Tricked

Do you remember when Roro Jonggrang told Aunt Sumi to go get clothes and makeup? If you remember, then you can guess how I am now.

From head to toe, I'm wearing a fancy patterned dress with sparkles on it. This is the dress of a noblewoman. However, Roro Jonggrang put it on me with a playful face. It's like she made me into her duplicate.

After making me look like her, she dragged me to the garden. Just a couple of seconds after we sat down, Bandung Bondowoso unexpectedly came out.

I watched the two of them have a fierce ego battle. The princess wanted her life to be unfettered, while the king wanted to have the princess in his arms. This is an exciting story.

Obsession, ambition, I could feel it all. Their strong will in them gave birth to an act of courage that no one could break. I admire that.

Throughout their conversation, I always found his eyes fixed on me. It was an appraising look. Bandung Bondowoso must be judging my princess-like appearance.

Forgive me, Your Majesty. I wasn't the one who wanted this.

Even if the princess makes me look like her, the person who likes her will not change his heart.

"Did you see? He's a pushover. He's always telling me to shut up and not do stupid things," Roro Jonggrang said vehemently.

I took a breath. "Stupid things are best not done, Princess," I replied.

Roro Jonggrang yelled at me, made comments about me that made him look like a child, and finally left me. I could only shake my head at her behavior.

***

After Roro Jonggrang left me, I went for a walk by myself. At first, it was just around the garden Somehow I ended up at the stables.

Since I didn't know the way back, I sat by the stables. I contemplated while looking at the morning sky. The air here is so fresh. It's different from the city with all its busyness.

I sink my face into my lap.

"Your Highness?"

A voice rang out beside me. I looked up and turned my head to the left. I was instantly stunned to see the owner of the voice.

He had dark hair like charcoal and a slender facial figure with light brown skin. His black eyes looked friendly. Let's not forget his well-built body. Was he a prince?

"Oh, sorry, I thought you were the Princess," he said then and was about to leave.

"I'm the princess's new maid."

He turned around, then approached me. His body was slightly bent towards me. He asked, "Do you know where the princess is?"

I shook my head. "I was with Princess in the garden, but then Princess left by herself," I replied.

"Where did she go?"

"Princess didn't tell me where she wanted to go."

His face turned worried. He stood up straight and brushed the hair off his forehead. "Alright," he said and left with quick steps.

I watched him walk out of the stables. His muscular back slowly moved away from my sight. How could there be such a human?

"Take care, Prince Charming."

The horse's loud gait startled me. I faced backward. Ever since I came, the black horse had been silent. However, now it was noisy. I walked towards it.

"Do you like him too?" I asked.

It replied with a giggle.

"We have the same taste."

The piles of hay around the stables made me think of something. When Roro Jonggrang deceived the genies, she had the village girls burn the hay. However, they shouldn't have burned it in the stables, right?

I chuckled. My worries were overblown.

"Besides, I came here aimlessly. With no purpose, little knowledge, how am I supposed to live?"

I let out a long sigh, then sat back down on the haystack. In the corner of my eye found a sack of carrots. Quickly, I grabbed two. One was for me and the other I gave to the horse.

"It's tonight, isn't it?" I muttered as I ran a hand through my loose hair.

The horse giggled.

"If she uses that method to stop the construction, her end is in sight," I said, "But, if she uses another method... will her life change?"

I chewed the carrot. If the plot had already been established, what was the point of me being here? Is the reason I'm here to help her or him?

"Horse, you just said yes to my words. Can you do it now? I'm here by accident."

A giggling voice answered me.

"My purpose is to help her."

The horse didn't answer.

"Help him."

Same, no answer.

My body turned backward. I gasped to find the horse as still as a statue. In its dark eyes was a reflection of me. I swallowed. Slowly, my feet stepped back.

The sound of the horse's breathing was like an overheated engine. Then, it raised its two front legs until the stable door broke. In one blink of an eye, he ran out.

My feet ran aimlessly. I looked straight ahead for a safe place. However, as far as the eyes could see, it was all horse stables.

"Where are the people?!" I shouted, hoping for somebody there.

I looked back. The horse was chasing me with all four legs. I didn't want to be run over by those.

At the junction, I took the right route. As it turned out, the supposedly good right lane was misleading. It was a dead end with a pile of mud. When I wanted to turn back, the horse was already near me. My feet lost their footing and my body tumbled backward.

I fell down into the stinky mud. I heard the horse giggle.

Damn, I'm tricked.