THE TEARS OF KUMARI KANDAM
CHAPTRE 13

Laasya seemed so enthusiastic to lead Haala to a secret place, that the steps to settle it stopped behind their home pumpkin garden. Haala probed around, thinking that Laasya wanted to show her how fertile the mother's pumpkin garden was, but was wrong. Laasya suddenly crouched down, searched for something on the ground, and then shifted a mysterious door.

"I found him last night. You'll love it, brother. Come on."

"Laasya tu-"

"Not to worry. There's only treasure in there" Laasya interrupted Haala as she disappeared from behind a mysterious door.

Yeah, correct. Indeed, there are only treasures in the basement that is quite large. In addition to the gold coins that covered almost the entire floor, there was a variety of jewelry in the pile of wooden crates, as well as rare emerald-studded armor. But the most glare Haala's eyes are, old paintings hanging unbalanced on the wall.

While Laasya was busy searching the wooden coffin, Haala was busy looking at the painting before her. Seen in the painting, a pair of men and women were standing defiantly against the scorching sun. There was nothing special about the painting that he had seen without blinking, but somehow Haala felt there was a lot of hidden meaning in the painting that was only decorated with black.

"Sister, could it be that father or grandfather left this all for us?"

"Eitherway. Better not take anything. Because we don't know who the real owner is yet" Haala replied to Laasya.

"Surely this is all ours. The proof is right behind our house."

Haala cleaned the dust on the painting with the tip of her shirt. "Many sinners in the past were buried alive. They could be the real owners."

Laasya pointed at the painting. "I thought that couple was the real owners."

Haala looked back at the painting right in front of her. "Either why the man in the painting looked familiar. It's like I've seen it somewhere" Laasya added.

"If you've seen this man, then I should call you ancestor. Let's go back." Haala fixed the position of the painting, then took Laasya up the stairs.

"Wait, it's like sister's diary."

Spontaneous Laasya took off his arm from Haala and ran down the stairs. Laasya then pulled the drawer completely, and took the book from inside. Laasya coughed repeatedly after involuntarily blowing a thick pile of dust on the book. Laasya's preoccupation with peeking at the contents of the book was ended when Haala approached her and asked a question.

"Where do you know if my diary looks like it?"

"Hm? I'm just guessing" Laasya replied to Haala.

"So how do you know if I have a diary?"

Laasya was silent for quite a while. "Well, I'm not guessing. Brother's diary does look like this because I've seen it in the barn."

"And read it."

Laasya nodded in response to Haala while smiling forcefully. "Little."

"You know that's rude, don't you? Now give me back the book."

"Mmm sorry, but it seems like it's quite difficult" Laasya replied.

"Why?"

Laasya fell silent again, but Haala's piercing gaze left her with no choice but to tell her brother the truth. Laasya confessed that the diary had been in Braheim for a long time. At that time Laasya gladly gave it to him because Braheim said that Haala's diary would help him with the investigation.

Haala lost her balance and almost fell down the stairs shortly after learning her diary was in the hands of the wrong person. Haala's face turned red because she could no longer stem the shame. Haala never thought there would be a day when her diary would be read by the man she loved.

"It's okay. Because His Majesty the King will not read it."

"Unfortunately His Majesty the King read it. Even in front of me" Laasya told Haala.

Spontan Haala looked over. "What?"

"I thought His Majesty the King needed brother's diary for investigation in the truest sense, but it turned out in another sense."

Now change Haala who was silent. "Are you willing to be a concubine? Because I'm very sure that your brother's diary is used by His Majesty the King for this purpose" Laasya said, touching his heart.

Haala shakes. "That's impossible. There was a murder incident in the harem. It's possible that His Majesty the King is indeed conducting an investigation through my diary for still suspecting me of being the murderer."

"I hope so too. Honestly, I don't want you to live as a concubine. Even if not as a concubine, I was still not willing because my sister had to share a man with another woman. Live with an ordinary man whose soul and body can only have one."

...¤○●¤○●¤○●¤...

After struggling to persuade her heart to cooperate, Haala finally got out of bed, and immediately rushed to meet Braheim to get her diary back. However, the sea of humans in front of the eastern palace made Haala blazing in spirit and her white horse slowly dimmed.

It is only natural that the eastern court be crowded with soldiers, as today is the day on which they will receive official wages and permission for the immediate release of duties from Braheim. But how could the concubines also take a hit on the eastern palace. The extremely curious Haala descended from his horse, and merged into the sea of humans.

Jihan slaps the head of the harem manager, Leyla, repeatedly. Jihan also did not hesitate to land a slap of her wrath on the concubines who were standing not far from her. With a shrill voice that was very deafening, Jihan continued to curse Leyla and the concubines who she thought had been careless.

