Prove It

He looked at me with a surprised face. His eyes widened. A smile spread across his lips. Candra said, "You even know my name, Seer. You are amazing."

I was rooted to the spot. It was hard to believe this. How could my school friend be here too? Was he thrown here like me?

We both stopped. That made another guard walk past us. They were being ignorant.

"How did you get here?" I asked.

"I took the palace exam and was accepted as a guard."

I shook my head. "That's not it," I said, "How did you end up here?"

"When I was 14 years old, I enlisted in the Pengging Army."

I frowned. He didn't answer my question. Was this Candra, not my friend? Suddenly, I felt sad. I was here alone and had no one else who was from the same era as me.

" Seer, are you alright? Oh, are you looking at fortune telling?"

"I'm fine," I retorted and stepped back on my feet.

The storyline changed drastically. The princess was banished from the palace instead of being cursed by the king. I winced at the pain in my leg. When I looked down, the soles of my feet were blistered. This must be the result of running.

"Seer, are you alright?" Candra asked and leaned towards me.

I looked up. It was hard to believe this person wasn't my friend. I replied, "My leg is just scuffed, it doesn't hurt."

Candra in the guard outfit looked worriedly at my leg. Even though he looked different in this look, I still hoped he was Candra, my friend, and crush.

"Seer, I brought a horse. Would you like to come with me?"

Candra raised his gaze. His eyes were bright like the moon. He was a little taller than I remembered. I looked deep into his eyes, searching for any chance that Candra might be pretending not to recognize me.

"Or are you going with Lord Sagara?"

I snapped out of my reverie. Candra was still bowing to me. He looked at me intently. I just remembered that I had come with the prince of the stables. Since Sagara was already far away, while Candra had kindly offered me, then I would choose him.

"I'm coming with you," I said.

He smiled widely.

Then we rode a brown horse. Candra helped me up, then he got on. We both rode at the back of the guard.

I looked up at the brightening sky. It's early morning. There was a faint rumbling sound from the mountain over there. Was it the sound of genies building temples?

Bandung Bondowoso had already known about Roro Jonggrang's actions and chased her away without hesitation. If the temples are completed, what will they be used for?

"Seer, do you know how His Majesty built those temples?"

"With the help of some friends," I answered.

"I think it's the king of genies who always accompanies His Majesty to war."

"Did you also go to war with His Majesty?"

There was a murmur from Candra. He then answered, "I belong to the guard colony. I was also chasing after you. You ran very fast. I thought you were a ghost."

"I used to run to catch the bus."

"What is a bus?"

I deliberately said the name of the culprit who threw me here. I thought Candra would shut up to think of an answer. However, she quickly asked the meaning of the bus.

"The name of transportation," I explained.

Candra said oh, then didn't ask again. His burly hands held the horse's reins.

Still, I hoped he was Candra.

***

The escort arrived at the palace. After dismounting, the guards, including Candra, returned the horses to the stable. I stayed near the palace gate, not knowing where to go because I didn't know the way to my little house by heart.

I think Bandung Bondowoso returned to the temple construction site. However, he suddenly passed in front of there and threw a sharp look at me. I felt suffocated. He talked with two guards.

Not long after, two guards came up to me. They said I should go to the main hall. I glanced back. He had already left with another guard.

My hand rubbed my eyes. I was already sleepy, but I should go to the main hall. Maybe I will be interrogated by His Majesty.

***

Thoughts become reality often. Therefore, be careful how you think. Don't be me, careless and regretful self.

Like my thoughts, I am currently kneeling in front of the throne, witnessed by the king and some servants. There was also an old fortune teller. He looked at me intently.

"Show your modesty before His Majesty the King!"

I was startled by the shout. A large man folded his arms in front of his chest. He stood near the throne. His big, loud voice made my shoulders tremble.

I looked down. The palace carpet was better than the people here.

"Run like a thief, and start a fire in the village. What kind of punishment do you want?"

The cold voice broke the silence of the hall. I looked down deeper. I wanted to refute the second statement, but I was too afraid.

"Answer His Majesty's question!"

The yeller snapped at me again. I felt my heart beating five times faster. However, if I keep my mouth shut, I will be yelled at again or more angrily labeled as a criminal. I still like wandering around outside rather than behind bars.

"Your Majesty, I didn't start a fire in the village. Your Highness the Princess did it to make the day morning."

"Sagara! Explain the chronology."

"Yes, Your Majesty. This seer originally ran towards the main gate. She insisted on going to the village that was brightened by the flames."

I stole a glance at the prince of the stables. He spoke with a sad look on his face.

"She also said the princess was in the village. When we arrived at the village, the princess was indeed there. The princess was standing in the center of the village. This seer approached Her Highness and said to immediately stop the villagers from burning hay."

I looked down again as Bandung Bondowoso directed his gaze at me.

"You asked her to stop the burning, why didn't you also stop her from leaving the palace?" she asked.

"Your Majesty, I had previously prevented Her Highness the Princess," I replied, "But I fainted from the drink Her Highness the Princess gave me."

There was a chuckle. He was probably upset and angry. I kept looking at the carpet, wishing it had holes so I could escape.

"Find the princess," he ordered.

"Your Highness, will you restore the princess status?"

The voice of the old fortune teller reached my ears.

"No."

In an instant, I recalled Roro Jonggrang's lament about her miserable fate after this kingdom fell into his hands. She also said it was easier to protect her people as a commoner. If she returned to the palace, she would probably go mad.

I know I shouldn't worry about her fate, but she has treated me quite well, giving me good food and good clothes.

I looked down at my palms pressed against the carpet. Then, I looked up. Sagara was already walking towards the exit.

"Your Majesty, please let the Princess have her own life," I asked.

Bandung Bondowoso sat haughtily, leaning his back against the throne chair. His eyes dropped, looking at me who was three flights of stairs lower than him.

"What do you mean?"

The yeller was about to open his mouth, but Bandung Bondowoso raised one hand, asking him to be quiet.

"Her Highness always hopes to protect her people. Her Highness also dares to make sacrifices for her people," I said.

I had no idea what I was talking about. My tongue just moved like there was a scenario already planted there.

"She is better able to protect her people if she obeys the king."

"Your Majesty, please end your obsession with the princess. If this continues, there can be no good outcome."

Bandung Bondowoso straightened his back. His wavy black hair fell to his shoulders. Even without the crown, anyone knew who was in charge here.

"I want her because I love her," he said.

"It wasn't love, it was obsession."

His body rose. Bandung Bondowoso's feet stepped, so slowly like it was a slow scene. With each step closer, I felt the air around me grow thinner.

Finally, he stood right in front of me. Haughtily, the king looked down, at me. "How did you know? Have you ever felt it?" he asked.

Spontaneously, my head nodded along with a yes.

He smirked, "Prove it."

"What?"