THE TEARS OF KUMARI KANDAM
CHAPTRE 18

THE SNACK! THE SNACK! THE SNACK!

Haala who was waiting for Braheim around Lake Baadaal* immediately turned his head when he heard a mysterious voice from inside the lake. Want to be heard any time, the mysterious voice was not the sound of human footsteps but the sound of something like being dragged. Feeling the middle of the threat, Haala also pulled the sword, then pointed it at whatever was in front of her eyes.

*Baadal* is one of the sacred lakes in Kumari Kandam. It is said that Baadal was guarded by a giant fish named Ghinauna. Those who soak in Baadal will be purified from the rest of human filth, the rest of the food and drink, or the poison that settles in the body. But Ghinauna is known to be unfriendly, so very few people can soak there*.

A mysterious voice that began to become clearer made Haala also tighten her sword grip. Looking faintly from Haala's sharp gaze plagued by the rain, an unusual-looking man was dragging something. And unexpectedly, it turns out that something he dragged was the bloodstained body of Braheim.

"Your Majesty." Haala hurriedly sheathed her sword and approached Braheim.

"How can you handle this with him?" haala.

"I knelt down on Ghinauna to spit it out and you called me heart?"

Haala fell silent. "Don't you feel more hearty?" ask Daxraj again.

Haala was still silent. "Obviously you know the fate of this world depends on you, but you're not trying to do anything and are busy loving. Is your conscience dead? Is your love story more important than the lives of all innocent beings?"

Haala kept silent, as if deliberately allowing Daxraj to make himself fall into a pit of dilemma. Not only does Haala want to care about matters of the heart, only that he is trying to find other ways to save the world from the predictions of the ancestors of the wandering tribe, and crave a beautiful life with the man he loves.

Although it has been written very clearly if even Braheim Bhaavesh's power will not be able to drive away the destruction, Haala still believes that there will always be a second choice. Whatever it is as long as it does not tie a promise of life while with Daxraj, Haala intends to. Fortunately Haala just muttered her belief in the heart, because the second choice was not worse.

"Me and His Majesty the King came to Baadal thinking about the fate of this world. His Majesty the King wants to discuss other options that are still possible for us to make" Haala said.

"Other choices?"

Haala nodded in response to Daxraj. "Is there any choice but to marry you?"

"There was. But I wouldn't do it."

Haala moved closer to Daxraj. "Let me do it."

Now change the silent Daxraj. "Tell me. What second choice do we have?" added Haala.

Daxraj turned his back on Haala. "Give you the Romaans potion."

"Ramen Romeans?"

"The banquet that will make you look at me like the man you love. You will continue to be given the Romans until my successor is born. And when the Romaans disappear completely from your body, you will go back in time before you met me" Daxraj said.

"What about my memory?"

"It will remain stored even if you go back in time" replied Daxraj.

"So I'm going back in time with memories of getting married and carrying your child? I wouldn't do it."

Spontaneous Daxraj turned to face Haala. "Then you think I'm going? Get the heart and body of a woman who sees me as another man?"

Haala was unable to answer the question posed by Daxraj, because the insolence of the handsome man with black turban was indeed based, but his rudeness was no less based. Which woman will be willing to go back in time with a memory that will clearly bring her a lifetime of guilt and regret.

And while marrying Daxraj will also bring lifelong feelings of guilt and remorse, at least this beautiful world does not need to be sacrificed. Stifling options are indeed, but first choice feels more likely. Haala only needs to burn her twelve-year memories with Braheim, then start everything from scratch with Daxraj, her destiny.

Haala turned back to Daxraj. "How severe is the condition of His Majesty the King?"

"It was so severe that it was impossible for him to sit back gallantly on the throne of King Kumari Kandam."

"Can you save him?"

"I just saved him" replied Daxraj.

"Save Him for the last time."

Daxraj returned to Lake Baadal. "I'm sorry but I'm more interested in saving her innocent concubines."

...¤○●¤○●¤○●¤...

It has been two days the throne of King Kumari Kandam empty, because the condition of its owner who is on the verge of death. Dozens of famous healers were brought in from various continents to keep death away from Braheim, but in vain. Death grew impatient watching Braheim's confused face as he watched his spirit separate from the body.

Moreover, it is impossible for anyone to believe in the existence of a wandering tribe, as well as the fate of a world dependent on its descendants with Daxraj Natesh. If anyone believes, that person must be Braheim. Therefore Haala prefers to be silent, let all accusations, and look for people who want to be on his side.

