The Unclaimed Prize

"Did you hear she didn't even claim the title of Lady Royal? Why wouldn't she want something so valuable? She probably worked hard for it. I really wonder who she is." A man said. He was sitting in a restaurant with other people his age.

"If she doesn't want it, why doesn't she let others win and claim the prize?" another man said.

The other at the table nodded.

"Do you know she participated in all the state-level competitions? She won them all. But every time they had to organize a secret event to choose another winner among the runner-ups."

"I head she wears a purple veil and is really arrogant."

The old people kept commenting trying to figure out who she actually was. They shared the most exaggerated rumors they heard.

"Do you know she bribed the officers to win the competitions? I think she has good connections."

"Not at all. I think she knows witchcraft."

The waiter, bringing them a plate of fried chicken, overheard the conversation and budged in.

"You old men, all you do is come here and gossip like the women by the well. All you do is spread rumors, while you don't even know the facts. Let me fill your empty minds."

He sat down and picked a piece of chicken from the plate and said, "Lady Royals are officials not for fun. they have to be meticulously chosen and trained by Grand Princess."

he stopped for a moment..

He then sighed and whispered," Prince Tabeed will be supervising the National event of Imperial Lady Royal."

(an officer rank as the head of Imperial Palace whom all the Lady Royals reports to).

he came closer to them, "Events having to be reorganized affected the budget."

The man with a long beard rubbed his chin," then? what if she participates in the National Event?"

"ARREST WARRANT has been issued secretly."

"why secretly? won't it be easier to catch her openly?"

the waiter replied, "openly tainting a woman for having a crime of being outstanding? he is a Prince!!!"

one of the men said," I heard he is just a so-so mere prince, all day he does is roam around here and there aimlessly. You will find him hanging to his brothers and brothers-in-law and when they are busy, he would go disturb the princesses."

The Waiter was surprised and asked," I didn't know he was so useless, no wonder he is doing the job of an 8th rank official. shouldn't he be working to grab His Majesty's attention"

Alisha and her grandfather were sitting just behind them. she got more and more anxious with each of their rumor. but she had to keep patience, this is what she was taught from the basic level of her teaching.

She was unable to hear their whispering conversation either and since her eyes were on a pair of clay dolls, She didn't pay attention. her grandfather called, " hey boss, be quick." in a few minutes their order was brought by the same Waiter.

He smiled and said," enjoy dear guest."

Before he could leave Grandfather Amaan asked," I overheard you talking on that table. If you don't mind, can you tell me what you whispered there? All of sudden those loud crackers become became feathers."

The Waiter again sat beside him on a vacant seat and whispered," the purple veil is wanted. Imperial officers are secretly investigating."

Grandfather Amaan asked," how do you know this?" and secretly handed him a gold coin.

He spoke as his eyes glittered, "one of the Imperial Investigator asked me to let him know if I see a pair of grandfather and granddaughter, traveling around here."

As he spoke, he noticed Alisha and Grandfather Amaan, putting out his hand under the table.

he said," but I have poor eyesight." Amaan handed him a pouch of silver coins and the Waiter went back to his work.

After finishing her meal Alisha and her grandfather were taking a stroll of the market, "Grandfather, look at those pair of clay dolls. I want a pair too."

Amaan looked away in disappointment and shook his head not even looking at her childish behavior.

Before he could stop her, she dragged him to the clay toy shop. defeated by her innocent requesting face. he asked the shopkeeper, " brother, how much for those pair of dolls?"

the shopkeeper replied, "one pair for 35 bronze coins."

Alisha's eyes grew bigger, "35 bronze coins? are you doing business or openly robbing people. I can't afford your expensive dolls"

Her excitement changed faster than the weather. her grandfather said, " it's just 35 bronze. if you like it, we can buy one."

She turned her face away and said," I don't want to be robbed openly" she took few steps ahead while she apologized," sorry sir for wasting your time."

While she was walking away, hiding her wish behind a stubborn face, her grandfather bought them and hid them inside his bag

. "I would gift her these once she completes the book '100 solution of business accidents' as a reward." He spoke with a pair of proud eyes.

It was indeed a thing to be proud of since it was written in the native language of the author which is almost extinct. Many scholars didn't even know about the book, let alone reading it.

