The smile that graced Persephone's face was one of genuine delight, as the young man presented her with a fine piece of jewellery. While the craftsmanship was not as delicate and elegant as some of the pieces she owned - for one of that quality would be unlikely to appear at the market place of a general dealer and trader, Persephone noted how the slightly rough edges to the metal only made the image of the piece more lifelike and wondered if that had been the creator's true purpose all along. For the brooch was a representation of an eye of a bird's feather. The bird itself was rare and came to Greece only a few times with special traders - it was why the Taengean symbol was of the creature. A peacock was a thing of great beauty to rarely behold. The piece the young man had given her was a wonderful representation of the top of the bird's feather with deep blues and greens in its jewels which were high glass pieces from what she could tell with her experienced by untrained eye.

When the young man refused the silken scarf she had offered him to bind his leg, insisting that the cut was of no import, Persephone did nothing to argue. While it didn't look to her that the injury was insignificant, she did not wish to deny or argue him the face he saved by insisting it was merely trifling in the distress it caused. She said nothing more on the subject.

Instead, her attentions were distracted by the young girl who approached their small group - a group that was rapidly becoming larger as more and more people came to gather. It was rare for members of any royal house to linger on the streets of the docks and lower levels of Athenia and even rarer indeed for it to be a member of the immediate royal family. People were loitering with intent, closing in slowly so as not to be noticed as approaching in the same way that the merchant had. As such, the small group that the young girl joined - of Persephone, the tradesman and her guards - had collected a small crowd.

The girl herself was impetuous and surprising. Even those of noble birth would be expected to wait weeks, if not months for audiences with royalty. The opportunity to speak to one in public without notice was often one that came with nervous and anticipation. The girl had simply breezed in with no issue at all as if she had known Persephone for years rather than it being their first meeting.

With all the grace she had been taught, however, Persephone made no move to point out the break with decorum and, instead nodded her head politely to the young girl.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance Lady Zoe..." She told the young girl.

Intending not to offend the man before her, Persephone smiled politely at the girl but finished her discussion with the tradesman before continuing their exchange. When he mentioned the difficulty she had had with her skirts her brows rose in surprise that the man would even notice such a behaviour in her as she walked several yards away from him. With a small and - once again - genuine smile, she reached around, swirling the longer tendrils of her skirts up to the opposite hip and then pinned them in place with the peacock eye at the dip in her waist. It was very becoming in deep.

"I am most grateful to you, sir." She offered him before he moved to make his excuses. With a nod of her head and a raise of her hand to indicate him to return to her stall, Persephone continued - "But of course. Lead the way... For if everything upon your stall is as beautiful as this, I would like to frequent it."

And with that she turned to the young noble girl beside her, offering her to walk with her and her guards.

"Of Argyris you say, Lady Zoe..." She spoke to the girl as they followed the man back to his stall, her efforts in maintaining a seamless conversation not lost. The old madam who had taught her her etiquette lessons would have been proud. "A relation, no doubt, to Lady Iris?" For Iris was the only Argyris that Persephone knew in person. In truth, she knew exactly who the young girl was - thought had had no face to put to her name until now. For Persephone had memorised all of the Houses family trees - royal and noble alike. But it was impolite to assume knowledge of another without them first offering it to you.

When they reaching the stall that was owned by the young man whom had gifted her her brooch, Persephone had already decided her course of action.

To offer money for a gift was to cheapen the offer of compassion with a financial transaction. To return the thoughtfulness with your own, however, was to truly be grateful.

Persephone made sure that her voice was loud enough to carry but not so noisy as to cause issue or strange looks. She pitched it just as she had been taught when she was supposed to allow herself to be heard in a ladylike manner within a busy session of court.

"Such beautiful colours..." She stated, with a hand out to inspect certain pieces. "Fine craftsmanship too." She smiled at the merchant who now stood in his rightful place behind his table, knowing that while she might not purchase anything herself, her words would carry and might help his sales for the day...