Queen Without Crown

Chapter 167 Looking for Mangal Meaning

"grandmother?" exclaimed Princess Juwita as she recognized the figure standing before her.

"You can't sleep?"

"I just woke up, grandma." Princess Juwita stepped closer to the old woman. "Why are you here?"

"Grandma just wants to make sure you're okay."

"I'm fine, grandma."

"Actually, grandma knew where Mangal Meaning was stored."

"Really, grandma? But grandma didn't have to tell me because I wasn't interested in that thing."

"You're an innocent girl, just like your grandmother. Grandma wants to hold a purification ceremony so you can escape bad luck. What say?"

"Was the ceremony able to release me from the shadow of Lord Murr?"

"Grandmother please so. A priest has chosen a good day to perform the ceremony."

"I'm according to Grandma's words."

"Grandmother was relieved to hear it. But before the ceremony, there's one thing you have to do, Juwita."

"What, Grandma?"

"Bring that Mangal Meaning here."

"But, wasn't it kept by the late king?"

"Yes right and grandma knows the place too. But unfortunately grandma can't take it."

"Why?"

"That thing has been sealed. No one can take it except the one blessed by Lord Murr."

"I mean grandma, me?" The girl looked surprised.

"True Juwita."

"Alright Grandma, just tell me where it is. I'll take it."

"In an ancient temple located in the city of Samandar, look for the priest Jairam."

"Okay, Grandma, I'll be there tomorrow."

"Thank you, Juwita." Divya's grandmother smiled with relief then she continued, "But there's one more thing, lest anyone know you're going there."

Princess Juwita was astonished by Grandma Divya's words, but before the girl asked Grandma Divya immediately replied to the girl's astonishment.

"Mangal Meaning is a dangerous object if it falls into the hands of irresponsible people, so go quietly. Your safety will be threatened if anyone knows you have it."

The nape of Princess Juwita. The strange things that had happened to him lately had indeed made him uneasy. Moreover, he had seen a stranger who should only be in his dreams.

"Grandmother wishes you'd made it, Juwita. Ah, but don't think too much. Get back to sleep, you need to get enough rest for your trip tomorrow."

After Grandma Divya left, Princess Juwita was pensive. She hoped Grandma Divya's words were true. He wanted to get rid of those strange things.

"Ah, I'm dizzy." Princess Juwita ruffled her hair. He lay back down and closed his eyes. Shortly after, he went back to sleep.

The morning when the maid opened the curtains, Princess Juwita rushed down. After getting ready, he immediately went to the stables and rode on a dark brown mare provided by an officer who had been assigned Grandma Divya. The officer took him through the palace's special gate so that no one would see him out of the palace.

On that cold, foggy morning, Princess Juwita scuttled her horse through the streets of the capital towards the coastal region. He still remembers the route to the city of Samandar that he had passed when he was with the family of Tabib Bagio.

The sky was already completely bright by the time he reached the border of the city. Salty air entered his kiss and the pounding of the waves rang out in the distance. The distance of the port is still several kilo meters but not to the destination.

Princess Juwita observed a piece of paper containing the name of the temple that the palace guard gave her this morning. Not understanding the location, he decided to ask. Several times he was directed to several places but apparently not the temple he was looking for. No one even knew the name of the priest Jairam.

"How's this? I can't possibly say that I'm looking for Mangal Arti" he sighed as he rubbed the sweat grains on his forehead.

By noon he had not found the temple. Princess Juwita finally decided to rest. His stomach was sore because it had not filled up since morning.

"I stopped by the stall there," his mind when he saw a stall that was a bit down.

He got off his horse and led the beast down the ramps. Coconut trees grow towering shade the stall yard. After tying her horse, Princess Juwita went inside.

"Excuse me," he said when he saw the stall was deserted. "Excuse me!"

"Ah, welcome." A dark-skinned man came out carrying a tray of food that was still smoking.

"I want to order food."

"Ah, please miss. It just so happens that my cooking is just ripe."

"Ehm, but before that may I ask for water and grass for my horse?"

"Wow, what a pretty horse. It doesn't seem like an ordinary horse" the man said with awe. "In the meantime, I'll have my son take care of the horse."

The man came in again. Not long after he came out while bringing food and drinks to the table Princess Juwita.

"Oh sir, may I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Do you know a priest named Jairam?"

Suddenly the man's hand nudged the drink he had just placed on the table until the contents spilled. The man's face now showed a strange appearance.

"Where does she know that name?" The man's voice shook as he asked.

"My grandmother told me to meet her. It's the name of the temple." Princess Juwita thrust the paper from earlier held by her.

The man glanced at a glance without intending to take it.

"Miss, I suggest that Miss just undo the intention to meet this person. He ... very dangerous."

Princess Juwita was shocked. This guy must be wrong. There's no way that Divya's grandmother sent her to meet a dangerous person.

"He was a priest. But the priest worship the devil."

The nape of Princess Juwita instantly brushed. He hoped the man was wrong.

"If you know, please just show me the place."

