Nalini looked at Prince Arya who was standing behind them. The young man only gave her a glance and then bowed to Queen Padma.
"Arya, what brings you here?" asked Ratu Padma without much ado. She sat quietly in her chair observing the maharaja's nephew.
"Forgive me, Queen. I am here to deliver the order of your Majesty," Arya replied. She then took out a scroll of palm leaves and presented it to Queen Padma. An emban moved closer, took the message and gave it to the queen.
Padma queen opened the message and glanced at it. Her lips curled upwards as she finished reading. Her mood turned good.
"All right, Arya. I will immediately reply to the King's message. You wait a moment," said the queen. She then told the emban to get her writing utensils.
While the queen was busy with her writing, Arya glanced again at Nalini who sat kneeling and bowing beside her. Again and again his gaze stopped at the girl who had changed her appearance from the one he had previously known.
"Nalini, do you feel at home here?" Arya whispered to the young healer-to-be. There was an unusual spark in her eyes.
Nalini looked up and returned Arya's gaze but quickly looked down again. The girl didn't answer, she just gave a small nod. She felt her heartbeat start to race.
"I heard you want to learn to read? If you want, I'm willing to teach you," Arya whispered again. She shifted her body slightly near Nalini.
Nalini rubbed her palms which felt cold. She didn't know what to answer because they were still in the presence of Queen Padma.
Arya's gaze had not moved from Nalini when Queen Padma called out to her. "Arya, convey this to His Majesty," she said as she held out the palm scroll.
Arya immediately bowed and moved to accept the small object. She then stored it carefully under her black vest. "Thank you, queen. I will bring it to you immediately."
The queen nodded gracefully with a smile. She then turned her attention to Nalini. "Young healer, I have submitted your request to the Emperor. I hope you can get ready."
Nalini and Nyai Dhira bowed and thanked her. They waited for the queen's signal to leave the place. However, the queen did not give any sign, instead she returned to talking with Arya Dhipa.
"Arya, are you serious about teaching Nalini to read?" asked the queen. She knew her niece was smart but she had never seen her teach.
"Mercy, queen. It's true I want to teach her, she has a great talent and interest in medicine. Panda also knows that since he first helped them," Arya replied.
"The great healer's house is not too far from mine, she can come to my house every day to study," she added.
The queen frowned briefly. She imagined that Nalini would have to go back and forth between Arya Dipa's house and her temporary residence at the great healer's house.
"No, Arya. She will have a hard time dividing her time," said the queen.
Arya Dhipa was not out of ideas. A brilliant idea came to his mind. "Then I will come to the great healer's house every day while watching him study."
Nalini and Nyai Dhira listened to the conversation in silence. 'I just want to learn to read, why is this taking so long?' Nalini thought as she took a deep breath.
Nyai Dhira hurriedly patted her daughter's hand, telling her to calm down.
Padma Queen still did not approve of Arya Dhipa's will. Iya knew that her nephew was always around the maharaja and must be ready to be summoned at any time. "Are you sure you can do that?"
Arya Dhipa did not seem to want to give up, he then proposed another proposal. "I will teach and supervise the young healer as much as possible, Queen. If I am unable to attend for any reason, there will be a substitute teacher."
"Besides, he must quickly master a wider range of medical knowledge. The plague in the kingdom of Lokapala is not yet fully contained. His energy and mind are needed at the forefront," Arya Dhipa said.
Hearing the word plague, Queen Padma changed her mind quickly. Although she had never been outside the Kaputren palace, as queen she always knew what was happening in the kingdom.
"All right, Arya. Do your job well, guide her so that she can immediately help the great healer, let her mother stay here to take care of me," said the queen as she looked at Nyai Dhira.
"Nyai doctor, are you willing to stay here to take care of me?" asked Queen Padma. Having been cared for for so long by the healer from the village, she began to feel close and could feel the sincerity in his devotion.
"With pleasure, Queen. I will remain here to carry out orders," said Nyai Dhira as she bowed.
The queen smiled happily at Nyai Dhira. "Nalini, you study hard. The heavens will surely record your every good deed," said the queen who was kindly giving support to Nalini.
Nalini's chest rumbled to hear it. The queen's support made her even more excited and promised to do her best.
"Thank you very much, Kanjeng Ratu. I promise to study and serve wholeheartedly," Nalini said with trembling lips. She put her palms together in front of her chest and bowed to Ratu Padma. A drop of emotion fell from the corner of her eyes.
"Get ready, Nalini. Wait for a new order from the emperor. Today or tomorrow there will be bodyguards to pick you up and take you to the great healer's house," said Ratu Padma as his hand signaled Nalini and Nyai Dhira to leave his residence.
The mother and daughter then stepped back and left the place. Shortly after the two left, Arya Dhipa also left the Kaputren Palace.
Sure enough, the next day two guards summoned Nalini and read her a new order.
"Physician Nalini, His Majesty has given you orders to assist in the great physician's house starting today," said the well-dressed bodyguard.
Nalini quickly bowed down and accepted the order from 'Eyang Guru' aka the king of Lokapala.
"I am ready to carry out his orders," she said firmly.
Nalini said goodbye and hugged Nyai Dhira tightly as she left the place. As her only child, Nyai Dhira had never parted with Nalini for a day since she was born. Tears flowed slowly down her wrinkled cheeks.
"Be careful wherever you are. I'm always waiting for your return," Nyai Dhira said in her daughter's ear.
Nalini nodded obediently. Her heart was also mixed having to be temporarily separated from her mother but that was the path she had chosen.
"If I have time, I will definitely visit my mother in the Kaputren palace." Nalini promised as she wiped away the tears on her mother's cheeks.
"I promise, girl," Nyai Dhira stammered. To her, Nalini was half her life.
"I promise, mom." Nalini said firmly and tightened her embrace.
The bodyguard reminded Nalini to leave immediately. The girl released her embrace on Nyai Dhira. She slowly followed the bodyguards while waving to the maids who also escorted her away.
Just past the gate of the Kaputren palace, the group of bodyguards and Nalini were surprised by a distinctive greeting from a figure that Nalini recognized.
"I will escort you. My job is to watch over you," Arya Dhipa said from the back of his horse with a wide smile. His handsome face seemed to glow even more reflecting the morning sun.
Nalini did not blink at the sight. She stood still for a moment not knowing what to do.