THE PLAQUE!

"How dare you come to my husband with these lowly women!"

"Ampuni servant, Her Majesty the Queen. I do not know if the concubines followed me to the eastern palace" Leyla replied to Jihan.

THE PLAQUE!

"Shut your mouth, Leyla Rahsheda! Get lost before I drag you and these lowly men into the town square!"

"wait. Listen carefully to all of you. The soul and body of His Majesty the King has been given to me completely, for I am currently pregnant with his child. So remember your position you lowly base."

The noise grew increasingly uncontrollable as Jihan disappeared from behind the magnificent gate of the eastern palace. Some of them rejoiced at welcoming the long-awaited successor to the throne, while others wept with mixed emotions. Unlike Haala who even smiled shyly. Yes, shame. Shame about the accuracy of the speech of the sister.

"Live with an ordinary man whose soul and body I can only have. Yes, with an ordinary man, whose soul and body are only for me" Haala murmured as she walked out of the sea of men.

Haala led her horse towards the warrior palace with heavy strides. Both of Haala's hands trembled violently, as Jihan's last words grew louder and louder in her ears. Grain after grain of tears dripped without permission, making the breeze overwhelmed looking for a way to dry wet on both cheeks without that makeup.

Haala was increasingly swept away in a painful reality, until someone stopped his heavy steps. Haala was still down, looking at the tip of the person's footwear as well as the tip of her footwear which was now rained with tears. A gentle swipe that suddenly landed next to his shoulder spontaneously made Haala look up in surprise.

"Don't believe anything that crazy woman tells you."

Haala did not answer. "I will not allow the successor to the throne to be born from the womb of a woman who is still thirsty for worldly affairs. His Majesty the King once said that to me," Murat added.

"I don't think you should tell anyone, counselor."

Murat nodded in response to Haala. "Yes, you're right. I should have told Her Majesty the Queen. Perhaps his madness will be reduced. But I don't know. Sometimes I like to act without thinking."

"I have to go."

"Commander, be careful with your food and drink."

"Thank you, counselor."

"Commander."

Haala stopped her steps again. "That crazy woman is the only one I have in this world. I want her to live well with the man she loves. So, can you also remember your position?" added Murat.

"I'll remember, counselor."

...¤○●¤○●¤○●¤...

Two female servants were busy on duty. The two compactly watched Haala's movements from behind a small hole in the wall. The two warrior rooms on the right and left sides of Haala's room were deliberately emptied without Haala's knowledge in order to ease their duties. Then the small holes were used to be a strong proof of the report they were going to give to the master, Jihan.

Unlike the concubines who can easily be tricked into consuming poison, Haala who has high alertness is quite difficult to lure his attention. Until finally they sprinkled Shaant* poison into the Haala bathtub. The deadly poison will indeed be more potent if mixed with saliva, but can still work as long as it enters the body.

*Shaant* is honey from a rare flower that is believed to make a woman barren*.

Warm water that serves to open the pores of the skin, will be a smooth path for Shaant's poison to eat away at the health of Haala's uterus. The two maids of Jihan held back her triumphant screams as Haala's toes nearly touched the surface of the water. Yet a man who appeared out of nowhere foiled it all. Spontaneous Haala grabbed the covering cloth, and raised her sword.

"What are you doing?"

"Save the world" Daxraj replied to Haala.

"What do you mean?"

Daxraj pointed at the bathtub. "There's poison in there."

"What?"

"Maybe you lost your luck to tears of heartbreak?" Daxraj turned around to question Haala.

"Get out of here now."

Daxraj walked over to Haala. "Your eyes are too precious to cry over vain things."

"Stop right there. Or I won't hesitate to hurt you."

Daxraj stopped his steps. "You've hurt me, Haala."

GECK.. GECK.. GECK..

"You're inside?"

Spontan Haala ran towards the door. "Your Majesty? What's the need for you to come here?"

"Who are you talking to?" ask Brahim again.

Haala turned to Daxraj, telling him to leave immediately. "Open the door" added Braheim.

"Hamba's just about to take a bath, Your Majesty."

"Together the tribe leader had a face like that demon? Unlock door. This is an order" Braheim replied.

GECK.. GECK.. GECK..

Haala jumped in shock, as Braheim was knocking on the door violently. Daxraj was still standing in his place, looking at Haala with a heart-wrenching look. There was no thought of any way in Haala's head to get out of the current situation. On one side Braheim relentlessly banged on the door of his bathroom, while on the other, Daxraj also incessantly treated him with a look of sorrow.

Daxraj continued his steps towards Haala. "Know one thing. Since long ago the descendants of Yusef Bahadir was on the side of King Kumari Kandam not to be lovers, but to be a living shield. Don't forget that and, remember your position."

BRACKET!