Princess and the seer

The next day, I woke up with pain in my legs. Massaging it gently, I remembered the things that happened last night. I suddenly became upset. I told Bandung Bondowoso what I knew and he just left.

"He left after hearing my advice. Does he hate advice?" I muttered.

A delicious scent crept into my sense of smell. I followed in its scent. A package of dishes was served near the door. It looked still warm.

Without lingering, I began to devour my breakfast. This felt like the life of a princess. When you wake up in the morning, you don't have to cook because a maid is cooking for you.

"It's delicious," I praised.

"Oh, yes. I told him how to build the temples and the wells in one night. Is that scene going to happen tonight? Isn't that too soon?"

I stopped eating the rice. My hands were folded in front of my chest. If it happened tonight, then tomorrow Roro Jonggrang would be the thousandth temple. Then, the story ends.

"Will I end because the story ends?" I said in confusion.

"Seer!"

The loud voice that shouted made me jump. I turned my gaze to the door. Roro Jonggrang was standing there.

Her shoe-clad feet stepped inside. Her panting breath told me that she was running towards this place. Roro Jonggrang held both my arms tightly. "Did you tell him the future?" she asked.

"Yes," I answered.

At the same time, she fell beside me. A sob sounded from her. "Why, why did you tell him when you knew I would suffer?!" she asked angrily.

I was silent.

"I asked another seer. He said my life was ruined because of the temple's construction. You must know that too, but why, why...."

Roro Jonggrang's tone of voice became softer and softer. She covered her face with both hands. Slowly, she cried.

I looked at the servant behind her. She didn't know what to do in this situation.

In fact, Roro Jonggrang started the downfall of her life by herself. It's not about living with her father's killer. It was about her acting cunningly and lacking caution. In the story, Bandung Bondowoso found out Roro Jonggrang's foul deeds. Therefore, Roro Jonggrang was cursed.

"Help me."

"Your Highness, please do not say that," the servant interrupted.

"What should I do then?" Roro Jonggrang asked in hopelessness.

I watched the two of them. In some versions, I found that Bandung Bondowoso genuinely liked Roro Jonggrang. But, Roro Jonggrang refuses it because he is her father's killer.

After a while, she looked up. Her eyes which had looked at me angrily were now puffy. She smiled. Tears were still on her face when she said, "I know."

Her strange smile sent chills down my spine.

"Bandung Bondowoso wanted me because of my beauty. You can be like that too."

"What do you mean, Princess?" I asked. My instincts told me this princess had an idea that didn't make sense.

"You're a girl, aren't you? You just need a little sprucing up and you'll be pretty."

The servant asked, "Your Highness, what do you mean?"

"I know you like him. You even met him last night."

"That's right and I was there to tell His Majesty how to build those temples and wells," I insisted.

Roro Jonggrang's smile grew wider as I threw in a line that I thought would hurt. Her hands grasped mine.

"Since you told him about it, you have to take responsibility. I don't want to spend my life with Bandung Bondowoso even if he's a king. So, Seer, you already know your future, right?"

I withdrew my hand. "It's impossible to make someone who is in love, fall in love again with a different person," I argued.

"I know you can. Aunt Sumi, bring some beautiful clothes and makeup here," she ordered.

"Your Highness, I think you don't need to be like this. I believe there are some ways to save yourself," I said.

"I don't accept rejection. Shut up while I'm still talking nicely," she threatened with a smiling face.

***

A line of regional heads filled the entrance to the hall. They stood in a row to wait for their turn to enter the hall. They came with reports of important events that happened in their regions.

"Why is it taking so long? I've been standing here since sunrise," said a middle-aged man.

The person behind him responded, "Be patient a little longer."

"I'm trying."

Meanwhile, inside the hall, a village chief knelt in front of the throne. His gaze traveled to the floor as he spoke.

"Your Majesty, since power changed hands, many people have fled to the border. According to Your Majesty's policy, the people who fled were punished by death. However, I'm worried that day by day the people in the village I lead are dwindling. That will affect the harvest."

Bandung Bondowoao exhaled loudly. The people who were nearby suddenly looked down.

"It's the same problem as earlier. Whether the population will decrease or increase, keep the rules in place," he said.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After the village chief left the room, a guard approached Bandung Bondowoso. The guard asked permission to approach, then whispered to him.

"Now the princess is friends with a seer?" Bandung Bondowoso whispered.

He rose from his throne. He looked at his people who occupied important positions in the palace. Then, he said, "The meeting is over."

The ministers simultaneously replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

No one dared to oppose the new king, Bandung Bondowoso. These people knew opposing him was the same as giving up their lives. So, they continued to obey him. However, behind the line of ministers, someone clenched his fist.