Alisha realized she walked out without her grandfather alone. She felt strange and uncomfortable she panicked and went around the market looking for him. She went back to the shop and saw her grandfather.

She dragged him out the same way she brought him in and spoke, "grandfather, I can eat funnel cakes for 5 days straight. why waste them on such stupid dolls. don't stand here."

Her grandfather immediately stopped her, " I won't let you eat them for straight five days. no... no.. forget about that. I would rather buy you that pair of dolls."

Alisha stopped him," grandfather, I am not actually eating I am just saying we can eat. besides how can funnel cakes last___",

Before she could complete her sentence, an old man appeared in front of them. Once he met his eyes with Amaan he stumbled and trembled with fear.

Amaan noticed, "Greetings my friend, tell me what new mess have you made in your business. Were you fooled again by your nephew?"

The old man stutter," Amaan brother, prepare your heart to hear a piece of tragic news."

Amaan laughed and said," you a dramatic old man, were you attacked by some bandit? You do look exhausted."

The old man spoke sweating," I_____"

When a young man came running and stopped him," We can talk while eating. I am really hungry grandfather."

He gasped. Alisha gave a resentful look because he didn't greet her grandfather. There was a moment of silence while Amaan scanned the young man up and down. Who was bowing holding his knees with fatigue and gasping really hard in the crowded Market?

The moment he raised his head, his eyes first met with Alisha, who gave cold gazes hiding behind her grandfather's tall, well-built but old shoulders.

He immediately understood what it meant even though it was his first time meeting her. It must be his guilty self that he realized his carelessness in etiquette.

He stood straight and greeted her grandfather," Greetings Grand Uncle, forgive me for being rude."

Amaan laughed looking at him," May God bless you, it's alright."

he held him up and said, "you are exhausted, let's go"

He patted his friend's back and lead him to the same Restaurant, they ate half an hour ago. but, her grandfather didn't want to make things embarrassing for them. besides it was safer to eat there since an arrest warrant was secretly issued, he could trust the greedy one than the greedier ones.

Alisha hid behind her tall grandfather like a three-year-old. taking a glimpse of them walking with them. She was puzzled, how could her grandfather be so frank with them.

Amaan understood his granddaughter was feeling uncomfortable with the way they appeared.

Both the old man and his grandson gave her a bad feeling. It was obvious that they were acquainted with her grandfather. But she felt anxious meeting as if they carried strong bad vibes.

On the way to the restaurant which was quite close, Amaan introduced them," my dear granddaughter, he is my childhood friend Zahid and this is his grandson____"

he turned to the old man and asked," Which one?"

But he was still lost in the black hole as to how to explain him. He didn't pay attention to him.

The young man immediately introduced himself," I am Kashif, the second son of Kaif." He felt proud introducing himself as his father's son.

Amaan laughed and nodded. Alisha who was walking behind the three men heard his introduction. But her mind was on the pair of dolls.

She thought to herself," what a wonderful pair of dolls. Bell would really like it."

They soon arrived at the restaurant. Alisha sat at a distance," I am full but the funnel cakes are so mouth-watering."

While the three people sat down. She slipped away to the sweet shop next to the restaurant.

Here Amaan asked," Kashif what would you like to have?" Kashif hesitated because the news his grandfather was carrying had the potential to make Amaan a rebel.

He hesitantly said," Grand Uncle would you please listen to my Grandfather first. "

Looking at him, "if we delay it a little more. He might blow up." said Kashif.

Amaan now gave a careful look at him, his dramatic friend was more unusual than before. He smelled the matter was grave.

He gave him a glass of water to drink and asked," what is it?"

Zahid had no courage to even think about water even though his throat was drier than a desert. He gathered all his strength both physical and mental to speak.

Before he could explain, he asked his grandson to leave," you go and seat with Alisha and have your meal first. It's not appropriate for you to listen."

Kashif stood up and saw that the table on which Alisha sat was empty,

He didn't inform them," where did this woman disappear? Ahh.. she is not a little kid. The matter is more important."

He sat down and ordered a full meal plate and enjoyed the moment of satisfaction.

Alisha was having fun at the sweet shop. She looked like looting the shop and ordering like crazy, but her sweet and childish way of speaking impressed the wife of the shopkeeper," sir, pack half a kilogram of funnel cake, those cashew pastry pack ten of them, what is the price of the milk cake? And how come your sweet balls look green?"

