THE TEARS OF KUMARI KANDAM
CHAPTRE 38

Seen from the archery training gate of Kumari Kandam soldiers, the prospective concubines were busy making noise. Not because he wanted to see the woman who was rumored to be loved by Bheim more than his false queen, but because he wanted to be the first to give a lunch box for Haala which they idolized.

A SHOCK!

JLB!

"See. On target. Commander Haala is the best." One of the prospective concubines shouted in excitement.

"How can Commander Haala still look beautiful even though she is not smiling. O God, please make a servant like Commander Haala in the second life." Other prospective concubines chimed in no less excited.

"If there really is a second life, I would rather make Commander Haala my sister. Commander Haala, please look here. I'm right here." Another prospective concubine shouted while jumping up and down.

And that was the beginning of the change of atmosphere at the training ground of Kumari Kandam. The normally monotonous training atmosphere became a brothel on the eleventh night. Initially only a prospective concubine visited the training ground. Cheeked concubine candidate who accidentally chatted with Haala in Milaan* a few nights ago, Chitrali.

*Milaan* is a garden overgrown with hundreds of green wild roses*.

But somehow every day there is always an increase in other prospective concubines who also visit to give Haala spirit. They did not idolize Haala because her beauty was not eroded even though every second was cluttered with mud, blood, and dirt. They idolized Haala for daring to reject her nature as a woman.

From childhood they were only taught how to decorate themselves, knit, and manage finances. The education they get is only about general knowledge, noble manners, and religion. Very different from Haala who since childhood only taught how to subvert the enemy even though armed with a fragile twig.

"Commander, is my Idli* good?" ask the fourth concubine.

*Idli* this idli shape resembles pancakes or similar to Indonesian-style serabi. Idli is made from fermented lentils and steamed rice and is usually eaten along with spicy vegetable curry*.

Chitrali clicked, "Did you really make it yourself? I think there's been a huge intervention by your personal cook."

"I really made it myself."

"I can't be trusted. Then I'll taste it, and it should taste really bad" Chitrali replied to the fourth concubine.

The fifth concubine laughed. "You speak painfully as His Majesty the King."

The sixth concubine laughed. "You're right. The words of His Majesty the King were as if they were destined to stab anyone in the heart until they bleed."

Haala cleared her throat, "Maybe because you guys made a mistake."

"No, commander. Looks like His Majesty the King is indeed very, very grumpy. Then the most annoying thing is, whatever he asks is very difficult to understand. Truly an enigmatic man."

The eighth concubine candidate nodded his head over to the seventh concubine candidate. "I think only the Advisor Murat can answer the celebration of His Majesty the King."

Haala cleared her throat again, "What did she ask?"

"The question I told you that night" replied Chitrali.

The ninth concubine candidate suddenly moved, following Braheim's motion and voice. "I'm not a swordsman, always lost in a duel, and will forever be protected. But even so, will you accept me?"

The would-be concubines laughed at the same time, except for Haala who again felt a rumble in her heart. Without intending to be overconfident, Haala only believes that a question that Braheim took as a test of the first stage insinuates himself who abandoned Braheim because he did not have the strength of a wandering tribe leader.

"Then, what answer did you give to His Majesty the King?"

"How can we answer a question that doesn't sound like a question? He even gave only nine seconds to answer," said the tenth concubine candidate to Haala.

"I will accept His shortcomings and give Him the best personal guard."

The twelfth concubine candidate turned to the eleventh concubine candidate. "I answered like that too."

"I couldn't answer because he kept glaring at me."

"I heard that many did not have time to answer and were ready to pack their things. You've done your best." The fourteenth concubine candidate rubbed the back of the thirteenth concubine candidate.

Haala suddenly moved. "That's not the answer he wanted."

Yep. That's not. Not one of them, and only Haala knows how to answer the mystery question. Through this question Braheim not only leaked his weakness but also the pain of being dumped again by the woman he so desperately wanted in this period in the future, just because he was weak.

"The servant cannot accept you, Your Majesty. Because it is not you who bear the guilt of a lifetime if one day the war of destruction completely flattened the world and its contents. You should answer like that" said Haala.

...¤○●¤○●¤○●¤...

The magnificent room with a pure gold ceiling that is commonly used to hold grand events such as the birthday of King and Queen Kumari Kandam, is now transformed into a test announcement room for the selection of prospective concubines. And today, is the day of the announcement of the first stage of the election examination.

The candidates for the concubine had already stepped over the announcement room, waiting for Murat Iskender to read out the results of the first stage of the election examination. Suddenly the atmosphere in the announcement room became silent, when finally the much-anticipated advisor of king Kumari Kandam emerged from behind the curtain.

Murat read the announcement. In a loud voice Murat announced that one thousand and six hundred concubine candidates failed the first stage of the election examination. There are nine hundred candidates for concubines left, and they will immediately take the second stage selection exam.

