realm. Home of the Melayu people spans between The Malay Peninsula, The Island of Sumatera, The Island of Borneo, The Island of Java and many small islands in between. This territory was historically ruled by the various sultanates in the Maritime South East Asia.

Currently there are several monarchies throughout the Melayu realm, some are independent countries like Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam, and others are cultural heritage sanctioned by the Indonesian government.

This story is set in the fictional independent Sultanate of Jothar. I have mixed many Melayu subcultures for the royal titles and customs described in the story, predominantly from the Javanese subculture from which I hail.

The cover photo is of a couple wearing a contemporary Melayu wedding costume. The photo is a courtesy of Vienna Gallery, Jakarta Indonesia. The number one expert in traditional wedding makeup and decoration.

The background photo is the Palace of the Siak Sultanate in Riau, Sumatera, Indonesia. A sultanate that was disintegrated in 1945 when it was absorbed by the Republic of Indonesia.