Alisa- she had decided to call herself that to avoid confusion, she could be Dali when she went back home- started selling her eggs and milk and cheese in a nearby stall that she and her mother worked in. It had been a few hours, and she was sweating like a pig.
"You."
She looked up from where she had bent behind the counter to fetch the water pitcher to the man in front. Her hand rose where it was as she hurriedly straightened up.
"K-King Maxim." She stammered out as she watched the man she had only caught a glimpse of standing in front of her store, looking around at the produce dubiously.
She wiped her hands as the King looked down his nose at her, and she wondered nervously. Was she supposed to curtsy?
"Oh! King Maxim!" Her mother hurriedly reacher her from where she had gone around the open back to greet their neighbouring stalls, all being very well acquainted with her already. Her mother quickly dropped her head, and thankful, Alisa followed suit.
The King looked at the both of them, and hmmed. Her mother took it as her cue to raise her head, and Alisa did the same.
After looking at the young man for a moment, her mother asked nervously, "Your Majesty, um, may I ask...uh...if you might be needing something from us?" Alisa looked at her mother Tara as she spoke nervously to the King.
The man, in an apparently very rare show for him, allowed his lips to fall into a small polite smile as he asked, "My...uh...mother the Queen Regent would like some, um, gat milk...for this...uh...pudding! Yes, pudding she is making for me. Do you sell those?"
He cast a meaningful look at Alisa, which went unnoticed by both. He sighed inwardly, irritated.
Tara and Alisa both looked at the King bewildered as he asked for milk. Why was the King himself buying milk?
He must have caught their exchanged glances.
"The Queen wanted me to get the milk myself, for she is making it for me. You know, mothers." He said as if that explained everything, and added in a smile for good measure.
"Oh! Well in that case, yes we do have goat milk." Tara bustled happily, honoured probably to serve royalty. "How much would you be needing?"
"Oh, um,..."
"How about I give you a litre at first? That should be enough." Alisa looked as her mother expertly maneuvered the King around like any other first time buyer.
She was a good seller, the corporate expert Dali in her could attest to that.
The King looked at Dali again as Tara went about pouring the milk in a small container, and this time Alisa caught it.
He narrowed his eyes, and seemed to be motioning for something.
'What in the-'
"Your Majesty." Tara returned with a closed container of aluminium as she handed it to the King. She continued, sheepish, "I apologise for the shabby container, it's just that we don't usually sell milk in such small quantities..."
She trailed off, and the both of them looked at the buckets lying behind them.
Oh.
The King looked at the older woman, and turned on his charming smile like on cue. His annoyed look, that Alisa thought she may have imagined for how fast it went away, was replaced by the benevolent face of the authoritative title he carried.
"This is completely fine, my lady. I do apologise for putting you on the spot though, I didn't realise you sold by the bucket. I will try and remember that." He gave a small nod, raising a fist to his chest in gratitude and dropped a few coins.
After another meaningful look at Alisa, he went on his way.
What was that about?
"Alisa! Alisa!! The King! Just bought milk from us!!" Her mother took her hands in her own as she swung them between them excitedly.
Alisa found her happiness contagious, and let go of the little weird feeling she had after the King left. The two spent the rest of their time working in relative peace.
It was only after she had left the stall for a bit hours later, intending to go around and explore on her own that it happened.
She was taking a small alley, trying to get to the busy sweet shop on the other side when a hand wrapped around her arm, and tugged.
With a small yelp, she was pulled back into the alley, and pressed against the side of the wall, a hand clamping down on her mouth.
Alisa's eyes widened in fear, as she looked at the man in front of her.
It was a soldier. She could tell from his getup.
His sword was still at his waist, and he wore a small helmet that covered only the top of his hat. His precise uniform belayed his status as an someone official.
Someone she didn't want to mess with.
She renewed her efforts, trying to get away when she heard the voice behind her attacker.
"Not so harsh, Gustav. She is on our side."
The man, Gustav released her and stood back, head lowered as out of the shadows stepped forward his master.
'King Maxim? What?'
"Well, you sure made me wait. No matter."
He looked at her like she was a particularly annoying and time consuming task, and turned his body halfway towards the alleyway, showing her his profile.
"SHow goes the plan?"
"..."
What in the world was happening??
When she gave no reply, he looked at her, incensed.
"Tell me. Now."
"..."
What was she supposed to do?!
Her fear kept increasing the more angered he looked. Alisa was beginning to realise her precarious situation.
Here she was, with the most powerful man in the Kingdom, at his mercy, and he was mad at her.
The King turned towards her, scowling.
"Gustav. Looks like the lesson is needed, after all."
Alisa reared back, afraid, trying to uselessly escape as the soldier swiftly clmaped his hand down on her neck, pushing her against the wall with the pressure.
"Aa--aurgh!" She coughed hoarsely. None of them relented.
"Ple-z" She finally let out, and almost danced out in joy at the nod the soldier received from the King.
He let her go. She dropped to her knees, wheezing.
A pair of dark boots came into her vision. Alisa looked up at the paif of stormy eyes.
She shivered in fear.
"How goes the plan, to destroy the Duke?"
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦-