A soft clank! would sound out every now and then as you placed your wares onto the wooden stand's tabletop, carefully placing down your carved woodwork on display, hoping to pocket at least some silver or gold today, not having had... that much luck with it the last few days.
A single look around the market hall would reveal a bunch of others doing the same - offering their goods up for sale, some of the other booths giving you a feeling of shame, the outstanding quality of some of the others' items making you feel insecure, or maybe jealous deep down.
But, it should be fine. Is what you tell yourself as you continue putting your things down on the flat surface. You can't deny your coin pouch is a little... light nowadays. Sure, you had made somewhat of a name for yourself in this place, your work is good... but it's not exactly top tier yet.
"One, two, three..."
You'd quickly count under your breath how many items you have left for sale, and needless to say, the numbers didn't make you happy.
Over the last few days, you only managed to sell five of your wooden statuettes, out of the dozen you had made. Sure, while it's not horrible, it's not the best, either.
On your face forms a small scowl, and your eyes dart over to the stands next to yours, across from yours, scanning everybody's items, mentally making note of how much they have put out, compared to you.
Not that it matters.
"...blasted woodwork..."
You softly growl under your breath before letting out an exhale, closing your eyes and shaking your head once. You can't let it get to you, you have to look approachable to get sales. You lean forward, pressing your palms down flat onto the free space you have left. Opening your eyes slowly, you look up glancing to see if anyone's interested... just to come up with nothing, yet again.
A silent curse left your mouth, before you look off to the entrance to the market hall, scanning the area for any potential buyers, but yet again, nothing.
You feel like you're gonna lose it with how long this is taking.
"..."
You let your head fall again, eyes shutting. Your body has had enough standing around, you've been moving all day and you still can't get a damn chair here. Oh, to go home and sleep, without a single worry.
Ditching this stand suddenly doesn't sound too bad, but you have to live off of... something. Keep trying, keep trying, that's all you can do.
You hear the occasional jingling of coin purses as people walk past, but it's never enough to make you want to be awake again. At this rate, it wouldn't be surprising if you dozed off right then and there. You're convinced nobody cares about your carefully crafted items, your head feeling heavy from all the noise going on in the hall.
As you're about to mentally give up and come back another time of the day, a distinct sound comes from... somewhere in front of you.
Tap, tap, tap.
Suddenly, your eyes snap open at the sound of footsteps approaching your stand, your back straightening, finally, a potential customer!
Before you can even register their face, though, you notice the two steel-clad men beside the man who approached. The jingling sound of chainmail doesn't go unnoticed by you, or by the people nearby, whose eyes are scanning the men.
While your eyes are glued to the armed guards, you have business to tend to. Snapping out of your little trance, you look over to the potential customer.
You only realize after a few seconds, but the way they're dressed, the golden headdress they have...
That's the king.
You instantly try to conceal your initial reaction with an indifferent expression, but your legs suddenly feel very... shifty.
The lord's attention isn't on you, by any means. He's examining the things you have put out on the table, holding one of the larger statuettes you carved, seemingly... considering it? His guards look ready, though, like they're watching out for potential danger and suchlike.
The man keeps looking at the woodwork very carefully, almost studying it.
"...hm..."