Despite the jewels, despite the gown, despite the marriage proposal, Mary finds herself still waiting to test her new ruby's power on the man who snubbed her. Joseph, a man with a name who has a very handsome face who has proven himself a virile husband. He has quite a wandering eye but maybe that can play to her advantage. Mary bows her head to the crowd as they let her pass and walks deeper into the market.
Men she passes along the way bow to her and proclaim their love easily. They hold up their arms covered in jewelry and fine clothes and flex their arms to show their strength. It's all very titillating and she is giddy with all of the gifts. But she needs to find Joseph first.
She pulls him to a corner around a fruit cart to find his very familiar smile looking down at a charmed village girl completely caught up in his gaze. Its Vanessa, the local butcher's daughter, who was considered the most beautiful girl in the village. Of course, Joseph would seduce her. Mary keeps her head down and walks up to them from behind Vanessa. "Nessa, dearest, you have been the sweetest treat of this entire festival. What we shared I will treasure forever."
"Oh Joseph, take me with you. My father will have to let you marry me after what we shared. I am yours."
"Dearest Vanessa, I wish I could but I myself am married to a vile women. She owns everything I have and our children will suffer if I leave. You wouldn't want children to be without a father would you?"
Vanessa looks down disappointed. "I suppose not. But I love you."
"And I love that you love me. But I have to move on. Maybe one day, Nessa." Mary takes this moment to reveal herself from behind the butcher's daughter. And Joseph's eyes instantly go wide and he drops Vanessa's hand that he was about to kiss.
Seeing him go quiet and that he is staring behind her, Vanessa turns around. At first, she smiles politely, not recognizing Mary as a fellow villager. "Oh hello, I love your dress. Do you know my Joseph?"
"I do. He told me I was special once too. Last summer. But maybe one day, right? My name is Mary."
"You? He told you that?" Vanessa's smile disappears and she turns around to Joseph. "I see. If you can't even love someone as beautiful as her, I know what kind of person you are. I'm disappointed."
She begins to walk away when Mary lightly grabs her arm. "Vanessa, come to me at the festival. You deserve better than this." Vanessa wipes a tear with her dress sleeve, nods, and walks back to the part of town where her father's shop is. Joseph keeps staring at Mary with his mouth open, unable to believe his eyes. Mary lets him take in her new body for a while. After he struggles to speak for about five minutes, Mary pulls him aside into a makeshift alley in between two large carts. Now in an enclosed space, Joseph's hands struggle to find a place to move to.
Mary has all of the control. "Hello Joseph. You seem to be doing well for yourself."
He gulps and stutters "Wh-What do you mean?"
"You have that poor girl wrapped up in your lies, just like you did with me. But I hear you actually gifted her with your loins instead of with a necklace."
"Glory to the Gods, Mary. You are absolutely radiant."
Mary places a hand on her obscenely large bust. "Thank you. It's good to know you've finally noticed me."
"How could I not? Are you a sorceress here to test and trick me? Or a nymph blessed by the gods to seduce me?"
"No, Joseph. But I am here and this is what I look like. How does that make you feel?"
"Like I made a grave mistake in choosing Valeria. How could I ever think I should have any other woman but you? Come with me, Mary, and we could go back to my home country and get married like you wanted." He tries to come in for a kiss but Mary brushes him off.
"Its too late for that now, Joseph. Things have changed."
"How have they changed? Valeria will be fine and can find another sucker to take her hand. You and I were meant to be together."
"Maybe at one time. But things are changing. In three days time, a grand tournament will be held, hosted by the town wizard. The winner's prize is to be considered worthy enough to ask for my hand. Others have taken notice of me, Joseph."
"But you could just choose me, Mary. Choose me."
"Joseph I can't. The other men have a right to present themselves. A wizard asked for my hand, Joseph, a wizard." Mary decides to embellish a bit. "And there is already talk of a prince and a few knights making their way to Buttundoa. This is bigger than me and you now."
"Well then I must enter this tournament. For you, my love." He takes her hand and kisses it like he did Vanessa. "I must go and train. I brought my sword to be prepared for the long journey, but I must be perfect if the competition is steep."
"What about Valeria?"
"My heart is yours, but she is still my wife for now. I have duties to perform but if you wish for my bed to be empty until you can join me, I will do my best."
Mary nods, though she does not like his response. "Well then you best be off then." Joseph tries to come in for a goodbye kiss but Mary steps back. Joseph rights himself after the rejection and runs off back to his cart.
Her interaction with her former obsession was not exactly what she expected. But at least Mary knows his true character now and does not have the clouded judgement of a lonely girl to misguide her. Before, she must have ignored all of Joseph's faults just to have someone to hold onto. But now, Mary has other options and feels confident enough to have standards. As the sky begins to dim in the early evening, Mary walks out of the alley, sure of herself and ready to see just what this tournament will bring.