trying to eat you alive.”
“What? Uh-huh-huh-huh, this is funny, so funny!”
“Shhhh…” Bonita is so scared. She worries that someone may be listening to their conversation.
“More hot water.” Zaak stops laughing.
“Bonita, Princess Arabella demands your presence.” A servant whispers.
“Please allow me to change.” Bonita blushes.
She has met the princess a few times but they never talked about anything real.
Why does she want to see me? Bonita’s heart races fast. Honestly, she is jealous of the princess because she is trying to get Zaak’s attention though so far with no success yet. Is she going to ask me for help? Lord, I can’t help her to take my husband away. Bonita is now so frustrated. Should I talk to Zaak? She sighs, letting out a long breath. Zaak lost his memory about who he really is. Now he is acting like the army commander of the Empire. There is no use talking with him.
Bonita puts on a pair of pretty earrings and shakes her head. She checks her makeup in the mirror one more time and then walks out of her room. “Let’s go,” she whispers.
“Sit down please, Bonita.” The princess gives her a small smile.
“Thank you, Princess.”
“So, how’s everything?”
“Everything… is fine.” Bonita smiles nervously. She’s not sure what that question means.
“Thank you, Bonita, for taking care of General Aja’s daily needs.”
“You’re so welcome, Princess. That’s my job.”
“Do you need any help? Like more people?” The prince gives her a tiny smile again.
“No, we have enough people already. Thanks anyway.”
“That’s great.”
“Anything else, Princess? Can I go back to my work now?” Bonita wants to leave immediately. The way the princess looks at her makes her feel very uncomfortable.
“Um… okay. I think I should mention something trivial. You know, tiny.”
“Anything to help me improve my work, please.” What the hell? Bonita’s heart is racing much faster now.
“As you know, Bonita, the General is busy.”
“Yes, Princess, I know.”
“So he shouldn’t hear anything that may disturb him.”
Bonita’s heart almost jumps out of her chest. She bites her lip and thinks hard, breathing deeply to calm down. Finally she whispers, “What do you mean, Princess?”
“Such as telling him that he has a wife already.” The princess stares right into Bonita’s eyes.
Goddamnit, she sent someone to watch us! Bonita is not scared that their conversation has been overheard. Instead she feels like a deer cornered by a wolf. There is no way to escape. So she decides to fight back. “Princess, I was telling the truth.”
“What?” The princess raises her voice. She tries so hard not to stand up. After a long time, she relaxes and smiles.
“Every girl can have a dream, Bonita. You have been with him for long, so I understand. However, you’re only a servant. So please keep the dream for yourself.”
She stops for a moment and then continues, “Only me, the princess of the great Empire, is the perfect match for the greatest general of all the time.”
“But he comes back from four hundred years ago. He is much older than you, Princess.” Bonita looks right into the princess’s eyes. She has had enough. She wants her husband back. No one can take him away from her, princess or not.
The princess is shocked at the way Bonita talked to her. She stands up, staring right into Bonita’s eyes. Bonita looks back.
After a long while, the princess steps forward. She squeezes out her words through gritted teeth: “Your crazy dream may cost you one thing: your life.”
Chapter Four
Bonita smiles. “Princess, regardless what you think, Zaak is my husband. And I want him back.”
“You’re dreaming, Bonita.” The princess smiles like nothing unpleasant has happened. She walks gracefully to the window, smells