Yoga felt truly trapped by the web of words he had woven. In that moment, he realized Prince Dananjaya was not as foolish as he had once thought. The King’s stepbrother had cornered him with a question that was nothing short of a snare—and he knew he must give the perfect answer if he was to escape their suspicion. "As things stand now, Your Highness, our forces are still outnumbered by theirs. If it was indeed Duke Hanggareksa’s men who destroyed the small stronghold, then we must wait for our other troops to arrive. We cannot afford to be hasty—to attack without a solid plan in place," he said, his voice steady as a rock, even as his hands trembled slightly at his sides. Dananjaya was stunned. He had meant to trap Yoga—but instead, he found himself on the receiving end of a subtle rebuke, a reminder of his own impatience to attack and seize control of the Duchy of Tanjung Rejo. "So what do you propose we do?" "We wait for the next wave of ou

The woman shook her head gently, a soft smile playing at her lips. "Not strange at all—you look handsome without the beard." She even covered her face with her hands, as if embarrassed by how honestly she had spoken her mind. Bargowo furrowed his brow, feeling as if her praise was too much. "You’re the first person who’s ever called me handsome. Did my beard really make your eyes hurt that much?" The woman laughed—a loud, joyous sound that drew the attention of other patrons in the eatery, who turned to look at her. "My eyes are just fine, sir. Oh, right... let me introduce myself. My name is Siswati," she said, extending her hand toward him. Bargowo looked confused for a moment, then took her small hand in his large one. "I’m Bargowo." "Wow—your name fits you perfectly. Tall, strong, and powerful," Siswati praised, her eyes shining as she looked up at him. "You’re being too kind," Bargowo said, shaking his h

Bargowo and Rangga spun around immediately, taking a stance back-to-back, ready to fight if they had to. "Surrender now—before we’re forced to use force!" one of the guards shouted, his voice trembling slightly despite his bravado. "Maybe you’d be better off in silk robes and lipstick than in soldier’s gear!" Bargowo shot back quickly, a mocking smile playing across his lips. "If you’re real men, don’t hide behind numbers! Fight me one on one!" The guards hesitated—none of them dared to face Bargowo alone. His towering frame was intimidating enough, but the massive cleaver at his hip promised a swift, brutal end to anyone foolish enough to challenge him. "No one is to fight!" a voice boomed from behind the ranks of guards. The soldiers turned their heads instantly, then bowed low in respect to the figure who had just spoken. "We greet you, Your Majesty!" they chorused in unison. A man with a kind yet co

As the first rays of dawn spilled across the terracotta rooftops of Tanjung Rejo, Aji and Ratih emerged from their modest inn, their cloaks draped over their shoulders to ward off the morning chill. Before setting forth from the Duke’s domain to begin their sweeping patrol, they resolved to seek sustenance at the grandest tavern in the entire province—a bustling hall where merchants, travelers, and nobles alike gathered to share bread, wine, and whispers of the outside world.Within the tavern’s high-ceilinged walls, Aji’s eyes widened at the sight that unfolded before him. Never had he beheld so many strangers, their faces etched with the sharp lines of distant lands, their garments woven from fabrics he could not name. A quiet unease stirred in the depths of his chest, and a question began to form, unspoken yet heavy in the air between him and Ratih. His mind raced with suspicion: could these be the very soldiers of Prince Dananjaya, who had lurked in the shadows for so long, now ch