Queen Without Crown

Chapter 165 Rejected

"I'd like to propose to Princess Juwita."

All eyes were on the tall man who stood facing King Satria and Queen Gita. Even so, there was not the slightest trace of trepidation in his red eyes, there was only a strong determination.

"So this you mean gather us here?" The king of Satria looked at Eldrige.

"really. I don't want to delay anymore" replied the tall man. His attitude is still calm.

"Darling?" Queen Gita looked at her husband's face in confusion. She felt that her husband had known this before.

"I have allowed Eldrige to propose to Juwita if he can bring her back" replied King Satria.

"So so?" Queen Gita nodded. "Do you love Juwita?"

"Yes, I love him very much" Eldrige nodded steadily.

"What about you, Juwita? Do you love Eldrige? Will you marry him?" Queen Gita turned her eyes to her eldest daughter sitting next to her.

But instead of answering, the girl instead circulated her gaze to everyone present. Towards his mother, his father, Eldrige and last .. a beautiful woman who sat a little far away from them, Miss Sekar.

"Jewith?" ask her mother again.

"Ah, I'm tired mom. Can we talk about this next time?" the girl looked at her mother with a tired look.

Eldrige's eyebrows shot up. His eyes looked at his lover's face. He did not understand why it was as if the girl was reluctant to accept his proposal.

Not only Eldrige felt that way, but everyone there as well. King Satria looked towards Princess Juwita, his fatherly instincts arising. An instinct that always wants to protect and is not willing to give up his daughter to others.

"Maybe this isn't a good time to talk about this, Eldrige. Most importantly I have listened to your good intentions" said King Satria lowered Eldrige's spirit. Nevertheless, Eldrige still nodded obediently.

Shortly after, Princess Juwita decided to rest in her room. After that, due to feeling bad, King Satria invited Eldrige to play chess.

Queen Gita who liked the game was immediately excited to watch. Unlike usual, Eldrige gave up so easily. Queen Gita finally realized that Eldrige was being disappointed, so she volunteered to replace Eldrige against her husband.

"You go take a break, Eldrige, let me take your place" Queen Gita said with a smile.

"What's? So you're giving up, Eldrige?" the King of Satria.

Eldrige was silent. Queen Gita touched her husband's arm so as not to add to Eldrige's grief. The King of Satria raised his shoulders indifferently.

Then after bowing respectfully, Eldrige walked out of the room followed by Miss Sekar.

"It is also good that Juwita rejected Eldrige's proposal. Juwita was too young to get married," saying that King Satria was running his pawn.

"The proposal does not have to be married immediately. But frankly, I would be relieved if Eldrige was Juwita's husband" Queen Gita replied as she moved her horse to devour her husband's fortress.

"Aah!" screeched King Satria with anxiety. "I'm not saying I don't like Eldrige, but it looks like Juwita's not ready yet."

"Originally you promised not to interfere in their affairs, dear." smiling again Queen Gita's fingers swung at her husband's defenses.

"ah! Baby, be gentle with me. You didn't let my pieces move?" king Satria shouted.

"Don't blame me, just now you attacked Eldrige mercilessly," Queen Gita smiled at her husband.

"It's not my fault that he lost so fast, he's too stupid."

"That's because he's sad, how could you make fun of him."

"So now you're defending him?'

"Don't tell me you're jealous again. She's Juwita's future husband."

"I still don't want to" the man grumbled.

Queen Gita runs her king's pawn forward by two steps. "Anyway all this time that protected Juwita was Eldrige."

While running his elephant pawn to target his wife's king, King Satria breathed a rough sigh. "I know."

"The most important thing is Juwita's happiness. Eldrige couldn't have dared to propose to her if they didn't love each other." Queen Gita runs her pawn after fishing her husband with the king's piece.

"And don't you wonder why Juwita rejected Eldrige?" ask the stubborn King Satria. His face stepped after the pawn of his wife's king.

Queen Gita shifts her queen again. "He's not resisting, just hasn't given an answer."

"For me it's the same. Maybe Juwita felt bad if she refused outright." King Satria is getting closer to the king piece belonging to Queen Gita.

"It's definitely not the same." Queen Gita closed her husband's reach by shifting the pawns of her king.

"Ah, women are indeed complicated creatures" lamented King Satria.

"Skak mat!", Queen Gita's pawn moves diagonally and pushes and drops her husband's king piece. "We're not that complicated."

"Aah!" chuckling King Satria in surprise.

*****

Princess Juwita looked up when Eldrige suddenly walked into her room and the girl's eyes narrowed in annoyance.

"Why did you ignore me?" asked Eldrige who was now standing before him.

Anger mixed with annoyance in Eldrige's voice that showed the man's emotional outburst made Princess Juwita even more upset.

"I don't think anything I do is your business, Eldrige," the girl stood up in a graceful manner, but the way her tiny chin was raised showed stubbornness.

"So so? You really don't think about me?" Eldrige exhaled a rough breath. After all the sacrifices Eldrige made for her, apparently the girl wanted to just throw it away.

"I've never said it like that, but if that's your thinking, what can I say?" answer the girl.