"If you insist, I will show you. Enjoy the Miss food first because ... " The man did not continue his sentence because he did not want to waste any time. He knew the girl in front of him must have gone to see the priest as well.

After eating, according to his promise, the man showed the direction to the temple where the priest was.

Princess Juwita followed the instructions the man gave her. He walked down the sandy road that was getting closer to the sea. Shortly after, the top of a building began to be seen.

*****

"I haven't seen Juwita all day, do you know where she's going?" princess Pertiwi asked Ningrum when they met in the park in the afternoon.

"Ah, I didn't see it either." Ningrum was astonished as well.

"So I went to his room and said the waiter, he's been riding since morning. But I wonder why he hasn't come back yet."

"Is it possible, Juwita went with Mr Eldrige? I didn't see his servant all day. He usually goes to the kitchen." Ningrum.

"Oh, that? If it's true I'm very relieved. Actually, I've been worried about him lately. He looks moody and often aloof."

Ningrum. Lately, her best friend looks a little strange. It was as if he was avoiding everyone.

"But I've seen him talk seriously to Miss Sekar. I don't know why it seems like their relationship isn't as good as it looks." Princess Pertiwi looked at Ningrum as if she wanted to confirm her suspicions.

"Eh, that's ... " Ningrum himself was a bit confused to describe the relationship of Princess Juwita and Miss Sekar. Although his best friend was not willing to be honest about the problem between the two, but he could vaguely guess.

"Did Miss Sekar like Mr. Eldrige? As a woman I can judge her gaze when I see my cousin's lover."

"Juwita never told me anything but ... That was also what I was thinking," Ningrum replied.

"really right? You ... can feel it too?" Said Princess Pertiwi with satisfaction because her mind was the same as Ningrum's.

"But it all depends on Mr. Eldrige. I'm sure he loves Juwita a lot even though his attitude lately has been a bit strange."

"Ah, don't think too much. It is natural that there is a small quarrel and a difference of understanding between lovers, me and my brother have experienced it." Princess Pertiwi's face met red as she said so. "And that doesn't mean we don't love each other."

Ningrum nodded. Although he had never been in a relationship with a man, he felt that his brother-in-law's words had a point.

"Oh? That's ..." Ningrum suddenly jumped up as soon as he saw Eldrige walking while followed by Eshwar.

"Mr Eldrige!" Call Princess Pertiwi.

The man who was called immediately turned his head and walked over.

"Greetings, Princess. Can I help you?" ask Eldrige.

"Have you been out for a walk?"

"Ah, no. We had just been training on the hill behind the palace" Eldrige replied.

"Then, where's Juwita?"

"Jewith?" Eldrige was astonished as he observed the faces of the two women before him who were seen waiting for his answer.

"Is he not with you?" Eldrige asked back.

"We don't see it this day." Ningrum's voice was somewhat suffocating to his dismay.

"Did no one see it? How waiter? They didn't say anything?" The two women were questioned by Eldrige who was feeling anxious.

"They said that Juwita went riding a horse this morning. I thought he was your partner," replied Princess Pertiwi. "Ah, I'll order the soldiers to look for him."

"Wait on! Let no one know that Princess Juwita is missing. Let me look for him." Prevent Eldrige. He's leaving with Eshwar. The two women just looked at him worriedly.

After being away from the two women, Eldrige orders Eshwar to find Princess Juwita. They both split up. Eshwar with his ingenuity found out through the servants who had started to get along with him.

"So morning I saw a woman leave the palace through the special gate of the clerk. But I didn't clearly see his face" said a servant.

Meanwhile, at the palace, Eldrige found all the officers who did not know about the departure of Princess Juwita. Eldrige's forehead wrinkled, he felt an awkwardness.

He returns to meet Eshwar when the night is down. It could not be described how agitated the man's heart was once he heard the information Eshwar had gotten was no better than him.

The sky was so dark that the celestial bodies that normally lit up the night sky were now clouded. Eldrige can predict that it will rain soon.

"You continue the search in this palace. I'll look somewhere else" said Eldrige.

"But sir, it's raining soon" said Eshwar anxiously.

"That's why we need to find Juwita immediately."

Eshwar did not argue anymore, he knew how much his master's love for Princess Juwita felt. He went back into the palace and secretly tried to find the whereabouts of Princess Juwita.

Meanwhile, Eldrige prefers to sneak out without the knowledge of the guards to freely search for Princess Juwita without spending a lot of time on the examination.

The streets of the capital are still crowded and lively. He was actually at a loss as to where he was going because he had absolutely no idea of the place the girl might be heading to. However he decided to hire a horse because of his horse he stayed in the stables.

"Gldrie!" Someone called.

"Blue?" Eldrige was surprised to see the woman here.

"You must be looking for Juwita, right?"

"You know where he is?"

Miss Sekar nodded, "So early this morning I accidentally saw her leaving secretly, so I decided to follow her."

"Where is he now?" asked Eldrige impatiently.

An odd smile rose at the corner of Miss Sekar's lips. "I'll get you there."