Chapter 16 Fairy Market
The fairies' marketplace is unlike the typical outdoor mall that humans are accustomed to. All of the stalls in the market are arranged on various levels inside one enormous tree. The interior of the tree is filled with a small platform that is held up in the air by thick, sturdy vines.
I follow Zhier as I cross the vines and make my way to the platform on the first floor, where there are a number of flower-selling booths.
It's not as exciting or fun as I had anticipated to walk on a bridge made of wood and vines.
For one, it sways a lot and the flooding has moss, which makes it slippery.
"Zhier, why don't you guys clean the flooring? Someone could slips from these moss." I am already holding on to his arm so I won't tumble down in case I slip.
"The moss is there so we don't slip." Zhier tells me. "You're walking barefooted, right?" He looks down at my bare feet just to make sure.
"I am walking barefooted; that's why it's slippery, not to mention uncomfortable as well." Feeling the moist green at the sole of my feet making me grit my teeth in disgust. "If you can't clean the moss, can't you at least design a shoe that does not slip on moss?"
"Faries don't wear shoes."
"I figure." I already figured that out when I was the only one wearing my doll shoes in the palace. Still, I wish that I got to wear something on my feet.
I release my hold on Jade and allow him to run. Despite being a little midget, he is still quite heavy. Zhier looks at me like he is deciding why I released my hold on the emerald beast.
"Don't worry. If it starts nibbling on plants, we can go home and leave him." I wore a serious expression when I said it. "The damn mutt is heavy. It disrupts my study, and if it runs away, at least you would have fewer mouths to feed."
"Don't you rescue animals?"
"That beast is not mine, and it is expensive to feed. Plus, look at it." I point to the mutt, which is now looking at its reflection in a puddle nearby. Jade's tail wags as he continues to check himself in the puddle. "I think that it's a narcissist."
Khier follows my gaze and frowns. "Strange. I have never seen an emerald beast so fascinated by its reflection." He pauses and stares at Jade for a bit longer. "Maybe its behavior is changing because it is hungry."
I lean in close to whisper to him. "If we run now, maybe it can't follow us."
Zhier seems to be considering my offer. "Though its food is cheap, we still can't deny the fact that emerald beasts are expensive to buy or sell since they are rare. Still, it is still the Unseelie Prince's beast so—"
"Let's keep it." I interrupted him as soon as I hear Jade's value.
The Fairy prince cast me a stern look. "Your human side is showing. Your greed, that is."
"I see no reason for wanting money since I am totally broke in this realm, which is why I am here with you, aren't I?" I turn to him for confirmation.
"If you want something, you don't have to hesitate and ask me. According to human lore, royalties are rich. The same applies to the fairy realm." He boastfully speaks.
"Ah, right. Thanks for letting me know."
Zhier and I keep moving up the stairs to the next level. Fortunately, Jade is still keeping an eye on us and will quickly follow us if he starts to stray too far. The emerald beast still makes a point of looking at any reflective surface it comes across.
I noted something about the attire of the fairies.
The male common folk wear plain green and brown blazer tops paired with brown leather shorts.
The females wear short, forest colored dresses.
Mine is close to a pale green, which is probably the lightest colored dress that I have seen so far in this place.
Even though Zhier attempts to dress like them, it appears that the faeries are still aware of who he is.
"I don't get the purpose of these disguises when it appears like they already know who you are." I can tell because I notice the looks that the other fairies are giving him. They are a mixture of awe and admiration.
"I wear the common clothes to let the folks know that I am not here as a prince on duty. I am here as a citizen, and I do not want to be bothered." He answers me sternly, focusing on where we are headed.
I notice that they are not just looking at him. They are looking at me as well. I know that it should be a given considering that I am a human and am walking beside their prince. But something about them looking at the earrings that Zhier gives me makes me feel a little uneasy.
"Can you tell me why they are looking at the earrings?
They're not thinking that I stole it from you, right?
" I can't decide whether or not to pull my hair out of the ponytail just to cover my earrings, but I remember how Zhier gave me strict permission to make sure to tie my hair to show the earrings.
"Don't worry about it. And don't even try to hide them. It is for your protection." He offers me his hand when we are about to climb another steep, mossy path. I take his hand while Jade is already running past us to get to the next floor.
