==================================================
I could hear the loud sound of drum strikes from the room I reside in right now.
Well... it looks like I don't need someone to tell me if the guests are already gathered in the palace's courtyard.
Ugh... Just imagining their chatters makes my head hurts.
I already done with my outfit just a while ago. Standing in front of the mirror which its frame made of gold shows my reflection. My tan muscular body wearing green and gold batik around my hips. The outfit doesn't have any top and I can see my muscular chest decorated by gold necklaces. My black long hair is tied to the back and its base decorated by the lotus-shaped accessory. I brushed my left bangs and shows my ear which decorated with gold sumping*.
"Why does he take so long just to dress up?" I said in my thought
I opened my mouth to yawn and realized something in the mirror.
Oops.... it looks like I forgot to shorten my fangs. It can't be helped though. Because of those weeks for coronation preparation, I don't even have time to take care of myself. Being born as Genderuwo's tribe is such a bothersome. Just in such a short time, my fangs grew longer. Not only that though, but my hair also grew too and the bad news is I couldn't cut my hair. Genderuwo's hair is a sacred thing. It's the source of our power.
Better to tend these fangs after this procession or I will hurt him again while we kissing each other. I made a simple mind-note for myself
Hmmm...
"Why hasn't he come back yet?"
"What if..." My eyes widened.
"There's something happened to him." I murmured.
.
No... who the fuck dare to mess with my dearest husband on my coronation!
.
Fuck! Stupid me! I shouldn't even leave his side!
.
It was a bad choice
.
What if-
.
.
.
"Kulo nuwun, Gusti pangeran...**"
"WHAT DO YO-"
My chaotic mind went calmer when I saw gray hair peeked out of the door. The small girl opened the door wider to show a fair skin boy. His outfit is pretty much the same as mine, it just the color is different. His hips are covered by cream and gold batik. His closed eyelids decorated with gold dust. There's a stroke of red on his lips. Silver accessories circling on his upper arms. Silver sumping and a long earring are decorating his right ear.
I sighed when I saw his outfit.
No, It isn't because it looks bad on him. But I just want him to wear the same color as mine. If it wasn't for that fussy old man (read: the privy council) against my idea.
I mean... come on... Who's on the earth doesn't want to wear a matching outfit with their beloved one! It's one of our love's proof that everyone in this world must know!
Ouch... I can still hear his nag ringing inside my mind. Blah blah we must follow the tradition... blah blah only the crown prince allowed to wear green... blah blah blah there will be a disaster if I don't agree with it. Actually, I do remember there's more than that. BUT WHO CARES!
He must be grateful I didn't execute him after he spoke ill about my husband. That damn old man dared to say that my dearest husband will bring misfortune to the kingdom.
Just wait and see. After I, the mighty Akssa, officially crowned as the Sri Prabu***, I will erase those useless traditions that he held dearly!
After the flashback that running into my thought, my gaze went to his bare chest. My thick eyebrows frowned.
I walked towards the grey-haired boy while gesturing my hands to make maids leave us alone in this room.
I held him in my arms and called his name tenderly "Setya..."
"What took you so long?" I sighed.
His hands reaching my back "I'm sorry... I'm alright okay. It just..."
He took a deep breath "I forgot about the time. It was so fun talking with Aruna."
I paused.
"Akssa... please don't tell me that you're jealous again?"
"Would you even believe in me if I said I don't?"
"Hn. Who do you think I am? I have become your husband for fourteen years. Of course, I knew every habit of yours." he said confidently.
"And don't even try to fool me even if I can't see your expression!"
"Also let me explain it to you for THE THIRTEENTH TIMES. Aruna is just a maid that we helped last month. Why do you always think that I will choose her over you?"
"Please stop being jealous for simple things like this!"
Nope. I'm still jealous and it won't change.
"Ak-ssa..." he emphasized my name.
"Fine. You caught me. I'm jealous." Before he could reply, I spoke again. "Then please pamper this little boy so he won't get jealous again."
Setya chuckled, "Sure, you're a little boy who has a big body. Here, let big brother pamper you as much as you like."
"Really?? Hurray!" He smiled while he heard my child-like voice.
He's smiling. I really like his smile. I hope I can always see his smile.
"Rather than that, I'm curious about your outfit. Will you tell me what're you wearing right now?" Setya asked.
"Sure, my dear husband." I took his hand, guide him to sit with me.
I told him every little detail of my outfit. Even the smallest detail. I want to sure he can imagine as clear as if he saw me with his own eyes.
"...And that's all I can describe."
"I can imagine how charming you are right now." His ear became red. "Well... you always looks charming since you were a kid."
"Setya... you look beautiful too, you know?"
