Queen Without Crown

Chapter 154 The Winner of the Competition

Since the arrival of Prince Awang to the palace of Dewanata, there were secretly several groups disguised as merchants from Alsatia into the territory of the Kingdom of Dewanata gradually. They rent houses around the capital and their numbers combined can reach thousands of people.

No one realized that they routinely gathered in secret somewhere hidden to devise a plan of invasion. Intentionally smuggled weapons have been stored in such a way as to be usable at any time if an invasion order is called.

That is why Prince Awang felt so confident to seize the throne of the Kingdom of Dewanata. If the application fails, there is already a backup plan that will ensure it achieves its goals.

Today Prince Awang is back against his opponent. His defeat yesterday obviously upset him but did not affect him too much. He has ordered all his men to be ready.

These men were not Alsatian soldiers but mercenaries. Those who had helped clear his way to usurp the throne of Alsatia.

But because of an ancient rule that is outdated but still firmly held by the Kingdom of Alsatia, namely that the future king is required to be married makes him have to immediately find a future wife.

So he decided to marry the princess of the Kingdom of Dewanata. If it succeeds in uniting the two kingdoms, Alsatia is no longer underestimated by the Royal League. Alsatia under his leadership will be greater than Elfian.

"Today's game was very simple and easy." King Badre looked at the two suitors with a glaring smile. "Find my daughter, Princess Pertiwi, among the women there."

Everyone turned to the place appointed by King Badre. In a field, there were a hundred women dressed similarly with faces covered in black veils.

"You can guess three times. The winner is of course the one who can bring the real Princess of Pertiwi before me." The face of King Badre was not separated from the smile.

Both participants have met with Princess Pertiwi. Of course it makes it easier for them to find the right girl, right?

The two immediately entered the crowd of women dressed in all yellow. Their height and body shape are almost the same. But it turns out finding Princess Pertiwi is not as easy as imagined. The women who were all standing still without a sound were completely indistinguishable.

There is no time limit specified, but both Prince Awang and Bagas try to find Princess Pertiwi as soon as possible so as not to be preceded by his opponent.

Bagas walked past the women while watching them closely. But an hour had passed and he had not brought a woman forward to show King Badre.

"Please open your veil!" The voice of King Badre made Bagas' blood gasp. Apparently Prince Awang had already brought a woman forward.

Bagas stood pecking with a view towards Prince Awang. His heart was pounding waiting for the woman's veil to be opened. He hoped that the woman was not his lover.

"Sorry, that woman is not my daughter." The voice of King Badre made Bagas feel relieved. He looked back at the women.

Actually Bagas was confused, all the women looked the same. He had to think of something about Princess Pertiwi that became his trademark.

As he advanced to the next line, there was a woman who was exactly like Princess Pertiwi. His hair was thick and wavy black. Also her tanned skin, looks very similar to Princess Pertiwi. Is this woman really the Princess of Pertiwi? Bagas stood for a long time in front of the woman, watching her.

"Hmm, I'll take him." Suddenly a hand grabbed the woman's wrist and pulled her away. Bagas was surprised because suddenly Prince Awang took the woman just like that.

With a mocking smile Prince Awang looked at Bagas who was still stunned. That young man was indeed not his opponent. Bagas could not make a decision quickly.

"You've brought another girl apparently. I must praise your thinking speed, Prince Awang." King Badre smiled happily.

"Let's see who the girl standing in front of us is now. Come on girl, open your veil!" King Badre.

All eyes were staring at the woman. His movements were smooth and resplendent as he raised his hand to open the veil. Unknowingly, Bagas looked at it while holding his breath.

"Byeah!" ******* disappointed to be heard from the mouth of Prince Awang because again the woman he brought was not Princess Pertiwi.

He returned to the group of women who looked similar. He should not have been affected by the young man's choice. Isn't his own observation better?

At the same time Bagas again searched for the real Princess of Pertiwi. He began to remember what he had missed.

"Ah, of course." Mumbles Bagas. He would not look for the girl based on her resemblance alone, but also based on her instincts.

The young man walked over as he continued to observe the women. The faces were all embarrassed. However as he passed by a woman, his steps suddenly came to a halt. Something felt familiar to the woman.

