"Wow! This is so… surreal!"
A lady whose face was covered by a veil walked down into the market alley. With each step she took, she looked around cautiously before her attention got lured by her excitement. She kept her eyes peeled for her surroundings, intently looking at each stall at the market.
While the lady was immersed in her joy of being able to experience something novel, the people around her threw a look of curiosity at her. It was all because her body was adorned with gold jewelry. Even her outfits were made from the finest silk.
Was she a daughter of an aristocrat?
Alerted by the intent stares, she quickly gathered her senses back.
"This can't do. I really have to change. If not… I'll be busted soon," murmured the lady under her breath.
Before she sneaked out, she had tried looking for plain outfits but, her wardrobe only consisted of the flashy and finest garments. If she took any of the maid's clothes, her intention might be revealed soon.
When the lady entered another alley, the corners of her eyes caught something colorful. To her delight, she saw clothes spread on a line. They might be hung by the old woman standing nearby the line.
In a haste, she ran toward the old woman.
"Dear madam, please, may I ask for a favor?" The lady clasped her hands together, pleading to the old woman, "May I borrow clothes from you?"
A gentle smile spread on the old woman's face, "Young lady, you would surely catch attention by dressing in that garment. Please help yourself."
"Oh! Thank you! Thank you so much!"
The young lady quickly changed into different clothes. This one was in a simple style, nothing too vibrant.
The old woman handed her a small basket, "Here, take this basket. You can keep your clothes in there."
"Ah, thank you again. I really appreciate your kind gesture."
With the basket in her right hand, she returned to the lively market. Although she still kept the exquisite veil to cover the lower half of her face, people no longer paid unnecessary attention to her.
"I never knew the market was this lively and beautiful. Suma has a beautiful village," She whispered in awe.
The stalls were attached to the mud houses. Children ran around the place, nimbly escaping the adults that were walking in the market alley. The young ones cheered and laughed happily as they played games.
As the young lady walked past each house, she saw a large or two mud pitchers placed outside. She was unsure of the usage but, it might be to store water or something.
Teenage girls laughed and giggled as they passed by her with small pitchers on their heads or in their hands.
Something came to her notice as she stared at them as they walked away. Unlike her, they had beads in their hair, colored beads but she had golden rings in her hair.
"Is this how different things are here? It's weird." She touched her hair under her veil.
"Hey, get out of the way." A man yelled at her as he pushed a cart past her, making dust arise.
The veiled lady closed her nose with her veil but the dust still found its way to penetrate and she couldn't help but sneeze.
"My nose." She complained as she rushed away from the dust towards a stall with flowers there.
"Young lady, I have the perfect flower to match your figure. I'll give this one to you for free and you can come back next time for more." The lady in the stall flashed her a welcoming smile.
"For free?" The veiled lady asked.
"Of course for free. This flower has been here waiting patiently for its rightful owner but it never found one. I'll tell you a secret." The lady in the stall gestured to her to come closer.
The veiled lady looked at her suspiciously but she moved closer anyway. "The flower only opens its last petal when the rightful owner arrives and sees, it just opened."
The veiled lady looked at the flower which truly opened, totally fascinating her. "Thank you for your kind gesture, but I can't accept it."
"If you reject it, the flower will wilt and die. You caused its death if you do so." The lady sighed as she played with the flower's petals.
The veiled lady sighed before nodding. The lady smiled before placing the flower in her hand. "You can use it for your bath or just use it as decoration."
"Thank you." The veiled lady appreciated as she placed it into her basket.
"Come again next time." The lady in the stall smiled warmly as the veiled lady walked away from the stall looking at the flower in her basket.
"It does look beautiful." She hummed as she kept on walking not even knowing where she was going.
"Check out your weapons here." Someone called and she looked back at the stall which was filled with different weapons.
She walked towards the stall with surprise written all over her face behind her veil. "What do you want, young lady?" The man in the stall asked.
The veiled lady looked around the table, where different weapons were displayed. Different arrows and bows were placed there but what fascinated her most were the daggers.
"What are these?" She asked, pointing at the daggers.
"They are daggers. This one is a special dagger and it took quite a while to make it." The man explained and the lady nodded as she picked the dagger and examined it.
She has never seen one so she was still fascinated by it when the man faced the other person that arrived after her.
"I want those arrows." The person said to the man who lifted a large basket filled with arrows.
"Pick anyone you want." The man said before facing the veiled lady.
"Do you want it, young lady?" He asked.
"Yes." She replied.
He told her the amount it cost and she told him she didn't have any.
"Since you don't have any money, you can't buy anything." The man collected the daggers from her.
She turned to the man standing next to her. "Do you have money?"
"Yes, why?" He asked not even sparing her a glance. He was busy looking at the arrow in his hands.
"Give me some." She blurted out.
The man dropped the arrow with him on the table before looking at her.
"Do you think money grows on trees?"
"Clearly they don't."