"Coco Hughes! Hold on, Mrs. Hughes! How much for the fruit?!"
"Are those fresh fruits, Mrs. Hughes?!"
"Coco Hughes—"
"Coco Hughes!"
They've been calling her name for a while now. The fact that they want the fruits that her beloved fairy had grown makes her happy. A mischievous and evil smile creeped into her lips as she listened to them call her.
Why? Well, the fruit in her basket isn't just any fruit! It's a fruit grown by Lala, the adorable and amazing garden fairy, who meticulously prepared for her! Lala's favourite human!
As if I'll give these fruits at cheap prices, you fools! Coco giggled devily to herself as she walked past the villagers. If she wants to earn money, she will have to approach a rich looking person who could pay her with reasonable price and wouldn't haggle—
"Mrs. Hughes!"
Coco had never snapped her head to look at a person that fast in her whole life! The person who called for her was no ordinary person! The person's familiar voice immediately caught her attention and turned her head in that direction.
From Coco's memories, the person who's running towards her right now is..
"Huff.. Huff.. Mrs. Hughes. I heard from the villagers that you have brought back such delicious and ripe fruits from the forest. I tried one and indeed, it was one in a million." The beautiful lady in front of her is none other than.. Mrs. Tani! The village merchant! The one and only!
Coco swore that she could already smell the money going in to her pocket. She cleared her throat and offered the merchant a friendly smile, one that a businessman or businesswoman would give to a potential client.
"I see.. I'm glad words have spread. However, I'm not selling these fruits right now, this particular batch is quite special you see.." She placed her palm against her cheek and feigned her timidness, showing the merchant that fruits, taunting her while flaunting the fresh fruits.
The merchant's face looked shocked when she saw how vibrant the oranges and bananas were. She swallowed audibly and brought out a bag of money from her cloak's pocket.
"T-Then.. How about three gold and eleven silver coins for that batch?" Mrs. Tani asked and held out the bag of coins.
Kaching! Coco's expression turned to a pleased one, but it was quick to change into a neutral one before shaking her head, "I'm sorry, ma'am. I can't sell these to you because I plan to give my husbands some of these."
"Even just a half?" Mrs. Tani tried to bargain, "I'll pay five gold coins! No refund!"
"Well.. Only if I could take the eleven silver coins as well. If not.." Coco feigned her sadness and wariness as she look aside.
"Okay, Mrs. Hughes, five gold coins and eleven silver coins." Mrs. Tanj agreed almost immediately, she pulled something out if her cloak— two shining gold coins, she put it inside the bag and eyed the fruits.
Mrs. Tani held out the bag of coins to her and she timidly accepted the bag of money. She separated half of the fruit, but decided to give three fourths instead. She can just have Lala grow more fruits and she can grow them herself! So where's the harm of giving away freebies?
Mrs. Tani gasped when she saw what Coco did. She gladly accepted the basket of fruits from the notoriously known drunkard of the village before she walked away from her in a hurried pace.
Coco waved a goodbye to the merchant while still having three oranges, four bananas and ten strawberries on her. She also earned five gold and eleven silver coins! She feels so ecstatic and satisfied with her evening.
Feeling satisfied, she puffed out her chest and huffed proudly. Her chest swelling with pride and happiness as she make her way down the village where the house of Coco Hughes is located.
"You seem happy, Coco. I'm glad~" Lala giggled and perched herself on Coco's left shoulder, "I really thought that you got tricked, but seeing you smile like that made me think otherwise!"
"Silly. I won't be tricked! Even if I did, I can just track them down, you know? I've got a reliable fairy with me and the power of scrolls! If I put my mind into it then I'll be able to do just anything!" Coco laughed as she made her way back to past Coco's rundown house.
"Fair point!" Lala agreed and rubbed her head against Coco's cheek affectionately, "Where will we be sleeping tonight? It's already dark and we're far from the house you were building."
"I can just rent a room somewhere." Coco responded and caught sight of a beautiful woman with ocean blue hair not far from her spot, she had her back turned and was walking towards Coco's house.
Coco couldn't help, but feel excited. She hasn't seen any person who possesses such beautiful hair. Seeing the woman's stance, it seems like she has knowledge about etiquette and she's tall too! Coco could learn a thing or two about the world's etiquette from a graceful woman!
With that in mind, Coco quickens her walking pace and catches up to the woman. It wouldn't be too bad to befriend someone, right? She has fruits to enjoy for a short conversation and she could offer more if they were ever to run out of something to eat while talking.
The sound of door creaking made Coco run faster, she gasped when she saw the beautiful woman open the door of the house so she quickly ran to her.
"Miss!—"
"Welcome back, Quizen."
She stopped abruptly when she heard Zaque's voice, her eyes were wide when she heard the name of the person she was excited to befriend. Zaque stepped aside so Quizen could go inside the house which made him see Coco.
"Welcome back, wife." Zaque greeted with the same angelic smile, "I didn't know you'll be coming home with the fourth husband."
Well, I'll be damned.. Coco thought, clutching the basket in shock.