Take the tiara

?I think I?ll go for the Tiara.? Liandra finally said.

?A very excellent choice.?

Liandra payed for the artifact, and was now the owner of a lovely Tiara. When she was outside of the shop, she put it on her head. She instantly already felt smarter.

Happy as can be, she walked back to the palace.

On her way back, she passed the market, where there was some commotion. Apparently some of the city guards had gathered around one of the market stands. Liandra?s curiosity caused her to come closer and have a better look of the situation. Apparently the guards had caught a young elf girl of about her own age.

Liandra recognized one of the guards as Roderick and asked him about what had happened.

?Excuse me. Sir Roderick?? Liandra said.

?Princess Liandra.? The Rodrick greeted her with a bow. ?How wonderful to see you today.?

?A good day to you as well. But what is all this commotion about??

?It would appear this elf tried to steal some money from this merchant here, Milady.? Rodrick informed her while motioning to the prisoner. ?She was rather sloppy and got caught by him. We?re just taking care of the arrestation.?

Liandra didn?t have any problems with this. Criminals need to be punished after all. But something on the merchants stand cought her eye. He was selling **** of many different kinds. There were beers, champagnes, wisky?s, ?

Her gaze went to one of the green liquids.

She took one of those bottles and showed it to Roderick.

?I?m not quite sure about it, Sir Rodrick, but I believe this vial might contain absinth.?

Rodrick was quite surprised with this. To think the princess had noticed something like this while he himself didn?t.

He took the vial from her and uncorked it. He quickly took a sip and put the cork back on.

?You are quite right, princess. This IS absinth.?

?I thought so.? Liandra stated. ?Guards, arrest this merchant.?

Two of the guards rushed towards the merchant and took him into custody.

?Hey, what?s the meaning of this!? The merchant demanded to know.

?The sale of absinth is forbidden in this country.? Liandra informed the poor man. ?By selling this, you have broken Luxian laws. You are to be taken to prison and await your trial.?

?You can?t do this, I have legal documents permitting me to sell these.? The merchant objected.

?Show me.? The princess asked of the man.

The merchant brought her some parchment which did indeed state he was allowed to sell absinth ? in Nocternia.

?I?m sorry, good sir. But you are in the wrong country for these documents to be legal.

?But princess, please. You can?t take me away from my goods.? The merchant begged her. ?I have a family to feed, customers that are waiting for their legal drinks. If you do this I will be ruined.?

The laws were the laws. As a princess, she should uphold them wherever and whenever. Normally Liandra would have a judge come over here so he can have his trial right now. Yet something told her to make a deal with the merchant herself.

Maybe she could ask for a monetary payment? Or perhaps confiscate the absinth he has. Maybe something else.