Be A Life Time Slave?
"Your Majesty, please forgive this subject. I couldn't accept it." Arya Kamandhanu said in a calm manner.
Hearing that answer, everybody's in the room was feeling bewildered. Their mouths were agape, while their jaws dropped. Was this young man crazy, or was he too full of himself? This was such a good opportunity to obtain a good position, a glorious tittle as the son-in law of the Emperor, an abundant wealth, a beautiful wife, and even a chance to inherit the throne in the future. Such a brilliant chance was actually forfeited by him just like that? What did he mean?
The expression of the Emperor also changed, but he instantly adjust his own face and gave a faint smile. "Give me the reason!"
"This humble one had already possess a fianceé. This humble one thought it wouldn't be fair for Princess Rumbu to marry someone who loves another woman." Arya Kamandhanu continued to speak in a calm and peaceful manner.
"Actually, you still could marry your fianceé and make her as your concubine and marry the princess to be your wife. Us, men, are destined to have more wives in this life. Don't you think my suggestion is good enough?" An officer gave a suggestion that everyone thought in their mind. This idea also represented what the Emperor had in his mind but would be bad if he was the one who suggest it.
"I've promise to only love her in this life time. I don't want to go back on my words. A promise of a hero and a vow of a man were two sacred things I couldn't just disregard in my life. I hope the Emperor could forgive this subject. I reckon that His Majesty, the Emperor must understand as the Emperor also loves Her Majesty, the Empress dearly." Arya Kamandhanu persisten on refusing the marriage.
Everyone in the room fell silent. No one dared to talk as they waited for the Emperor to make a decision.
Marissa, who was hiding inside the cosmos sack owned by Arya Kamandhanu, also feeling so touched. Although she knew that she approach him only because she wanted to finish her mission and to enable her to go back to Earth, the answer he gave to the Emperor still left her an undescribable sweet feeling, making her heart beating so fast. And at the same time, she knew that he only used her as a shield to avoid this marriage. But even so, they were both now on the same boat, it's only normal to help each other. She didn't mind to be a shield.
Nevertheless, if one day she was to be really in love with someone, she didn't like to be one of his wives, but be the only his wife, inside and outside, hidden or in the open. She didn't like to share his loved one, she was a selfish one if it was related to love. But, if that man decided to love another woman, she wouldn't force herself to that man and neither she would force him to love her back. Instead, she would just let him be and leave him for good.
After all, life is too precious to dwell on something that shouldn't be forced. Might as well let the time to heal the heart and find another new place, a sincere heart to be harbored at and a pure love to be protected.
"Audacious!" The Eunuch and the previous officer who suggested the idea of making a concubine yelled furiously at the same time.
The officer suddenly wanted to make a move to confront Kamandhanu, but was stopped by the Emperor using the wave of his hand. "It seemed that Young Master Dhanu really loved his fianceé. I hope you don't mind the words of Officer Mardhi, because we, including me, really didn't know that you already have a fianceé. I hope I could see her soon to know which lucky girl who is capable to melt the heart of the head of my Imperial Guard."
The Emperor stopped for a few seconds before continuing his sentences. "I really admire the attitude of you, the second son of Hanggareksana. Firm and strong. That is why I like you to be the husband for Rumbu. But as you said, a forced love wouldn't work. It won't look good for Rumbu as well. Nevertheless, as a father, I still want her to be with a good man. So, I will give you a chance."
The Emperor stopped again, then continued his speech after a while. "I will give you forty five days to subdue at least ten strong and good tigers, as well as to kill at least ten wolves. Bring them to me after the time duration is over. By then, if you complete them well, you have a right to refuse my degree. But if you fail, I promise I won't touch your family, but you..." The Emperor's tone of speaking suddenly became so sharp and intimidating. "I want you to be the slave of my daughter for the rest of your life."
Gasp!
Siiiiiii!!!
The peoples inside the room gasped in shock. That was too cruel! A slave was the lowliest position of human in this continent. It was even lower and more humiliating than a servant or maid. A slave would never have a right for anything in their entire life. They couldn' eat, speak, sleep, and even if they wanted to go to the bathroom to relieve themselves, they must obtain the permission from their owners. This condition sometimes even worse than an animal.
'How stupid! Why does he have to offend the Emperor? Who does he think he is?'