"I already heard from Aruna about my outfit. But... I think I'm not as charming as you."
That damn girl. I will punish her later for making our conversation shorter than it should.
"I'm just a plain one."
"No! Who said that!"
"Uumm... rather than that I need to say something, Akssa."
"Akssa.... umm..." Setya became panic. His face reddened.
"Yes, my dear husband..." I said with a romantic tone.
His face became redder than a tomato.
"Ummm.... congratulations" He lowered his voice "for your-"
BAM!
Sound of the door opening swiftly is heard. Aruna came inside with a polite gesture.
"Your majesty, your highness, the coronation is about to start."
I took a glimpse of her polite gesture. Hmm not bad. She must have gone through harsh training to be polite like that. The last time I saw her, she just a brat with rough behavior with monstrous strength.
"It's time then." I stood up from my seat.
I approached her and whispered "Change his outfit with the covered one."
"What the f- I mean... Does your majesty know how long it takes to dress up his highness?"
"I said... CHANGE IT." I emphasized with a strict tone.
Aruna shivered. She's escorting Setya to the changing room while swearing in a low tone about how I did. And of course, I feel happy if she's swearing.
==========================================================
Ahh... no matter how many I saw my husband, he always looks beautiful. There's no one, no, there's nothing, even a big diamond can't surpass his beauty.
Of course there's no one. If someone dares to announce she or he is more beautiful than my beloved husband, I would already kill them for sure.
"Akssa... could you stop staring at me? I can feel your gaze piercing me."
"Oh sorry! I just can't help admiring your beauty!"
I took a peek at his chest. I'm glad my husband's seductive chest is covered. I don't want unwanted rivals appeared at my coronation.
"You always do that every day. Don't you feel bored?"
"Nope!"
"Not even a little bit?"
"Not even a little bit!"
"THE CROWN PRINCE AND HIS HIGHNESS HAVE ARRIVED!" The announcer announced our arrival in the courtyard.
"Are you ready, my dear?" I held his hand tightly.
"Hn." He nodded with a smile.
I took the first step. I want to make sure, I didn't let go of his hand, even for a second. I put on my usual strict face while guiding him through the crowd of guests. The guests began chattering.
"Is it him? The chosen one?"
"This is a joke, right? A human will rule us? Furthermore, he's disabled."
"A human? Disgusting."
"SILENCE!" I shouted. "Those who opposed our relationship shall move forward!"
"Akssa!" Setya held my hand tighter. "I'm alright okay."
"But they-"
"I said it's okay. I do believe they won't dare to do anything as long as you're here." He forced himself to smile.
My heart pained. "Fine."
"DID YOU HEAR THAT?! BE THANKFUL TO MY HUSBAND THAT I DIDN'T BITE YOU INTO SHREDS!"
"Akssa... let us just sit on the throne, okay?"
I nodded.
==========================================================
Nine female dancers started to dance in the center of the courtyard. Those dancers represent the blessing of God. Legend said when God doesn't accept someone as the new Sri Prabu, the dancers will be burned in the flame of rage.
But you know, as long as I saw the coronation of my great grandfather until my father there weren't any casualties happened. I do think that legend is just some nonsense blabbered by that privy council to scare royal family so we won't make any mistake. In other words, another useless tradition, let me put that in the list of what useless tradition should I erase after this.
"Akssa?"
"Uh sorry, I lost in thought. What is it, my husband?"
"What is happening now? I heard the gamelan playing."
I smiled.
I held his hand tightly while describing what I saw. It's my habit to have physical contact as much as possible. Sometimes, I saw him crying in sleep while calling his parents. I want to make him know that I won't ever leave him alone.
"It feel nostalgic. Do you still remember the first time we met? There were gamelan too, although it wasn't as bizarre as this."
I chuckled, "How can I forget? It's also the same day as our marriage."
"That's right. Not so long after that." He paused. "I lost my sight."
"Setya." I held his hand tighter. "I promise I will bring your sight back."
"Hn. You don't need to tell me that again. I believe in yo-"
Suddenly a lot of shouting is heard.
.
The crowd went chaotic.
.
"GOD IS ANGRY!!"
"THIS CORONATION MUST ANGER THE GOD!!"
"MISFORTUNE WILL BEFALL IN THIS KINGDOM!!"
"GOD DOESN'T GIVE HIS BLESSING TO THIS CORONATION!!"
.
.
Just what in the earth is happening?!
.
[TO BE CONTINUED]
==========================================================
Glossary
*Sumping = Indonesian ear accessories that used by slid in behind auricle, usually forged resembling bird wings or vines.
**Kulo nuwun = excuse me (formal)
Gusti Pangeran = Your Majesty (referring to the prince)
***Sri Prabu = The King
Comments (1)
See all