Everyone who saw it froze for a minute, including Renggi Nanta. She did not anticipate this kind of reaction from the Prince Regent. What was it? Trauma? Anxiety? Whatever it might be, she couldn't leave this matter to the guards. And if she asked for anyone else's help, Pram Agrawi's going to say, "I told you so." So she took a deep breath, left her things in the carriage and went to find Prince Basandaya.

When Jantra Kawa followed her, she raised her hand and signaled him to stay. The guard understood that they must be ready in case the prince returned. As he told his men to take a break, his watchful eyes caught someone lurking in the shadow. The woman with the twig head piece stared sharply at the guard.

Renggi Nanta found the Prince Regent holding on to a banyan tree as he gasped for air. Even from the distance, she could see him fighting back the tears. He put his back against the tree and began rubbing his shoulder.

"Your Highness," she spoke softly so she wouldn't surprise him.

Prince Basandaya turned to her. His eyes were welling up. "I can't do this," he choked. "I'm sorry, Renggi Nanta. I can't get on the carriage."

"Let's take the horse then," she came closer.

"No!"

"What about..."

"I can't. It's too soon."

"But Your Highness, you have to be there."

"I know. I know. I'm sorry."

The Prince Regent walked past the secretary and fled into the main palace.

Renggi Nanta sighed. She returned to the front yard and told the horsemen to go back, for they're not going to Kasurip after all. The palace caretakers greeted her as she made her way in the hallway of Talandang Hall. The journey was long but she finally arrived in front of a redwood door. A maid almost jumped when the door was slammed open.

"Out," she ordered.

The maid curtsied and skyrocketed out of the room. Renggi Nanta herself went behind her desk and prepared some papers. She had to draft a letter of apology to King Kertageni because the Prince Regent could not attend the annual feast. After that, she must find the fastest rider to deliver the letter.

Staring at the blank paper, she began dipping the quill into the ink. One line, two line. Scrap. A drop of ink smeared the edge of the paper. Scrap.

Someone cleared their throat. She looked up. It was the woman with twig hair piece.

"Maharahi," she addressed the royal physician. It was a title. Nobody ever knew her real name.

"Renggi Nanta Dipaswirih," she replied. Her silvery voice was as mesmerizing as her stare. There was something enchanting about this woman. Not only she had an eerily beautiful face with her arched eyebrows, long eyelashes, sharp nose and full lips, her silhouette was also too good to be true.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" Renggi Nanta refocused on her paper.

"No, in fact, I'm here to help you," answered Maharahi. She gave a beckoning sign to someone on the corridor. "He's ready."

And there he went. Prince Basandaya stood firm behind Maharahi. There was no sign of pain nor anxiousness from his face. Like Maharahi said, he was ready. Whatever she did to him made his fear disappear.

"Your Highness?" Renggi Nanta stood up. "Are you sure? Can you really go? You were a bit... What is it you're wearing? Is that... Are you more comfortable that way?"

Prince Basandaya looked down the armor he's wearing. He glimpsed at Maharahi who just nodded.

"It's me, my lady," the bassy voice that came out of the Prince's mouth almost made Renggi Nanta drop her jaw to the floor. "It's Jantra Kawa."