9 : The Royal Market

That morning, everyone in the house was busy with their assigned tasks, following the plan Rara had laid out the night before. The air was still cool, but the tension hanging in the residence made the atmosphere feel heavier.

Nyai was inspecting the items to be set aside, while the Grand Lady and Rara's aunt sorted through the remaining clothes and jewelry. Pak Tirta moved in and out of the house, speaking to a few of his trusted contacts—likely looking for information or opportunities to sell the items at the best price.

However, the already-tense mood was suddenly broken by a shout coming from one of the back rooms.

"No! I don't want to!"

The voice was loud and full of anger.

Rara, who had been sorting through a stack of books and old papers in an old chest, immediately stood up and rushed toward the source of the voice.

In the hallway connecting the rooms, she saw her third aunt standing with a flushed face, facing off against her eldest daughter—Sekar Indrasari. The girl stood tall with clenched fists, her eyes burning with fury.

Between them, several beautiful embroidered cloths lay scattered on the floor.

"Sekar! Do you think we still have any other choice?" her aunt's voice rose an octave. "We all have to make sacrifices!"

"But why does it have to be my embroidery?!" Sekar shouted back, her voice trembling. "I spent months making those! They're not just pieces of fabric, Mother!"

Rara finally reached them and stepped between them, trying to understand the situation.

Her aunt turned to her with a tense expression. "Rara, tell your cousin that we need money! I only wanted to sell a few of her embroideries, and she starts screaming like this!"

Rara shifted her gaze to Sekar, who still looked furious. The girl's breathing was ragged, and her eyes were glossy with unshed tears.

"Sekar, listen first," Rara said calmly. "Your mother means no harm. We really do need money right now."

Sekar scoffed. "I know that! But this is the only thing I have. I don't want to sell it—and especially not be forced like this!"

The tension in the air thickened, until the sound of approaching footsteps made everyone turn.

Nyai and the Grand Lady arrived with serious expressions on their faces.

Nyai looked deeply into Sekar's eyes before speaking."We understand how you feel, Sekar." Her voice was gentle, yet full of authority."But we all must sacrifice in our own way. If you wish to sell them yourself, then do so. But at least allow us to sell this one first."

Sekar bit her lip and lowered her head in silence.Finally, with great reluctance, she nodded.

Nyai carefully picked up one of the embroideries from the floor."This one is quite valuable. We'll sell this first. If you want to sell the others yourself, we won't stop you."

Sekar didn't respond, simply staring at the floor with a clenched jaw.Rara let out a quiet sigh, relieved that the tension was beginning to ease.

After making sure everything was under control, she returned to where she had been before—by the old chest filled with books and manuscripts.Her hands moved through the stack of yellowed books, searching for anything that could be sold or carefully stored.But then, her eyes landed on something familiar.

A book with an old leather cover, embroidered with faint ancient script.Her heart beat faster.

This book...The magical book she had once found in the old estate's library.

Until now, she had forgotten that she hadn't finished reading it.She reached for it carefully, feeling a strange warmth radiate from its cover.

Without much thought, she quickly slipped the book into her woven bag.

A horse-drawn goods cart arrived, its wheels creaking softly as it stopped in front of the house.An elderly man in simple clothing jumped down nimbly, his wide smile suggesting this was far from his first journey.

Pak Tirta approached Rara, who was still standing on the veranda, overseeing the final preparations."Miss, the cart is ready," he said firmly. "Quickly now, we need to load everything and reach the city market before dusk."

Without delay, Rara nodded and began helping organize the goods.Several servants carried boxes filled with fabrics, embroidery, and other selected items from the previous night. They worked swiftly, ensuring everything was neatly arranged in the back of the cart.

Rara wiped the sweat from her brow and turned to look at Nyai and the Grand Lady standing near the front door.Their faces were smiling, yet behind that was a layer of worry they couldn't hide.

"We'll be back before sunset," Rara said, trying to reassure them.

Nyai nodded slowly."Be careful, Rara. Don't rush—and don't get cheated on the prices."

The Grand Lady tightly held Rara's hand before letting her climb into the carriage.Rara sat on the edge of the cart, while Pak Tirta and Yuyun sat at the front, holding the reins. As the reins were pulled, the wheels began to move slowly, carrying them away from the residence.

As they entered the main road, the morning atmosphere felt alive.Along the way, they saw tea workers already bent over among the plants, their hands swiftly picking fresh green leaves. Not far from there, farmers were also busy in their fields, tilling the soil and stacking their harvest by the roadside to be picked up by traders.

The sight made the journey feel a little lighter.

Midway through the trip, Yuyun, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke."Um, Miss, if I may ask, where are we going to sell all this?" she asked.

Rara thought for a moment before answering."I remember a shop not far from the entrance to the royal market. We'll try there first."

"Alright," Yuyun nodded. "Pak Tirta, did you hear that?"

Pak Tirta, sitting beside her, nodded in agreement while holding the reins."If that shop is still there, we can start negotiating right away."

The cart kept moving, taking them closer to the market—A place where important decisions would have to be made.

---

In a large building on the outskirts of the royal palace grounds, a sign read "Defense and Judiciary." The structure stood solid and imposing, yet carried an eerie aura, as if harboring many secrets that must never be revealed.

Upon entering the main hall, a large table sat at the center, serving as the core of all administrative and legal affairs. But the most striking feature was a grand door leading into a room where important decisions were made.

Inside that room, a man sat calmly, his eyes fixed on several sheets of lontar and thin wood inscribed with Javanese script. His gaze was sharp, reading each detail without haste.

Suddenly, a knock echoed at the door.

"Sir, it's me."

The man raised his head slightly, then gestured for the person outside to enter.

The door opened slowly, and a guard in simple iron armor stepped in, standing respectfully.

"Greetings, Sir. I have observed them for the past two days," he said firmly. "They deny everything and firmly reject any involvement. But truthfully... the evidence we have is just that. And according to the records, they are a noble family with a clean and neutral standing."

The man behind the desk remained silent, his fingers lightly tapping the surface of the lontar paper in front of him.

"And? What else?" His voice was deep and calm. "If there's something you want to say, just say it."

The guard hesitated at first, but after glancing at the man and seeing his unchanged expression, he straightened up and spoke more quietly.

"There's news... someone from that residence went out today, heading to the royal market with several loads of goods, Sir."

The man stopped tapping, his eyes now sharper as he assessed whether this information held any significance.

"Who?" he asked, his voice deeper than before.

The guard swallowed hard before answering,"It was... the eldest daughter. Along with a servant and a coachman."

Silence hung in the air.

Without a second thought, the man stood up, placing the documents back on the table with swift motion."Prepare a horse. I need to head out today, dressed in plain clothes." He glanced at the guard before adding,"And bring that simple outfit as well."

The guard immediately bowed. "Yes, Sir. Right away."

Without another word, the man stepped out from behind the desk.

---

The horse-drawn carriage moved slowly along the cobbled road, which was beginning to fill with the bustle of morning activities. Rara sat at the edge of the carriage, her gaze scanning the surroundings with calculated attention. Pak Tirta and Yuyun, seated in the front, remained focused on the road, ensuring a smooth journey.

After some time, they finally arrived at a small shop at the end of the street, not far from the entrance of the royal market. The building looked simple yet sturdy, with slightly open wooden windows revealing various merchandise inside.

Pak Tirta got down first and knocked on the wooden shop door with confidence. It didn't take long before an elderly man appeared behind the door.

"Ki Saka," Pak Tirta greeted with a slight, relieved smile.

The old man's eyes widened as he saw who had arrived. Without hesitation, he quickly pulled all three of them inside.

"Oh my, Tirta! Come in quickly! You two as well!" he said warmly.

Rara and Yuyun exchanged a glance before following Pak Tirta inside. Once the door closed, the atmosphere inside the shop felt warmer and safer. Rara could see various goods neatly arranged on wooden shelves—fabrics, spices, and simple household tools.

Ki Saka let out a long sigh before looking at them with concern."The rumors about your family haven't been good these past few days. I even thought of finding out for myself, but the situation outside has grown more difficult. Are you all alright? How are Nyai and the Mistress?"

Rara lowered her head slightly before answering."We're still holding on, Ki. But things are getting harder, and we have to find a way to sustain ourselves."

She then began to explain, slowly, about the recent events that had befallen her family—her father's and uncle's condition, their decision to sell possessions in order to survive, and how they were struggling with what little they had left.

Ki Saka listened with a serious expression, occasionally nodding. After Rara finished speaking, the elderly man fell silent for a moment, as if weighing something in his mind.

Finally, he sighed and said,"Very well. I'll help you as best I can. I have many acquaintances in the royal market who might be able to help sell your goods—or offer temporary work."

He then took a small notebook from his wooden desk, jotted down a few names, and handed the list to Rara.

"This is a list of some of my contacts in the market. Try visiting them one by one and see if they're willing to accept the items you've brought. I can't guarantee success, but at least it's a start."

Rara accepted the list with both hands, her eyes full of gratitude."Thank you, Ki Saka. This means a lot to us."

Ki Saka gave a faint smile."Don't thank me just yet, Lady Rara. This journey is still long, and you must be careful. Not everyone in the market will be kind."

Rara nodded slowly. She understood exactly what Ki Saka meant. But no matter what, this was the first step she had to take.

Rara, Yuyun, and Pak Tirta quickly left Ki Saka's shop after receiving the list of stores they needed to visit. With determined steps, they walked through the increasingly crowded market. The clamor of merchants and buyers filled the air with endless haggling.

The first shop they visited was a place that sold fabrics and embroidery. A middle-aged woman with a friendly face greeted them, but as they began to negotiate the price, the atmosphere shifted slightly.

"You may take it, Miss, but the price is this," the woman said, stating a number far lower than they had hoped for.

Rara bit her lip, trying to contain her disappointment. She knew they desperately needed the money, but the price offered was nowhere near the true value of the items they brought.

Yuyun, who had been silent, finally whispered in frustration, "Miss, this is far too cheap!"

But Rara let out a deep sigh and nodded slowly. "Alright, we accept it."

The woman smiled with satisfaction and handed over a few copper coins as payment. Rara received the money with mixed feelings—relieved that the item had sold, but also disheartened by the unfair price.

Unbeknownst to them, someone had been watching Rara from a distance since they left Ki Saka's shop. The figure moved slowly, leading a horse through the crowd, keeping enough distance to avoid suspicion. His eyes remained fixed on the young girl, observing her every move.

As they continued walking deeper into the market, something unexpected happened.

A wooden box Rara was carrying suddenly slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground, its contents nearly spilling out.

"Oh no!" Rara gasped, immediately crouching to gather the scattered items.

Yuyun panicked and rushed to help. However, the people around them only glanced for a moment before returning to their own business. No one offered assistance, as if Rara and Yuyun were mere shadows unworthy of attention.

Suddenly, someone stepped in with confident strides and crouched down to help them gather the fallen box.

"Thank y—" Rara almost said thank you, but her words caught in her throat as her eyes met the face of the person before her.

Her blood froze for a moment. It was him.

The man she had met on the way to the river—the one who had left her speechless when she stumbled on her way home that day.

Their eyes met, and in that moment, it felt as if time in the busy market had come to a halt.