6 : TOGETHER

Yuyun pulled Rara out of the room filled with books, guiding her toward the crowd of family members gathered outside the grand hall. From a distance, a tall man in a black mask adorned with a striking tiger motif could be seen. His towering and firm stance radiated an intimidating aura from where they were still walking toward Rara's family, who were kneeling before the royal soldiers.

"Kneel, now!" a soldier barked, shoving Mr. Tirta harshly. Reflexively, Rara caught Mr. Tirta's arm, saving him from falling. He looked at her with a calm expression and slowly shook his head, trying to calm Rara, who was visibly panicked.

"Sir, everyone has gathered outside the hall," a guard reported to the masked man. The tall man reached out and took a scroll of yellowish-brown color from the tray held by a soldier beside him. In a firm voice, he began to read its contents, "By the order of His Majesty the King, based on the latest report from the Council of Justice, it has been declared that for the past three years, there has been embezzlement of royal tributes. Duke Raden Mas Wiratma is hereby named a suspect, and his family shall receive appropriate punishment. All property and residence of the Duke will be confiscated, all males aged 15 to 45 shall be exiled for forced labor on the royal construction project, and the women and servants shall be relocated to the abandoned estate next to the northern temple. That is all."

A heavy silence fell over the stunned crowd as the masked man remained holding the scroll, occasionally glancing at the Duke's residence, which had begun descending into chaos.

"From now on, all of you will vacate and leave this estate!" the masked man's voice boomed across the courtyard, full of authority and command. Suddenly remembering something, Rara stood up and gathered her courage before shouting, "Wait a moment!"

The crowd fell silent, some turning in surprise as the masked man stared sharply at Rara. "Pardon the interruption and my lack of decorum, sir," Rara continued, her voice firm yet respectful. "I am the eldest daughter of Duke Wiratma, and I would like to request one thing regarding the confiscated property."

One of the soldiers beside the masked man looked confused and whispered, "Sir, this...?"

The masked man raised his hand, signaling to let Rara speak. "Continue," he said flatly.

"Among all the possessions listed for seizure, I would like to request permission to take one type of property," Rara said, her voice trembling but determined. "We are a family that deeply values education and honors all forms of knowledge. In the scroll just read, there was no mention of our books. May I, Rara, take all the books from our estate's reading room? They are a precious legacy for our family."

Several soldiers exchanged glances, unsure how to respond. The masked man studied Rara with an unreadable gaze. Silence followed, broken only by the wind sweeping dust across the courtyard as everyone awaited the masked man's response.

"Go ahead. It's true, they weren't mentioned," the masked man replied coldly. "But we will not be responsible for helping you."

Rara nodded firmly. "Yuyun, quickly! Bring two more servants and Mr. Tirta to move the books to my personal carriage," Rara ordered without hesitation. She knew time was short.

Yuyun quickly got up, hurriedly called two nearby servants, and guided Mr. Tirta, who had remained silent since the earlier incident. As they moved swiftly, Rara turned to look at her grandmother, Nyai, who stood with an expression full of pride mixed with worry. Nyai gave her a gentle nod, encouraging her with eyes full of conviction. Beside Nyai, Rara's mother appeared weak, still leaning on her loyal personal maid for support. Her siblings sat limply outside the main hall, frozen in helplessness.

Rara took a deep breath, fighting the turmoil inside her. With steady steps, she held her emotions in check as she looked at her loved ones who now seemed so fragile. For them, she would protect the last shred of dignity her family had left.

As Yuyun and the others began carrying stacks of books from the reading room, the soldiers merely watched, with no intention of helping. Dust rose from the transported books—symbols of the knowledge and history of a family whose only treasure now would be those very pages.

The horse-drawn carriage carrying Rara's family began to move, leaving behind their once-grand residence—now nothing more than a shattered shadow of the past. Only a few chests containing clothing, small furnishings, and stacks of books were salvaged, silent witnesses to their journey toward an uncertain new life. The rumble of the carriage wheels on the cobbled road echoed like a lament of unspoken sorrow.

Nyai sat in the corner of the carriage, her face etched with deep exhaustion, yet her eyes remained resolute for the sake of her grandchildren. Rara's mother, frail and fragile, leaned against one of the attendants, occasionally drawing deep breaths as if trying to suppress the pain swelling in her chest. Meanwhile, Rara stared out the window, her eyes following the ever-shrinking view of the grand home, now replaced by endless stretches of tea plantations—mirroring the boundless uncertainty ahead.

As they reached the eastern part of the kingdom, the atmosphere changed drastically. Residences became fewer and farther between, replaced by steep hills shrouded in a light mist, giving the surroundings a gloomy yet mysterious feel. The air grew colder, and the soft trickle of a nearby stream added to the heavy silence that hung between them.

Upon arriving at their new dwelling, the family stepped down from the carriage with mixed emotions. The residence that was now their shelter appeared small and modest, far from the splendor of the palace they once called home. Its wooden walls looked weathered, some parts of the roof seemed fragile, and the front yard was overrun with wild grass growing uncontrollably—as if reflecting their uncertain fate.

Without delay, Yuyun and the two attendants sprang into action, swiftly unloading the belongings. Rara stepped into the center of the yard, her eyes fixed on the sky tinged with orange, as if it were painting the emotions she could not speak. In the distance, birds returned to their nests, symbolizing the long journey they had endured that day—a journey that tested not just their bodies but their strength of heart.

Nyai slowly approached, gently placing her hand on Rara's shoulder in a calming gesture."We'll be alright, Rara. This is not the end—it is the beginning of a new story."

Rara nodded, though anxiety still lingered in her heart. She knew the road ahead would not be easy, but with the knowledge they held, and the honor they still upheld, she made a silent promise that her family would not fall into despair. The sun sank lower on the western horizon, cloaking their new home in the dim light of dusk, as if quietly witnessing the opening of a new chapter in their lives.

Nyai and Rara were the first to step inside the house. As they crossed the main threshold, the air inside felt heavier, filled with the scent of old wood and lingering dust. Furniture draped in tattered cloth lined the silence, keeping memories unknown to them. The wooden floor creaked under their steps, as if crying out the years of neglect this place had endured.

Rara's eyes swept across the room. To the right of the main door was a small bedroom with a slightly ajar wooden door, revealing a simple bed and an old wardrobe covered in dust. In front of them stretched a wide gathering room with a long table and several chairs arranged haphazardly, as though abandoned in haste. In one corner of the room stood a reading nook filled with dusty wooden shelves, some scrolls and old books still neatly stacked, though some were scattered. In another corner of the reading nook was a small storage room, its door tightly shut, with a rusted chain hanging weakly—guarding secrets yet to be known.

Nyai let out a long sigh, brushing dust off one of the tables with her wrinkled fingers."This place… it hasn't been lived in for a long time," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking to herself.

Rara stepped further inside, her hand grazing a dusty bookshelf, as if trying to feel the traces of the past hidden within. She knew this place was more than just a temporary refuge—it would be their new world, the place where they would have to rebuild the honor torn apart by the kingdom's decree.

"Miss," Yuyun's voice broke the silence, the loyal servant standing in the doorway with a worried expression. "What should we do first?"

Rara took a deep breath, letting the cold air fill her lungs. She looked around and replied firmly,"Clean this place. We can't live in the shadows of dust and gloom. This house must become ours—not just the remnants of someone else's past."

With that command, Rara's family and the servants began to move. The protective cloths were pulled away, dust rose into the air, floors were swept, and oil lamps began to light the once-darkened space. Though small and far from luxurious, this house now became their final hope.