Undercover in the market (part 1)

"Dela,"

Pretending not to recognize her own name, she feigned interest in a green gem that would look exquisite on a ring or necklace. The stone lay amidst a collection of ostentatious pieces that clashed with her modest taste. However, Adela momentarily forgot her ruse as she marvelled at how elegantly the jewellery was arranged within the nearby merchant's tent.

The movement of her olive-green eyes stood out, given that the remainder of her face was concealed by a diaphanous black veil, signaling to the merchant what had captured her interest.

"You have quite the eye, mademoiselle! That stone you were admiring. Why, it is the only real emerald on display today!"

"How much is it?" came the Crown Prince's excited inquiry.