To Learn Is To Consume

Of course I didn't only come here to eat. It was still my main reason though. However, a good side effect was that I could learn a lot about this world just by conversing with the shopowners.

I could have also just gone to the library at the palace, but there were many reasons for deciding against it.

The most obvious and proportionally important one was that I wouldn't get to eat all this stuff. I would be insane to let such an opportunity go.

Another factor was that I coudn't read. This fact was quite shameful. Even though the language was roughly the same, the letters used were entirely different. I hoped they would use the alphabet, but then I remembered that there was a mix of Asian and Oriental languages, too. If someone taught me how to read, I could have learned it in a matter of minutes, but right now I had no one I could confide in.

The last problem was that I didn't like books in general. Now hold up with your expletives, let me explain.

I felt they were boring.

The reason was that I could predict the ending just by reading the beginning.

It didn't matter if it was a fantasy or a mystery, I was always able to tell how it would end. No matter what kind of foreshadowing, plot twist and flashback was used, I would know the conclusion just from the introduction. At first I would find entertainment by comparing my guess with the true ending, but that feeling soon dissipated, the moment I realized that I was always right. A hundred percent, without fail. And with that discovery, my attachment to books completely disappeared. Or at least I didn't read them until the end.

The only obstacle I had to face right now, was that I had no money, which for someone like me, was not an obstacle at all.

Suddenly, a small kid approached me from the distance. It was young boy.

"Uhm miss, would you like some flowers?" He asked me. He was wearing nothing but dirty rags, and his face looked quite thin. In his left hand, he was holding a basket with different kinds of flora.

Hm, I thought I could use him.

"Oh, what is a boy like you doing in a place like this," I replied with a counter question.

"I sell flowers to earn money, miss. If I do that, I can help the orphanage," the boy answered.

"Then how much have you made, until now?"

"I-I, uh," he muttered.

"You don't have to be scared, I promise I will buy a lot of flowers if you answer me."

Suddenly, his eyes brightened up, "really? To be honest, I made about 13 copper in the last few days. I'm saving up to buy everyone a treat," he said with a bright smile.

That kid was really gullible. Still, 13 copper. This reminded me of the fact that I didn't know the conversion rate, yet.

"How much is 13 copper?"

"What miss, you don't even know that?" The boy said while looking at me as if I was an idiot. This kid was quite the rude fellow. "10 copper is 1 silver, so 13 copper is 1 silver and 1 copper." He answered with a smug smile. This brat. The conversion rate was wrong by the way, it's 3 copper, who's the idiot now?

"Hey, how about I teach you a way to earn lots more?"

Suddenly, his attitude changed abruptly and the brat shouted, "really, really? Tell me, what do I have to do?"

"Simple, give me your money."

A short silence swept between us. His eyebrows twitched and he questioned, "are you serious?"

"Don't look at me with that doubtful gaze. How about I give you this in return? If I can't make any money, you can keep it," I responded while showing him a ring. Yes, it was my engagement ring. It was not like I had a use for it anyways. No need for pearls in front of the thirsty, they always said. I didn't know how much the ring costs, but judging from the standing of the original owner, it had to be at least worth more than 13 copper.

"Why didn't you say so, from the beginning? Here take my money and those flowers. Also do you want my clothes too?" The brat said and waved his hands around.

"Calm down, this is only a transaction. I will take it back after I have shown you."

"Yeah, sure, whatever."

This cheeky brat had no intention to give it back. Well whatever, he wouldn't escape me.

To my surprise, the money was just copper and silver in name. They actually had the same color, and only differed in number and size. After he gave me the money, I started walking around the stands and looked for anything that interested me.

At the plaza many different food stalls were lined up. The fresh fragrance of meat tickled my nose. Soon, my sight landed at a baked potato. I was quite surprised to see them here. Even though I knew that this was a different world, I thought the history was somewhat similar, but a potato should have only been discovered at the early 16th century. So some parts of the history was correct, while other parts aren't. I wondered why. Well, whatever. I didn't have a potato for a long time.

Also, it was lavishly decorated with herbs and doused with a brown sauce. The smell was bewitching my senses. Okay, I decided, today is potato day.

I walked up to the stall, and was greeted by an older person. I asked, "Excuse me sir, would you be willing to trade my 10 copper for a silver?"

The clerk was first puzzled by my random question, but soon he put on a business smile and told me, "of course, here." He promptly took out a silver coin, while I exchanged it for 10 copper coins.

"Actually, those potatoes you are selling, they look quite delicious. I wonder how much they cost?"

"Miss, you have a good eye. My potatoes are the freshest on the market. Those herbs, I had just picked up today. Oh, and I usually keep it a secret, but there's also the meat of a goat mixed in it. Topped with our homemade gravy and sour cream, they are the tastiest in this fiefdom. I dare say that no one can compete with us in the potato business. It's 3 copper, young miss."

Bombarded by his sudden advertisement, I didn't know how to react and stared him in the eyes. Why was he trying to convince me of his product, even though I already decided to buy it? However, I soon pulled myself together and requested for one serving. I took out the silver that he had just given me, and paid with it. After he returned the 7 copper, I exclaimed, "Ah, I still need that one silver though, can I have it back while I give you another 10 copper?"

