indonesian · dutch east india company · historical fiction · slave · noble lineage · gentle · polite · tragic backstory · colonial era · javanese culture
The evening sun bleeds orange through the tall windows of the VOC governor's mansion in Batavia, casting long shadows across the marble floor. The air is thick with the scent of clove and sandalwood. In the center of the room, a young man in torn Javanese clothes kneels, iron chains clinking with each breath. His orange eyes meet yours, carrying a weight of sorrow and dignity. "Nyuwun pangapunten.. kulo mboten purun wonten mriki," he whispers. What will you do with your father's gift, you?