Glad To Have Met You

Aheiba, the renowned and beautiful actor of the Nongbal Shumang Leela Lup was found guilty of the murder of his own master. He was given life imprisonment to atone for his sins for the rest of his life while the younger boy was given a lesser charge for the crime.

The people of Chengmei knew the reason Aheiba received a lighter charge was because the king was an avid admirer of his talent and art. They frowned and protested against the act being unfair. However, the king's words was law and therefore his choice resolute and so there was nothing they could do other than grumble about it. But the chieftain understood his act of leniency. The king was always benevolent at best, so he took to consideration the former sins of the victim and the injustice and betrayal felt by Aheiba. The chieftain felt it was the right punishment bestowed.

Anyway, Tomba was finally released after being proven innocent of the crime. He was so relieved and overjoyed that he broke down crying right then and there as he thanked the king and the prince repeatedly. Right at that moment, Ahanlem saw Aheiba stole a slight glance towards Tomba. His expression was an obvious mixture of guilt and relief as if he was freed of a heavy burden.

To be honest, Ahanlem didn't know what to feel about all these. Of course, she was beyond ease that Tomba was no longer in danger of losing his life. But at the same time, she couldn't help feeling pain for Aheiba. Even though it was a short while to make his acquaintance, she had felt he was a good person. No, don't take it wrong, she was shock and angry after she found out he was the real criminal who had framed Tomba but after she heard his story she only felt pity. So, she couldn't rejoice to her heart's content. She actually thought everything was unfair because the man who was murdered deserved to be murdered for all his abhorring sins. She can't help but secretly wished it was anyone else instead of Aheiba.

But at the end of the day she understood that life has always been unfair.

That night, at the inn, a small celebration was held. Tomba was pleasurably drunk as he cried and said he felt like he received a second chance at life. Truly, he had almost crossed over the threshold of death prematurely. The poor boy.

The next day, they were all preparing to go back home at Chengmei but then the chieftain had a last minute appointment with the king, so he immediately left for the palace delaying the plan for their journey. So, Ahanlem decided to go somewhere alone. She left Tomba in his room to catch up on all his lost sleep since the incident started. Then, she went all the way to the market place of the capital. She walked to a conspicuous corner and stood as she looked left and right and front, as if she was looking for someone.

The sun rose to the mid sky and shone resilient. By then, Ahanlem started to sweat from the steady heat.

Ah, what was she doing here anyway? It's not like he will randomly show up again. Besides, a person of his status was probably busy, she pondered to herself.

However, she waited a few more hours in the erratic market and some of the vendors were starting to outright stare at her curiously, so much that Ahanlem felt uncomfortable and decided at last it was better to give up and go back. But then, she felt a hand on her shoulder suddenly. Ahanlem let out a soft gasp as she jumped startled. She turned around to face the culprit of her fright. But to her surprise and delight, the man was the very person she was expecting all day.

Prince Lamyanba stood tall and elegant before her. With a gleeful expression on his handsome face, he asked her, "Ah, Ahanlem what brings you to the market at this hour?"

It was already late noon with the sun steadily descending down the blue sky, the marketplace was bustling with people and colours as usual but Ahanlem had been standing in that specific corner for a while that she was a bit tired to greet him properly. She only gave a bow but the prince seems to not pay any mind to her conduct. Instead his soft lips were curved in a mischievous manner; his doe eyes, staring at her were dark and bright, and dressed in a very fine mint coloured robes, he looked beautiful as ever as he stood beside his dark reddish horse.

Ahanlem couldn't help but wonder it was an amazing sort of luck of her to make the acquaintance of such a person in this hierarchical era.

Ahanlem wasn't the only one gazing at the prince's image shamelessly, all the people in the market were greeting the prince enthusiastically all the while being enthralled by his beauty. The prince received their greetings politely then ushered Ahanlem to follow him to a more secluded place. There, he turned around and said in a smooth tone, "Ahanlem."

"Yes, my l-lord." She greeted him sloppily.

"You didn't answer me, what are doing here?" He asked impatiently this time.

At his inquiry, Ahanlem was reminded of her real purpose of waiting here for hours. She clumsily brought out a little bamboo box from her person and handed it to the prince, blushing madly as she mumbled, "For you, my lord..."

The prince took the tiny box in his pale hands and asked curiously, "Hm, what is this?"

"It's just a humble little gift, my lord, as a token of my gratitude to you for helping my brother."

"Oh." The prince said looking eager. His eyes seemed to almost sparkled, as he open the lid of the petite bamboo box which revealed to be thin squares of black sesame sweets made with syrup.

