The rain had just stopped, leaving a warm mist rising from the grounds of the Governor's Palace. Julian found Kartikasari standing on the second-floor balcony, gazing toward the distant harbor on the horizon. The moonlight caught the gold threads of her Batik Buketan, creating the illusion that the flowers on her fabric were blooming in the dark.
"Why are you helping me, Kartika?" Julian asked, breaking the stifling silence. "You know Friedrich will destroy you if he finds out you leaked the location at Pasar Baru."
Kartika didn't turn. She continued to twirl a sandalwood fan, its scent filling the air. "The Governor thinks he can buy my loyalty with jewelry and position. He forgets that beneath this kebaya, my heart still beats for the land he tramples upon."
Kartika turned, and for the first time, Julian saw the fire of rage behind her calm obsidian eyes. "You seek your brother because of blood. I protect him because he is the key. Adrian holds the secret of massive corruption committed by Friedrich—funds meant for the people's irrigation, but diverted to strengthen the Governor's private army."
"So you are using me?" Julian felt betrayed.
"We are all using each other, Julian," Kartika replied coldly. She stepped closer, her slender fingers touching Julian's trembling arm. "If Friedrich gets Adrian, he will silence the truth forever. But if you find him first, you can take that secret back to The Hague and bring Friedrich down from the inside."
Kartika handed him a small silver box. Inside was a still-warm Kue Lumpur. "Eat. It is sweet on the outside, but soft on the inside. Like this city, you must learn to penetrate the outer layers to find the true core."
Julian realized that Kartika was not just a companion; she was the brain of a subtle resistance. "What is your personal reason, Kartika? Why do you hate Friedrich so much?"
Kartika fell silent for a moment. The night wind carried the scent of jasmine, which now felt bitter. "My father was a Regent who refused to sign a land contract with Friedrich. He died in the dungeons of the Stadhuis. Friedrich thinks I have forgotten. He thinks this puppet has no memory."
Culture & Language Notes
Batik Buketan: A batik motif influenced by European floral bouquets, often seen in Pekalongan styles; symbolizes a blend of cultures but here represents Kartika's "mask" in high society.
Kue Lumpur: A traditional Indonesian "mud cake" made from potatoes and coconut milk. It has a soft, almost molten texture inside.
Cendana (Sandalwood): A fragrant wood highly valued in the Indies; its scent is often associated with nobility and traditional rituals.
Bupati (Regent): A high-ranking local official in the Dutch colonial administrative system.
Dungeon of Stadhuis: Refers to the dark, humid prison cells located beneath the Old City Hall, notorious for the harsh treatment of prisoners.