Kalinggara Kingdom

"What do you mean, Mother?" Umbara still doesn't understand what his mother said. Umbara recently became King. Umbara had not thought about a queen who would accompany him at all.

"You should also think of someone who will accompany you for the affairs of the kingdom, Umbara," said Bhanurasmi. "How can you think of holding a concubine contest but forget about the Queen's existence?"

"Mother, won't I be able to choose the Queen among the concubines later?" asked Umbara.

"No Umbara. You are the King of the Kalinggara kingdom, and your consort must be from among the nobles. Who can accompany you to royal events and be respected by all your people? The position of a queen cannot be given to just anyone." Bhanurasmi explains it to her son.

"The Queen and the Concubine are very different. You can have all the women in this land to be your concubines, but not as your queen. "

Umbara was silent. Listen to his mother's explanation. Maybe that's why his mother always looks elegant, beautiful, and has an air of respectability. Because his mother was chosen from the upper classes to be the Queen who accompanied his father.

"So, what is the point of your mother telling me this?" Umbara wonders.

Bhanurasmi smiled briefly. It seemed Umbara was able to accept her explanation just now. "Mother will be responsible for finding a queen for you," replied Bhanurasmi confidently.

"Then?"

"Then you have to marry her. Because Mom will select some decent and highly educated women. "I've got a list of girls for you, son," answered Bhanurasmi

"Even though I don't love her?" Umbara's question made Bhanurasmi glare at her son.

"You can't love just any woman, Umbara!"

Umbara took a deep breath. It was still early, and he didn't want to argue with his mother. Umbara chose to follow her mother's advice. Maybe some of the women who will be brought by Kanjeng Ibu will be able to attract Umbara's attention. Like Sekar,

"Alright, do your wishes."

Bhanurasmi smiles contentedly. "I will give the title of Queen to the best woman in the country," said Bhanurasmi.

Since she feels the responsibility to give the post to the next Queen, then Bhanurasmi will definitely choose the best woman in the country. According to the criteria,

"Is that all you're going to talk about?"

Bhanurasmi nodded with a relieved smile that Umbara agreed to her wish.

After seeing her mother's smile, Umbara stood up and bowed respectfully. "Then I'll go first to Kanjeng Ibu," he said formally.

"Krisna!" Umbara called Krisna as soon as she arrived outside Kanjeng Ibu's residence. Because of the mother's command earlier, everyone should stay away, so they left their rightful place.

"Baginda." Krishna came and bowed respectfully.

"Let's go to the hall now and gather everyone!" Umbara's orders Now is not the time to think about what Kanjeng Mother said earlier. Many state tasks await him.

***

Meanwhile, in the morning at Nyai Kasmirah's brothel house, it was very crowded. News of the concubine's contest being accelerated and that they all had to go to the palace tomorrow had spread throughout the city. And unlike usual, Nyai Kasmirah's brothel house was even three times more crowded than last night. The noise and the voices of young women flooded the place.

Nyai Kasmirah smirked. "The more that passes, the more they pay me," she said happily. The girls who have registered will later be selected by royal officials, and if they meet the criteria, Nyai Kasmirah will get paid from the palace. All that is on Nyai Kasmirah's mind now is money.

"Shut up everybody!" Nyai Kasmrah struck a drum to stop their loud voices. And only for a few seconds, the atmosphere immediately fell silent. All eyes were on Nyai Kasmirah.

Sekar was also among the hundreds of girls standing in front of Nyai Kasmirah. The woman who manages the brothel house has provided a more suitable change of clothes for Sekar. After what happened last night, Sekar must thank the woman once more. Even though Sekar's mind is actually busy with questions about, how is her father doing?

You will be selected by the higher-ups of the kingdom, so I hope that you give your best in your performances. Is that understandable? " Nyai Kasmirah gave an opening sentence that was quite interesting for all of them. Replies signify they have understood and spoken from their mouths.

"Later tonight, A royal official will come. They will decide who will be able to come with them tomorrow to the palace. " The atmosphere was again bustling and bustling because of Nyai Kasmirah's words just now. Some of them were disappointed because they felt they did not have sufficient preparation due to the accelerated competition. But many of them also have high self-confidence and feel that they will definitely escape and enter the palace easily.

"You have time to arrive tonight. So, prepare yourselves and come back here tonight. " Nyai Kasmirah said. She will temporarily close her brothel tonight. By calculation, she would get paid more when they all qualified to become concubines.

"Now disperse!"

All the women who were there obeyed the words of Nyai Kasmirah. They went here and there and were busy thinking about what to prepare. While in the midst of them, Sekar was silent and did not move. Nyai Kasmirah approached the woman. "Aren't you going to get ready?"

Her question awakened Sekar's daydream. She just realized the arrival of Nyai Kasmirah. Since then, Sekar hadn't listened to her at all. Sekar sighed. "I don't have a destination in Nyai. "If I leave here, my father will definitely catch me," said Sekar.

Nyai Kasmirah looked at Sekar. "Go! Don't worry about it. I've secured your father," she said.

Instead of leaving, Sekar widened her eyes in shock. Securing what does Nyai mean? "What do you mean Nyai?"

"I have already sent your father to safety. So he won't be able to catch you." Nyai Kasmirah replied casually.

Sekar is even more surprised and curious about what Nyai Kasmirah has done to Darma. "Where is he now Nyai?"