The prince picked up one of the three odd shape and peculiarly bit into it. After he finished the first bite, he looked at her and said, "It's good but I don't really like sweets."

Hearing his reply, Ahanlem was crestfallen but the prince having noticed the look on her face laughed as he said, "Hahaha, don't worry. It's not that sweet, I like it. I will even finish it all." Ahanlem was instantly elated. The prince continued saying as he started to eat the second one, "So, how long are you going to stay in the capital?" The prince asked her, sounding a tad more excited than he looked.

"I will be leaving tomorrow morning, my lord." Ahanlem answered.

"You have plenty of time then, follow me." The prince said and walked ahead, pulling the reins of his horse. Ahanlem diligently followed behind him while keeping a little distance because she was aware of the difference of their status. However, the prince called out from behind her, "Come on boy, you can surely walk faster than that." So, Ahanlem ended up yielding to his demand, throwing aside etiquette.

Both of them soon arrived to a familiar street. It was a spot wherein the small house with the vibrant lemon orchard was located, where Ahanlem was brought last time.

"My lord, you want me to cook?" she couldn't help but asked him.

"No, not today, I attended a ceremonial feast earlier." The prince answered her as he kept walking ahead.

They walked for half a mile until finally they arrived towards one of the eastern bank of the huge Edom river and on the edge grew a lone, tall heirangoi tree. The dark and smooth green leaves of the vertical plant swayed with the breeze above, teasingly revealing heaps of shiny, golden fruits.

The heirangoi tree was known to bear one of the most delicious local fruits with rich nutrients according to her grandmother. However, in Ahanlem's time, it was almost believed to have disappeared. So, naturally, she had never tried the fruit and was excited to pick one and taste it. She walked a step forward towards the tree to pick the fruit but she found she was too short to reach for any. The prince swiftly walked past her and easily picked one and handed it to her directly. Then he turned back and continued to pick more of the golden fruits one after another. When Ahanlem's hands were full of the glistening, yellow fruits, the prince stopped picking. He said to her, "You can have more. These are my return gift for your journey home."

Ahanlem was surprised at the unexpected offer. She replied him slowly, "My lord, it's alright. It's really enough."

"Are you sure? These are really good." He told her.

Then, he turned towards the tree and added softly, "You should be honoured you know. This is probably the only heirangoi tree that bears ripe fruits early before its season. It's because of the good soil here. Believe it, I grew this tree myself when I was very young along with my mother..."

Ahanlem listened to him say as she watched him dazedly. He looked proud and fondly at the tree as if in mirthful remembrance of tender past days.

Ahanlem looked down to her arms which were laden with the fruits. Before she could stopped herself, she found herself saying, "You are an outstanding person with a generous heart. I'm glad to have met you..."

"Hm, what did you say, Ahanlem?"

The prince said as he slowly walked and stood right before her. Ahanlem was suddenly showered by the cool scent of citrus and leihao wafting from the prince. For a few seconds, she stayed quiet, being mesmerized by his very image and fragrance.

"My lord, I said that you are brilliant, quite the genius." She managed to tell him in a soft tone.

The prince's eyes shone like morning dews at the compliment. He said looking proud but a bit silly, "Of course, I'm a genius, one of the best there is." Then, with a white teethful smile he looked at her and said teasingly, "Tell me again how brilliant I'm."

Charmed at his child-like antics, Ahanlem gave a wide smile revealing her dimples as she indulged him sincerely, "My lord, you are a brilliant, you are the best ever."

The handsome prince's eyes brightened at her answer, as well as at her hidden dimple smile and he uttered in a teasing tone, "Ah, rashi leirame."

Ahanlem was caught off guard by his compliment and her face immediately erupted to the colour of red roses.

-

In the lush private garden of the king's residence, the chieftain of Chengmei sat with the king himself, leisurely sipping fresh coconut juice flavoured with tulsi leaves.

The chieftain put down his glass and began, "Your Majesty, I, your humble servant can't thank you enough for inviting and offering me such a scrumptious meal today. But I dare ask, what really ails you that you have called me here."

The king looked thoughtfully at the man sitting before him then said, "Khaba, I can't help but feel uneasy..."

"Please, let me know, you have my unwavering assistance, Your Majesty."

The king turned his head and gazed towards his daughter, the Crown Princess who was busy in the garden afar, picking fresh flowers along with her attendants. Then, he turned back to meet the curious eyes of the man and said,

"It's about the Ningthouja clan in general, their influence is steadily growing in the court as well as the capital ever since the betrothal incident."

"Hm, well, Minister Yaima was never a simple character to begin with but it appears his younger son is quite clever himself."

