CHAPTER XXXV: THE LIVELY MARKET

"Please have some barbeque. You will never get a meat as better like this!"

"Good afternoon, Madam. Please buy our lovely flowers. It is picked freshly just this morning."

"Have some pancakes ladies and gentlemen? This is a freshly made!"

The market was also lively today just like her last visit with Marielle.

They walked side by side to each other. Rose wearing an ordinary clothing, which is different from his all black uniform. It was a dark brown tunic with white inner clothing partnered by gray long trousers. It well complimented to his spidery thread long hair brown. Though, he still wearing his mask.

Nevertheless, they both wore hooded cloak to ensure their identity to not leak out.

"Ah I want some meat." Her eyes were watering to see the so called barbeques at the side store, but she shook her head to negate her earlier thought. "Nope, I should focus at looking for Marielle's present. No food."

"...?"

She inadvertently spoke loudly her mind and immediately set aside her gluttony. "I'm sorry. Let's continue to our real agenda." She firmly said. Rose just tilted his head in a confused manner.

Her memories this morning with her maid was recollected while walking to their destination, the craftsman store.

"Marielle, I would like to study in the library today. I hope no one will disturb me. As you know, my upcoming schooling is already near, and I wanted to prepare myself more. I want to be well in the entrance exam so can you please prepare my food and snacks in advance in the library, and leave it there?"

"Is that alright, My Lady? I mean, I can stay with you, to assist you, and promising not to disturb you. I will ensure of that, My—"

"No, I'll be fine, Marielle. Please do what I ask you to do." She said slowly, but appeared firmly.

Flinched. "Then, I will heed your order, My Lady."

She felt regretful towards her attitude to Marielle this morning. Even so she tried to speak lightly, she was not dumb not to notice that her maid cringed back then. Her time was at the bay. She needed to find ways to get in the market. "Please forgive me, Marielle. This naught is all for you."

Her thoughts went away when she glanced to the tall man beside her.

"Even with a hooded cloak, his broad shoulder is still fascinating. I wonder what it felt like to be in his arms. And if only I could hear his voice"

"... his voice?"

"Ah!"

Rose stopped walking when she outburst with high pitch tone.

"Did she forgot something?"

"Anyway, Rose. Wait. I forgot something."

"I know—" Rose was flustered on his own thoughts for a moment. He can't believe what was happened. He never expected himself being fully aware of the lady, whom he should not.

"Give me your hand."

Rose, who was lost in thought, was still able to held his hand out as she asked for.

"Fu fu fu. There."

It was a small gray notebook with attached charcoaled pencil. Rose only responded a glanced to her.

"It is a handmade. I hope that it is to your likings. Of course, you can't write on the ground all the time so just to communicate with me. Then, I thought of making this. It is made from my papers. It is easy to create, and just so you know, I really have fun doing it for you. I hope you like it" She happily explained in a roundabout way with warm cheeks.

"I never thought that my project in middle school would become handy."

"Do you like it?" She asked jubilantly.

Handmade? Rose nodded. It was like an obligatory response, but Beatrice did not seem to notice it.

"I am glad." Beatrice exhilaratingly responded, and as she was about to hold his hand, she remembered that the man was not fond of physical contact so she stopped midway. She just returned her clasped hands close to her heart. Rose noticed the actions of the lady, and his eyes turned in deep again.

"Ahh. He noticed. I am sorry. I did immediately back away my hand though."

"So are we near to the craftsman's place?"

Rose opened the notebook given to him, and started to scribble on to it.

[We're near. We will turn left from that street.] He pointed then.

****-------****

"Good afternoon, Customer! May I know what you are looking for?" The merchant asked.

"I am looking for a birthday present for a lady. What can you suggest? To inform you, I would like only the best." Beatrice replied sternly.

Rose keenly observed them in a distant as he could not establish a proper communication, but he did not turn away his sight from the lady.

"May I know the age of the lady?"

"She and I are close in age. What do you think? I really had a hard time looking for the best gift for her birthday." She politely said.

"Then, your grace, what about hair ornament?"

"Hair ornament?"

"Yes, it is the present trend with the ladies. To add, it is an ornament designed with flowers. Even the Queen is known of wearing it, Your Grace, which it became more famous to all the ladies in the society. And the demand of this beautiful kind hair ornament did increase greatly. A lot of ladies used it, especially, in attending social party" The merchant well explained to her.

She beamed to hear his suggestion. "That is a great suggestion, Sir. Then, please guide me there."

"Yes, please. Please come this way, Your Grace."

"Thank you."

She glanced to Rose before proceeding, who was standing near at the doorway of the store. She was very thankful to him guiding her in the store. It was a great place. It really did cause her a great dilemma of just thinking what the proper present to give to Marielle. Even with his obvious discomfiture towards her, he still was so kind and reliable to her. She was very grateful.

"I hope I could do something for him in return." She thought.

****-------****

They had finished their agenda of buying the present for her maid earlier than expected. Beatrice hugged the box where the silver rose was placed. She was so happy to the point that she could not wait for the days to come so fast in order for her to give it and see her maid's reaction. She chose the silver rose, because she wanted to symbolize the importance of her maid to the Marquees Family.

Truth to be told, she was more excited for that day to come than her own birthday.

[Let me handle it, My Lady.] Rose offered his hand to her.

"Yes, thank you, Rose." She gently handed it to him.

Rose put it in the cloth bag and tied it unto his waist. [Shall we go back now?]

It was already at 3:00 in the afternoon so it was natural that the people in the market surged tremendously.

"Yes, let's go back."

------

Hi my Lovely fairies.

Please support my story by clicking the star below, VOTE, and/or follow me for some announcement or trivia from story.

I will try to post some of my thoughts about this story on my watty timeline.

Lovelots,

Isaiah