Disappointed at the reaction of Princess Juwita, Eldrige angrily said, "It seems like your memory is weak. Did you forget what you were doing?"

Of course the girl remembered what she had done earlier. Not answering Eldrige's proposal in front of his parents had left Eldrige's pride hurt.

But it was not entirely his fault, a few hours earlier, in the palace garden he saw Miss Sekar wriggling Eldrige's arm tightly. Those who were unaware of his presence were seen chatting quietly as if covering up a scandal.

"I didn't do anything."

"Absolutely. You didn't do anything" said Eldrige cynically.

Princess Juwita asked tightly, "You yourself how? What have you done to our relationship?"

"You still asking?" eldrige's gaze changed, the pain he felt was piling up.

"I'm not asking you to be a perfect lover. I understand that you're still confused right now, but how could you ask that" Eldrige said disappointedly.

"Since when have you been in contact with Miss Sekar?" asked Princess Juwita suddenly.

"What do you mean?"

"When did you start meeting her secretly behind my back?" Princess Juwita looked into Eldrige's eyes.

"Huh?" jolted by the superficial question, Eldrige replied stiffly, "I didn't do anything bad behind your back. Now, he..."

The name made Princess Juwita to squeeze her dress, while the rumors of hatred and jealousy spread throughout her body.

"Miss Sekar!" his screeches focused both hands on the table to balance the body.

"Miss Sekar!" again, his voice rose, mixed with anger and hysterical laughter. "Eldrige, if you really want him to just say it. I hate being betrayed!"

Eldrige, who had been feeling annoyed, now looked at him with pity. Princess Juwita asked tightly, "Do you want her?"

"No," Eldrige replied, his eyes returning gently, "The only woman I want is you."

The girl's lips trembled at Eldrige's confession, between wanting to believe and not.

"I promise I'll explain everything so you don't misunderstand me. I. .. want us to fix everything." said Eldrige.

"Fix everything?" Princess Juwita looked away, "Is everything still possible?"

"of course. That's .. if you still want it." Eldrige slowly approached towards the girl. "Do you want it?"

Princess Juwita looked back at Eldrige, towards her warm and reassuring eyes. Recalling everything that the man did for her.

"I love you" Eldrige cast the magic spell as he stretched out his arm, stroking the silvery hair that had been severed over Princess Juwita's shoulder.

Princess Juwita's chest throbbed, the entire cell in her body screaming for her.

"Listen," said Eldrige very gently, his whole speech focused on his brain, this very important remark, a desperate offer not to lose the girl. "I've thought about this. Maybe you still doubt me but .. I'll prove my seriousness."

"I will instantly .." Eldrige's voice slowly disappeared and was replaced by a humming sound that filled the ear cavity of Princess Juwita.

The girl rubbed her ears while looking at Eldrige's lips twitching without making a sound.

"Mom."

The buzz was gone and replaced by a voice calling.

"Mom."

The voice constantly called out and controlled his mind. Princess Juwita looked at the window. With a rash move he immediately opened the window glass. Out in the dark, there was no one but the soldiers standing guard at the post across there.

"Uma," the voice called out again. The girl became agitated, as if she was the one being called.

Eldrige's face was suddenly in front of him, his mouth moving saying, "What's the matter?"

"Eldrige .. did you hear that?" Princess Juwita gripped Eldrige's arm and shook it. But Eldrige's figure was getting blurred.

"What's this?" ask the girl confused.

Suddenly his body was pushed down. Both of his hands flailed into the air. His body was sliding down faster and faster.!

Grep.

"Mom."

A beautiful young man looked at him with a smile. Princess Juwita feels she knows him but she doesn't remember who.

"You who?" although his lips were unable to move, but the question came out smoothly.

"I'm your lover, Uma."

Princess Juwita suddenly felt a strong pain in her heart. His forehead frowned and his breathing felt heavy. Even so, the young man continued to smile as if enjoying his suffering.

"I remember you," Princess Juwita looked at the young man pushyly. "Mandala!"

An angry feeling suddenly bubbled up. Reflexively pushed over the young man's hand, as a result their grip slipped off and his body slid back down.

A dizzy sensation and a shaken stomach came back to ambush him, after which it was all dark. Then, he faintly heard voices. And a bright light shone upon the eyes.

"You're sober?" eldrige's voice caught his ear, his heavy eyes moving in search of him.

"Eldrige .." he said when he saw the man's face looking at him.

"Puteri Juwita has regained consciousness, please call his parents." Eldrige looked behind him. From over her shoulder, Princess Juwita saw a beautiful woman nodding. Before the woman left, their eyes clashed. Both Princess Juwita's hands were clenched tightly beside her body.

"How are you doing?" eldrige asked as his gaze returned to her.

The girl did not answer, her chest was too tight so she was unable to speak.

"I'm so scared, Juwita. I was really scared" said Eldrige, clasping his hand.

Princess Juwita was still silent, but now tears were pouring down her cheeks. His feelings are now very difficult to describe. Sad, angry and sick.

"Jewith!" suddenly his parents came. They cried while kissing him alternately as if they had not seen each other for a long time.

"Thank God you're awake, baby" said his mother.

