Sneak In Looking For You 

Bhanurasmi smiled, looking at Umbara and Arum. Because from the first time he entered the Queen's hall, Umbara didn't show any interest in a single woman. Arum was the first woman to make her son ask a question.

"That's right, Baginda. "I have loved archery since I was a child," replied Arum with a gentle smile.

Umbara studied the woman in front of him from top to bottom. A graceful and elegant woman like Arum has the ability to shoot. Interesting enough, Umbara thought.

"Since childhood?" Umbara asked again.

Arum nodded politely. "That's right, Baginda."

"She is the daughter of the chief of the royal guard, Baginda." Bhanurasmi replied. Explain who Arum is. The woman she had chosen from among the few noble daughters in this country. "She must have been taught archery lessons by his father," Bhanurasmi said.

Umbara smiled, and this was the first time he had shown such a wide smile. It wasn't Arum's face or personality that made him curious, but this woman's ability to shoot.

"Hopefully I can see your archery abilities," said Umbara.

Arum looked down, elegant, and tried to restrain herself. even though she really wanted to prance around for joy at getting such a good response from Umbara, compared to the other women there. However, her father's message since getting an invitation there is to maintain a good attitude and not to talk too much, so Arum must keep her attitude as good as possible.

Bhanurasmi, who was still watching them, also smiled happily. Finally, out of ten people, Umbara gave a positive signal to the last woman.

"I can arrange a time to meet again." Bhanurasmi immediately made a decision. Making Arum blush even more, Umbara leaked it to his mother. too hasty a decision. They should talk about it first, right? Umbara thought.

"Thank you, Kanjeng Ibu," replied Arum.

"You may go, Cah Ayu." Bhanurasmi never stopped smiling. She had made her choice to invite Arum back to the queen's hall and also to the next meeting with Umbara.

The introductions and dinner were over, and while Bhanurasmi was still in the queen's hall to finish some things, Umbara was already walking back to the king's residence. His heart was restless because Bhanurasmi's decision was judged to be one-sided. After all, Umbara only wanted to know Arum's archery skills and nothing else. But his mother actually interpreted it in another way.

Umbara looked far away at the concubine's house, which was visible from where he was now. His steps suddenly stopped, making all the bodyguards who followed him and also Krisna stop instantly.

"Krisna!" Umbara called for Krisna, but his eyes were still on the door of the concubine's house, which was tightly closed. The owner of the name immediately approached Umbara.

"I want to do something; send them back to their respective places!" Umbara ruled.

Krisna nodded politely, then gave instructions to the guards behind him in accordance with the King's orders just now.

After making sure all the guards who followed him carried out their orders properly, Krisna bowed again in front of Umbara. "What can I do for you, Baginda?" asked Krishna.

"I want to sneak in there." Umbara pointed her index finger at the concubine's house, which was currently tightly closed.

Krishna followed the direction of the index finger. "You mean the concubine's house?" Krishna confirmed.

Umbara smiled and nodded. "I think I can see it from afar," replied Umbara.

Activities at the concubine's house after dinner are still ongoing. They are trained day and night to get a lot of lessons before they are ready to meet the King. This custom had existed since the time of the previous King, and Umbara knew that the concubines must still be somewhere in there, not yet in their rooms or preparing for bed.

Krisna looked confused. Actually, he was worried that if Umbara sneaked there and then Bhanurasmi knew, she would be furious. But Krisna also could not go against the king's orders.

"What do you think?" Umbara saw Krisna's face full of doubt as he listened to his wish.

"Nothing, Baginda," answered Krishna quickly. He decided not to tell Umbara the worries he felt.

"Then quickly find a way there!" Umbara's orders

With the skills that Krisna has, it's easy to trick the door guards of the Concubine's house. And Umbara could easily fit in there. For a few meters, they walked through the concubine's house; the atmosphere still looked deserted and there was no activity.

"Where are they all?" asked Umbara.

"I will find out, Baginda." Krisna immediately moved ahead of Umbara and found out about the activities being carried out by the concubines who were not seen there.

Umbara nodded, letting Krisna walk quickly in front of him, and then disappeared to search for the concubine's house. Meanwhile, Umbara continued to walk alone until he heard something from the kitchen next to the concubine's house. Umbara approached slowly. Then take a closer look.

A faint noise erupted from there. "Apparently they're still in the kitchen after dinner. What are they doing?" Umbara asked as she continued to walk closer.

Umbara paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. "What am I actually doing?" He was starting to regret how he got in there like that. This kind of thing shouldn't be done by a king, right? "Just out of curiosity about that woman, I've gone a long way." Umbara muttered.

Umbara didn't want to continue his steps to get closer to the source of the noise. Umbara had to go back to her place before someone saw her. Umbara turned around, intending to leave from there. But it seemed that luck was not on his side. A young woman standing a few meters in front of him carrying some things glared at Umbara, then slowly approached her.

"What are you doing here, sir?" asked the girl, probing.

Umbara looked at the face of the girl who was getting closer to him. His body suddenly tensed. "Sekar," Umbara said to himself. Really, can this be called fate? How could the woman he was looking for suddenly be in front of him like this? Or is this just a dream?

"I asked you what are you doing here?" Sekar's question made Umbara realize that she wasn't dreaming. Sekar was right in front of him and was now talking to him, but had she forgotten about Umbara?

"Are you peeking at the girls over there?" Sekar asked again.