Before she could even blink, he spoke, "They suit you."
Mariana instantly whirled around and looked at the king standing in front of her, in person.
Her hands grasped the counter behind her to steady herself. "Your Ma-"
"Shhhh," he held up a finger to his lips. "Do not call me that. I am just a commoner, shopping."
Mariana frowned. Was he in disguise? She looked at him wearing a black hat, a brown jacket and brown trousers. Every bit a commoner, and still his personality betrayed him.
"Any problem, miss?" The seller woman asked from behind.
Mariana swallowed and turned around to face her. "No. Nothing. The earrings are beautiful. But I would like to buy the tiny crystals.".
"That way, to the right."
"Thank you", she smiled and turned to the king.
"You are not buying them?" He asked.
She shook her head. "No, your M-".
He shot up his eyebrows.
"No, sir. I am here to shop for work. How are you here?"
Perhaps she shouldn't ask but she was curious. What was he doing here like this?
"Brother, I found them!"
Mariana saw lady Hazel running towards them. Lady Daisy's daughter. His cousin. She showed him a very beautiful pair of butterfly combs in her palm. "See."
"Good," the king said after looking at the comb.
Was he here with his cousin for shopping? Mariana's mouth opened in shock. This heartless king of their kingdom was in disguise with his cousin sister to buy her accessories in the busiest market of their kingdom.
Oh God! Her heart softened a bit.
He looked at Mariana with a sheepish expression.
"Oh, Miss Clifton," lady Hazel said as she saw her. "I would shake your hand but it won't suit my status." The seventeen year old girl held up her chin.
Mariana didn't feel any remorse from her childish sentence so she ignored it. "Good to see you, lady Hazel".
She nodded. "You too." She turned to her brother. "I'll but some more, brother. And also the bracelet and earrings".
He spread one hand removing it from his trouser pocket. "Go ahead".
Lady Hazel went back to her shopping.
Mariana looked at the king. "Why are you in disguise?"
Even Lady hazel wore her royal clothes and there were many rich people here. The place was absolutely fit for a king.
"Some people recognise me. If they see me, they would come to me screaming, eager to talk or worse, scare away. Hazel won't be able to shop then. And I promised her to bring her here. Her friends told her she can get something in this market" - he scratched his chin- "I do not know the name. So, I brought her here".
Mariana tried to but couldn't restrain her smile. When did he become so compassionate? "That's really nice of you," she complimented.
"Yeah," he rolled his eyes. "If you got a high pitched sister screaming 'Shopping! Shopping!' in you ears when you are doing the most important work, you couldn't help but bid her wish".
A chuckle left her lips.
He looked at her intently, his eyes roaming over her face. "Your eyes are swollen, Miss Mariana."
Her smile vanished. She had looked in the mirror while trying the earrings and she didn't see any swelling. How did he see?
"Did someone make you cry?" His mouth was without any smirk, grin or mirth unlike as usual. It looked like he wasn't happy with her swelling. His brows wrinkled and his eyes demanded her answer.
She blinked tucking a peice of hair behind her ear. "No, not at all. My eyes collected dust on the way in the hackney, that's it". She wiped the corners of her eyes.
He nodded but his expression didn't seem to be satisfied with the answer.
"Is Her Highness here, too?" She changed the topic but she would be happy to meet the princess again.
"No, Amy doesn't shop much outside. And all the ladies are busy with all the guests arriving. It's just me, Hazel and Charles." He looked behind her and Mariana saw Mr. Charles standing in the corner, wearing the similar commoner's clothes like the king.
Seeing her, Mr. Charles tipped his hat and she nodded. "I'll get back to my shopping then," she said as she looked back at the king.
"Of course"
She clutched her satchel and moved away to buy the crystals. She asked the seller woman for the tiniest diamonds and when she showed some, Mariana rejected everything. She said she wanted to sew it and she need the tiniest crystals from their collection. The seller woman showed her some more but Mariana still wasn't satisfied.
"I'm afraid I don't have any tinier diamonds than this, miss. The only thing you will get now is this". The seller woman opened a box and Mariana closed her eyes for a second for she was blinded by the shine.
Several, the tiniest, thinnest and most fragile diamonds, juat bigger than powder lied in the box. She picked some and rubbed them between her two fingers and her thumb. Mariana looked at the seller woman with a victory smile. "This is what I need!"
