"You are lucky that my wife is so kind-hearted," he said. 

"I am happy for you. I think you can learn a thing or two from her," answered Prince Surya which further angers Hindia. 

Thalassia saw the change of expression in her husband's face so she holds his arm to calm him down. She then proceeds to take over his speech as to reach their objectives sooner. 

"You see, young prince. We do not have intention of hurting you or your friend. We just want justice for all the third and fourth-caste workers in Rama. We want justice for all the outcast and the homeless people in this Neo Renegades headquarter."

Prince Surya does not answer, allowing Thalassia to continue.

"Therefore, we want to get access to Matahari."

"I am sorry but that is not possible," answered Prince Surya.

"Kid, you are no king yet. The way I see it, you will never be!" Hindia hisses and Thalassia glares at him.

He takes a deep breath and sits back down on his metal chair. Prince Surya does the same thing as he breathes in and breathes out a few times to keep his calm. He will not allow himself be triggered by this delusional old man. 

"I may not be king yet. But I know my king. He will not let Matahari be breached by anyone or anything." 

"But your king is also your father. Would he still hold on to Matahari if his dear son is going to die meaninglessly at the hand of rebellions?" asked Hindia. 

Prince Surya clenches his fist behind his back, still tied up. If he is not tied up he would have cast away his pride as a crown prince and make sure that hideous person gets a punch on his face. 

"He is not just my king. He is also your king. So, you better start speaking of him properly."

"Darling, there is no need to continue debating like this. We have made our intention clear to the prince. He can go back to his room, can't he?" said Thalassia.

'Who said I am done?!' Prince Surya feels like he wants to shout and yell at these two people. 

Hindia does not say anything but nods his head in agreement. Thalassia calls the guard to send Prince Surya away, out of their sight.

Once the guard and the prince have left the Mataram room, Thalassia stands up angrily. She does not even want to look at Hindia's face.

"You don't have to do that!" she said.

"He has to know that we do not want to admit him as future king nor his father as the present king."

"They are royalties whether you want to say it or not!" yelled Thalassia.

"Why has his presence make you so worked up?!" Hindia also stands up to counter Thalassia.

"You promised that you will not hurt them! You said we will just take some corps and seeds from Matahari and live our own lives! You have gotten greedy!" Thalassia shouts and throws her tiara to the floor.

She then storms out of the room, unbothered by Hindia who is calling her name. 

Back in the prison cell, Ara has been patiently waiting for Prince Surya's return. She is anxious and scared as to what is happening to him. When the sounds of footsteps fill the hall, she perks up and runs to the wall that separate their room. When Prince Surya has come into the room and the door is closed, she starts to call him.

"Ssh..Not yet." 

Prince Surya walks as calmly as possible towards his bed, acting like he is unbothered and unamused by what the rebellion leaders have told him. The guard just coughs in acknowledgement and leaves the prince be. 

When he is certain that nobody is there but himself and Ara, he said," There are leaders in this rebellion headquarter. They proclaimed themselves as the Neo Renegades' King and Queen."

"Did they harm you? What did they tell you?" 

"They just shackled me and covered my eyes. I guess they do not want their identities to be revealed."

"But why?" asked Ara.

"I have been asking myself the same thing. By the way the lady talks, I think she used to live in Garuda. She has the manner of someone intellectual and of status."

"Of status? Are you saying that she is from the royal family?"

"I am not saying that she is from the royal family. She cannot be. The royal family is so small and closed."

"Could she be a head maid then?"

"Or a tutor? An advisory? There are countless of possibilities," said Prince Surya.

"But that would mean she had betrayed the kingdom," answered Ara.

"Like everybody else here. They have all revolted, run away, or rebel in some ways."

Ara nods. What he said is true. Nobody here likes the kingdom. It only makes sense that the leaders of Neo Renegades are the ones that despise the royal family the most. 

"Why did they call you?" Ara asked again.

"They want access to Matahari. They want to sabotage us. Having me is like a chance of warranty for these rebellion."

A pang of guilt flows on Ara's blood like tsunami, unstoppable. If she did not go to Prince Surya's room that night, he would not have been captured. If he had not been captured, then the rebellion would not have a prisoner of war to guarantee their success in sabotaging the kingdom's whole resources. 

"It is all my fault." Ara slides down on the wall, allowing her to fall on her bottom.

The floor is hard and cold but her guilt overpowers every physical pain. She covers her eyes and face with her hands. 

"That's not what I meant," Prince Surya said softly. 

"But it's true. If it wasn't because of me, you wouldn't be here. The kingdom wouldn't be threatened."

"With or without me as a prisoner, this syndicate has been established in a structured manner. They have been planning this for a long time. They will still attack with or without a prince on their hands."

"But now they have you, they have secured their victory. What are we going to do, Surya?" 

Ara had not been a fan of the royal family because of what the people of Rama said about them. But her perspection has changed without her even noticing. She has become friends with Prince Chahaya and has become somewhat of a lover with Prince Surya.