The sun blazed overhead, baking the streets of the marketplace, where the dust hung thick in the air. Renee wiped her brow with the back of her hand, but it only smeared more dirt across her face. She barely noticed anymore. Dirt was as much a part of her life as hunger and the endless noise of the market.
She adjusted the small basket of stale bread she was selling, her fingers aching from the weight of the loaves. The vendors around her were louder, their stalls grander, and their clothes cleaner. People rushed past her without a glance, their eyes skimming over her as if she were invisible—or worse, as if she didn’t belong.
"Hey, girl!" a voice barked behind her. Renee flinched before she even turned around. The merchant, a heavyset man with a perpetual scowl, glared at her. "You’re blocking the way. Move your pathetic stall."
Renee glanced around, spotting an empty patch of dirt near the edge of the market. Swallowing her pride, she bent to gather her basket. She wasn’t one to fight back. Life had taught her that fighting only brought more trouble.
As she moved to the side, her eyes caught a glimpse of Lady Vivienne’s grand stall across the way, gleaming under the sunlight with fine silks and jewels displayed in an intimidating array. Lady Vivienne herself wasn’t there, but her name alone commanded respect and fear. Renee didn’t dare look too long.
"Renee!" A familiar voice called out, snapping her from her thoughts. Maren, her only friend, rushed toward her with quick steps, her face flushed with worry.
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"What is it?" Renee asked, her heartbeat quickening at the sight of Maren’s expression.
"You have to be careful," Maren whispered, glancing over her shoulder nervously. "I heard something today. Celeste Vivienne—she’s been spreading rumors about you. Something about stealing."
Renee felt her stomach knot. "Stealing? I haven’t—"
"I know, I know. But you know how she is." Maren lowered her voice further. "She’s looking for an excuse to ruin you."
Renee’s heart sank. Celeste Vivienne, daughter of Lady Vivienne, had always hated her for reasons Renee couldn’t understand. Maybe it was her own privilege that made her despise anyone who lived beneath her, or maybe it was because, deep down, she feared what she couldn’t control. Either way, Celeste’s malice had already caused trouble for others, and now she had her sights set on Renee.
"What should I do?" Renee asked, trying to keep the panic from her voice.
Maren sighed. "Keep your head down. Stay out of her way. The last thing you need is to be accused of something you didn’t do. You know how these people are. They’ll believe whatever she says."
Renee nodded, her throat tight. She was used to surviving in the shadows, but being falsely accused of theft? That was a line she feared crossing. The punishment for even a rumor could be severe in the marketplace.
As the sun began to set, Renee packed up what little bread she had left, her mind clouded with worry. She’d done nothing wrong, but the weight of Celeste’s influence hung over her like a dark cloud, threatening to break at any moment.
She started the long walk home, her legs aching and her stomach growling with hunger. The streets grew quieter as the day died, leaving only the distant cries of stray animals and the rustle of wind through the narrow alleys.
"As Renee approaches her home, a shadowy figure watches her from the corner of the street, slipping out of sight just as she turns her head. Who could it be, and why are they watching her?"