Murat rolled up the announcement paper. "Please if there's anything to ask."

"Right," Murat replied to one of the prospective concubines.

"Is it true that only our health will be examined? Didn't His Majesty the King want to check on our chastity? He is no longer holy. Pick it up."

"Please don't think badly. His Majesty the King only wants a concubine as perfect as Queen Kumari Kandam. If there are no more questions, the guards will escort you to the northern palace*." Murat left the announcement room.

*Northern palace* or better known as the rowdy palace, is the most visited palace. Since there was a hospital, the academy concocted medicine, as well as a garden of rare herbs. The Royal Physician also lives here because in addition to being responsible to the patients for twenty-four hours, he also teaches at the academy*.

Nine hundred surviving concubine candidates, orderly took the second stage selection test. They believe that the test was made by Braheim to check the health of their uterus. Though the real purpose of the test was made was to return the candidates for concubines who were still holy so as not to be targeted Gaana*.

*Gaana* the saint-soul-eating creatures living in Mook* Forest*.

The second stage selection test was completed in four days with the nameless potion of the royal physician. With just a single drop of nameless herb, anyone could know the saint of not a person. The nameless potion only needed to be dripped on the palm, and the results would be instantly visible.

The color is white for someone who has lost his chastity, and red for someone who still keeps his chastity. Thanks to the nameless potion, as many as seven hundred would-be concubines were killed and repatriated to their respective kingdoms with the concern of misguidedness.

There are now two hundred candidates left. Although presumptuous, but the prospective concubines did look as vulgar as Queen Kumari Kandam. They are antagonistic, unapproachable, have clear goals, and know who to bend and bite. Everyone doubted Braheim's choice, except for Haala and Murat.

"Can't sleep?"

Spontaneous Haala up. "Long live, and be bound always, the sun of Kumari Kandam."

"I can feel it. You're happy."

"Right, Your Majesty," Haala replied to Braheim.

"Happy that I repatriated two thousand and three hundred of your rivals to their respective places in such a short period of time?"

Haala looked at Braheim. "It's not like that at all, Your Majesty."

"I knew. I was just kidding. You're a bad, stiff woman."

Haala smiled. "Thank you for keeping them secretly away from Gaana, Your Majesty."

"Give me a kiss."

Haala looked surprised. "Give me a kiss if you want to thank me."

Haala still had a surprised face. "Forget over. Let's just say I'm kidding, " added Braheim.

Haala held back a laugh in response to Braheim. "Give me your hand."

Haala obeyed Braheim's pinta without asking. Bheim dripped the nameless potion on Haala's palm, and suddenly smiled happily as the drop of the deep blue-colored herb turned red. Haala who did not understand what Braheim was doing spontaneously asked.

"What are you doing, Your Majesty?"

"Make sure that Daxraj Natesh is not a dick, "Braheim replied to Haala.

"Yes?"

Bheim was silent for a moment. "Who do you think Kumari Kandam's future enemies are?"

Haala kept quiet. "Come, Your Majesty. Maybe only Daxraj knows the answer."

"What if I?"

Haala turned back to Braheim. "That's impossible, Your Majesty."

"Why not? Even in this time I can also be an enemy of Kumari Kandam, right? Know that I can side with Gaana whenever I want, rather than having to take you with Daxraj Natesh."

DEG! DEG! DEG!

...¤○●¤○●¤○●¤...

"No. I can't be rash. I can't provoke him into making that ridiculous law again" Gaana said in her heart.

Gaana, who was residing in the body of Laasya was looking at the excitement of the Kumari Kingdom of Kandam from the top of the hill. Although from a considerable distance, Gaana could smell there was a lot of fresh food inside the phoenix-symbol kingdom. But Gaana no longer dared to act rashly, given the hidden nature of the extremely cruel Braheim.

With just the early marriage laws and birth rate suppression laws alone, Gaana is almost back to hell. Gaana must not make his victims ashes so as not to leave suspicions that can be read especially by the very observant Braheim. There's one way. Although troublesome, that was the only way left.

In order for her victims not to turn into ashes, Gaana could only eat their holy souls bit by bit. And when their holy souls have been completely devoured by Gaana, they will die by themselves without becoming ashes. Gaana smilingly agreed on how to trouble him, as she waltzed away to follow something.

Something that was none other than the horse-drawn carriage procession of the prospective concubines that Bheim had sent home for failing the first and second stage selection test. For a time, Gaana decided to hunt outside Kumari Kandam. When she was ready, Gaana returned to Kumari Kandam and demanded a reply from Braheim.

"But before that I'll try to turn the clock. I'll prove if the word jala*g is just nonsense. All this time I was the one who turned the clock. Yeah, I'm." Gaana's missing from behind the bushes.