All the peoples inside the room possessed various expression on their faces. They sneered, mocked, laughed inwardly, and even insulted him for being so stupid. More stupid than an animal! There were also some who pitied and regret for him. He was so young but he would be destined to be a slave, and the life-time slave at that! He didn't even have the right to be freed except there will be a degree from the Emperor to free his life someday. That was truly a very cruel fate!
"Have you decided? I will give you one more chance, would you agree with my degree or instead, you want to complete the two missions I give to you?" The Emperor asked calmly.
All the peoples once again turned their gaze at the young man. Although some of them felt it was a pity to refuse the degree and hoping for him to rethink it again, then choose to obey the degree. Nevertheless, there was no lack of peoples who wished for him to hurriedly refuse the degree, so they could watch an interesting show afterward.
It's always as such in this life! Many human always love to see the others to be in troubles. They would be even love to fuel the problems until it could escalate to a new level, until it could burn everything possessed by that certain person who was in trouble, until only ashes left and life is gone as a result. By then, they will nodded their head and be satisfied. Thereafter, they will try to find a new target to kill him or her silently just like what they did before. This type of human would never stop until they themselves got their own coffins.
...
"I will choose to complete the missions." Arya Kamandhanu answered, still in the calm and serene voice, unperturbed by the hushed whispers and mocking words from the surrounding spectators.
"Arya Kamandhanu! What are you doing? Just accept it, alright? What if you die? The North Forest is too dangerous!" By this time, Marissa couldn't keep her calm attitude anymore. She yelled at Kamandhanu through telepathy. "Can't you just pretend to accept it even if you don't like it? We could think of another way later on how to get away from this current situation." She suggested in an urgent voice to make him change his mind. But, no matter what she said, he just wouldn't listen to her.
"Alright. If so, you may depart at any time. The forty five days duration would started when the new day arrived, which means it would started from tonight, at twelve." The Emperor announced.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Arya Kamandhanu nodded without so much expression.
"You may leave." The Emperor waved his hand.
...
"Damn it, what does he mean? How arrogant! Arya Kamandhanu, how dare you to reject the marriage! Although I don't love you, but I hate it when peoples reject me. It was a humiliation for me. Just you see, I will make you regret for refusing the degree from my father."
A beautiful girl whose face was resembled the Emperor, clenched her fist thightly. Apparently, she was the eldest daughter of the Emperor, Princess Rumbu, who overheard the conversation inside the Great Hall.
After saying those hateful words, she left in a fit of anger.
...
Arya's Mansion...
"Have you thought about it thoroughly?" Elder Hanggareksana asked his second son worriedly. His old face was lashed with wrinkles while his hair was grizzled. His eyes was a bit red thinking what the future would be for his second son, should he couldn't make it for this so called missions.
The eunuch who sent the news told him that this mission was entrusted to Kamandhanu because the Emperor think highly of him. At this moment the inter-continent trading had been very popular. Peoples from far away places had done an international business. Just look at the Huaxia Continent, their business in Ceramics and Silk had earn them a lots of money and fame. Their culinary was also had climbed to a new height under the leadership of Khubilai Khan, the tyrant.
And so, the Emperor decided to create a new commodity, which was to sell the skin, teeth, bone, and the fur of wolves. At first, a 'friend' of the Emperor suggested him to hunt down the tigers which numbers were abundant in the Four Great Forest, especially the Sumatra Tigers, Java Tigers, and White Tigers.
But as in this era, some of the peoples of Nusantara still believe that their ancestors were actually came from the Tiger Race. So, even the rulers, such as Ken Arok, were rather reluctant to kill Tigers. That was specially they who came from the Sumatera Island, they worshipped Tigers even more. That's why the Emperor decided to just hunt down the wolves.
"Yes, father." Kamandhanu answered firmly.
"Alright." Elder Hanggareksana sighed. Thinking that he wouldn't be able to persuade his son, he could only hid his sadness and let him go to the North Forest to do his 'missions'.
Although Elder Hanggareksana knew that this mission was just a cover, because he had heard the truth from one of the officer who was rather closed with him, but in the end, he also knew he couldn't do anything to change the situation. Unless, his son changed his mind and was willing to marry to the princess, or his family will do a rebellion successfully to overthrow the throne, this situation would never changed. And so, he could only pray to the God that his son would successfully complete the missions.
"I'm going to prepare, Father. I will go to my room now." Arya Kamandhanu said.
"Okay..." Elder Hanggareksa nodded sadly. "Wait...!"
Just as Arya Kamandhanu was about to go to his room, Elder Hanggareksa shouted.