"Commander, until when will you remain silent? Speak up so that at least I can ease your punishment."

"There's nothing I want to say" Haala replied to the chief investigator of the government.

"I'm sure you're innocent, but help me prove it for a reason."

Haala sighed. "Unfortunately all I have is groundless excuses."

The chief investigator of the kingdom sighed. "alright. Tell me the baseless reason you mean it."

"It's just because you can't possibly believe it."

"Let me hear it first" said the chief investigator of the government.

Haala. "I told you, it's free. I think enough, I'll be back."

The chief investigator of the kingdom went. "Wait, commander."

Haala just stopped her steps. "The cypress here is my best friend. He idolized the Yusef Bahadir family since childhood. It's an honor for him to be able to help you" the kingdom's chief investigator said.

Haala smiled at the head of the royal investigator as she continued her steps back into the cell. In a cell with a window the size of a baby mouse, Haala spends every millisecond thinking hard. Thinking of how to give the rest of Laasya's healing potion to Braheim who is now being staked in death.

The assistance of the head of the royal investigation was not expected at all, but Haala hesitated to accept the help because of his premonition that continued to be a signal of danger. Haala had talked to the warden of the dungeon several times, but compared to the friendly gaze of someone who idolized others, the warden's gaze looked even more uncomfortable.

Yes, uncomfortable. Because the warden of the dungeon is an accomplice of Jihan, as well as the couple wrestled in bed. Even now Jihan and the warden are making love in the arsenal of used weapons. Not without reason Jihan gave her body. There is a grand plan that will be more perfect if the warden participates.

"So servant only needs to bring Haala's mother and sister before you without anyone knowing?"

Jihan nodded heavily at the warden who was busy raining down on her crown. "Then you'll give them the concoction of the conquerors?"

Jihan nodded heavily back in response to the warden. "To make them say that Haala was angry with His Majesty the King and intended to kill him, because His Majesty the King refused to marry him for loving you too much. That so?"

Jihan who had almost reached her limit did not reply and was just busy groaning. "Why don't you simultaneously take advantage of the situation in the current harem? Make them also say if Haala deliberately poisoned the concubines for not wanting to have a competitor."

Jihan had a smile, agreeing to the wardens' proposal, but the beautiful smile was again taken over a tinge of pleasure. "And so that the evidence is stronger, it is better if you also drink poison. Only then, the death penalty for Haala would be inevitable."

...¤○●¤○●¤○●¤...

The atmosphere in the courtroom felt far from thrilling. Everyone present at the trial did not appear sad, instead, happy and excited. Only Haala, who is now sitting in the defendant's chair, feels sadness. It is not sad that he will soon be sentenced to death, but sad to accept the fact that the representatives following the subordinates whom he so trusted no one sided with him.

The painful fact made Haala aware that hate could not be denied when a man's self-esteem was stepped on by a woman, both consciously and unconsciously. Since being appointed the war commander of Kumari Kandam, Haala knew it would be difficult to lead with her status as a woman. And although it was obvious that his subordinates felt forced to kneel to him, Haala was reluctant to think negatively.

Unfortunately, having a negative mindset is sometimes also necessary in order to increase caution in yourself. But what you want to say, rice has become porridge. The subordinates of Haala who were now also filling the seats in the trial seemed to be not as patient as Jihan, as if he wanted to immediately see his head rolling in the city square. The testimony of Haala's mother and sister brought him closer to the death penalty.

"The Queen's Majesty asked you to answer truthfully in the name of God" the chief investigator of the kingdom said.

"The boy once said he wanted to kill His Majesty the King because he refused to marry her. And even more so because His Majesty the King claims to love Queen Jihan so much and can't live without her."

"Sister also intends to kill Queen Jihan and the concubines with Shaant* poison*. The brother said it was fine if His Majesty the King refused to marry her as long as she had no competitors" Laasya told the mother.

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

Spontaneous Murat getting out of the chair. "Hamba objected."

"Hamba also objected, Your Majesty." The head of the harem, Leyla, went along.

"Please! I'm not asking you two to open your mouths!" exclaim Jihan, who now plays the judge in place of Braheim.

"Advisor, head harem manager, please return to the du-place"

Jihan interrupts the head of the government investigation. "Before presumptuous people like them increase, I will immediately give a decision based on the evidence and testimony available. I, Queen Kumari Kandam, found Haala Anandmayee guilty and sentenced her to be beheaded."