Asean in Love

The silence while they were playing picture chess was interrupted by the queen of Bali coming with a noise from her cabin.

"Don't blame me, Your Majesty, my daughter got out of bed with no make-up and loose hair with a fuss, she must be madly in love with you, because she has never been so emotional, " said Subadar.

"In any case, she is more beautiful than all my other wives and princesses, " said the king of Singhasari.

"She slept in a rum barrel last night, so forgive me that she must still be drunk today, " replied Subadar.

"Hush, we are his vassals, have you forgotten, " he said calmly to his daughter in his Song Dynasty language as she came up to the table where the two were playing chess.

"Sit here daughter and continue the chess for me with the king."

"Don't leave me alone with him, I will play with you against him just to defeat him," said the queen.

It was already lunch time and Samadar directed the staff to set up a table with food.

"Your Excellency, share this humble lunch with us."

Lunch was more than a banquet with all the delicious dishes from the Song Dynasty.

"Delicious?"

"Yes, very much, I have never eaten such delicious dishes."

"It was prepared by our chef who arrived here on my ship from the Song Dynasty before the occupation by the Yuan Dynasty, he used to be the head chef at the court of the Emperor of the Song Dynasty."

"So you prepared a royal lunch for me."

The Queen of Bali was still pouting to herself, but she was silent during the meal because she had overslept without dinner last night.

"Here, for lunch, we have prepared honey wine, it is called mead and it is very healthy, " said Subadar.

"What is your plan today, do you go back to your kingdom or do we continue chess?"

"Of course, I will stay with you a little longer to finish this game of chess that has remained without a winner yet."

"And what does the winner get?", asked the queen of Bali.

"If you win, it will be according to your choice, if I win according to mine", said the king of Singhasari.

"What is your choice?", he asked the queen.

"My son becomes the king of Bali because you have already appointed another person from your kingdom as king of Bali."

"Okay, I agree."

"You have not told us what your claim is if you win?"

"The Queen of Bali becomes my lawful wife", he said.

Chess lasted all day until late at night because neither side wanted to lose the game.

While they were playing chess, the king told Subadar that he was thinking of introducing a new currency throughout the kingdom.

"I think that the coin with a hole that you introduced in Bali based on the money of the Song dynasty is the most economical, also with that currency our new kingdom of Majapahit can have a better trade exchange in other parts of the world where our overseas ships also sail with goods and spices."

"Excellent, I think it's better that way, so all Rajasa dynasties can benefit from that", replied Subadar.

The two chatted casually while playing a long game of chess, while the Queen of Bali watched them sitting tensely.

Late at night the soldiers of the King of Singhasari reached the ship.

"It's time for a break.

Excuse me, I have to listen to the report of my soldiers."

After a short time, he returned to continue playing chess and deliberately let Subadar win.

"You have won", he said.

"Now I must leave your ship because duty calls," the king continue:

"Tomorrow is my big wedding in the palace with the princess of Sumatra, so I invite you to the wedding before you set sail for Venice."

Then he addressed the queen of Bali:

"I expect you to be present during my wedding ceremony with Princess Dara."