The path is even slipperier than the last. I want to have a talk with whoever designed the steps because they did not even include a handrail. Who does that!? Somehow, I am starting to feel like the fairies are daredevils, or maybe the soles of their feet are built differently.
Finally, we reach the floor where stones are being sold. It is not as busy as I thought that it would be. There aren't much stalks here either compared to the other floor that we were in.
"There are only a few faeries who covet gems." Zhier answers like he has read the question in my mind.
"The only ones who buy them are alchemist. They're the ones who make medicinal potions.
" He pauses. "It seems like the beast found its meal.
" He points to where Jade seems to be running off to a certain stall.
I hope that it does not think of stealing the gems.
We start to follow Jade to a particular store that only sells jade rocks that's about the size of a pebble. A yellow skinned fairy with electric blue hair greets us with a smile upon seeing the emerald beast running towards her stall.
"Your highness, is the beast yours?" She ask, moving from her stall so she can greet us.
"No," Zhier answers with crossed arms. "This beast belongs to Livia." He points a finger at me.
The fairy looks at me and gives me a friendly smile, which surprises me. I believe that it is the first time that I have ever seen a fairy in this realm not give me a sneer when they lay their eyes on me. To be honest, it is kind of a relief to see a different reaction.
"I see. So she's the bethrodal of yours that I keep hearing about."
"Excuse me, what?" I almost bit my tongue, trying to keep myself from screaming at him. Just what kind of nonsense is this guy spreading to his people?!
The fairy points at my earrings. "Prince Zhier's earrings." She says. "When you accept and wear a man's accessory, it means that you accept his proposal."
When Zhier first handed me the earrings, he told me that they were for my protection. Could faking out Bethrodal be his way of protecting me from the other fairies? Is that why the fairies are uncomfortable when they see me?
I get that he is trying to protect me, but I do not like that he has kept me in the dark about this.
I turn to Zhier and blink slowly while trying to smile at him.
"Yes," I say. "Of course, I remember. Sorry, the path here must have stressed me out so much that I just forgot, right, darling?
" I can't help but widen my eyes sinisterly at him, letting him know that I am not happy that he has kept this information from me.
I am going to let this one slide since he did it for my safety.
Zhier flushes. He swallows nervously and turns to the fairy instead. "Give me all the crates of your emerald stone. Send in an order to the palace to get your payment."
"Yes, your highness." The fairy bows and heads behind her stall to prepare Zhier's order. Not a second later, she looks up at me with an apologetic gaze. "Lady Livia, right? I am sorry, but can you get your beast?"
I turn to Zhier like I am asking for permission. He gives me a curt nod, answering my request. "Be quick. I'll look for some faes to help us carry everything." He gives the fairy girl a warning look before going to scout some helpers.
"Sorry about that." I tell the fairy and follow her behind the booth.
I spot Jade hiding behind the crates and trying to dig something from the rubble.
I quickly grab the emerald beast with a strict frown on my face.
"Don't make me sell you and run away with the money.
" I don't know how much the beast understood my words, but after I said it, it began to quiet down immediately.
The fairy chuckles. "Don't scold it too much.
I guess it's just happy to be out. Speaking of which," She grabs a small box from the counter and hands it to me.
"Take this. It's a gift for you. You guys bought all of my supplies.
Please, just accept it." She quickly adds when she sees the hesitation in my gaze.
Well, since she insisted, I can't help but accept it now.
"Thank you." I say.
When Zhier returns, he and I start to leave along with Jade, who is already running ahead of us. Since my hands are now free, I decided to open the small box that the fairy girl gave me.
Come to think of it, I did not even ask her for her name. Well, nevermind; I don't think that I would see her for a long time anyway.
As I opened the box, I found out that there was a ring inside made of red metal. I did not think about anything about it at first, but as I got a closer look at the engraving on the top of the ring, I felt like my blood ran cold.
It's the same pattern as the mark on my hand—the unseelie prince's mark.
I swallow. I circle back to the location of the yellow fairy's booth earlier. The girl is long gone, but her stall is still standing.
I want to curse. I made a mistake. I should have asked her for her name!