Melissa looked around every market stall and caravan. She was fascinated by the variety in the clothing stalls, from elegant, jewel-encrusted robes to the puffy dresses with a floating option installed, to the color-changing holographic suits. She ran her fingers across silky sashes and scarves. She tried on some turquoise earrings which were a perfect match for her. The noblewoman had a slight smile in the corner of her mouth. She knew Ereya noticed and could already feel her embarrassment for what her aunt was about to do.
"Owner, how much for these earrings?"
"Miss, you have a good eye for quality products. These are all the way from Sirtos, mined directly from their giant quarries. Only for today, I left it at 450 vanarii." the shopkeeper said confidently, crossing his arms above his large belly.
"That's very nice of you owner. But unfortunately, I don't have that much money on me. I'm currently on a tight budget" Melissa shyly whispered.
"That's too bad. 450 vanarii is the most I can do for you" his expression changed into a frown.
"How about 400 altogether for both the earrings and this necklace, I take this off you since I don't see many interested in buying it?" Melissa put on the necklace while she was in the middle of negotiations. The necklace accentuated her already ample cleavage.
"If you put it that way...Indeed, the necklace didn't sell well today..." the owner curled his mustache while blushing, changing his focus on Melissa's endowments.
"I'm so glad you say that. I didn't know these earrings were from Sirtos, I'm not well versed in their jewelry" Melissa gasped while slightly squeezing her bosom. The owner noticed a mole on her cleavage which made him flush even redder.
"Well...If that's the case, it can't be helped. 300 vanarii for both is alright with you?"
"Of course, that's so generous of you!" Melissa radiated a smile.
"Hope to see you again around here, miss" the owner blushed while packing up her accessories.
"Of course," Melissa said while waving goodbye and turned away from the shop to visit more stalls. The owner waved back, now he was in his dream world.
"Well, that was awkward as hell" Ereya made a disgusted face.
"Oh, you're so silly, Ereya. You have to learn to have more fun!"
"It's not fun seeing a noblewoman haggle for a cheaper price."
"Right now I'm not a noblewoman, I'm dressed as your everyday commoner. Bargaining is such a fascinating and exhilarating experience. There are so many unknowns. Will the owner comply with me lowering the price, will they reject my offer and not engage further, or will they be willing to meet me in the middle? Oh, the possibilities!" the noblewoman was giddy just thinking about it.
"Is this your idea of fun?"
"Listen Ereya, everything is a trade. Life is about what you give and what you take. If there is no balance between the two, your life will be miserable. If you take too much, you'll be considered a villain. If you give too much, you'll be considered an easily manipulated fool." Melissa's face suddenly turned serious. Ereya was taken aback.
"You act silly so often that I start to forget just how much I still have to learn from you."
"That's right kiddo. When you were little you used to never listen to me. But after what happened...That aspect of you changed."
"I had to."
In that moment, the past cast a big shadow over Ereya.
***
After the clothing stalls, they reached the food section. All kinds of rare meats were displayed, grilled or baked in pies or stacked on top of each other and roasted on a spit. There was even a live exotic animal section. Everything from reptiles to cloven-hooved ancient mammals to tall flightless birds to hard-shelled land dwellers.
The market district was in a legal grey area: it wasn't a part of the city center but it wasn't in the outskirts either. The eating of unsanctioned animals was prohibited by the religion. While officially live exotic animal trade was outlawed here as well, they still practiced it openly. Many powerful and rich people came from the market district and established themselves in the city center. They bribed the authorities to keep a blind eye to it. There was no fish or aquatic mammal to be found here, however. Even the market district wouldn't commit such sinful acts. Anything from the sea was sacred.
Melissa looked at Ereya and knew instantly that sight would upset her: Ereya was raised to become a priestess and was schooled in the worship temples. Her niece looked nauseated already just glancing at the animals in cages. So the madame quickly changed direction towards the sweets section.
From pearly pralines sprinkled with coconut flakes arranged in a pyramid-like shape to chocolate fountains, rainbow-colored lollipops and cotton candy so fluffy that if you blew on it, it would float, like a dandelion. One of the reasons this place looked so magical aside from the glittering of the precious stones were the cotton candy dandelion-like specks that floated around the place.
"Oh, look, a floating jelly ice cream, I always wanted to try one of those!" Melissa pointed to one of the stalls. Ereya sighed and resigned herself.
"Let's go then."
There was a sizeable waiting line since the product was so popular but Melissa didn't mind, she was worried for Ereya. Her niece however seemed to give up protesting.
After finally getting the ice cream Melissa was thinking of the activities she wanted to try next. The duchess eyed a drop tower ride. When Ereya saw what her aunt was up to, she looked like she died a little inside.
"Don't be so down, you're gonna go through similar stuff while training for the space program." Melissa attempted to comfort her.
"So you're gonna boost my resistance through this ride? I'm not gonna last even a few seconds!"
"You never know until you try!"
Ereya almost dragged her feet towards the ride. The gondola slowly started lifting off the ground.
"It's not so bad, is it?" Melissa tried to encourage Ereya.
Just as her niece didn't think it was that bad, the ride started to free fall. Rapid heavy acceleration hit both of them but only Ereya started to spill her guts out.
"Let's not go for a ride anymore." the duchess put a hand around Ereya's shoulders. Her niece nodded in agreement, wiping puke off her own mouth.
Melissa kept her promise and started walking around the game stalls. She saw Ereya staring intently at a mecha bunny plush prize.
"You're gonna burn a hole through that plush. Do you want me to win it for you?"
Ereya blushed like a little kid.
The plush was the high prize for a strength tester. Melissa took a mallet and struck the lever, sending the puck flying. The sensors gave it their highest score. Melissa handed the prize to her niece while having the biggest smile on her face.
"Happy birthday niece, tomorrow you'll be 17."
"Thanks..." Ereya buried her face in the plushie.
"Ereya, I've been thinking...You know I'm good at all sorts of games, right?"
"So? Where are you going with this?" her niece had suspicion and unease written all over her face.
"I'm bored now. Let's try the gambling house!" Melissa dropped the bomb with a confident look on her face.
"What? Are you serious?"
"100%."
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