"I will let you take the rest of the day off," said Madam Bintang.

"But, I am supposed to be outside of my cell during working hours, Ma'am," said Ara.

"You can stay in my room. I don't have the hour rule anymore because I am the head maid."

"Madam Bintang, you really don't have to. I can start learning my new task today." 

Ara feels so guilty that all she has done the whole day is messing up. 

"Dinner is in one hour. There is no point in learning now. You can start tomorrow. Besides, you've been through a lot. I know how it feels, Mutiara. Just rest!"

Ara finally agrees. She sits quietly on her chair while Madam Bintang picks up a book and begins writing something on it. It is very nice of Madam Bintang but Ara feels so unbearably awkward that each second feels like an eternity. 

Alas, the bell does ring. Ara shoots up from her seat that Madam Bintang jumps a little.

"Are you okay, Mutiara?" she asked.

"Oh yes, Ma'am. I am just very hungry," said Ara.

She excuses herself from Madam Bintang's room and walks to the dining hall, being very hopeful that somehow she can catch Bunga along the way. She cannot wait to spill out all of her feelings to someone. She really needs it. She really badly needs someone to talk to. 

"Araaaa!" Just like magic, the person that Ara has been waiting for appears. The girl is running frantically to catch Ara who is being pushed by a crowd of starving people. 

"Bunga!" exclaimed Ara.

"Girl, you owe me a lot of story! Do you hear me?" said Bunga.

"I will tell it to you, I promise," said Ara.

The girls link their hands again while marching to that dining hall. They cannot deny that a long day of labor really has drained the soul out of them.

Ara and Bunga reached the cafetaria lady. She is still unfriendly and still not smiling to them. She pushed a tray of food to Ara. This time it was beef stew and potato. 

"So, what happened between you and Prince Surya? Everybody is dying to hear the true story!" said Bunga while shoving beef down her throat.

"Wait! You mean everybody is gossiping about me?!"

"Ara! A lot of people saw you alone in a closed room with Prince Surya."

"You mean everybody knows it? But we really did not do anything. He just wanted to talk."

"Well, let me rephrase this for you. You. AND. The crown prince. ALONE! in a room!" said Bunga.

"Okay, fine! I get how people can easily misunderstand us. But it's just that I am so tired of being misunderstood! How many times has it been already?" complained Ara.

"Ara, I understand how you may feel. But don't you think you're lucky? A lot of people here have never spoken to the royal family even though they have been working here for years. Now look at you! This is your first day and you already attract the prince's attention. And he's not just any prince. He's THE crown prince, alright!" Bunga really cannot contain her excitement as it spills and explodes like a volcano. 

Ara sighs.

"Nah. I am not lucky. I lost my job."

"You're fired?!"

"Yes, Bunga. Please. Let's not talk about that part. But yes. I am... removed from my position." Ara continues eating. Food heals a little bit of her pain. 

"Okay. Let's not talk about that. But you know what I've heard from the girls?"

"What?"

"Princess Intan is a bit.." Bunga a circle with her finger over and over near her forehead. 

"Ah, really?" Ara pretends like she has not heard about this news from the princes.

"Yeah. She can be very gentle and be very cruel. They said she's a bit bipolar."

"Bipolar?"

"Yeah, but don't tell anyone. It's just our own speculation. Because otherwise, why would she change so drastically like that?" whispered Bunga while covering her mouth with her hand so that people cannot see her lips movement.