Alexia quietly walked for some minutes, the bustling market gradually giving way to the quieter edges of town.
Finally, she arrived in front of a small stall.
Clothes were neatly folded on the desk while some hung from racks, fluttering slightly in the gentle breeze.
Behind the desk sat a woman holding a cane. She appeared to be in her late thirties, but her smooth, radiant skin defied her age.
Dressed simply in a long brown gown, she sat quietly, tapping her cane on the ground with a rhythmic, almost meditative patience.
Her eyes, however, were sharp and discerning.
"Madam Ann," Alexia called out, a smile spreading across her face as she hurried to the stall.
At the sound of the voice, Madam Ann's eyes narrowed, her expression hardening instantly.
It was as if a cloud had passed over the sun, casting a shadow over her features.
"Young lad, where is the dress I gave your sister?" she demanded, her voice carrying a firm edge.
It was somewhat confusing how Madam Ann seemed to mistake her other persona as her brother, but Alexia didn't bother explaining.
It was better this way.
Alexia's smile wavered, turning into an awkward expression.
She scratched her nose slightly, memories of the dress's demise flashing before her eyers, remembering how in during desperate escape from Marcus gang, the garment got torn and dirtied beyond repair.
"Umm... Madam Ann, how much is the dress? I'll pay you back," she offered nervously, her voice trembling as she glanced at the woman.
Madam Ann's eyes twitched, a flicker of irritation crossing her stern features.
She had already expected this after sensing Alexia's earlier unease.
"Hmph," she snorted coldly. "You don't have to pay me. Just help me look after my stall."
"Really?" Alexia's eyes widened in surprise.
Madam Ann had never given her anything before. She was known for being stingy and cold.
For some reason, despite her age, she had never married. An accident had left her reliant on a cane to walk.
She always had this air of dignity around, the kind that made it seem like every other thing was insignificant.
"What? You want to refuse? You do seem to have a lot of money today," Madam Ann sneered, her gaze drifting to Alexia's pockets.
Alexia stiffened, her hands instinctively clutching her pockets. How did Madam Ann know?
She felt a wave of panic, worried her coins might suddenly disappear.
Seeing her defensive stance, Madam Ann's sneer softened into a knowing smile.
"Many thanks, Madam Ann," Alexia said hurriedly, afraid she might change her mind.
She had a lot of things to do with money; of course, she wouldn't reject such a generous offer.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely help you sell all your dresses today," she declared, confidence lighting up her face as she proudly patted her chest.
"Oh really? And how do you plan on doing that, brat?" Madam Ann challenged, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
Alexia didn't respond, she just selected a few dresses and stepped out to attract customers.
"Come now, come all! Buy the finest dresses in all the Stones Kingdom!" she called out, yelling loudly.
Spotting two ladies passing by, she approached them with a warm smile. "My ladies, may I interest you in Madam Ann's exquisite dresses?"
One of the women sneered, shaking her head in disdain. "Why would I buy such second-hand dresses?"
Alexia's eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "My lady, these aren't mere second-hand dresses. They were once worn by a princess of the Azure Empire."
The woman's expression shifted from disdain to surprise.
"Really?"
"Absolutely," Alexia nodded earnestly. "Madam Ann used to be the personal maidservant to one of the princesses. Naturally, she acquired many of her clothes." She bragged, almost believing her own lie.
"We'll take two," the women said excitedly. The Azure Empire was a dominant power, and the idea of owning dresses worn by its princess was too tempting to resist.
"That'll be two hundred silver coins each," Alexia said, trying to keep her excitement in check.
Hearing the price, the two women hesitated, their hands hovering over their purses.
"Why is it so expensive?" one of them frowned.
"My ladies, these are dresses worn by a princess. Of course, they are expensive. If it weren't for Madam Ann's urgent need for money, we wouldn't sell them so cheaply."
"But we still need to buy jewelry," the other muttered, her brow furrowing in concern.
"Your eyes are already jewels, my lady. You don't need any other" Alexia flirted.
The woman's cheeks flushed a delicate pink, a smile tugging at her lips.
Oh! if only she was a man, how many unfortunate ladies would have fallen in her hands?
"I hope I didn't offend you with my honesty. It just came out naturally in your presence," Alexia added.
The lady shook her head, a rosy glow spreading to her neck.
"What's your name?"
"Alex, my lady."
"Alex," she repeated, savoring the name.
"Yes," Alexia confirmed, her smile unwavering.
"We'll take them," the lady decided, her eyes shining.
"My lady is wise," Alexia praised, swiftly packing the dresses. The two women left, their faces lit with satisfaction.
Other ladies passing by overheard Alexia's proclamation about the princess's dresses.
Intrigued and excited, they flocked to her, their eyes wide with anticipation.
Soon, the desk was empty, and Alexia's hands were filled with coins.
She carefully counted the money, her fingers trembling slightly with excitement and disbelief.
Madam Ann watched with an amused smile. This young brat was truly full of surprises.
"Here you go," Alexia handed the heavy pouch of coins to Madam Ann.
Madam Ann accepted it, her fingers deftly plucking out a few coins.
She handed them to Alexia. "You've earned this, brat," she said with a rare note of approval.
"Of course I know I've earned this. Consider it payment for the dress," Alexia snorted.
Madam Ann didn't argue. She simply withdrew her hand, her expression unchanging. She was not one to reject money.
Alexia's eyes narrowed. How shameless! Couldn't she have insisted a bit more?
Alexia had hoped for a show of reluctance, a chance to 'reluctantly' agree. But Madam Ann was too practical, too shamelessly practical.
With a reluctant sigh, Alexia began to drag her feet away from the stall, each step heavy with an exaggerated weariness.
She glanced back frequently, her eyes lingering on the stall.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a figure standing patiently under a small stall.
Her brows furrowed. 'Alex? What was he doing here?
The sky was already painted with the hues of dusk. How long had he been standing there?
Her steps quickened, her curiosity and concern driving her forward.
When she reached him, his face lit up with a bright smile.
"Alex, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise.
"I was waiting for you, of course," he said, a playful smirk dancing on his lips.
"Why didn't you come to the stall?" she questioned, her brow furrowing. He knew where the stall was, yet he still decided to wait here.
"I didn't want to disturb you," he shrugged, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
A mix of gratitude and confusion flickered across her face.
"Come on, let's go have a few drinks," he suggested, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, guiding her away.