The shopkeeper replied calculating the sums in his mind and giving a river-long smile," the price of milk cake is six bronze coins for a dozen. My wife added a natural color extract to make it look colorful."

the shopkeeper said, "Not only green we usually keep a set of rainbow colors but most of them were sold out."

The wife of the sweet shop owner asked handing her two bags of sweets," You seem to be from Forest Town. I feel so happy to meet you."

Alisha was bewildered hearing the name of Forest Town. It was a place where retired officials went to heal their torn hearts. The native was the ones from an extinct tribe who settled down there. Very few people knew about it.

Seeing the perplexed expression on Alisha's face. She didn't speak further and packed milk cake and green sweet balls of the same amount as the other two.

Alisha thought," it's my first time to hear about the forest town from an outsider. Let me play along."

She gave a smile," forgive me, I was a little distracted. What did you say?"

The shop lady spoke, "I understand it's weird to hear about it from an outsider."

"Not many people know its existence let alone the way."

"Actually, it's my maternal grandmother's hometown. I went there often until twenty-two years ago. When she died and then I was married and could go there no more."

Alisha took a breath of relief," it's been twenty-two years, many things have changed there."

"It's no more a hub of officials. The secret of its way is no more passed to the outsiders."

"How did you know I am from Forest Town?"

The shop lady laughed and replied," it's very common in the girls to wear a scented purple veil."

Alisha laughed as well," indeed, I have a strong bond with the girls over there."

It was the opposite of what she said. The young ladies over there never liked her because of her upbringing. She was a girl enjoying her freedom as any other young man and responsibility too.

Alisha didn't say anything further, she paid fifty-seven bronze coins and took a green sweet ball in her hand to eat while walking.

It literally melted in her mouth and its taste was more delicious than a normal one. She asked while leaving," what extract you used? It's so delicious."

The shop lady smiled handing a bag to another customer and whispered," it's a lost secret of Forest Town"

"And my Grandmother took it to her grave. This extract has the quality that it doesn't let poison in spicy food be detected."

"However, it's not the case with sweet food. So, I use it free of worry."

Alisha nodded after hearing her words. She left the shop realizing she might get caught. It would be embarrassing to be scolded by her Grandfather in a crowded market.

She ran to the restaurant and saw the meal was just served at her grandfather's table while the one on Kashif's table was being cleaned up.

She went inside ignoring him who seemed lost in the world of dessert. Taking each bite with new excitement.

Before she could cross his table and walk to her grandfather. He jumped out of the table and stood in her way.

He was as tall as her grandfather she couldn't even see the other side. She tried to dodge him without a word but he just couldn't let her go.

If she turned to the right, he would step right, if she goes to the left he moves to the left. She turned around to come from the side door (made for slaves and servants).

He moved with a blink speed and blocked her way again. All this while his eyes were on the floor and his face threw serious expression. But, Alisha wasn't annoyed at all.

She just moved to the previous way and entered from the main door again.

She sat at a distance again but on a different table. She kept the four bags full of sweets on the table, opened her money pouch, and started counting her money. Calculating how much she spent this entire month.

Kashif sat at the table again and this time he was perplexed while eating his dessert and locked his gaze on her," how can someone be so calm?"

"She did not react to my annoying behavior. did she understand me? impossible!"

He laughed sarcastically, "even my mother doesn't understand in the simplest of things."

He shook his head and then said, "but, While making calculation she looks as cold as ice on the Mountain which may never melt."

He spoke out taking his last bite. The Waiter heard it and spoke while handing his plate to a junior worker, "some people are born to be on the mountain. It's hard for them to know the depth of the ocean." Saying this,he went back to his work giving a philosophical smile.

She was almost done with calculation only to realize that she paid two bronze coins less. "this is really bad; it would be alright with a few scoldings for getting sweets"

"But he might kill me knowing I couldn't make a simple payment."

She ran with lightning speed grabbing the four bags she had. The couple was closing up for afternoon break.

She immediately got there and paid two coins of bronze.

"it's alright, I saw you were in a hurry. I took it as a discount. I can't accept your money." Said the owner, while his wife avoided her worry," come here often." And went inside. The man left as well.