Vivia remained where she was as well, but not out of helplessness like Eurus - rather because she stood her ground.
"Why won't you sell this brooch to me? I have money if that's what you're worried about," Vivia said.
The money which I received as hefty compensation, she thought to herself.
The elderly jeweler snickered in response.
"I don't care if you've money or if you're the princess of some distant land. I don't sell my precious stuff to humans."
"I cannot change my race."
"Then you don't get to buy."
Impasse.
Vivia stared at the golden brooch sitting atop a small, delicate crimson cushion gleaming with elegance under the glass panel. The moment her gaze had landed on this beautiful piece of jewelry, she knew she wanted it for Zerath. She could hardly look away, lost in the shimmer of the golden color that reminded her of Zerath's eyes. She was determined to buy it as a present for him before she left for her homeland.
Perhaps it would be my last present…
Her gaze momentarily dimmed at the somber thought, but she quickly dismissed it.
"There must be some compromise we both can reach."
"No humans."
"I said compromise, which means some adjustments to our otherwise comfortable life."
Vivia could see him about to flare up and rebuke her again, but then she sensed him pause as he retreated. She felt his scrutiny as his hand reached out to brush his grey beard.
"I think we can come to a compromise."
She smiled. "Perfect."
"Don't get too happy too soon, Princess," he smiled back cunningly.
The jeweler rose and disappeared into a far chamber from the main counter. When he returned, Vivia noticed him carrying three small jewel boxes. He opened them one by one and placed identical jewels before her.
"You choose one of these Moonflame Opals and take it with you."
Vivia blinked in puzzlement.
"How are you allowing me to have another jewel when I'm not allowed to buy the brooch?"
His chuckle rang a faint sense of unease within her.
"That's a simple brooch. The Golden Tranquil is beautiful indeed, but these jewels on the other hand…are far from ordinary."
He raised his index finger first. "One of them is a jewel of luck. Self-explanatory."
He then raised his middle finger. "One of them is a jewel of misfortune. Also self-explanatory."
Raising his ring finger, he said, "The last is a jewel that holds a vengeful spirit. I believe this is more self-explanatory than anything else. You cannot tell which one is which because all three look exactly the same. So choosing one comes down to your intuition and fate."
"But you know which one is which."
He simply smiled at that.
Vivia took a good look at the jewels and true to his word, she couldn't find even a speck of difference between the gemstones. Neither did she sense any particular good or evil aura from them.
She looked up at him. "Your side of compromise feels lighter compared to mine."
"What do you mean?"
"Your principle might be not to sell to a human, but it pales in comparison to getting rid of a troublesome jewel, doesn't it? I've a one-in-three chance to choose the jewel of luck. As long as I choose a troublesome jewel, you're satisfied."
"You only said adjustments, not fair adjustments."
Fair point, Vivia thought.
"So take your time and choose."
She pointed at the right-hand side jewel and said, "That one."
The jeweler's eyes widened. "That soon? I'm not in a hurry."
"Neither am I, but does it make any difference? I cannot figure out the lucky jewel anyway, so I might as well let fate decide it."
"Are you serious?"
"I did have a system in mind though. I numbered the jewels one to three from left to right. I like odd numbers, so I had to choose between the left and right stones. I feel three is a good, cautious kind of number. I like caution, so the right side gemstone it is."
The jeweler's stunned stare made her feel victorious. She looked outside at a group of children playing a challenge at one of the festival stalls, giggling and laughing.
"I don't believe in good fortune anyway. I mean I do, but not the kind that showers itself upon me for free. Nothing is so convenient in life. We can encounter a stroke of good luck, provided we've worked hard for it."
Not hearing any response from him, she turned to face him again.
"So what kind of a jewel is it?"
His silence felt more uncomfortable to Vivia than the prospect of landing the jewel of misfortune or vengeful spirit.
"You'll learn about it eventually."
"Please tell me. The mystery is killing me more than the result."
"You'll learn about it eventually."
That attitude…
He took the two opals back and kept them aside. Taking out the Golden Tranquil from under the glass panel, he began to pack it for her.
"Two hundred gold coins for the brooch."
Her commoner soul choked.
Get used to it, Vivia. Get used to it, she breathed in deeply.