"Indeed, he turned the tide surprisingly for their own benefit while having the crisis. A greedy oracle was cunningly bribe, in addition, their clan publicly forgave the Ningthemja seer who defamed the princess and started the whole debacle. And they completely grasped whole of the hearts of the people so smoothly. It still amazes me till today."

"Not to mention, the prince is exceedingly handsome that he had easily captured my daughter's heart." The king added as he chuckled lightly.

"The Crown Princess, Tamphasana fancies the prince that much?" Khaba was utterly surprised.

"Yes, the whole of the capital knows of it, even Minister Yaima knows of it. I expect he is already scheming a grand proposal at the moment."

"The minister is definitely not an ideal in-law but if I should say, his son, the prince is quite the catch."

"Haha, you think so, too. But as a father, I can't help worry. After all, she is my beloved only daughter."

"Your Grace, I understand but if you are not comfortable with that clan, why didn't you first engage her to the Ningthemja's prince? I heard KorouNganba is a handsome, gallant and brave young man himself and Minister Irabot is better a character than Yaima."

"I have already considered that possibility very often but they are distant cousins from the late queen's side, so they basically grew up playing together. Neither have romantic intentions towards each other till today, instead they shared a sweet bond of siblings between them and nothing else." The king spoke fondly.

"I see, that is very good." Khaba smiled. Then, he added genuinely, "Your Grace, although I do not know much about Prince Lamyanba's character, from the few meetings I saw of him, I believe he is quite a respectable and bright young noble with a surprisingly strong sense of justice. Honestly, I was wholly grateful to him when he presented the real culprits at the trial room and saved our boy, Tomba. I think, he may be nothing like his father."

The king curved his lips at his guest's words, then he said slowly, "Marup, you are too naive. I myself, am very astounded at his brilliant action and assistance, but the thing you must know is that until that day, the prince never personally showed any sense of strong justice. Well, according to my understanding of him over the years."

"What do you mean, your majesty?" Khaba asked puzzled.

"I mean that it is not in the prince's character to be curious or even helped out a random citizen so generously like that. The prince is proud and not one to do such things. And no, he is not a patron of the arts and entertainments, he is a serious scholar, a sportsman who doesn't appreciate actors or artists or anyone along that line. So, it's a real surprise and mystery to me when he was directly involved in the affair of that murder case."

"Is it really like that?" the chieftain asked with doubtful eyes. The king laughed at his suspicion and added, "You may be feeling I'm a bit biased because the sinner, Aheiba was one of my favourite entertainers. But it's not true, the real reason is that, I have begun to be wary of the prince since the failed engagement incident, my doubts are solely on him. He has really brought himself to my attention." The king sighed looking at his daughter once again.

"Then, why and how did he helped Tomba and Ahanlem?" the chieftain was fully engrossed now and forgot to add the royal honorific.

The king didn't mind, as he asked him, "So, Ahanlem's the brother's name?"

"Yes."

"I see."

"When my servant informed me in the early hours of the prince's urgent request regarding the case, I was utterly taken by surprise. I was more shocked when Aheiba and the boy easily confessed to the crime. It's almost as if they were prematurely threatened if they dare to lie."

"Not to mention, the unbelievable account of his sudden meeting with that accuser's brother Ahanlem. The narrative were far from solid but it was good enough and the prince knows of all these too. Even more, he knows that such things were irrelevant to the matter because the real criminals were proven towards everyone with unwavering evidences and motives."

"My king, you have thought afar."

"Yes, that is why I can't help but feel uneasy. The main reason I suddenly called you out today were because I want to request you an important favor."

"Anything, Eningthou."

"I do not have a chief advisor, unlike my father and the previous kings, I foolishly thought the counsels of my ministers were enough but time has proved me how wrong I was. Anyway, I'm need of it. I have a certain man in mind who I believed have the best foresight, knowledge and temperament in the kingdom. And my request is for you to bring him to me, my dear friend."

"Is it really who I'm thinking?" Khaba said with a slight grimace.

"Haha. Yes, I'm afraid so. But I'm sure you understand he is the only one suitable."

"Of course." Khaba chuckled shaking his head in dismay.

The king added, "I heard from the man I had sent to watch over that he is still drunk on wine and surrounded by beautiful women day in and out night at Taningtha."

Khaba looked at him and said, "My king, it is indeed a great and difficult favor. I pray I'll be able to fulfil it."

"I had to ask this of you, Khaba. You are the only one he will pay any heed."

"I understand, Your Grace."

"Oh, there is another thing." The king said after they both got up from their seats.

Hearing the king's last request however, the chieftain was more utterly surprised but he accepted it dutifully, "As you wish, Your Grace."