Ara stops her steps and moves back to where Madam Bintang is standing.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Follow me," she said.

Madam Bunga takes Ara to the main part of the Palace. Ara thought that they will go straight to Princess Intan's room to get her ready for the day. But instead, Madam Bunga takes her to a room that looks like a storage room. 

Madam Bunga then takes a broche from a wooden box. The broche is in a shape of a flower. The five petals are made of saphire while the center is made of a beautiful dark blue pearl. 

"Wear this," she said.

"I wear this?" asked Bunga. Confusion can be seen all over her face. Not just confusion, but also suspiciousness.

'What if this broche belongs to the Royal family? They will think I steal it from them! Is Madam Bintang trying to get me killed?' All these thoughts are spinning in Ara's head.

"Just wear it! It is mine. Or at least it used to be," said Madam Bintang.

Even though she is unsure, Ara takes the broche from Madam Bintang's hand and settles it on the left side of her plain grey shirt.

"It's for good luck."

"Will the Princess find it weird that I have a jewelry?"

"She likes jewelry. Wear this and she'll take a liking in you." Madam Bintang fixes the position of the broche on Ara's shirt.

She smiles at Ara. The scary and strict lady is now gone. With the smile, Madam Bintang looks very warm and motherly.

But the warm moment does not last long. She leads the way out of the storage room to Princess Intan's chamber. Three knocks on the door. No answer.

"Princess, it is time to wake up," said Madam Bintang.

"Come in!" a very soft voice can be heard from behind the door.

Madam Bintang opens the double door leading to Princess Intan's chamber. The room is big and majestic. The bed is in the middle of the room, covered with a white valance. 

Behind the valance, a figure of young woman is seen sitting on the bed.

"Princess Intan, this is your new lady-in-waiting, Mutiara of Rama." Madam Bunga introduces Ara to her soon-to-be master.

"Good. Leave us," said the Princess.

Madam Bunga throws a glance at Ara with a warm smile on her face. Then she leaves her alone with Princess Intan.

"So.. Your name is Mutiara of Rama, correct?"

"That is correct, my Lady," answers Ara with a little curtsy.

"Call me Intan. I mean, call me Intan when we are in private. You should still call me 'Your Highness' or 'My Lady' in public." Princess Intan chuckles.

"Yes, My..I mean.Yes, Intan."

"Good. I am not sure if you have known your duty or not. But I normally have two half-boiled eggs cracked on top of warm rice. The drink is hot green tea. For the dessert, it is a bowl of mango. Cut into dice size." Princess Intan's request sure sounds like a laundry list.

But Ara has no problem memorizing it. Memorizing is her strength.

"I will have it ready as soon as possible, Intan."

Ara goes out of the Princess' room and walks to the kitchen. Along the way, she cannot stop thinking.

'Madam Bintang has always been saying and implying that Princess Intan is hard to deal with. To be honest, she is nicer than I thought. It feels weird that Madam Bintang would think that the Princess is difficult. Madam Bintang even gave me such a beautiful broche to help me adjust with the princess. I just don't get all this.'