The grand Limoungan Palace buzzed with a joy that was almost palpable, for Prince La Galigo, the kingdom's new hope, had finally arrived. Yet, beneath the celebrations, a quiet anxiety stirred in the hearts of his parents, King Sawerigading and Queen Iwe Cimpao, for the prince's destiny was not yet clear, and a crucial decision awaited them.
Iwe Cimpao’s eyes shimmered with worry. "Who will nurse La Galigo?" she asked Sawerigading. He looked puzzled. "Will he not nurse from us?" Iwe shook her head. "My father believes he needs milk from a chosen lineage. I fear he will reject my milk."
Sawerigading, troubled, summoned royal wet nurses. Each tried to feed La Galigo, but he rejected every one. "He will only nurse from the chosen," a guard observed. Iwe’s fears were confirmed. Sawerigading felt immense pressure.
Amidst confusion, a guard offered a bold idea. "Ratu Jompo, queen from the conquered kingdom, might nurse La Galigo," he suggested.
Soon, Ratu Jompo, a woman of quiet dignity despite her recent losses, was led into the royal chambers. As she approached, La Galigo, who had been wailing, suddenly grew still, then reached out his tiny hands with a soft cry, a sound of immediate acceptance that filled the room with wonder.
Ratu Jompo gently took the prince into her arms and offered her breast. La Galigo nursed deeply, bringing a wave of profound relief to Sawerigading. He watched, a heavy burden lifting from his shoulders. But for Ratu Jompo, the act was bittersweet. While she felt a strange connection to the infant, a silent sorrow for her conquered kingdom echoed in her heart, a quiet ache beneath the surface of her calm demeanor.
"Ratu Jompo," Sawerigading declared, his voice filled with gratitude, "for this invaluable service, I promise to free your kingdom from all taxes and grant your people new lands for their prosperity." Jompo bowed her head, accepting the king's generous offer, yet the weight of her people's past subjugation and the complex path to their future remained heavy on her mind.
Iwe Cimpao, however, watched the scene unfold with growing fury. Her eyes blazed with jealousy. "You burden us with this alliance!" she accused Sawerigading later, her voice sharp with anger. "You invite our enemies into our home! Soon, their people will demand more, and we will be subjugated by those we conquered!"
Sawerigading turned to her, his expression calm but firm. "My queen, La Galigo has chosen. This is not a burden, but an opportunity for unity. For the peace of our kingdom, we must embrace all our people, not divide them."
"Must we always yield?" Iwe challenged, her voice trembling with frustration. "Must we always give away what is ours?" Sawerigading took her hands. "La Galigo represents hope, Iwe. Hope for a kingdom where all can thrive, where old wounds can begin to heal."
Iwe Cimpao pulled away, her anger slowly giving way to a gnawing doubt. She looked at her son, then at her husband, the beautiful memories of her own lineage's purity fading against the stark reality of their new prince's destiny. The path to unity, she realized, was far more complex and painful than she had ever imagined.