"Don't cry, mom. I'm just gonna take a little nap."

Princess Juwita's words made her mother cry even harder to make the girl surprised. "But you were unconscious for two days!"

"Dear, stop. You scare our daughter" King Satria whispered in his wife's ear but was still heard by Princess Juwita.

Eldrige immediately approached and led the two outside. And in the room now there was only a woman who had been silent by the door.

"You forgot my warning" the woman walked over.

"Is this all you?" ask Princess Juwita.

"Unfortunately no," the woman shook her head slowly. "Your life seems more complicated than I thought, so I don't have to do anything anymore."

"Then what do you want?"

"Leave Eldrige. In return I'll help you escape the clutches of the god Murr."

"God Murr?"

"He is the god of all bitterness. He was formed from the incarnation of a god who ended his own life so that his spirit could not return to Mayapada. His spirit wanders and dwells in the temple of his devotee."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"He likes you. He chose you to be his shell."

"You must be lying, right?"

"I'm not lying."

"Did Eldrige know?" Princess Juwita asked softly.

"He just thought you were affected by the spell."

"Why didn't you tell him?" asked Princess Juwita suspiciously.

"Because I don't want him to sacrifice any further. You yourself know that his body is getting weaker? His life could have been lost to save you. Is that what you want?" Miss Sekar's face stiffened.

"No .. certainly not," Princess Juwita shook her head.

"Among us who can help Eldrige is just me. As for you .. he could die."

"Your words could have been just to force me to let go of Eldrige."

"Do you want to bet? Were you satisfied only after Eldrige lost his life?" urged Miss Sekar.

Princess Juwita felt cornered, as if surrounded by various painful realities. His hand held his chest because his heart was back in pain.

"But will Eldrige be happy with you, Miss Sekar?"

"I'll make sure Eldrige is happy with me. It's not too late to be her old self."

"If you can truly make her happy, I'm willing to release Eldrige for you." Tears just flow without being prevented.

Right after saying that, the man they were talking about entered while carrying a bowl. Eldrige immediately stepped over to the bed, while Princess Juwita hurriedly wiped away her tears.

"Thank you for looking after Juwita. Now you can go out, Sekar."

Miss Sekar came out without changing her facial expression, but once again only her eyes were glaring sharply when she met Princess Juwita's eyes.

"Our return is postponed until you're healed, but your parents may have to get ahead because there's something urgent."

"I want to come with them home" said Princess Juwita.

"can't. I had to insist on banning you, "this time Eldrige won't budge. "Yet your parents decided that too."

"Why do you make things complicated, Eldrige? " the voice of Princess Juwita sounded tired.

"What do you mean?"

"I want to free you from the hassles of taking care of me."

"I'll assume you never said it. Now eat this porridge," regardless of the girl's protest, she scoops the porridge and feeds it.

Forced Princess Juwita to swallow the porridge even though it felt choked when sliding through her throat.

"I want to part with you, Eldrige," he said after painstakingly swallowing his porridge.

"I don't want to" Eldrige without stopping scooping the porridge.

"Don't be stubborn, Eldrige!" Princess Juwita refused the porridge that Eldrige fed.

"I won't accept any excuses."

"Do you have to push me, Eldrige? I don't want to say things that will hurt you more."

"I don't care."

"Well if you push me. I ... no longer love you," turning my face away, Princess Juwita said those cruel words.

"I can't believe it" replies Eldrige.

"Hah .. You can't believe it, but I'm telling you the truth."

"Tell me one more time if you don't love me!"

"I don't love you," his voice choked slightly as he said it. In fact, his eyes started to fog.

"Look at me when you say it!" Eldrige.

Princess Juwita blinked several times to ward off the tears that were ready to flow, then she looked at Eldrige right in her eyes.

"I don't love you."

"Why?" eldrige's eyes look dewy making the heart of Princess Juwita as if slashed.

"Eitherway. Maybe because I'm bored of you."

"Bored?"

"You're no longer pulling in my eyes, Eldrige."

"What's? I'll ignore what you said just now. If your aim is to speak those hurtful words to get rid of me, it's a pity that it won't work," though his heart was wounded, but Eldrige tried to shake it off.

"If you force me to continue with you I will." The girl could not bear to say it but the sentence slid as well.

Eldrige froze to hear it. Being away from the girl is painful. But being hated by that girl is more painful.

"Do you really hate me? Is our relationship holding you back? Is this why you always avoid me and ...your accusation that I secretly had a relationship with Sekar is just an excuse?"

Just this time Princess Juwita saw a very deep sadness and despair in Eldrige's eyes. Even in the past when he faced the death penalty, Eldrige was not up to this.

"Do you understand now?" asked Princess Juwita with harboring pain.

"What if I let you go you'd be happy?"

"Yes Eldrige, I'll be happy" he replied steadfastly.

Eldrige put the bowl of porridge on the table with the origin. Both of his hands scooped up his face that had been soaked in tears. He never expected the day he would be willing to let go of the girl.

"Originally you're happy, I'm willing to let you go." After saying that he immediately left the place without turning back.

Meanwhile the girl who had asked to get away from him was now drowning in a sea of tears.