The princess’ item
The alleged store opened after the day's shift but before the attendant's meeting.
While waiting for Chief Barn to arrive, the attendants gathered together to begin their business.
Lisa, who was standing next to Maya, was holding a red lace dress. "You did not bring anything?" she asked Maya.
"No," Maya shrugged. "I doubt anyone would be interested."
"Uhm," Lisa pondered for a second. "I guess you're right."
Lisa began to survey the group, she spotted others like her who were holding their items discreetly at their side.
How it began was organic, Lisa walked around the attendants, looking for something she would be interested in, she then offered her dress, asking around if they would be willing for an exchange. Once she found someone who was interested, they would make a deal and exchange their items.
Lisa returned at Maya's side, satisfied with her deal. "Look what I've got," she showed a book that had an explicit cover. "guess I'll have some fun tonight." she winked.
"Good deal, I guess." Maya saw that Lisa was not the only one successful with tonight, an attendant happily gave her hairpin to another in exchange of a lipstick.
But those transactions were only the pre-opening of the store, the real deal was only about to get started.
There was one thing everybody was aware of---they don't have much time--- they had ten minutes or so to finish the whole process, unless they would like someone to get in trouble.
The attendant who bartered her hairpin, slabbed her new red lipstick on her plump lips. "Now," she pressed her lips together, making sure her lipstick was evenly applied. "The usual." Satisfied with her red lips, she grabbed something from her apron. "Ziloh's button." She smiled to the crowd, not knowing that she had a stain on her lips. "You know the drill." She extended her arms to the crowd, allowing them to inspect the item.
No one was kind enough to let her know about the lipstick stain on her teeth, nor did the crowd inspected her item closely. As a royal's item as it might be, Ziloh's button was already a usual thing to be traded. For whatever reason Maya could only imagine, women---or men--- who were often seen around Ziloh would always end up having his golden button at the end of the day.
But as frequent as this item was, it was still made of gold. They could sell it outside the palace for three times the price, that is, if no royal would accuse them of stealing.
"Ten." A male attendant opened the bidding.
"Fifteen." Another one offered.
Maya observed as one offer gets higher than the other, she did not raise her hand to join bidding even once, it was not the item she was interested in.
"Sold." Ziloh's button was sold for thirty Rigs.
Another female attendant, who Maya was sure was from the laundry division, stood at the center--- making herself the next auctioneer.
"This is it," Lisa rubbed her hand together in anticipation. "The princess' item."
"I have a very rare item for you guys." The attendant announced. "How I got it? You don't need to know about the details.1" she dug into her pocket and produced a small cylinder of blue liquid. "But one thing I'll tell you, I got this from the princess." The attendant tilted it from left to right, garnering attention.
The crowd was curios as they inched closer to the item. One of the audiences tried to touch the item, but the auctioneer hovered it away. "Just look, no touching." She warned.
The blue liquid was in a test tube like container.
"Is that the vaccine?" Lisa voiced out what Maya was thinking.
The auctioneer grinned to the crowd. "Yes, this is the vaccine."
The confirmation received Aws from the crowd.
"But its not enough." Someone in the crowd said.
"Yes," The auctioneer did not deny that it was not enough for rebirth. "but enough to cure other diseases."
Disorder amongst the attendants were beginning to increase at an alarming rate, big enough for any passing royal to notice.
But Maya did not join the uproar and stood by silently. 'Not true.' she wanted to say, but she knew no one would believe her.
Now this became personal---this was more than about the spoiled princess now---she had to outbid everybody, so no one use it.
The bidding began with more participants than anybody had ever seen before. Maya took her time, she waited for everyone to bid their hearts out--- until it was apparent that no one would bid anymore, she voiced out. "Seventy." She raised the previous offer by ten Rigs.
"Seventy-five." Tina, who was also waiting for this time, offered.
"Ninety." Maya raised her hand.
"Hundred." Tina countered.
Murmurs were spreading amongst the crowd from excitement, waiting to see who would have the last say.
"Drop it, it getting to pricey." Lisa whispered at her side.
"Eli," Maya used him as an excuse. "maybe he will heal faster if he drinks it." she lied.
"One twenty." Maya pushed on.
"I'm sure he'll be fine without it." Lisa shook her head. "That kind of body can heal on its own."
