Daphne walked around the market with her servants and guards following her. After breakfast, it was time to head to the market to get all the things she would need. The market was how it was earlier today, everyone bumping into each other, sellers advertising what they are selling by the roadside. It was crowded and loud but Daphne found peace in it.
"What would you like to get my lady?" Agnes asked, standing beside her.
"I would like to purchase some cheap fabric, how much do we have left?" she asked and Agnes wondered why she was purchasing a cheap fabric. She has followed the queens to the market before and it was exhausting, they would come with so many servants and guards with a carriage, and order everyone around.
But she was different, she told the guards to stay back with the carriage, only allowing one of them to discreetly follow them around the market. She has never seen a princess choosing to walk around the market, taking her time to buy what she wants. Agnes found it peaceful, and she didn't waste money buying extravagant things, they still had so much money.
"We still have enough left my lady, how about we purchase silk instead?" Agnes asked and Daphne shook her head.
"What is the fun in wearing something so expensive?" she asked and Agnes smiled.
"It's this way, my lady," she said and Daphne smiled, following her. The sun was scorching hot, and Ava brought out her umbrella, blocking her from the sun. They walked down the market street and Agnes took her to the seller. They sell cheap fabric that's still in good quality. The seller smiled immediately when he saw them, she seemed to be a lady from a wealthy home. He can milk her for a few pieces of silver coins.
"Welcome, what would her lady like to have?" he asked, shining his yellow teeth. Daphne looked at all the fabric, touching it.
"I would like to purchase some of this fabric," she said, turning to him. He smiled, widely bringing out the clothes from where he hanged them.
"How many would you like? Her lady can pick the one she wants," he said and Daphne nods her head, picking the fabric. After picking she looked up at him.
"How much for this?" she asked and he smiled.
"Just 5 pennies, my lady," he said and Daphne looked at him. She found his behavior weird, he was trying to cheat her. This cheap fabric cost only 3 penny, she has been to the markets plenty of times and she knows her way around.
"Are you trying to swindle me?" she asked with a frown on her face. The seller immediately stopped smiling as he looked at the women. They all had frowns on their faces.
"No, my lady. These are nice quality fabrics for a cheap price," he said and Daphne shook her head.
"These are hand -me-down clothes, they are so soft and wrinkly, and look at the holes. How can you sell this for 5 pennies?" she asked, her voice gradually raising. People turned to them and her servants were surprised. It seems the princess doesn't like to be cheated of her money and the seller immediately knew she was a bad market. He looked at the guards, standing by the corner and he was holding his sword tightly. She is from the palace, the guard won't hesitate to kill him. He gulped.
"I'm so sorry, my lady. Yes, this cost just 3 pennies," he said and Daphne rolled her eyes at him, picking the fabrics she picked, then she handed it over to Ava to keep in the bag.
"Don't try to swindle people of their hard earned money," she said, looking at him and nodding his head repeatedly. Daphne knows he won't stop, he has been running this business for a long time and he seems like the sweet talker. They walked away and the girls giggled.
"How did you know he was trying to swindle you, my lady?" Eliana asked. Daphne smiled.
"In my kingdom, I visit the market a lot, part of my favorite activities," she said and the girls smiled at her.
"Her lady is so cool," Eliana said, being the youngest of the three. Daphne chuckled.
"Let's head to the palace, the sun is hot and I am tasty," she said and they nod their head, heading to their carriage. Daphne might not know, but the guards have been tasked to inform the king of everything she does. Daphne was clueless of course, but even if she wasn't, nothing would have changed.
She is not the one to waste money on material things, the cheapest fabric makes the most beautiful clothes. All she has to do is do some flower embroidery to fill the hole, dye, wash and steam it. It's going to come out beautifully well, Daphne smiled thinking of the new gowns she is about to make from this fabric, she would start once she gets to the palace. And soon, they get to the palace and she along with her servants run off to her chambers while the guard heads to the King's study.
"I would like to speak to his majesty, I am princess Daphne's guard," he said.
"Let him in," the voice boomed from inside and the guard opened the door. He walked in and bowed his head and the king dropped his scroll. Giving the guard attention.
"What did she do at the market?" he asked. He raised his head.
"Her lady shopped for mostly cooking ingredients, she was extremely kind to the market people and she purchased a lot of apples, sharing it to the little children, she didn't purchase any silk materials or spend money on ornaments and gold jewelries, instead she shopped for hand me downs fabric and beading materials," he said and Antonio and the king was surprised.
"Really?" Antonio asked.
"Yes, your highness," he replied and they were both lost in thoughts. This is the first time such things are happening, all the other women would shop for the most extravagant things, they would request for the finest and expensive silk with lots of jewelry and tons of makeup.
The guards usually come back frustrated and exhausted from walking around and being bossed around. But she didn't spend time in the market and seems to have done a lot. And why would a princess shop for such cheap things? She is the only daughter of her father and she has 10 older brothers, they must have spoiled her rotten, how come she is not materialistic?
"The princess also seems to have gone to the market a lot of times. She could tell when a seller was about to cheat her, and her reaction was quite funny," he said, smiling a bit. He thought he would have to kill the man, usually, the other ladies are not so forgiving, they would order for the man to be killed or whipped. He was surprised she let him be.
"What was it like?" Antonio asked.
"She was angry, but she forgave him and she also could tell the price of the fabrics just by touching it," he said and the king stood up.
"Where are you going?" Antonio asked but he ignored him walking away. Antonio smiled, this princess was different, she would definitely thaw his icy heart. The king headed to her chambers and when he got there it was empty. Where could she be?
"Where is princess Daphne?" he asked the guard.
"She is in the laundry room, your majesty," he replied and he walked there wondering what she was doing in the laundry room. He got outside and from afar he could see her. He got closer and he watched her. She tied her golden hair up, her sleeves rolled up and her gown was tied up. She used her bare feet to wash the clothes in the wooden bucket, her servants just staring at her.
"Her lady shouldn't be doing this, the king would have our necks," they said but she laughed.
"There is nothing wrong with doing this, why would the king bother?" she asked, not once stopping. Agnes was afraid they might get in trouble; she shouldn't be doing this. But he just watched her, her face was glistening with sweat, and she cleaned her forehead with her arms, matching the clothes harder.
"The king definitely outdid himself with this one, she is crazy," he heard some servants whispering.
"Yes, she didn't greet the other queens, they are her superior, she would be in danger if they all hate her, now she is washing her clothes," they gossiped, unaware the king was beside them.
"The princess doesn't seem to care. She ate her food calmly despite the stares," she replied and they both giggled.
"Everyone is talking about her, they are sure she won't last at the palace. She is young and seems to be nonchalant about things around her. She must kiss the queen's asses if she wants to survive," she said.
"She definitely would, and his majesty is not the one to meddle in his wife's businesses," the other servants said, and they giggled, running away. He looked back at her and she was all smiles, splashing water at her servants. The four of them giggled, running like children and he wondered.
He killed her father, conquered her kingdom but she doesn't seem to care. Surely, the princess isn't what they all thought she would be, there is something about her, but what is it? He rubbed his temple, breathing out. He has been thinking so much about the princess he is starting to get a headache, but what can he do when she refuses to leave his mind? He left the premises, thinking of how to invite her for a private dinner, maybe then he would be able to figure her out.