As Soleil walked through the flower market, the three servants following him swore they could see white daisies blooming at the top of their young master's head. Isla and Gale's hopes for the young master having the potential to be a worthy successor to the General were blown away with the very nice breeze. Yep, the dignified speech and mannerisms from earlier were just imagined by the two guardsmen. There was no way that this little child who was frolicking through the market like a fair maiden could be anything like their Great General.
As for Rina, her adoration for her young master increased about 10 points just by watching him happily look at everything with awe. After seeing such a scene, how could one not have the desire to protect such a pure and innocent creature.
Oblivious to his guards' and maid's thoughts, Jamie acted like a kid in the candy store. Since it was mid-autumn, he wasn't expecting much from his trip today. At most, he thought that he'd probably be able to find a few winter crops he could plant or some perennials that do well indoors. To his surprise, the market still had a variety of foliage that were thriving despite the chill in the air. He almost forgot that this world was different from the one he knew. Common sense and scientific facts should have been thrown out the window the moment he reawakened as Sol.
As he browsed through the isles, many plants caught his eyes, but after a bit of thought, he skipped all the breeds he used to love on earth and went straight to a stall selling seeds
In any world, the natural trait of humans is laziness. Unless it interests a person, people generally don't want to wait for something when they could just have it ready immediately. For example, why cook when you could just eat? Or why walk when you could just take a carriage. Or why make clothes when you could buy them at a store? And in this case, why go through the hassle of growing something from a seed when you could just buy a fully grown plant?
After traveling from the countryside a few days ago and setting up his stall here in the Capital, the stall owner's business was very slow. Since he didn't have any flowering plants to attract customers, it was rare for people to stop by. And when they did, it was even rarer for them to buy anything. He heard that the business in the Capital was good, therefore he came here thinking that he'd be able to strike it rich with his valuable seeds.
He didn't expect that people in the Capital were so lazy. Even if he told them the breed of the seed and its uses, the customers would either look at him with skepticism or have a fleeting interest after being told about the conditions that the plant needed in order to sprout. Growing things was a casual hobby for the rich in the Capital. Even the servants have gotten rid of their mud legs and act like half-masters.
Unable to withstand the constant dejection, the stall owner finally adopted a passive attitude, not caring whether someone stopped by or not. In any case, he planned to leave this disheartening place within the next few days.
Jamie walked up to the stall full of little pouches of seeds. He remembered in the novel that unless it was common and easy to care for, medicinal plants wouldn't be found in a normal market place. Rather, one would either have to go to a pharmacy, auction house, or black market. But this fact only was related to already grown plants. They never said anything about seeds.
Reading the names of some of the seeds, Jamie's emerald eyes glowed in excitement. Catkin lily, a plant that could help cure toxins from poison attacks! Fire cotton, a plant that could heal severe burns and restore external wounds! Terry bells! The petals of this could give the user nightmares if ingested before bed!
So many useful medicinal seeds (ignoring the last one) that when grown properly would be worth thousands of gold coins! The stall owner looked at the little miss in front of him with an expression that was even more apathetic than usual. Clearly, he wasn't expecting anything from the child.
Knowing the uses and value of the seeds in front of him and seeing the uninterested expression of the stall owner, Jamie restrained his excitement and pretended to be indifferent as well.
The three servants on the sides saw the obvious change in expression and wished to cry. 'Young master! It's too late to change your attitude. It was clear that your eyes were sparkling just now.'
The stall owner, however, had very different thoughts. He saw the change of attitude and thought it was because the child didn't know how to take care of plants. Another lazy person had come to his stall.
Jamie straightened his back and gave the stall another once over before pointing a row of seeds and unhurriedly asking, "How much for these ones?"
The stall kept his brows down and responded, "For that row, each seed is worth 50 large silver coins."
Behind him, the eyes of the two guards and maid widened. 50 large silver for just a tiny seed? In this world, 10 large silver can get the average citizen a lot. For example, 10 small coppers can buy someone a few pieces of meat buns. 10 large copper can buy someone a stay at an average inn for 1 night. 10 small silver can be a few month's wage for a common servant. And 10 large silver coins is equivalent to a low official's monthly salary. And when you go beyond that, there is still gold and the godly crystal currency.
In other words... what a rip off!
The stall owner noticed the little girl's servants behind her. Although the young guardsmen were dressed in normal attire, it was obvious that they were strong and from a prominent family. As for the little servant... boy? He looked to also be a high-ranking servant from how clean and well-groomed he is. Because of this, the stall owner decided to act with a little more respect. "Young Miss, although the seeds are expensive, all of them are well worth the money spent. As you can see, many of these seeds will turn into medicinal plants that could go for thousands of gold once mature. If you have the patience to grow them, it will be well worth it in the end."
The two guardsmen heard the man trying to hook their young master while calling him a girl and couldn't help but scoff. They didn't notice it before, but the man had an eastern accent. Lately, a lot of easterners have been swindling commoners at the market place so they could make a quick buck and return home.
Just as they were about to advise Jamie to not listen to him, the boy spoke. "That is true, but these seeds aren't just regular seeds. Unless someone wanted to wait one or two decades before anything sprouted, they will need someone with the wood element to help it grow... Even then, it's not guaranteed that one seed would sprout."
The vendor didn't expect the child to be so informed. The lass initially looked very naive. Jamie then looked at the guard with the mesmerizing green eyes. "I heard you're not very adept in using the wood element... but at the very least, you know the basics right?" Isla clenched his jaw and nodded. The reason why he was easily able to identify Isla as Isla was because of his light, jade eyes. Since a long time ago, wood element users have been scarce in number. The wood element was considered the weakest out of all the elements. Easily burned by fire, charred by lightning, blown down by wind, uprooted by earth, drowned by water. Plant life is fragile, therefore, wood element users were looked down upon.
This is why most wood element users were common civilians. Higher status individuals collectively 'bred' them out of their ranks.
Jamie said nothing more and then asked Rina, "Am I able to buy one?" Rina tragically nodded her head. She wanted to say no because she didn't want her young master to be swindled, but Jamie's face had an adamant expression. "There's enough."
Jamie then again looked over the first row of seeds and felt the anticipation from the stall owner. Having been poor most of his life, Jamie would often go to markets with his grandfather where haggling was just the way of life. Thus he didn't feel any shame with his next actions. Jamie's delicate face suddenly underwent a change that was domineering and powerful. He was no longer the innocent daisy that was frolicking in a flower patch. Nor was he the humorous hyacinth that feigned strength.
No, Jamie was now like a peasant woman haggling with a street vendor. Both thrifty and stubborn. "I'll pay 30 large silver per seed. Give me one each of these."
The street vendor was astonished by the sudden change of the young lady. It was obvious that the lass was a rich miss, but she still wishes to lower the price. What's more, the little lass lowered it a whole 20 large silver!
The servants were once again surprised by their young master for various reasons. They knew that Jamie was an orphan child until recently, therefore they weren't taken aback from his ability to haggle. What was surprising to them was the fact that he wished to spend so much money. Before they left, the General gave them several gold coins for their young master to splurge on and said that if it was not enough, they can send the bill to the residence to be paid for.
However, the three secretly never told the young master this in fear that the once orphaned child would become spoiled by their General's treatment. After all, normally the pocket money of a noble child would be limited to small silver coins, not a small money pouch! The General was reliable in many ways, but it seemed child rearing was not going to be one of them.
Who would have that their new young master would spend all the money they brought in one go? Even if he was haggling, is it smart to buy these seeds from an Eastern vendor? 'Young master, were you truly once a poor orphan child? Why do we feel like you were meant to wear a fat man's clothes?'