"Two hundred." Tina was eying Maya, confused with the amount that Maya was offering.
"Three hundred." Maya said, it was six months of their salary, most of the attendant would think thrice before spending that kind of money.
"Six hundred." Tina outbid Maya again without any hesitation.
"Seve---"
Lisa stopped Maya from raising her hand. "This is getting ridiculous." She covered Maya's mouth to stop her from bidding further. "Eli would be fine without it, but you will not if you spend a year's salary just like that." Lisa turned to Tina. "You win, she concedes."
"Mmmmm!" Maya protested, stepping on Lisa's feet.
"Ouch!" Lisa jumped on her toes. "What's wrong with you? This is so not you!"
"What are you doing?" Maya turned to the auctioneer. "I offer---"
"What is going on here?" Barn arrived, seeing the attendants in a circle. "Let's start our meeting."
"Sold, "The auctioneer gave the cylinder to Tina hurriedly.
The crowd immediately dispersed as if nothing had happened.
"No," Maya had lost the bid. "This is bad."
"Alright," Barn clapped to get their attention. "gather around."
"Fell free to treat me some time." Lisa said at her side. "I just saved you from becoming broke."
"You have no idea." Maya said sarcastically.
***
It was the morning after she had lost the bidding, she was supposed to report to the princess but decided to ambush Tina to get the vaccine no matter what.
Having Tina not assigned to the kitchen did not help Maya at all. Maya would sneak out and walk around the hallway, hoping that she would run into Tina somehow.
It was highly probable that the vaccine was still not used and was hidden somewhere. Weather Tina was intending to resell it at a higher price, drink it herself, or give it to a love one--- Maya had to stop her.
What Maya gathered from her friends--- informants--- that Tina was in Duchess Zenalda's chamber all this time and did not go somewhere unusual, well, maybe except for someone seeing her talking to Elion.
Elion was Maya's only lead at this point.
"What did she say?" Maya asked Elion straight to the point.
Elion was touching his eyebrow, feeling uncomfortable. "Asking if I was okay."
"And?" Maya pressed on. "What else?"
"And if I need anything, I could ask her for help." Elion looked sideways, not able to look at Maya in the eye.
"You know what?" Maya had no time to deal with this self-conscious Elion. "If only you know how to use your charms then you would be very useful." She reminded herself that if she had time, maybe she could teach him some skills.
Elion turned beet red, taking Maya's critique as a compliment.
Maya pivoted around, knowing extracting useful information from Elion was hopeless.
"Uhm, Maya." Elion had come into his senses, remembering something, he grabbed he on the shoulder. "The princess is looking for you."
"Tell her to wait," she said irritably. "Tell her I'm on it!"
"Okay." Elion backed away, not knowing how to deal with an angry Maya. "I'll tell the princess."
As soon as Maya walked away, a group of female attendants surrounded Elion, asking him if he was okay.
Maya walked away and rounded the hallway once again, knowing that she would run into Tina sooner or later--- and she did.
Without any waring, Maya grabbed Tina in the arms and dragged her in a corner.
"Hey," Tina protested. "What are you doing?!"
"Where is it?" Maya demanded.
"What?" Tina looked at Maya innocently.
"The vaccine." Maya gritted her teeth. "That thing is dangerous, give it to me and I'll pay you double."
Tina snorted and laughed out loud. "Thank you for your generosity, I would have accepted it you know." she wiped her teary eyes. "But I can't"
"Did you drink it?"
"No, no." Tina shook her head. "it's not mine in the first place."
"What do you mean?" Maya's eye's narrowed. "What did you do to it?"
"The duchess." Tina was referring to Duchess Zenalda, whom she was serving directly. "I gave it to her."
"What for?"
"I don't know, maybe for her sick dogs or something." Tina looked behind Maya. "Can I go now?"
"Okay," Maya pondered for a moment and decided to believe what Tina said was the truth. "Sorry about that."
"Oh, I don't take it personally." Tina smiled. "Just tell the princess the duchess took it."
Maya hid the shock from her face. "How did you know that?"
"It's just simple," Tina shrugged. "I do what the duchess tells me to, and you do what the princess tells you to. Everybody knows that." She sidestepped Maya and walked away. "See you around."
It turns out Maya was not the only one who had a royal sponsor.