Ensnaring his Dark Moon-Chapter 189: One’s loss is another’s gain
She was a guest in the Crystal Castle and despite the number of times the King had offered her things like this, she never accepted it. She accepted the clothes to wear, the food to eat, and the roof over her head. She was grateful for that but she did not want to take advantage of the King’s kindness. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
As Jeremiah’s fiancee, she just had to open her mouth and he will give her anything. She knew it because she had seen the assurance in his eyes.
But...
But Esme did not know why she could not bring herself to do it. She never needed crystals or extra luxuries than she was provided with but even if she was in any dire circumstances, she believed that she would not be able to ask Jeremiah for help.
Just like right now.
It was as if something was forbidding her from doing that.
Maybe it was because they were not married yet hence she was shy. Or maybe, she had lost the memories of their time together which was why she was taking time.
’’...My Lady...’’
’’Yes?" Esme realized that the man has been calling her for quite some time now and she was lost in her thoughts.
’’If you don’t have crystals with you at the moment, I can accept other things too,’’ he informed her.
’’What are the other things that you can accept?" A ray of hope lit inside her heart.
’’That.’’
She followed the direction where his finger pointed and her brows tugged together. He was looking at the pearl shoulder accessory that the King had gifted her.
She had no fondness for accessories or pearls or anything. Maybe, she can...
’’Unfortunately, I can’t give this to you,’’ Despite the biting reluctance in her heart, Esme placed the comb down on the treasure trove. She felt a connection with it and she wanted to have it so bad but... handing the King’s gift to buy this comb felt like an impulsive action, ’’It’s important to me.’’
Not only was it disrespectful towards the King, but it was equally childish for her to even think for a moment that she can do that.
’’What do you mean by you can’t?!" The man’s eyes flared when he saw that she had placed the comb down.
’’I told you my reason,’’ Esme frowned.
’’Reason? Lady, oh, Lady, you have been going on and on about the history of this piece, about its secrets and its origin. The night market has rules that every mermaid and merman is aware of. If you know the mysteries of an artifact, you are obliged to buy it!"
He was so loud that he was gaining attention for it.
The other shop owners nearby and the mermaids and mermen passing by looked in their direction in curiosity.
From the corner of her eyes, Esme could see a crowd gathering behind her.
’’I didn’t know..’’
’’You didn’t?" The man was no longer the polite shop owner from earlier, ’’How could you not know?! Even little children know this. Where did you come from to not know about something like this? Did someone send you to waste my time?!"
Esme had no idea that there was such a rule about the night market. She had spent barely a little time in the sea to know about things like these.
But it was not a time to dwell on how complicated her life was.
She could feel everyone’s pressing gazes on her, ’’I am not saying that I did not know about the rules of the night market,’’ Esme shook her head, ’’What I am trying to say is that the tale of this comb sounds too dreamy. It feels so unreal that I am beginning to doubt its authenticity. How could I buy it when I am not even certain that it is as special as you make it sound?"
’’You...’’ The shop owner’s expressions twisted, ’’We don’t lie to our customers. We will be sinned by God Zephyr if we do that.’’
’’Most don’t lie but how can I be certain that you aren’t lying to me?" Esme wiggled her brows at him.
Despite them being one of her kind, she did not find it difficult to admit that mermaids and mermen can be quite a vein and simple-minded at times.
Not everyone was the same but she has seen some like that. As innocent as it seems, this trait of theirs is equally foolish at times.
It made her wonder why she could see through all their tricks. After all her interactions with this shop owner, Esme did not spot a hint of a lie in his words. He was giving her all the information he had even though he exaggerated it here and there.
This man should have asked her if she would buy this comb or not instead of assuming things on his own.
But one’s loss is another gain. This story felt important somehow but if she was told that she needed to buy this comb to hear the story behind it, she might not have stopped here to know it initially.
’’I...I...’’ The shop owner looked at the crowd, ’’I have been selling things for decades. Nobody has ever accused me of being a liar before.’’
’’Yes, he is speaking the truth.’’
’’He has a decent reputation.’’
’’The last time I brought a hand mirror from him, it is still as shiny as it was even though a year has passed..’’
The crowd turned chaotic.
’’I am not saying that he is a liar but I can’t help but think like that,’’ Esme frowned, her voice growing a pitch higher, ’’This ordinary-looking comb costs 3000 crystals.’’
Gasps and murmurs resounded in the place.
Everyone was shocked by the price of this comb.
’’Moreover, this gentleman here told me about the origin of this comb and the story behind it but I can’t bring myself to believe it,’’ Esme sighed, ’’It sounds like folklore to me.’’
’’What’s the story behind it, My Lady?"
’’Where is it from?’’
’’Tell us and we will help you bargain for this thing if its origin is not worthy.’’
Under the glow of the jellyfish lanterns, Esme tilted her head to look at the shop owner who was paling visibly, ’’This comb is from a kingdom of hum—’’