"Sure thing, here," he said and gave me the silver, while I was still collecting my money together.

Seconds later, I handed him the 10 copper. As soon as he received it, he started counting and noticed something peculiar.

"Miss, you actually gave me the wrong coin, you gave me 1 silver and 9 copper."

"Ah, I'm such a fool," I cried, while he was about to give me my silver for a copper. "Wait, let me just give you another copper and you give me 2 silver, how does that sound?"

The clerk stopped his motion, and thought things through.

"Sure sounds fine to me. Here take it."

In the end, I gave him 1 copper and he gave me two silver and I then walked away.

I now held 2 silver and a baked potato. Meaning I gained a small income of 1 silver. This trick was called change raising. It's an easy trick, but could be quite confusing, for those who didn't know it. The magic behind it was taking his silver before I gave him the 10 copper. I then switch one copper for the silver and give him 1 silver and 9 copper. Confused, he would agree to my request of handing me 2 silver, and forget that he had given me another silver already.

To protect against this scam, always keep the transactions separate, or there might be a small surprise, while counting the money and comparing them to the sold items. I doubt though, that people this age had an account book, so he would never notice that he had just been scammed.

"Hey kiddo, just as I promised, take those 2 silver and buy something for your little friends," I said to the brat. "Now give me my ring."

"Um, about that-" Not thinking that I was actually able to do it, the young boy thought that he would keep the ring forever. Now that he had to give it back, he showed some slight reluctance.

"What, you didn't think of keeping it did you? Well, doesn't matter to me, but let me tell you that the ring isn't worth much."

Baffled by what I said, the boy stared at me wide eyed, "huh, really, but it looks so shiny?"

"Are you a raven? If you wish, I can polish a stone and gift it to you? If I had such a valuable ring, would I be standing here taking your 13 copper? Would I stand here, bargaining with the clerk for an extra silver?" I shot at him with one question after another. "Do you really want to keep the ring?"

"Of-Of course not, A promise made, is a promise kept for life. He who trust me with his valuables, earns my eternal respect. Here you can have your ring back." He said, while stretching his arms and bowing down. I took the ring and in exchange give him the 2 silver. The boy was delighted by his quick fortune and thanked me repeatedly.

I however felt quite dismal. That I had to trick children and scam people for 7 copper, only to get a good meal. I think this is a new low, even for me.

I sigh and bite into the potato.

It's already cold. Well, whatever. I liked my food cold. As I savored the potato, I silently walked around the plaza and listened to the idle chatter resounding from the citizens.

-

"I heard the prince is getting married?"

"Which prince?"

"Are you an idiot? Our prince obviously, the prince of our Kingdom. The Prince of Endeara."

"Huh, are you starting a fight right now?"

"The crown prince?"

"No, the third prince. Edward."

"I heard he is marrying the second princess of Erdsburg."

"No, I heard that he is engaged to the Dukes granddaughter, what's her name again?"

"Anna."

"Wasn't it Annette?"

"The taxes are rising again."

"I heard the prince is only searching for a concubine?"

"Rumors say that he is actually in an incestious relationship with his sister."

"Which cave did you crawl from."

"I don't care about the prince, what I want to know is if those taxes are going to drop or not. If this goes on, I don't know if I can still look after my daughter."

"Don't worry, if you are gone, I'll make sure to keep her company."

"I see your mouth is as loose as your mother, Harold."

"How vulgar."

"Miss, you should try our homemade skewers, with those chestnuts imbedded into the meat, they can be called a delicacy."

"No miss, try my rye bread instead, for you, I'll add a slab of meat for 6 copper."

"Who would want your rotten meat? It's been bathing in salt for so long, I wonder how many you have killed already. In all honesty I don't know how you still have a business."

"Would you like a serving of carrot soup?"

"I'm hungry."

"The famine has arrived."

"Just eat your own food. Oh, nevermind. I can see why you wouldn't."

"It's already hard enough to feed the family, now they even increase our taxes. Oh lord, what will happen from now on."

"This year will be a harsh year."

"I hope I get drafted as a soldier. At least I could earn some money."

"You think the neighboring kingdom will invade us?"

"The question isn't if they are going to invade us, but more of a who is going to invade us"

"Let's see, there's Erdsburg, the Kingdom of Fallacy, Randes Empire, oh I suddenly don't feel to well."

"And you wanted to be a soldier? Bloody pathetic."

"It's because I ate your food yesterday that I feel like this, go to hell."

"How about I send you there right here and now?"

"What's the nobility thinking? Instead of marriages, they should do something about our wellbeing."

"They don't care."

"I'm tired."

"Who was he engaged to again?"

"Ann-"

"No, that's wrong."

"It's Agnes."

"Agnes who?

"Agnes, the illegitimate child."

"The bastard child of nobility"

"Agnes, as in pure and innocent? That naming sense is quite ironic."

"--Agnes, the horsemen of pestilence."

"Not Alice?"

"The royal peasant."

"Agnes Maria D'Anelé, spawn of the Devil. The broken demoness."