Chapter 6
Rumor spread quickly through the city, that Prince Erik was unofficially looking for a new fiance. Every noble and remotely well-born young man and woman in the province was suddenly finding every excuse for business in the palace, in the nicest aisles of the market, and any other place the prince had visited more than twice in the last month. It was quickly understood that simply rushing him would not be accepted by his escorts, but he was free to engage with anyone who caught his eye.
Baron Marko and his children were in the market looking at pieces of fine crafted jewelry. Baron Marko had decided since Cain had made an impression on the prince earlier in the week, the family was best off putting all their efforts into Cain instead of having the prince split his attention between him and Raven. Raven had tried to be a good sport about it but Cain was not interested in that, teasing her that he was obviously the fairer of them both. Kurt also seemed to think if Cain were to truly stand a chance at catching the prince's interest, he would have to appear enticing more than anything else. They had bought silk tunics meant to cling to his figure more, and were looking at large silver belt buckles. Fed up with his vanity, Raven had wandered to look at brooches. Charles was busy stacking grain and caging chickens for their stall two aisles away.
Prince Erik had been lingering at a blacksmith's stall, where the smith' daughter had been chatting with him more than the smith himself. Erik had been genuinely interested in her until he had commented that he didn't think that much of a piece she had been raving about, and she hastily agreed with him and went back on her praise. Shortly after that, he thanked them for their time and excused himself.
Raven spotted the Prince before anyone else as he turned the corner onto the same aisle as themselves. She ran over to Cain and tapped him fervently. Cain rolled his eyes and turned to mock her, but his gaze fell on Erik and whatever quip he had quickly died before reaching his lips. Kurt began to fuss over Cain, but Cain hissed at him to act more calmly and busied himself with the silver cloak clasps he'd been looking at.
When Cain figured Erik had closed half the distance between them, he glanced up towards the Prince. He had timed it perfectly, and caught Prince Erik looking at him. Cain smiled coyly and returned to speaking with the merchant about the price of the clasp.
Prince Erik frowned, then made to approach the Markos.
"Your Highness," Baron Kurt bowed modestly, Raven following suit. "Twice in one week I've been graced with an encounter. It is good to see you, and in good spirits."
"Baron, likewise. I trust your horse is happy to be home once more."
"He's neighing louder than ever," Raven jokes.
"Ah," Erik gives a tight lipped smile. "Ahem."
Cain, who had been pretending not to notice the Prince gave a small jump in faux surprise and spun around with a hand clutched to his chest. "Your highness, my apologies!"
"it's quite alright," Erik forgives him easily. "You're looking well as ever," Prince Erik comments, his eyes flickering down to the silk tunic Cain was wearing. A light sash tied around his waist accentuated the taper of his abdomen, the silk falling down his chest and draped lightly over his shoulders and doing all kinds of favors for the imagination.
Cain snickered. "I hear one can't afford to be out and not look his best these days."
Erik was surprised by Cain's boldness; no one had openly commented on his search for a new fiance just yet, so far most people had been treating it as just gossip.
Cain turned away from Erik and back to the merchant. "My Prince, tell me what you think of this piece? This merchant says it's worth 5 gold due to the craftsmanship; no insult meant to you good sir, I'm sure it is worth the price but I'm just not sure it's to my taste. Thoughts?"
Prince Erik stepped up to beside Cain and inspects the silver clasp Cain was holding. "Well. Personally this is a lot more simple than anything I wear, though if I'm to be honest the royal jeweler has been making some pretty gaudy pieces of late, even the court is starting to jest they cannot focus from the glare some days."
Cain noticed Prince Erik had his hands behind his back, so he offered the clasp to Erik. As Erik reached to hold the piece Cain shuffled closer, as if to try to view the piece from the same angle as the Prince. "Hmm, I do like it's elegance. I'm just not sure I like the bits of Jasper laid in, I feel red ought to be paired with gold."
Prince Erik's eyes flickered to look at Cain, who was doing his best to casually ignore the glance.
"Monsieur," Prince Erik inquires the merchant, "would you have any alternative materials to replace the enamel, something of a dark green or blue perhaps?"
The merchant laughed nervously. "In my shop, certainly. I, uh, could probably replace the jasper in half a day. Free of charge, for you, of course."
Prince Erik smiled warmly. "That's very kind of you. Well Cain, what color would you have him replace it with?"
"What color is your favorite?" Cain asks playfully.
"Blue."
"I can do blue," The merchant replies eagerly.
"Splendid. Blue it is," Prince Erik says, reaching into his purse for a small handful of gold.
Baron Marko moves to protest but Cain shoots him a deathly glare. Raven stares wide eyed and mouth agape.
"Your generosity knows no bounds, my Prince," Cain crowed.
Prince Erik waived his hand dismissively. "Please. You are... refreshing to be around. I don't feel fawned over by House Marko, and it is a rare kind of man who can make me feel his equal through finesse and not force."
Baron Marko could practically be seen with the light of recognition in his eyes. He slid a look of incredulity to Cain. "We are practically a humble farm in comparison to the crown, but I do understand what you mean. Resolve and poise are lacking among common men."
"Yes, that's it exactly," the Prince mused. "But a quaint farm nonetheless."
"Our stall is only two aisles away, if you wanted to see it," Raven squeaked. Kurt put a warning hand on her arm but smiled warmly at the Prince.
"Why not?" Erik asked cherfully.
The four of them parted from the silver merchant's stall and ambled through the market. Cain and Prince Erik dominated the conversation, Cain going back and forth between flattery and mock insults while Prince Erik reveled in the new rules of conversation that did not follow courtier convention. Kurt and Raven fell back behind them, whispering to each other fervently about how sharp witted Cain had become and how well the encounter was going.
"Our quaint little farm is actually a rather sizable estate, the family home of my deceased wife. It was originally an orchard, including stables, a hen house, and a sizable garden. We have no extended family with us and no long term guests so we produce far more than we need, and sell it here. It keeps our staff quite busy and it's rather menial work, but nothing too labor intensive and Raven particularly loves having horses."
Raven smiled agreeably.
Charles was overseeing the sales of the market stall. They'd brought in three bushels of apples as well as some already cooked into pies, several dozen eggs and a few chickens. Alex had insisted they'd brought too many apples and was fussing over it with Hank. Moira closed a deal with a kitchen steward and Charles went to go fetch his fresh chicken while Moira collected payment.
The section of the market that allowed small livestock was much louder and busier, even if this was the nicer aisle. Prince Erik's royal guard had gone from following a few paces behind to surrounding the small party, and those watching the Prince took note of Cain and his family being escorted with the Prince. Cain seemed to bask in it and ignore all the eyes on him all at once. Prince Erik couldn't help but notice how well he took the attention.
Their party closed in on the Marko's market stall without any of the house servants noticing much before the Prince was right in front of them.
"While the apples are certainly what our stall is known for, Moira has a wonderful pie recipe for them. Charles is my stepson, he runs the-"
Charles had heard Kurt's voice, but he'd had no idea who his stepfather had been talking to. He had turned the corner with Moira's chicken in his arms, and when he laid eyes on the Prince he panicked.
Prince Erik jumped as he was hit in the face with feathers, the loud squaks of the chicken catching him off guard. His guards, a bit overzealous, cleared a circle around him and grabbed Moira and Alex in the seconds of commotion that followed. Charles had thrown the chicken and simply dove behind the makeshift counter of their stall.
"Your highness I am so sorry!"
"Are you alright?"
Prince Erik dusted himself of a few feathers and reassessed his surroundings. He nodded at the guards and they released their grip on Moira and Alex.
"Was it just the two of you? Just now?" Erik asked.
"And-"
"And the chicken sir, yes." Moira cut Alex off, worried he had not put together that Charles could not meet the Prince as Charles, it would be the end of him.
Charles' heart was beating wildly as he listened from behind the stall. He had seen the Prince, but had the Prince seen him? Charles prayed he had not had the time.
Erik decided to dismiss the thought. "Very well." He turned to Cain, "this side of the market is a little too crowded for my liking, but it has been a delight to see you again Cain."
Cain gave a small bow and a promising smile.
Charles let out a breath and broke into a nervous laugh as the Prince walked away and Baron Marko scolded Moira for losing hold of the chicken, knowing she would forgive him for letting her take the blame if it meant saving Charles' life.