The woman widened her eyes. "However will you sew it on a fabric, miss? They are almost like sand!"
Mariana chuckled seeing her expressions. "I'll manage it. I would like to buy it."
"Then I also would want a dress made from you, miss".
Laughing, Mariana replied, "That would be my pleasure. How can I buy these?"
"In pounds, miss".
Mariana purchased the sufficient quantity of those sand diamonds, the most in white, and little bit of silver and some shades of blues. A helping boy offered to carry her box for a few shillings and the boy accepted.
She passed lady Hazel on the way. "Miss Clifton, did you see my brother?"
"No", Mariana scanned around her to find the king and she found him talking to Mr. Charles at the far corner. "There he is".
Lady Hazel followed her gaze and screamed, "Brother!"
The king looked at his cousin and sighed. She bellowed him towards her. He frowned and said something to Mr. Charles, who shook his head vigorously. The king roamed his hand over his face and came towards them. Looked like they were tired of Lady Hazel's shopping.
"Please, tell me you are finished, Hazel", he spoke exhautingly and looked at Mariana. She smiled at him involuntarily.
Lady Hazel wrinkled her brows as if the king had said something impossible. "I have just begun, brother." She held two bracelets up to him. One, a very delicate, with green diamonds and one, full white with a heavy design. "Which one should I buy?"
"Buy them both. I can't choose".
"I can't buy them both. I want to buy the one that would look good on me. Wait, I'll wear them and then you can tell me". She started to wear one in each wrist and then held them both up to her brother.
Mariana looked at the king who eyed each bracelet with utmost concentration and then scratched his forehead with his finger. Mariana stifled a smile. The king looked endearing.
"I think, the white one looks good", he said, not at all looking happy with his own answer.
"But isn't it very massive on my thin wrists?"
"Great!", he grinned. "Then buy the green one". He breathed in relief.
"But the green doesn't suit my skin colour."
The king's grin vanished instantly.
"Perhaps I should look some more," Lady Hazel turned.
The king looked at Mariana with a painful gaze and mouthed, 'help'. Stifling her laugh, Mariana joined his cousin.
"If I may say, Lady Hazel, this green one suits you the most".
"It does?" The girl asked in confusion.
"Yes", Mariana took the green bracelet, holding it near Lady Hazel's face and turned her towards the mirror. "See, your face has a very rich peach texture. But your hands," she held up her one palm of which the glove was removed, towards her face. "They are a shade darker and thee green suits it the most." Even though Mariana was helping the king, she gave an honest advise to the girl. The green really suited her.
Lady Hazel's eyes widened. "Yes, it looks good. I'll take the green one, brother," she said looking at her cousin.
"As you wish", he smiled. Looking at Mariana, he mouthed, 'thank you'.
Again, involuntarily, Mariana's lips smiled for him.
"You really are a genius, Miss Clifton. Perhaps it won't suit my status but Can you help me with the locket, too?" She asked with hopeful bright eyes that Mariana accepted. Lady Hazel clapped her hands and then, snatching Mariana's hand, she brought her towards the locket section. The king followed them.
Lady Hazel showed them the locket she selected. Mariana saw it was a gold chain with a flower shaped pendent that probably won't suit her oval face. She shook her head. "That won't suit your face cut, milady".
"But brother said it looked really good on me".
They both looked at the king who started coughing loudly. Mariana couldn't stifle a laugh this time. Lady Hazel looked at her then and she too, coughed slightly.
"I will show a nice one", Mariana distracted her. She asked for the heart-shaped pendants and chose the one that contained ruby-like diamond.
Lady Hazel wore it and liked it instantly. They also chose another pair of earrings and a gorgeous tiara. Happy with her shopping, Lady Hazel finally announced to her brother that she was done.
The king breathed loudly, pressing a hand on his chest. Looking at Mariana, he smirked. "Perhaps we must have Miss Clifton accompany us everytime."
Mariana shyly looked down. Now that he was free from shopping, his smirk was back.
Lady Hazel clapped her hands. "Oh yes, Miss Clifton. It would really suit your status".
"I would love to", Mariana smiled at her. Then a thought came to her.
She should perhaps take the king to the fabric shop to choose the colour for his cravat.
But would he accompany her?