Chapter 3 - The Roses of the Inn

"Where's my strawberry tart?" This was the first thing Layla asked Rayne as he arrived back to the inn. Her restless expression could not hide her excitement.

Rayne smiled seeing her like this. He brought out the package and gave it to her, which she swiftly grabbed before running away, leaving him alone.

"Huh? What happened to her?" he thought out loud, puzzled by her reaction. After thinking what could cause Layla to act like this, he concluded, "Maybe she just craving for it and can't wait to eat it."

He began to work on the jobs he was assigned today to cover for his food and lodging in the inn. It includes fetching water, cutting firewood, and cleaning the hallway, which he does alternately every morning. This was his agreement with Lily, the inn's owner and also Layla's mother, a very caring person. She was the one who graciously fed Rayne before when she took noticed him living a beggars life when Rayne just arrived in this world. Its been almost 3 months since then. He had also adjusted living in Fantasia.

As he was about to be done cutting firewood in the backyard, footsteps could be heard and when he turn to look who was it, he saw Lily as she approached him. He immediately stop what he was doing and was about to greet her when-

"It seems that you left the inn again this morning. You even had my daughter to cover for you." Lily said, not in an inquiring tone but stating a fact.

'How did she know?' he wondered inwardly after hearing what Lily had just said.

He remembered Layla's reaction earlier this morning. Based on it and Layla's personality, he knew that she was not the one who exposed him. But now, it all makes sense to him and he finally understood the reason for her odd behavior.

Seeing his silence as he contemplate, Lily could more or less guess what he was thinking. She sighed as he give him a piece of her. "Haaah... I know you are curious on thing like this but be sure to let us know at least before going somewhere." Lily said.

"Its not like we'll restrict you or anything. You have been been with us for a while now and had been a great help to us as well. With you staying with us, we consider you as part of our family. Just keep in mind that I care about your well-being."

Hearing this, Rayne could only nod as he sincerely apologies to his benefactor. "I'm sorry Aunt Lily. I will be sure to keep that in mind. It will never happen again."

"Mmm. Just so you know, I saw you when you left the inn. I actually tried to asked Layla where you'd go but she did not tell me anything. I only found out later when she informed me that there is a beasts stampede in Turtleback mountain. It all made sense knowing you."

Lily left him alone after chatting with him a while more.

Few minutes later, Rayne also finished what he was doing. He wiped his sweat and he head his way inside the inn.

Feeling refresh after washing himself up, he head to the kitchen for breakfast, which is usually around 8 to 9. When he came in, he saw Layla and her mother were preparing the food while Lulu, the youngest at 13 years old, was setting the plates and cutleries on the table.

He greeted them as he entered but for a reason he already know, Layla was avoiding him. He could only laugh at his accomplice.

Rayne tried to help them but he was instantly turned down, telling him, "Kitchen is women's territory."

He could only scratch his head while he sat down on one of the chairs in the dining table as he wait for them to finish.

A while later, bacons and eggs was served together with the breads and a bowl of soup. A sumptuous meal after a morning of hard labor.

"Hmm. Smells delicious." Rayne complemented as the aroma invades his nostrils.

The two sisters also joined him on the table with Layla sitting beside him and other across.

"Food is ready. Let's me just call Max real quick. He still seems to be sleeping. You can go ahead if you are hungry." Lily said as she made his way the kitchen.

"We'll wait for you guys. Let's eat together." Rayne answered quickly.

Seeing that she left, he turn to Layla. He did not say anything, just staring at him intensely with his head resting in his hands.

Layla on the other hand was looking away from him, busying herself by whistling. She was not able to make a sound though. Silence filled the room.

Lulu on the other hand, was minding her own business as she watched them silently.

Unable to take it anymore. Layla said defensively, breaking the silence as she confront his gaze. "Why are you looking at me like that. It not like I told them."

"I know that already. But you could have at least let me know I was busted. I gave you 2 strawberry tart, you know."

"Strawberry tart? Is it from the famous shop Sweet Treats?" Lulu interrupted, abruptly standing from her sit as she inquired where the sweets was bought. The same as her sister, she too, was fond of sweets, specially from the shop she just mentioned.

"Yes." Rayne confirmed, surprised to Lulu's reaction. He had been living with them for almost 3 months now but he rarely interacted with her as she mostly shy away when he try to interact with her. Even avoiding him entirely for a month. Layla also never mention about her sister's fond of sweets during their conversations.

Lulu looked at her sister and said with pleading eyes, "Nice. Can you share me some, sister?" Her with such eyes and small stature was very cute. It makes you want to spoil her.

"Okay." Layla falling into her sisters cuteness, agreed to her plea. She had two of them anyway.

"Thank you, sis. Thank you too, brother Rayne." Lulu thanked them smiling brightly as she sat down again. One would notice the happiness from her face which elevates her cuteness.

Rayne and Layla could only exchange look and smile as they look at the young girl like this. Using Lulu's fond of sweets as a bridge, he started converse with her more.

Few minutes later, laughter can be heard in the dining room as the 3 of them chatted happily. At first, it was only about sweet, then into other topics. Lulu had noticeably opened up to Rayne a bit more.