"Yes? What's wrong, father?" Kamandhanu asked in puzzled.
"That... about your fianceé, is it true or are you just make it up to avoid the marriage?" Elder Hanggareksa asked.
"That's true, father." Kamandhanu nodded.
"Ahhhh?!" Elder Hanggareksa was shocked, never would he thought that his son now really had a fianceé. "Is it because of your Elder Brother that you didn't want to tell about your fiancé?" He asked again, feeling his sadness increased even more.
"Part of it, yes. But it's also because we just started to get closed and I don't have time yet to introduce her to father." Arya Kamandhanu said, still without any expression.
"I see... Then, this old man will wait for you two to visit me at some other days. You have to promise to let me see what kind of daughter in-law you have for this old man." Elder Hanggareksa smiled kindly. The wrinkled on his face was lessen a bit thinking that his second son didn't get depressed because of the previous failures in marriage.
Now, his son really had a fianceé. He, of course, was happy for his son. If not for this current situation, he would celebrate it with his friends by drinking wine and eating roasted deer.
...
Still in Arya's Mansion, Kamandhanu's room...
Actually, there was nothing to prepare. His hunting equipments, such as arrows, bow, rope, knife, sword, medicines, and so on, all had been in his cosmos sack. He just want to meditate for a bit in order to keep his strength in check.
While Kamandhanu was meditating, Marissa was also busy preparing herself. She was now learning how to master the skill
In this Nusantara Continent, the level of mastery in skill or martial art technique was divided into five categories, they were mortal, earth, heaven, immortal, and supreme.
Currently, Marissa was in the earth level. In truth, aside from meditation, Marissa could easily level up by accumulating points from the system, and eating pills, herbal, food, or medicines which contained abundant energy.
The method of accumulating points from the system could be done by reading in the system's library or complete a mission or quest. By then, her points would be automatically added. So, she didn't actually need to meditate every now and then just like the other cultivators.
Thirty minutes later...
[Ding! Congratulation Host to successfully destroy the building of Gelang-gelang Sect : complete rate 50%]
[To obtain 100% completion, Host need to destroy the whole headquarter of the sect and at least 75% of it's cultivators]
[Rewards of 50% completion: one chance of
[Invisible Group : an item that could be used to hid several peoples at the same time. Maximum peoples that could be hidden is five. Duration : 24 hours. This duration could be used at different times]
[Super Mask : an item that could be used to disguise one self. This is a permanent item]
[Puppet : a puppet that could be used and manipulated as a clone of the Host or someone else. A good substitute when the Host is in danger. If the heart of this puppet is broken, it couldn't be used anymore]
[Cofeé machine: a machine that could be used to make cofeé. This is a permanent item]
...
"The heck!" Marissa was bewildered. "I even get a cofeé machine? Does the system encourage me to open a shop and sell cofeé? Well, not bad, not bad. I finally have a chance to do business." She nodded, her spirit was lifted up thinking about her chance to make money.
"What's the meaning of the duration time on the
[That means if the Host uses the item today for only four hours, Host still had twenty hours left. This leftover times could be used on the other days, such as tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and so on until the twenty four hours were all used up]
"I see..." Marissa nodded, feeling that it's quite good and fair.
[Ding! The first main mission for the Host is issued]
"Uhh?"
[Mission : Save Prince Anusapati and subdue him. Duration: Three Hours]
What?!!!
"What do you mean? The hell, how many times I have to save him? This guy is so damn troublesome. Anyway, what do you mean by subduing him?" Marissa was surprised and confused. "Furthermore, I don't even know where he is. How could I save him? You even set time duration at only three hours. Tell me how to complete it. You must be kidding, right?" She grumbled.
[Subduing him means make him acknowledge you as his master and pledge his life to you]
[Regarding the location, Host doesn't need to worry. System will give the Host about the target's location]
[Does Host want to accept the mission]
[Yes or No]
"Can I refuse it? I'm not feeling confident given that short duration you give me."
[Of course. But, Host would miss some very good rewards if the Host give up on this mission]
"Damn! You shameless system! You entice me with rewards. Fine. There is nothing wrong to try it." Marissa said. "I accept this mission."
~~~~~
Quizz:
Where do you think Prince Anusapati was hidden by the perpetrators?
A. Prince Anusapati's own chamber
B. Underground Room
C. Palace Prison
D. The Headquarter of Gelang-gelang Sect
E. In the territory of Devil Mountain