Wirasesa, who heard the arrogant remarks from Kebo Anabrang, clenched his hands tightly. He hated everything that came out of Kebo Anabrang's mouth, but he still didn't have the strength to destroy Kebo Anabrang.
"Gusti patih...."
"I don't know what you guys think; Swapakala is not just the crown prince; he has obvious blood as a future heir." He is smart, capable, and has many advantages. You are blind if you dream of someone else sitting on Indralaya's throne and wearing Drastra. If you want Maespati to be destroyed, fight my desire to elevate Swarpakala to a king!
Everything there was silent.
"Mahapatih..."
"Yes, resi Agyasaka?"
"I know appointing a king is paramount, but the king's funeral is far more important than all of them." "After the king's funeral is over, only then will we re-hold these talks."
"OK, Resi, I agree, but for all of you," Kebo Anabrang said, his gaze fixed on the entire palace courtier."Erase your filthy thoughts of elevating others to the throne instead of prince Swarpakala. Swarpakala not only had the royal lineage of his late father, Alam Braja Sukma, but he was also the son of Gayatri. And if you all forget, Gayatri is the queen of Bradja Kanaka. Her kingdom and five other kingdoms had been the protectors of Maespati from outside disturbances until recently, and remember, Gayatri is the protectors' daughter. She is irreplaceable to anyone, but especially to her children."
There was silence; no retainer dared to speak out, including Wirasesa, but Wirasesa growled with anger. He was already tired of everything in this palace.
"Someday, Kebo Anabrang, someday you will kneel before the son of a commoner." It's time that stupid noblesse of yours was removed from Maespati. Just wait for Kebo Anabrang; you will get your punishment and live a miserable life because of your rottenness. "I can't wait to see you kowtow before a commoner."
****
One of the Lestari soldiers, tasked with protecting the empress, came to the palace hall. His arrival immediately caused an uproar because, so far, there had never been a queen palace soldier coming to the palace hall.
"Lestari warrior?" Candrasengkala looked at Kebo Anabrang and the female soldier in turn. Kebo Anabrang nodded, allowing the female soldier to enter the palace hall.
The female soldier walked in, and after saluting Kebo Anabrang and Maharesi, she started talking. "Gusti Patih, forgive the courage of the servant who came suddenly without permission first."
"No problem. Tell me what's the problem?"
"Is the queen giving birth?" Maharesi Agyasaka asked, standing up to speak.
"Not my lord."
"And then?"
"Empress, want to do pati obong1."
Everyone who was there simultaneously exclaimed in surprise. Pati Obong is a death ritual performed by a widow to follow her husband to death, burned alive, and it is commonly performed by a Hindu woman, but the queen is heavily pregnant, and the child she is carrying may be born in a few days.
"It's crazy!" hissed Kebo Anabrang.
"It's not crazy, my lord. The queen is just being loyal," Wirasesa replied half-mockingly. "My lord, the queen doesn't even care about her pregnancy; isn't that a good thing?"
Kebo Anabrang looked at Wirasesa with an angry face. His hands clenched into fists full of annoyance. But it seemed that Wirasesa, sitting at the end and by the door, couldn't see the expression on the face of Kebo Anabrang, who seemed to want to eat Wirasesa alive.
"My lord," Wirasesa continued. "If the queen dies, the queen deserves the highest praise because a queen has preserved her husband's honor by dying with the late king. It's amazing!" He said, applauding.
"Then why don't you ask your sister to do it, Wirasesa?" Candrasengkala replied on behalf of Kebo Anabrang. "Your sister, Hapsari, is a concubine, which means she is also the wife of the late king. I'm sure he also wants to do pati obong, even though she doesn't want to do it. The pati obong terrace is an obligation a wife must fulfill to preserve her and her husband's honor. Isn't that how my Lord is?"
Kebo Anabrang did not answer; he immediately woke up from his throne, followed by the Maharishi. "I will go directly to the queen's palace, and you, Candrasengkala, gather all the king's concubines. Those who will pati obong!"
Hearing Kebo Anabrang's remarks once again, everyone in the palace hall shouted, because besides Wirasesa's sister, there were several relatives of the courtier who were also the king's concubines, but although the unwillingness radiated clearly on their faces, only Wirasesa dared to block Kebo Anabrang's steps.
"Gusti patih! My lord!" Wirasesa shouted angrily. "The one who wants to do the pati obong is the queen. Why do you have to force someone else to replace her? Other women still have a much better life than death!"
"Their lives would be meaningless again without their husband, Wirasesa!" replied Kebo Anabrang, holding back a growl. "Madrim2 represents Kunti2 doing pati obong and accompanying Pandu2 in the realm of death. Since the queen is heavily pregnant and can't do it, then the king's concubines who will take her place."
"I won't allow my sister to die for the king! When your sister Gayatri came to be the queen and empress of this land, my sister's chance of becoming queen never existed! And you're still greedy for wanting others to compensate for the death of your useless sister?"
Hearing Wirasesa's words, Kebo Anabrang, who had lost his temper, immediately kicked Wirasesa's body. Wirasesa's small, thin body was directly thrown two meters away, with blood flowing from his mouth. It seems that some of Wirasesa's sternum was broken due to the force of a kick from Kebo Anabrang.
Maharesi Agyasaki and Maharesi Jalendra tried to separate them because Kebo Anabrang was not satisfied with beating Wirasesa and wanted to beat him back, possibly killing him as well, so they tried their best to keep him from following his killing lust.
After being soothed by Candrasengkala. Kebo Anabrang, who was still by anger, looked at Wirasesa and said,
"Your sister, who loves the king very much, will follow the king to die first, Wirasesa!" said Kebo Anabrang furiously. "He who will embrace the king's body in the fireplace when all the wood burns, burning the king's!"
Wirasesa and everyone there shuddered in horror. They knew that if Kebo Anabrang had never messed up his remarks, he would always keep everything he had ever said. That's why Wirasesa knelt down directly. His courage has melted like a candle burning with fire. Wirasesa held Kebo Anabrang's legs tightly. "Please don't do that," Wirasesa sobbed, tears streaming down her sunken cheeks. "For life, Hapsari lived as a concubine; please let her live, my lord."
"Get out of my sight, Wirasesa!" said Kebo Anabrang furiously. You said a wife should show their loyalty to a king, and your sister should do it."
"And you take it easy. She will not be alone because she will do it with the other ten concubines of the king," Candrasengkala replied.
"Gather them all in the palace mourning room!" Kebo Anabrang firmly ordered Candrasengkala, then abruptly left, leaving Wirasesa, who roared bitterly. His wailing voice sounded even more miserable than the cries of everyone in the palace when the king died.
1. Pati Obong : The suicide ceremony is performed by Hindu women who have been abandoned by their husbands to preserve their honor. Pati Obong is a term used in Indonesia, especially Java, while in India it is better known as sati.
2. Madrim, Kunti and Panducharacters who are in the Mahabharata story