That afternoon came to an end. Bandung Bandawasa and Ceking began their guard duty shift.
The two were not entirely alone in the women's quarters. Six ordinary soldiers were stationed there as well. Still, there was a line separating their ranks, only known to a few people in Prime Minister Gupala's circle.
Those six soldiers served as point guards. They stood rigidly at the outer posts or patrolled the walls of the women's quarters. Whenever the Crown Princess left, they remained to guard the area.
Meanwhile, the special soldiers were like shadows moving with her. No matter where the Crown Princess was heading—whether to the pond, to see the King, or just walking in the garden—Bandung Bandawasa and Ceking were always nearby, ensuring her safety.
Even the quiet nights in the women's quarters did not cloud Bandung Bandawasa's eyes. As a guerrilla soldier, nighttime was his domain. He had been trained for years to stay alert in the darkness of the forest, watching for the enemy's movements and attacking in silence. Darkness was not a time for him to rest, rather a time when his senses were at their sharpest.
To fill the silence of the night, Bandung Bandawasa chose to sit cross-legged under the shade of a banyan tree near his post. He began to meditate, gathering his breath to increase his Kanuragan martial arts skills. In that deep state of meditation, his hearing became twice as acute.
All of a sudden, his ears picked up a very soft sound of cloth rubbing and very light footsteps. His nose also caught the increasingly strong smell of incense. Bandung Bandawasa's eyes opened instantly and he saw the Crown Princess passing by in the darkness.
Although the Crown Princess was followed by two maids carrying trays of offerings, Bandung Bandawasa could not hide his worries and curiosity. He followed them from a safe distance, ensuring his footsteps were as quiet as a snake's hiss.
Bandung Bandawasa watched the Crown Princess head to a small temple in the corner of the women's quarters to pray. The pale moonlight fell directly on her light yellow skin as she prayed. But after that, instead of returning to her bedchamber, she walked in a different direction.
The Crown Princess headed towards the pond.
Bandung Bandawasa was shocked. The path walked by the Crown Princess was a small path hidden by lush ornamental plants, different from the one shown by Maiden Kuning. Being unfamiliar with the details of the palace, he only realized her destination once he heard the sound of flowing water and smelled various flowers.
Under the moonlight, behind the lush plants and trees, Bandung Bandawasa witnessed a scene that should have been a secret to the maids. Two of the Crown Princess's maids worked carefully. One of them was Maiden Kuning, who was rolling her jet-black hair up, while the other removing her cloth.
As a Kanuragan martial arts practitioner and a soldier who often spied on enemies in dark nights, Bandung Bandawasa's eyes were sharper than those of the palace guards and ordinary soldiers. Even though the only light came from the pale moon, he managed to capture details that took his breath away.
As the cloth fell, the beautiful Crown Princess's silhouette was reflected on the clear surface of the water.
Bandung Bandawasa knew he must immediately turn around and get as far away as possible. Witnessing the Crown Princess bathe was a serious offense that could end with his head being chopped off.
However, the Crown Princess's charm under the pale moonlight seemed to have a magical power. Bandung Bandawasa's feet, which were usually agile on the battlefield, now felt as if they were glued to the ground.
As a young man going through puberty and full of passion, his masculine instincts and admiration for beauty were stronger than his fear of the death penalty. Bandung Bandawasa even decided to climb a tree and hide among the thick leaves to get a better view in the darkness.
From above, Bandung Bandawasa was able to see the Crown Princess's legs, which were radiant and clean with their light yellow color. His sharp eyes caught sight of her pubic area, which was smooth and the same color as her legs.
What captivated him the most, however, were her wide hips and thighs, reminding Bandung Bandawasa of the conversations among the men in the barracks. They often talked about how women with such qualities were exceptionally fertile and capable of bearing great soldiers.
The Crown Princess stepped into the sparkling pond.
The sound of the water parting was very clear to Bandung Bandawasa's ears and his heart began to beat faster.
Suddenly, a familiar sound broke the tense silence. Bandung Bandawasa recognized the clang of metal swords and heavy footsteps behind the wall, belonging to a palace guard on routine patrol outside the women's quarters.
Bandung Bandawasa gasped. If the guard outside decided to call his name and he did not respond from his assigned post, his secret presence there would be revealed.
One more time, Bandung Bandawasa glanced at the pond. There, the Crown Princess had her eyes closed, enjoying a head and hand massage from the two maids. It was his last chance to leave without leaving a trace.
Silently, Bandung Bandawasa slid down from the sandalwood tree branch where he had been lurking. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he immediately recited a spell to lighten his body. In an instant, his body shot upward, piercing the darkness of the night. He glided low over rooftops in the women's quarters, taking advantage of the shadows cast by clouds covering the moon to hide his silhouette.
Bandung Bandawasa landed very softly, exactly into his original position, just seconds before the patrol soldier passed behind the wall.
"Areh, Bandung?" shouted the guard.
[Translation: Are you okay, Bandung?].
Standing upright, Bandung Bandawasa regulated his breathing to remain calm even though his heart was still pounding from the scene he had just witnessed.
"Areh!" replied Bandung Bandawasa in a determined voice.
[Translation: Safe!].
The patrolling guard passed by. Bandung Bandawasa leaned his back against the cold stone wall. Cold sweat ran down his forehead. His mind was still filled with images of the Crown Princess's hairless, light yellow genitals ....