MAYA, my love.

CHAPTER 43

Mey stood before the gates once again—the very same gates she had once protested against. But now, she was there to present her case. All the work had finally provided her with a good result, something big enough to save many lives. Until this moment, she had been numb to the pressure, but as she stood before the gates, an overwhelming sense of nervousness gripped her.

She felt restless and kept fidgeting with her hands, anxiety rising within her. The gates creaked open. A large hall lay beyond, filled with figures of great authority. Every minister was present, their eyes sharp and watchful. The grandeur of the room was only amplified by the imposing presence of His Majesty, seated upon his magnificent throne at the front. Mey had to stand at the very center of the hall in front of all those people to present. A feeling of dread washed over her—would she be good enough? Was her work great enough?

As she stood there, frozen in place, John approached her.

"Lady, are you unwell?" he asked, his voice low but concerned, observing the hesitation in her posture.

"I am fine," she replied, her voice betraying her unease. "I....."

John called out to her again, but she was zoning out.

"Look at me," John commanded, finally placing his hands on her shoulders and turning her toward him. "Listen, Lady, you have labored tirelessly for this moment. Your research is without flaw, and the treatment you've devised is going to save many lives. Now is not the time for self-doubt. You must walk into that hall with your head held high. You've earned your place here."

"Yes. Yes, you're right, sire," Mey said, gathering herself.

"Come," John said, offering his arm to escort her. She took it, and together they began their measured walk toward the center of the hall.

"Who is this girl? What audacity!" A faint whisper came from the far side of the room. The murmurs escalated, growing louder with each passing second. John's gaze darkened. He looked up at the source of the whispers, which was none other than Minister Golkar, the young Minister of Finance, who had succeeded his father in that role—a man of questionable qualifications who had bought his position rather than earned it. John's gaze locked onto him, and his voice cut through the growing din.

"Minister Golkar," John's tone was sharp, authoritative, and unwavering. "If you have something to say, let us all hear it."

"No. It's nothing, Prince," Golkar muttered.

"Stand. Stand and tell us again what you just said," John ordered authoritatively.

The minister rose from his seat, puffing out his chest with ill-concealed arrogance and annoyance at being ordered by the prince. His voice echoed through the hall as he addressed the assembly, "This court is no place for a woman, particularly not one who presumes to have the answers to our kingdom's most pressing matters."

Mey, momentarily stunned, remained silent. John, however, was quick to challenge the minister's words.

"Okay. Alright, Minister. Then how do you intend to treat the epidemic effectively?"

"Um, there are many other ways."

"Please explain, then," John said quickly again. He felt as if he was used to the minister's attitude and was ready to expose him.

"I... You see, we are still trying to find good solutions. Work is still being done, so I can't explain here right now. But I assure you, we are working on things that can't be said before the ideas are fruitful and complete," Minister Golkar said, trying to seem confident, but his stammering gave away his nervousness.

"Okay, then why don't you assist me in this matter? You see, Doctor Mey is here to discuss how to address the epidemic—not merely through medical means but from the perspective of our kingdom's financial stability. Minister Golkar, as the official responsible for the kingdom's economic health, I trust you can enlighten us on the fiscal implications of this epidemic and the potential of this treatment to ease the financial burden before she gives her briefing. Of course, her opinion might lack your expertise, as you are the one directly in charge of overseeing the kingdom's finances."

Golkar stammered, clearly flustered. "Your Majesty, I was not prepared for this line of questioning. We are discussing this woman's treatment, not economics. Why bring me into this?"

"Answer the question immediately," John commanded, his voice cutting through the room.

Golkar hesitated. "I... I am not prepared to respond..."

"You dare suggest that you are not prepared?" John's tone grew colder. "For an entire week, I have discussed the efficacy of this treatment—its application and its potential—here in this very court. You, Minister Golkar, were present during those discussions. Do not feign ignorance now. Where were you when the matter of the treatment's long-term impact was being debated? You had ample opportunity to prepare yourself. So, answer: What is your perspective on the economic implications of the treatment?"

Golkar stammered again, clearly unsure of how to respond. "Without a clear solution, our economy will continue to suffer. But it is unclear how this girl's treatment could possibly alleviate the financial strain."

John's expression hardened. "What an incomplete and imprecise answer. Did you even comprehend the question?"

Before Golkar could speak again, John raised his hand, signaling for silence. He turned to Mey, still by his side, and gestured toward the podium. She walked up hesitantly. He stayed close by.

"Doctor, you now have the floor. Can you answer the exact question I asked the minister here?"

Mey took a steadying breath and addressed His Majesty and the gathered ministers, locking eyes, especially with His Majesty the King seated at the front. "yes, I can," she began, her voice firm but respectful.