The King's Beloved

3| King Harry

For this chap, i did a shit ton of research on the currency used during the victorian era and  I'm still kinda confused so i'll be using the terms 'shillings', 'bobs', 'farthings' and  'penny'. im prob not totally correct as to how i use them so if sometimes prices dont add up to the actual use of currency back then, im super sorry. Enjoy!

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"Mother, I'm going out!" I call to her from the kitchen. 

"Where to?" She asks and I sigh.

"To the market!" I answer while I put my leather shoes on. Smoothing my dress over and fixing my hair, I wait by the door for her response.

"Alright, dear. Be safe and do not wander far or I will have your brother search for you." She says softly and I giggle at her.

"Love you!" I shout and close the door behind me. I squint at the sunlight that beams down on me, and I breathe in the fresh air. I take a few careful steps on the stones that lead to my home, before I walk on paved roads that lead to the market. 

I lose track of time as I walk, when my mind gets occupied by last night's events. I cannot bring myself to quit thinking of the man who saved me! His piercing green eyes have yet to escape my mind, and I'm eager to speak with him again. The mystery he carries is more than intriguing. 

I watch as little kids run on the roads, as flustered mothers chase them, trying to avoid tripping on their poofy gowns. Men walk down the rods, on their way to their jobs to support their families. Some dressed in suits, others in more casual attire. 

Eventually I reach the area that I had been in search of. Large crowds of ambient people running around, eager to get a deal on the objects they are in need of. Stands filled with cloth, gowns, shoes, produce, and any other item possible. This is the market. 

I feel a smile take over my face as I take in the scene in front of me. Something about markets had always enticed and excited me, ever since I was young.

I walk up to the first stand that I see, filled with freshly picked fruit. There aren't too many villagers around it and I figure I will be able to handle it. The man behind the stand looks at me as I approach him and I give him a gentle smile. 

I reach my hand out and pick up a wooden basket of bright red strawberries, and one of raspberries. A fruit I have only recently discovered and I've grown to adore it. 

"How much for these, Sir?" I ask him timidly and he stares at me for a moment. 

"Six farthings, madam," His high-pitched voice lets out and I nod. I reach into the small leather coin purse from my hometown, recently deemed to be named Canada. "Thank you!" I walk away and wave.

I continue strolling through the market, trying my best to avoid bumping into anyone. Men and women brush shoulders and children weave their way through, playing games or trying to find their parents. I find myself wandering to the corner of the market, where there are slightly less villagers running around, and the forest connects to the sellers. 

I watch as a man screams out beside his cart, "LEMON TARTS! LEMON TARTS HERE!" Suddenly my mouth salivates and I can sense the excitement in my eyes. Lemon tarts are my absolute favourite treat, ever since I was young. I try to stop myself, but I soon find my legs walking towards the man at the cart. He stops yelling once he sees that I am approaching him, and he is already picking up one lemon tart.

"Lemon tart?" He inquires and I smile at him with a nod. 

"Yes please." I reach for my coin purse and turn back to him, "How much for one?" I ask him and he looks at me.