Song of The Beholder

1

Today was quite a busy day in the Eacozarian commoners market. People bustling about, trying to search for vendors who weren't already sold out of fresh vegetables or fruit. Why? The season in which the crops were perfect to pick was among us, and only in this time were you able to have the most delicious meals all year round-- for a peasant. I had been working for my family for a few years now, selling our crops alongside my friends who were lucky (and wealthy) enough to be selling finer things, such as jewelry and fabrics. 

Setting down the last crate filled with potatoes, I stretched my aching back to see my friend Adeline approaching me with a wide grin. 

"Evette," she beamed. "The sun seems to be shining quite strongly, today."

I nodded in response, fixing the hair out of my face to properly see her. Adeline was the prettiest, and maybe the wealthiest, out of our little group. She adjusted the new-looking necklace around her neck and moved her hair out of the way so I could get a better look at it.

"Did you make that?" I asked, a little shocked. Adeline usually just polishes her parents work, but this design seems far too different than from anything her parents would've thought of.

"Do you like it?" She asked. "I've been waiting for a day mother and father would both be unable to attend the shop so I can make this in secret... Apparently, my designs are too 'modern' for their boring old tastes!"

After setting up the stand, I walked over to her, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"You should be proud of it... It's gorgeous! But-- How will you hide it from your parents? They won't allow you to even polish here anymore..."

"Oh please, I can just say I bought it!"

"Adeline... It looks too-- Expensive. They don't trust you with their silver pieces, nevertheless their gold ones."

"Evette... Why don't you take it???"

Before I could even react, Adeline slipped the necklace off her slim neck and placed it on mine, and went back inside her shop without another word. I shrugged, getting back to my stand. 

This years' crops looked to be the best one's so far. Peeking my head out, I looked right and left to make sure no one was looking, and took an apple from its crate. My parents were the ones who had been planting and taking care of the crops, while I stayed in the market selling instead of helping. I even remember during an off day that I'd come home early, I'd see my mother rubbing my father's aching back from working too hard in the fields. This year... I hope we sell more than the previous ones. Each year, we would earn less gold, planting lesser seeds. After saying the little prayer in my head, I took a bite into the apple. It was a little drier than last years' bushel, but it still seemed fine to me. Chewing a little, I watched the other people selling their crops from across my stand. Sure, planting is a process, but selling is where you have to work the hardest. I had to have a gimmick... Something to make people want to purchase my product instead of anyone else's.

A few hours have passed, yet no one came. I looked over to Adeline's stand, watching a crowd of women look through the jewelry. She glanced over at me, seeing how I was intrigued by the crowd, and leaned towards me.

"Just lie." She whispered.

Only then had I snapped out of my trance, giving her a confused look.

"Tell the customers that they are the freshest vegetables, or-- fruits... That they could find in the entire market. Heh...  It's what I do with my parents' stuff," Adeline casually gestured to the more pricier items. "Did you really think these were all original?"

It was quite simple, I suppose. But how would I go about telling the other people? I couldn't just simply walk up to someone and scream 'Hello! Did you know I am selling the best crops in the market???' I'd seem so desperate... Weird, might I add. If only I had the perfect chance to strike...As I hunched over the stand, I noticed a young couple walking by.

"Hello~ Lovely day, isn't it?"

The woman kindly smiled, walking over to my stand with her man, arm in arm.

"Why yes, it sure is," She said, smiling at him. "Sadly, because of the heat, all the vegetables we need for tonight's dinner are all dried up..."

"Oh? Well-- My vegetables are all fresh, heh. Why don't you-- See for yourselves!"

"Mother! Father! I've sold everything!!!" I shouted, bursting through the front door with my bag of newly-obtained silver pieces in hand. Instead of seeing a pair of smiling faces, I saw my parents bawling and holding each other.

"...What-- What's wrong?"

"Oh, Evette..." My mother said as she wiped her tear-stained cheeks. "The crops... They're gone."