AYU MBOK
Interrogations

"Did you sleep well last night?!"Asked Kanjeng Ratu while pouring tea for Neneng.

"Ah,, i, i, yep, Your Highness!"Neneng replied nervously, he did not dare to raise his head.

"Drink!"Say Kanjeng Ratu while sipping his tea.

Neneng also took a beautiful cup patterned leaves that are presented to her, she behaved very carefully even though she did not really understand about manners and customs in the palace.

"Have you heard the rumors circulating this morning?!"Asked Kanjeng Ratu while putting his tea glass in the follow Neneng.

"Not yet Your Majesty, the rumor about what it is, if I may know!"Neneng replied so politely.

He really had not heard anything, just as he was walking earlier, heard everyone rustling while whispering staring at him, is it possible because last night he slept in the Crown Prince's room?

Ow hell!if it is true about that, want to put where his face this time, Kanjeng Ratu must have called him too because about the matter.

"All the women in the Prince's palace belong to the crown prince indeed, but that only applies to the courtiers only, not to the Princess like you, Raden Ayu! it's different when you're serving the crown prince or any other prince, it becomes common for you to be in a room with princes because it is your duty to serve or accompany them if requested,, , but now it becomes something different when you've been raised to be a Princess, people will consider you cheap because of your current status, do you understand?!"

Kanjeng Ratu was so clear and at length gave instructions to Neneng.

"I understand Your Majesty! but last night I just fell asleep in the room of His Highness the Crown Prince, nothing happened between us!"Neneng replied in self-defense.

"I know, it's precisely your closeness to my two sons that triggers the spread of rumors, whatever you do now will be in the spotlight, you must be more careful!"

"Okay, Your Majesty! thank you for your encouragement, I will remember my whole life!"Said Neneng while paying his respects.

"Now that we forget about that matter, I believe you can keep your pride as well as your dignity as a noblewoman in this palace, she said, now that I want to ask you about your feelings for my Princes, I heard you were close to them after you stayed in the palace of the princes, is that true?!"

"I'm just trying to adapt and get along with them, Your Majesty, even though not all of them dislike me, for example Prince Duma, since I came to the palace, he never greeted me at all, as for Prince Arjuna, he was always friendly to everyone, I liked him because he was smart and unpretentious, then Prince Gunta, he always thought of me as his Big Sister, he was very spoiled and pleasant, so much so,then Grand Prince Airlangga, he was very jovial and always made everyone laugh, we became familiar because we had the same hobby, namely traveling, traveling,he often invited me to go around outside the palace and buy me knickknacks from the land of Java,,,"

Neneng looks so sumringah tell one by one his views of the princes in the palace, Kanjeng Ratu take it well, sometimes they laugh together when Neneng tells funny events while with the princes, Kanjeng Ratu,and now that Kanjeng Ratu was curious about his other two Princes, Neneng seemed reluctant to express his feelings, he was still awkward and hesitant.

"Then what about Grand Prince Satria?I heard you guys were so close that when you and the Prince fell into the pool, Satria instead saved you first, what do you think of her?!"

Kanjeng Ratu continued fishing in order to know the true feelings of Neneng, this is important because Kanjeng Ratu wants to nominate Neneng to be the candidate of the crown princess, but he does not want to be a split between the Grand princes.

"Great Prince Satria is the most beautiful gift I have ever received upon entering His Majesty's palace, he is like a guardian angel and friend, a friend and partner in every way,he was always there when I was in trouble, honestly I was very impressed against his, his loyalty to protect the Crown Prince who is both his Big Brother and his boss, he is so professional!"

Kanjeng Ratu Manggut-mangut heard Neneng's words, he saw Neneng's eyes sparkle when telling about his Prince.

"Then the crown prince, how do you look at him as a man !?"

Kanjeng Ratu looked at Neneng closely, he wanted to see you his reaction when telling about his crown prince .

Instantly Neneng lowered her gaze, she blushed embarrassedly as if reluctant to reveal her heart, it was predictable if there was an unusual taste that Neneng felt upon hearing the word Crown Prince mentioned before her.

"Emhhh,,, he was the great King's candidate His Majesty, a very fortunate servant to know him,,,,"

Neneng stopped his speech.

"That's all?"

Kanjeng Ratu was not satisfied with Neneng's hanging answer, that was not what he wanted to hear.

Neneng tried not to be provoked.

He again sipped his tea that still feels warm even though it had been silenced earlier.

"My point is, do you like one of my sons?do you have any feelings of liking, is it to Grand Prince Satria or to the Crown Prince?!"

Tegas Kanjeng Queen.

"Uhuk uhuk!"

Neneng immediately coughed

once he heard the question of Kanjeng Ratu, it was what he had been hiding.

Neneng did not answer and instead busy wiping his clothes wet from the water, he looked so nervous in front of His Majesty Kanjeng Queen.

"Don't avoid me, Raden Ayu, answer my question!"Said Kanjeng Ratu while holding Neneng's hand to be quiet and focused on him.

"Not even Your Majesty!I do not even deserve to have more feelings for them, I am just an ordinary person and I am also from outside the Javanese tribe, Your Majesty, obviously it is strictly forbidden!"

Replied Neneng while complying.

"Who said no, did anyone tell you?!"

"So said the Grand Empress Dowager, Your Majesty!"

Kanjeng Ratu laughed lightly at Neneng's reply.

"You are not just an ordinary person, your father is Kangmas Bimo Raharjo, he is a Patih and a friend of the King, it is clear that blue blood flows in your body, he said, although your mother was from the Sundanese tribe, but your father's noble blood was stronger, Kangmas Bimo was the son of the royal advisor from the previous King, Your grandfather was the closest and most powerful person of his time, so anyone who doubts your bloodline, it's just his wits to get rid of you!"

Neneng even just knew the genealogy of his family, back he remembered to his sister who was still far away there, himself who was now able to enjoy a decent life not necessarily with his sister, it was, maybe he's still stuck in the streets.

Neneng's mind so drifted everywhere, he was just stunned without responding to the words of Kanjeng Ratu.

"I intend to nominate you to be the candidate of the Crown Princess, what do you think?!"

"Degh!"

Neneng seemed to stop breathing, he did not believe what he heard just now, he could no longer focus, even he was confused what to say again .

"Crown princess candidate, means the future Queen of this kingdom, this is impossible!this is just a dream! wake up Neng, wake up from your dream!"

Inner Neneng while speechlessly gawking, looked at the middle-aged female nanar before her,,

"You must be joking Your Majesty!"

The words just popped out of his mouth,,,

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