Somewhat long Bagas stood watching him. In the corner of his heart was a whisper that said that woman was what he was looking for. The bowed face slowly looked up and a pair of beautiful eyes were seen looking at him. The eyes whose edges were framed by the black kohl stared at him boldly and shamelessly.

"It's you, isn't it?" Ask Bagas with a trembling voice. His heart rhythm suddenly accelerated.

"This is you." Inner Bagas.

Along with that, Prince Awang also brought a woman. He chose it because the ring tucked in the woman's finger was very similar to the one that was coiled around the princess's finger.

"Well, you come with your own choices. Hm, how about we let these girls open the veil?" Again King Badre smiled widely. For him this game is so much fun.

He was not surprised if again their choice missed because even himself would be hard to distinguish. But when he saw his daughter's ring embedded in the finger of the woman carried by Prince Awang, then he knew how practical the man's thinking was.

"Open your veils!" His order.

The two women made the same move. As if, they were one person who was in front of his reflection in the mirror. The entire movement of the two women was in the spotlight, until finally the black cloth was released from the faces of the two.

"Pertiwi?" King Badre looked at one of the women.

King Badre was amazed because it turned out that one of the participants could guess correctly.

"I really appreciate both applicants. How they tried to find Princess Pertiwi among a thousand similar-looking women. This is what I call an inner bond. One of these participants has proven that inner bond by bringing in the right woman." King Badre looked towards his future son-in-law.

"I'm sure you can find my daughter without being affected by anything that only looks from the outside. Like my daughter's wish to find a future husband who loves her sincerely, who is her soulmate." The words of King Badre made his daughter's eyes glaze over.

"Congratulations to you, my son's future husband, Bagas." The words of King Badre received a great reception from the audience.

The feeling of Bagas and Princess Pertiwi was very happy. Now there is no barrier that will hinder them.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Answer Bagas.

"Come here you two, sit beside me so that all the people here can see my son's future companion." King Badre's hand waved.

The two brides-to-be went up on stage and sat down next to the king. Their faces look radiant. But the sight of course makes Prince Awang furious not kepalang. His knuckles turned white as his hands clenched too tightly.

*****

That night the palace held a dinner banquet which was attended by all the palace officials, the invited guests and of course the groom-to-be. Shamans who for some time always cast spells for the success of the competition were welcome to dine in the same room.

They are all dissolved in happiness to the point of losing vigilance. At the end of the table, Prince Awang ate quietly. His mind was focused on the troops out there who were preparing to take his orders.

When dinner is over, the event continues with entertainment. Musicians and dancers were brought in to entertain them. The singing and dancing did not stop, and the dishes continued to flow to satisfy the guests.

Before midnight the guests were quite tired and went home to their respective places. The servants immediately cleaned up the remnants of the party.

Out there, the streets are deserted. The capital is asleep. There was no sound anymore except the friction of the leaves blowing in the wind.

In Prince Awang's room, the shaman who accompanied him came out of the room after days of languishing. Tonight he will bring the entire palace to his knees.

A thick, stifling smoke spread from the censer's incense. His bare feet walked silently in the corridor. The smoke clumped together stifling breathing.

Outside, in one corner of the palace, a fiery arrow was aimed at the dark sky. His extremely bright yellowish radiance split the darkness. The entire prepared secret army began to move into the palace upon seeing the fire sign.

Armed cavalry rushes through the streets of the capital while aiming fiery arrows at the roofs of buildings. The whole city burned.

People woke up and ran outside. But they soon fell apart as sharp arrows suddenly scattered and penetrated their bodies.

Screams of horror echoed in the air. It was as if that night the capital of the arrival of the life-revoking angel who came to everyone who passed by him. People tried to run to save themselves but all the places were on fire and would soon become rubble.

The army continued to move into the palace. Stuck up and stormed the gate. Some of the men climbed up the gate and killed the guards. Then the gate opened wide. The whole army entered the palace grounds.

The soldiers on guard immediately formed a formation to prevent the invading army from entering the palace. A fierce battle soon ensued between the Dewanata soldiers and the assailants. The palace residents woke up and were surprised to find the unexpected attack.