The Devil's Temptation

The sound of steps on the wooden floor disturbed my sleep. I peeked out from between my heavy eyelids. There's the butler I saw yesterday with her subordinates. I didn't want to wonder what they were doing. I rolled onto my side, then pulled up the blanket.

"Miss, it's time to get up."

Inside the blanket, I yawned. It's Sunday and strange dreams like this always happen.

"Miss, you should prepare for the wedding."

My hearing faintly caught the butler's voice. However, I didn't want to open my eyes. I was afraid if I woke up in the middle of a dream, I'll be thrown into another world, like when I'm waiting for the bus at the bus stop...

My eyes were wide open. I quickly pulled back the blanket. This room... these people... I was still in a strange world!

"Miss, we'll help you get ready."

I ignored the butler. My feet ran towards the window. The golden rays in the sky signaled that it was morning. I held my head. Suddenly, my head was dizzy.

"Miss, you can eat a little before getting ready," the butler said again. She stood beside me carrying a pile of expensive fabrics.

My face was facing him. Firmly, I refused, "I don't want to."

Her flat face had no change. With a movement of those eyes, she had two servants grab my shoulders, then they forcefully pulled me into the bathroom.

"Let go of me! Why do I have to take another bath?!"

"You haven't bathed since yesterday, Miss. We need to make sure you're ready for tonight."

The bathroom door opened. She stood in the doorway calmly. Meanwhile, I was put into the tub and splashed with flower water.

"It's still night, why do I have to take a bath now? It's still morning!" I shouted in my best voice. "You don't need to be so busy. I'm not getting married."

She shook his head softly. "I'm willing to be busy to fulfill His Majesty's request."

"Do you know something?" I asked, then hung up the sentence. She seemed curious about what I was going to say.

"The princess is still in this kingdom. There is still time to find her."

"Not the princess His Majesty wants." Having said that, she turned around and left.

I frowned. Why didn't Bandung Bondowoso want Roro Jonggrang? He was so excited before. Is it because she's no longer a princess that his mind has changed? I squinted my eyes. Something's not right.

"Be careful rubbing it," I said later as the maid rubbed my arm too vigorously.

***

After bathing and having breakfast, I was told to sit quietly in the room. Outside the soldiers were passed by. There's no way out other than the door because all the windows here have wooden trellises.

"How stupid of me. I should have escaped from the palace the first time I fell here," I muttered then flopped onto the bed.

My index finger rubbed the bed railing, forming an invisible circle. If I hadn't dealt with them in the first place, I could have focused on finding a way home instead of a way out of there.

"Princess, where are you? Go back and conquer that king...."

"Citra, what are you saying? She just gave up staying here. There's no way she's going to come back."

I was talking to myself. In novels, characters who are thrown into another world try to return to their world. However, she fell in love with a male character and canceled her intention to return to her world.

"I might be able to do that if I meet a nice man who loves me, and is handsome."

My gaze went to the ceiling. The room and even the atmosphere here were not too unfamiliar. There was once a movie that showed this kind of setting. However, it was still not exciting to feel it. There was no electricity or internet here.

I got up from my bed. On the table were three gold plates filled with fruits, fabrics, and jewelry. This was both luxurious and suspicious. What's he was going to do by having a wedding with me? I mean forced me.

Compared to the princess, I'm not as beautiful as her. My behavior is petulant. Also, I'm not the person he wants.

"Let's think."

I was not the person he wants, but he was taking me to the wedding. Marriage without love was taking advantage. Examples of benefits that can be taken from me... I didn't think there are any.

My hand scratched my head. He's the king. Kings are just like merchants, seeking profit. Then, what can he get from me? Divination?

"He doesn't believe it, does he? He wouldn't have me tell him a prophecy that I have no idea about, right?"

I was suddenly restless. How could I possibly tell a prophecy? If I lied again, I could be punished or possibly killed. I must do something.

My gaze wandered in all directions. There should be something useful to get out of here. At the same time, Candra came into view. I ran to the window and called out, "Candra!"

He turned around immediately.

"Come here," I asked.

He came. "What can I do for you, Miss?"

I looked at the spear he was holding. The spearhead was sharp. So, I asked, "Cut this trellis using your spear."

"I can't."

Gosh, he refused without a second thought.

"I'm in trouble, please help me, cut this trellis."

Candra shook his head. Then, he bent down. "I'll be back on guard."

He left quickly. I held the trellis tightly. Shit! Why did he feel sorry for me? This is not fun.

I sat down on the chair. My shoulders slumped, tired. Should I give up? What would I give up for?

My hand was scratching my shoulder. I yawned, bored and at a loss for what to do. I had no experience living in a strange world. I wish I had magic-like powers to protect myself.

"If only I had."

"What do you wish you had?"

When I was about to close my eyes, the black smoke appeared. It entered through the window, then swirled over the plate of fruits. Afterward, it came closer to my face.

"I can give it to you."

I furrowed my brow. This was the devil's temptation. It spoke in a seductive tone to get me interested and then sacrifice something.

"You're too kind to strangers," I retorted.

It chuckled softly. "You're not a stranger."

"Really? We don't even know each other's names."

"We can know each other's names at our... wedding ceremony."

I chuckled. For a moment I thought the smoke was the king.

"Someone must have you here."

"I don't belong to anyone else. I belong to you."

A laugh escaped my mouth. Its words were comforting, like a dark romance genre novel. It said so in a hypnotizing low voice.

"You must be very entertaining to your owner."

It laughed again. "He doesn't like comedy. So, I'm here to entertain you. You look upset. How about we play outside?"

Hearing the word 'outside', my heart beat faster. This funny smoke could help me get out of here or even this palace. I nodded my head.