Thyrate, Principality of Barlia.
It's the first day of a new week. The market today is busier than usual. Strategically situated in the centre of the city, countless people from every direction co to this market.
For housewives, this market is simply heaven. Even though the heavy rain has just stopped, it didn't dampen their mood in the slightest.
Because all kinds of rchandise are sold here, making it a one-stop shopping spot.
The rchants were making every effort to draw in any passing custors to their stalls. With this amount of people, the profits they could make will be three or four tis higher than usual.
Walking among the sea of people in a congested market are Reina and her bodyguard. They are travelling in incognito by wearing worn-out commoner clothing. If one pays enough attention, it is easy to spot flaws in their disguise. Her deanour is too graceful to be classified as a commoner. But lucky for her everyone in the market was so busy doing their own activities.
She has been in Thyrate for more than a year now. Against her own will, she was forced to marry the Prince of Barlia, Baldwin Boris Barlia. Thus, making her the Barlian Princess. During that ti, she isn't allowed to leave the palace as she is pregnant.
Due to that, Reina has been cut off from the rest of the world by Baldwin for more than a year. His purpose is to break her spirit and willpower.
Unfortunately, he underestimated her tenacity.
After giving birth to her son, she ultimately got permission to leave but it ca with a price. Baldwin sends a group of sixteen female bodyguards to keep her safe. Rather than bodyguards, they are more like spies sent by Baldwin to monitor her at all tis.
Ignoring the bodyguards who followed her behind, her eyes flickered left and right while moving aimlessly at the bustling market.
In addition to goods and money, information also flows here. This is her main goal in coming here. Current developnts in central Jozia are unknown to her.
To do so, she needs to have a conversation with the rchants here. Since this market accommodates rchants from various nations, it is the best way to get the news.
A few minutes later, her steps halted in front of the stall that sold grains and fruits.
"How much is the price of this apple, old man?" ask Reina to an old man who is sitting there silently. Unlike other rchants, the old man didn't do anything to attract a custor.
The old man looks energetic despite his advanced age. He gazes at the young woman in front of him. Gradually, his jaw drops open. The old man recognises her can only an one thing. He is from Bideford. She is confident with this fact because the only place she ever wanders around is her hotown. In Caushilbo, she can't do the sa as the region is a frontline against Barlia.
Reina quickly put her index finger over her mouth, telling him to keep quiet. She is not going to let the old man's surprised face ruin this opportunity.
"3 Bar." The old man answered after recovering his calmness. 'Bar' is a currency unit for the principality.
1 Bar equals 2 Ros.
"3 Bar for an apple?! Why is it so expensive?!" She frowns upon hearing the outrageous price. Maybe this is the reason for his stall being void of any custors.
"This is a good quality apple which is bigger in size than an average apple and also much sweeter. I go through all the troubles and pay a lot of money to transport this batch of fruits directly from the Kingdom of Ryntum. As you already know, it is hard to transport the goods from there to here given the pirates running rampantly at the sea. But, I can assure you of its quality."
The old man eloquently explains the logic behind the high price of his products.
Apple in Reina's hand fell as soon as she heard a term that was foreign to her.
"I'm sorry, Kingdom of...Ryntum? Care to explain more to ?" Reina asked in a hurried manner.
Seeing the desperation in her voice, the old man begins to massage his temple before speaking in an unspirited voice. "Hmm...I don't know. My mory is kind of hazy right now. Perhaps so gold coins can help rember sothing."
Reina's eyes subconsciously twitched, 'This f*cking fruits seller. He clearly knows who I am yet he dares...'
Her hand reaches out for so gold coins before throwing them to the old man who is still in his act.
"Now, tell everything that happened last year."
The old man begins to tell her a key point of the major incident that happens in the south. He doesn't bother to go into the details since she only gives him ten gold coins.
Reina quietly listens to the old man's words.
She slowly shed tears when knowing her father is dead.
It becos more heartbreaking when the one who is responsible for his death is her own brother. Never she expected such action from Russell. During her absence, the Ryntum family was in turmoil.
But her heart was at ease hearing Riz take over as the head of the family. Reina was proud of the achievent he accomplished in a span of one year. This little brother of hers has done his job as a ruler magnificently.
Wiping off the tears that accumulate in the corner of her eyes, she begins to speak once again.
"Can I ask you a favour?"
"What favour? I will do it depending on the difficulty of the favour...and the paynt."
Reina rebuked, "My goodness, can you not think about money for a second, old man? I am a damsel in distress here."
"Distress? Yes. Damsel? No. Do I care? Not really. For the sake of your brother who is improving the commoners' life, I am willing to listen to your request but not for free. I can give you a discount though. Care to tell the favour, miss damsel in distress?"
'Elderly or not, my urge to punch him in the face keeps increasing. I'm afraid this old man might be my first victim.' Reina inwardly thought.
Clearing her throat, Reina begins to say, "I want you to tell my whereabouts to my brother. Simple, right?"
"Indeed, a simple favour yet very hard to execute. You are aware that it is difficult for , a commoner to et a king, right?"
Her lips drew a smile capable of making anyone's heart flutter. She looked straight at the old man, "I know, which is why I am going to tell you a magic word that only Riz and I know."
Remaining unfazed in front of that srizing smile, the old man stretched out his ears as Reina whispered it to him.
"How much does it cost for you to get the job done?"
The old man said nothing except to raise his three fingers.
"3 Bar?" she asks.
Shaking his head, the old man gives a short answer. "30 Bar."
"Are you trying to rob ?!" She can't control her anger anymore. This elder tries to get every coin she has in every way possible.
"Do you want it or not?" He asks with a slightly aggravated tone.
"Fine, fine, fine." She handed him over the money while grumbling. "What kind of shitty luck do I have to et you."
The old man could care less about her grumbling. Counting the gold coins in his hand takes more priority.
"Don't worry, milady. Wait for the good news."
"Tell your na. It is easier to hunt you down in case you run away with my money."
"Tsk, it's just 30 Bar. Why are you being such a cheapskate."
"For God's sake, just tell your na!"
"My na is Luther Dunn or you can call Old Man Dunn."
"Alright Old Man Dunn. Let's see again two months from now. Make sure to get the job done by then." said Reina before walking away from the stall.
"Even if you didn't request it, I absolutely will report your whereabouts to Lady Charlotte," Luther muttered under his breath while watching Reina's figure slowly disappear in the crowd.
His hand constantly shaking a pouch full of gold coins. "And may you forgive for swindling you like this, Lady Reina. I couldn't control this habit of mine," said Luther or [Greecious] as per his codena in SIN.
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