The Lady Archer (Completed)

VIII

Prince Daniel searched through every registration form. He had finished looking at one hundred pages; both front and back. He still had another hundred to go. He was currently in his bedroom, Francine standing at the door, making sure no one interrupted him.

At times, she offered to help but Daniel would only reply, "No need Francine, I can do this by myself, besides I'm looking for a certain maiden and if you help me, you might be the first to find her name and I want to be the first person to discover it."

Francine only stood as she watched Prince Daniel become more and more frustrated each time he didn't find the name that he was looking for.

Hours had passed, but still no sign of the maiden's name. Perhaps, he thought, she was not around the market place when the announcement was made.

Sighing, he started to think about his situation. The only girl that he wanted to turn up for the event is not even going to show up, he thought. After having his moments of tranquillity, an idea entered his head. He turned around to face Francine.

Francine just looked at him, confusion evident on her face.

"Francine, I need you to do me another favour."

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Francine started to walk from one boutique to another. Whenever she entered the lavish boutiques, a lot of women would immediately chase her out thinking; she couldn't afford any of their exquisite gowns. Whenever she would come to the minor shops, they would bring all sorts of fabric towards her face, reducing the prices almost immediately.

A few hours back, Prince Daniel requested Francine to go the best boutiques in the town and buy a beautiful ball gown for his lady friend, but for himself, he wanted clothes that suggested he was a just a farmer or a simple countryman.

Now here she was moving from shop to shop, finding a dress for the Prince's lady. He had already found the perfect outfit for Daniel but finding the right gown was going to be a tough one without measurements.

She entered another boutique, heaving and sweating from the all the moving she was doing. When she managed to catch her breath, she started looking at the dresses admiring each of them, until suddenly she bumped into someone.

"I'm truly sorry-." Francine started to apologise until she saw who she had bumped into.

It was none other than Mary Anne Smith.

"Watch where you go next time, you old hag!" She shouted. However, before she could turn back to look at the dresses, she took a closer look at the lady who had bumped into her, she realised it was the servant who worked at the Coldante Dynasty.

"Aren't you the maid that works for the Coldantes?" She asked, crossing her arms to look more intimidating.

Francine stiffened slightly, the action noticed by Mary Anne. However, she made her face void of any emotion and said, "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Yeah maybe I am mistaken... but your clothes imply that you are very poor to afford any items in this shop." Mary Anne stated with a smug smile settled on her face.

"I did not know that it was a crime to look around," she replied to Mary Anne's remark, shrugging nonchalantly.

"True, but even though it may be a crime, people who dress like that shouldn't be able to walk into the premise. At least admire from outside the shops," she replied, with a fake yawn showing that she was wasting her time.

"At least I don't dress like a street prostitute," she whispered, however, Mary Anne heard her comment.

"How dare you!" Mary Anne came to slap Francine, but she caught her hand and said, "Listen here, you have surely wasted not only my time but yours. I suggest you let me do what I came to do, mind your business and continue your day as per usual. Good day to you madam." When Francine let go of her hand and straightened her dress, she continued to move through the shop as nothing happened.