"And seven hundred for the Moonflame."
At that point, she nearly puked blood. She looked at him, aghast.
"What? Why am I paying for the opal?"
"When did I say that it was for free?"
She marveled at his trickery.
"Considering that I might've chosen a troublesome jewel, shouldn't I get it for free? Also if it's a troublesome jewel, then why is it priced so ridiculously? Also, why is it more expensive than the brooch?"
She paused for a moment and grinned. "Did I happen to choose the jewel of luck by any chance?"
He sneered. "You'll learn about it but no matter what, you'll have to pay. In the end, I'm running a business.
After a long back-and-forth of bargaining, the jeweler eventually settled for five hundred coins.
"To see royalty bargaining…huh. That's the first time in my life," he stroked his beard.
Vivia muttered in dissatisfaction as she left but heard the elderly jeweler say one last thing to her.
"To compromise to this extent for the brooch, I hope you live a happy married life."
She coughed hard, incredulous.
This is just a farewell present for Zerath!
Valtor, who was waiting outside for her, asked, "Did you get what you wanted, Princess?"
"Yes…"
Her heart still bled from the extra five hundred coins she had lost because of the cursed jewel. As she prayed for condolences for her own soul, a commotion from a nearby store drew their attention where a customer and an owner seemed to be at each other's throats.
"This happens all the time during festivals. I'll quickly sort it out and return, Princess."
Vivia craned her neck out of curiosity as well when she noticed Vespera sneakily entering an alley far away. She caught her eyeing here and there as if hiding from familiar faces.
What is she upto…?
With careful steps, she followed Vespera, keeping a safe distance between them. She entered a lesser-known alley where the atmosphere seemed to have taken a shift. From the lively cheers in the market outside, the path here reeked of caution and suspicion.
Vivia saw Vespera adjust her hood over her head and wait impatiently for someone. She stepped to the side and observed her.
Soon enough, a demon wearing a similar hood approached Vespera. She squinted slightly to get a good look at the demon, but his hood was a tough barrier.
Vivia couldn't hear what Vespera said, but from how the conversation flowed, she looked far from happy. She seemed to be arguing about something to which the demon wouldn't budge.
If only I could hear something, Vivia lamented.
Eventually, Vespera took out a pouch from her dress pocket and handed it over to him. The man untied the pouch and his fingers dove in.
He's definitely counting gold, Vivia thought.
All this time, Vespera held a sour expression, which Vivia surmised meant she probably couldn't strike a good deal for herself. Her thoughts were interrupted when the demon delicately handed her a box as if it was treasure. Vespera took a quick peek, and her expression shone as if it never had gone sour in the first place.
They talked some more, after which Vespera quickly exited the alley from the opposite side and the dealer demon went the other way.
Vivia remained in her place, wondering about the transaction she had just witnessed. She had seen familiar alleys back in her hometown and they only meant one thing - illegal business in one way or the other.
"Princess!"
Vivia bit her tongue and rushed out, almost crashing into him.
"Princess, where were you?"
"Apologies, I just got pulled in by a store…" She made up an excuse.
A gulp passed down her throat when Valtor looked past her.
"This way?"
She coughed. "I was just curious what kinds of shops were here."
"It's up to no good, Princess.These are kind of…grey areas in Casca."
"Grey areas?"
She could sense the hesitation in his eyes about explaining that to her as if he didn't want to tell a human. But Vivia didn't need his confirmation anyway. She was sure that grey areas meant borderline business dealings. Not outright criminal but not on the law's side either. Taking advantage of loopholes in the rules.
"That's fine, Captain Valtor. You don't have to stress over it. I understand."
"Princess!"
Vespera returned to her side, huffing breathlessly.
Vivia watched her closely. The hood she had worn before was nowhere to be seen and neither was the box that she had received from the dealer.
"Where were you all this time?" Valtor's gruff voice demanded an answer.
Vivia could practically read her mind like an open book as Vespera spewed curses at Valtor.
"Apologies…"
"No harm," Vivia smiled, though her curiosity about the deal was eating her up.
Vespera then asked, "Where's that brat?"
Valtor answered her while Vivia's expression sank with gloom.
Eurus…I hope you're doing well wherever you are.