A ROYAL OBSESSION

The marketplace buzzed with its usual chatter and activity, as people hurried about.

In one of the shops stood Eliana, a businesswoman who specialized in selling intricate woven baskets—popular decorative items that filled her pockets nicely.

She often needed the help of salesgirls, and today Maya was among them. After finishing her morning work, she was expected to immediately head to the market to assist Eliana in crafting baskets for sale.

It was nearing noon, yet Maya hadn't eaten. She had changed—thin and tanned from countless hours of labor under the sun. Her clothes were tight, ragged, and barely fit, but Eliana had no regard for Maya's condition; her only concern was how soon Maya could be of service.

Sitting on the ground, Maya watched the other girls work swiftly, eyes focused on their baskets.

The rule was clear: no talking, only concentration. Positioned directly under the sun, she was deprived of the little shade the shop offered. Eliana had deliberately placed her there; if it weren't for her hair, Maya would have felt the full force of the sun's heat. Dizziness washed over her, a side effect of hunger and fatigue. Despite her thoughts of giving up, she knew she had nowhere to go.

Her hands had grown rough, fingertips often bleeding from the work. She would occasionally suck on them to stifle the blood flow while continuing to weave.

Amidst her labor, she overheard her aunt speaking with a customer. "I bought this for 10 silver last time; why is it 15 now?" the customer questioned, examining a basket and weighing her options.

"It's not my fault," Eliana replied, her demeanor shifting to one of feigned innocence. The woman Eliana presented to the customer was not the same as the one Maya knew at home. "The materials are more expensive now... I have to pay my workers. Look how hard they're working... I have a family to feed, and my earnings are minimal," she pleaded.

The customer sighed deeply. "I genuinely want to buy, but it's just too much," she admitted.

Eliana remained silent, maintaining her innocent façade, enticing the customer with her eyes. "These baskets will organize your home beautifully and last a long time. Don't let the price deter you," she urged.

The woman sighed again. "Alright, how about this: I'll come back in five days and see if I can buy one or two," she decided, placing the basket down reluctantly.

Eliana, knowing customers often failed to return, was frustrated but said nothing as the woman left, muttering curses under her breath. "That idiot didn't purchase anything after all my convincing," she fumed, reorganizing the baskets and brushing off dust.

Eliana then turned her attention to the girls, her gaze narrowing at Maya, who was drenched in sweat. A cruel smirk crossed her face. Maya thought she could take her husband from her, and now she would make Maya's life so unbearable that she would regret ever being born.

"Maya, you have under a hundred baskets left to complete today. Your slow pace won't do you any favors. Remember, you'll need to eat after your work," she commanded.

"Madam, I'm finished," one girl said, and another chimed in, presenting their completed baskets.

"Great work. You girls can go eat; Maya can stay behind," Eliana said with mockery lacing her tone, and the others nodded before rushing off.

Maya continued struggling, fingers trembling as she wove. She was nearly done, but her body ached painfully. Just as she felt she might collapse, a shadow fell over her.

Looking up, she saw a neat, composed boy standing above her. "You shouldn't be in the sun like this; take this umbrella," he offered, holding it out for her.

"Th-thank you," Maya responded, grateful but hesitant.

"If you have enough time for idle conversation, maybe you'd have finished those baskets and could eat by now," Eliana's voice cut in, her gaze now fixed on the boy. "What do you want, young man?"

"I was sent to collect 50 baskets," he replied. "I noticed your shop has plenty, so I'm here to get them.

Eliana's eyes widened. Fifty? All to one customer? She was taken aback. Even Maya stared incredulously at the young boy; no one had purchased that many baskets in one single go before. "W-why don't you come over here? I'll attend to you," Eliana said with a chuckle as she stood up.

"No, you come over here. I'm the customer, and you should do what I ask," the boy countered, his tone unapologetic.

Initially surprised by his audacity, Eliana swallowed her irritation and forced a chuckle, stepping out of her protection from the shade. But the moment she felt the sun, she quickly went back to grab her umbrella before approaching him.

"Who said you could use an umbrella?" he challenged, observing her dismissive disregard for Maya. "You left your girl in the sun to weave baskets, yet you can't stand there for a few minutes?"

Eliana's expression darkened. "There's no space under the shade, so she's out here getting her work done," she snapped back.

"Really?" he replied, glancing around the shop. "There's plenty of space, but it seems you chose to punish her instead."

"Hey!" Eliana barked, her temper flaring.

"I'll only buy the baskets if she stops working and goes to eat. She doesn't look well," he declared, turning his attention back to Maya. Maya's heart raced as tension crackled between her aunt and the boy; she never expected him to be so assertive. Deep down, she sensed that her aunt was only being restrained due to the money involved.

With a tense sigh, Eliana finally relented. "Maya, go eat," she commanded, her voice firm, though her face twisted with frustration.

"T-thank you, Aunt," Maya replied, cautiously glancing between her aunt and the boy as she walked away to get her meal.

"You! You're going to buy all those baskets, and mark my words, you better not be here to deceive me," Eliana warned, glaring at the audacious young boy.

He smiled confidently. "Not everyone's trying to deceive. I'll take the baskets now," he said, and they began discussing the details and the price.

As closing time approached, Maya and Eliana made their way home. Eliana opted for a carriage while Maya walked back, balancing baskets on her head. As soon as she entered their home, Eliana called out to her sharply. "Go fetch water from the river! And if you're not back early, you'll sleep outside!" she ordered, slamming the door behind on Maya's face.

With no other choice, Maya set off for the river to collect water. The little energy she had came from the meal that brave boy had indirectly provided her, and now she wasn't sure if she would have anything else to eat. Hurrying to the river, she pushed herself to be quick; she couldn't risk being late and facing the harsh cold of the night outdoors.