First Assessment

According to what Nyai Kasmirah said this morning, two royal envoys came there. The first is Gayatri. She is the lord of the concubine's house in the palace. Gayatri will choose for herself which girl deserves to be her foster girl at the concubine's house later. The second is Renjani. Just like Gayatri, she is also the superintendent of the concubine's house. All activities, as well as someone going in and out of the concubine's house, must be with the approval of both of them. They will later educate and supervise the girls before they are ready to meet the King.

"Welcome, Mbak Yu." Nyai Kasmirah bowed politely to the two of them. Then she ushered them into a room that would later be used to see the girls. Meanwhile, the three of them walked into the room. Queues of hundreds of girls had lined up from end to end of Nyai Kasmirah's brothel.

"You brought a lot of girls, Nyai," says Gayatri. What had been known as Nyai Kasmirah was the caretaker of the most cruel concubine in the palace.

"Who doesn't want to enter the palace, Mbak Yu? Moreover, girls from ordinary circles like them, will definitely compete to be the best. " Nyai Kasmirah made small talk.

Arriving inside the room, Gayatri and Renjani sit on wooden chairs. The assessment will begin by summoning several girls to be judged by the two of them into the room in turn.

"Are they ready, Nyai?" asked Renjani.

Nyai Kasmirah nodded. "I'll call them," she answered.

Sekar was in the middle of a queue of girls standing in front of the room Nyai Kasmirah and two other strangers had just entered. It turned out that the atmosphere was much more tense than Sekar had imagined. Sekar must meet the criteria they asked to be able to enter the palace. Sekar is determined to do whatever it takes to pass this selection. Sekar doesn't want to see Darma anymore, and she has to run away into the palace so that one day Darma can't find her.

The ten girls who were in the front row came into the room. They were in there for about ten to fifteen minutes, then came out and changed to the next queue. Until not long after, Sekar was at the front of the queue. After this, she prepared to enter with nine people behind her.

Nyai Kasmirah opened the door and found Sekar at the front of the queue. "Come in!" were her orders. Then she whispered to Sekar. "Make sure you follow all their directions in order to escape and be able to enter the palace as soon as possible. Do you understand? "

Sekar looked at Nyai Kasmirah and nodded firmly. That is also what Sekar wanted. She must enter the palace. A few seconds later, Sekar had gone inside and lined up with nine other people, facing the two palace envoys.

Gayatri and Renjani watch them for a moment from top to bottom. "Now take off your clothes!" Gayatri orders

They then stood up and went from one girl to another. As the other nine people unhesitatingly took off their clothes, Sekar was still gripping the sewek with both hands. Why do you have to take off your clothes? Sekar thought.

Gayatri and Renjani turn to one girl who has taken off her clothes. Examine it from top to bottom. Then tell them to turn, walk, and crouch. Only then did they say if they passed or not. Nine people have been assessed. Some have come out, some are still wearing the kemben and sewek back. And they both arrived in front of Sekar.

"Why don't you open the kemben and sewek?" asked Gayatri. staring curtly at Sekar.

"May I know the reason why I have to be naked?" Sekar asked back.

Gayatri takes a deep breath. The most disliked thing about taking care of the concubines is someone who wants to know everything. According to Gayatri, they will get into some trouble in the palace later if they are curious about all the things that happened.

"If you don't want it, then just go!" Gayatri turns around, is about to sit back down, and passes Sekar.

"We have to make sure the bodies of the concubines who will enter the palace are as good as possible. There were no scars, no disease on their bodies, and they were worthy of being presented to the king. Because it is impossible for us to present a girl with a skin disease to the king. " Renjani explained. "So I hope you'll open the kemben and sewek, so we can confirm that." Such is the difference between Renjani and Gayatri. Renjani is typically more patient and graceful. In contrast to Gayatri,

Sekar nodded in understanding. Then, slowly, he opened the kemben and sewek. "I've never had a skin disease," said Sekar.

Renjani looks at Gayatri and gives her a code to continue judging this young girl in front of them. They watched Sekar from top to bottom. beautiful body curves, clean skin, no scars. Her face is beautiful too.

"Be patient a little, Gayatri. You almost missed this very worthy girl. " Renjani whispers to Gayatri. Her friend was really impatient and often got angry with the concubines. She earned the title of the most feared watchdog. Only Renjani dared to oppose him. because they have the same position.

"She wants to know too much," Gayatri replies relentlessly.

Renjani pauses her conversation with Gayatri, then smiles sweetly at Sekar. "You can use a kemben and sewek Nduk," she said softly.

"And you can join your other friends." "Tomorrow morning we will go to the palace by riding in a horse carriage that has been provided," explained Renjani again.

Sekar reuses kemben and sewek as ordered. She bowed respectfully to the two people who managed to keep her tense for a few minutes before coming out. But Gayatri stops Sekar's hand, and grabs Sekar's arm, who is about to leave. One thing Sekar should know while in the palace: "Don't be curious about anything, or you will get in trouble," says Gayatri sarcastically.