Chapter 3 Bufff..... An Oven disaster
The straight line soon broke into a chase. The smell of the tea, strong and alluring, kept making the crowd unable to resist.
Seraphina, Evelyn, and Azula kept trying to manage the crowd amid shouts, increasing gossip, and serving the tea for free.
Seraphina’s face lacked warmth as she scooped the tea into everyone’s cup. Soon, the tea pot ran dry.
“Last drop!” Seraphina shouted. “And the last person standing isssss?”
Her eyes travelled around the room.
Only one person remained standing at the line. The long, heavy line had dissolved into small groups, most of them obviously discussing everything that had happened.
Her eyes landed on the figure in front of her, and her face fell even more.
“Grandma said bakery mistakes only affect those in Watermelon Village. I believe you are not among them,” she stated with full confidence.
“I am in Watermelon Village, so yes, it does.”
“Prove it. I didn’t see you react like the others.”
“Because royal blood tends to be resistant to specific things that affect the masses.”
“Oh... our prince.”
Seraphina’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“That’s right. So our Prince doesn’t need the antidote, right?”
“You caused a catastrophe. You should provide the cure without limitations.”
He leaned forward and held the cup, pulling it from her hand.
Seraphina tried to resist, but he yanked the cup away and swallowed its contents.
He paused.
“Only smells nice. Weird taste.”
He turned to leave, then glanced back at her.
“And my cake too. Don’t forget to deliver it.”
He walked out.
“Aissshhhhhhhhhh!”
An angry scream left Seraphina’s throat.
“EVERYBODY... OUT!”
She pointed toward the door.
“Right now! The bakery is closed!”
Many eyes turned toward her.
Most ignored her, while the rest slowly began moving out. Seraphina slumped into a chair, staring at her crowded bakery.
It had been filled to the brim just moments ago.
Now all she could see were scattered cups, spilled tea, ruined ingredients, and her wasted StillRoot herbs.
A cry tugged at her eyes.
The group slowly dispersed. Azula and Evelyn began cleaning the bakery while Seraphina was too financially drained to even stand up.
“Seraphina, mew...”
Azula’s little boy voice came out in a tired mumble.
“The oven is burnt. You haven’t baked the dragon’s cake.”
Seraphina sprang up from the chair and ran straight to the oven.
“Oh, my precious oven!”
She threw herself against it.
“Repairing you will cost at least ninety to a hundred coins!”
She sobbed harder, hugging the huge oven as if she could somehow protect it from its fate.
The doorbell rang. Someone walked in.
“We are closed!” she shouted without turning around.
“Even coffee?”
The voice came again. Seraphina looked over, it was the first time she had heard the voice.
In front of her stood a brown-haired man with smooth skin and a face that immediately stood out. She found herself comparing him to Rhydian.
“Hi?”
The voice came again. “I’m Casian. Nice to meet you. I’m new.”
“Ohhh.” Seraphina nodded.
“Welcome to Watermelon Village. I’m Seraphina.”
He nodded.
“Nice to meet you. Do you have coffee or tea? Something to drink?”
Seraphina’s eyes travelled toward her coffee machine.
“I think I still have some.”
She walked over to the machine and dispensed just enough for him. Then she walked over and handed him the cup.
“Here. Consider this a welcome gift from me.”
She smiled.
“Oh, wow. Thank you.” He took a sip.
“Nice coffee you brew here. I’ll be coming often.”
Seraphina smiled even more. Then she turned toward the oven, her smile immediately faltered.
She hugged it again.
“Hey, are you okay?” Casian asked.
“Yeah, but my oven is not, so I’m not.” She hugged the oven tighter.
“Did it break down?”
“Yeah, and I can’t fix it.”
“Let me help you then.”
Seraphina turned toward him with hopeful eyes.
“Really? I appreciate it.”
She quickly ran over, opened the small door separating the bakery from the reception area, and ushered him inside.
Casian folded the sleeves of his shirt, dropped the bag he was carrying, and began examining the oven.
“Hi.”
A voice interrupted them.
Evelyn walked in.
“I saw you talking to Sarah. Are you new? I’m Evelyn.”
Casian smiled and introduced himself before returning to the oven.
Evelyn leaned closer to Seraphina.
“Hey, he looks cool and he’s handsome. Love him for you.”
“I think you need to go home. You’ve overstayed your welcome.”
Seraphina grabbed Evelyn by the shoulders and began ushering her toward the door.
“I’m serious!”
“Go home!”
She walked Evelyn down the street a little before finally returning to the bakery.
When she walked back inside, she stopped.
Casian was sitting on a stool, gently rubbing Azula’s white fur.
Azula sat beside him, looking extremely pleased with himself.
“Is it good now?” Seraphina asked, rushing over. “Is my grandmother’s baby okay?”
“Nope,” Casian replied smoothly.
Seraphina’s face fell.
“But I might know someone who can fix it.”
“That will cost money.” She sighed. “A whole lot.”
“Nope.”
Casian stood up, still casually rubbing Azula’s fur. “He’ll do it for free.”
Seraphina’s eyes lit up. “Who, please?”
Casian smiled.
“Rhydian.”
“Rhydian??” Seraphina screamed the name. “No, no, no way it’s that mean, grumpy fellow. Look for someone else.”
Casian smiled. “I do know someone else, only that… it costs a hundred and twenty gold coins. I can call him now.”
“Wait, wait.” Seraphina hurriedly stopped him.
She paced around the bakery, caressing her hair.
“Fine. If he doesn’t repair it anyways, he gets no cake today. Unless he travels to the next village, he ain’t gonna get a cake. I’m the only baker in the village anyways.”
She turned to Casian.
“Do you know I’m the only baker?”
Casian shook his head negatively. “Nope.”
“That’s okay. You are new. Now, let’s go to him. What if he asks for a pay?”
“I will pay him myself then.”
“How about you pay the other friend instead?”
“Nope. His will be more expensive,” Casian refused.
Seraphina pouted, then straightened.
“Off to the grumpy fire-breather’s place.”
She stormed off, then stopped at the door.
Casian had already stood up and begun following her.
“Azula, watch the shop. Casian, let’s go.”
She stormed off again.
The two continued walking. Rhydian’s place was only a few walks away.
Seraphina reached the door first, with Casian standing behind her. She knocked.
Once.
Twice.
She turned to Casian.
“No one is here.”
“I think you should knock one more time. You need to knock at least thrice for a prince… Sorry, for him to open up.”
“That big, grumpy fellow. I wonder why I need to do that,” Seraphina muttered, a bit too loudly.
Casian kept quiet, looking at Seraphina as though she had two heads.
“What is it?” Seraphina stood with her hands akimbo, her gaze meeting his.
He made a little gesture with his mouth and eyes.
Seraphina looked confused.
“What?”
He repeated the gesture.
Seraphina rolled her eyes, turning sharply to knock on the door again.
She bumped into the door.
Or so she thought.
Rubbing her forehead, she raised her gaze and found herself staring at the figure standing in front of her.
Rhydian.
“Who is grumpy and big?”
Seraphina stood still for a few seconds, the question startling her.
“Cat got your tongue?” he asked again
She regained her composure immediately as he threw the second question at her.
“Azula can’t touch my tongue. I’d bite off his hand and cast a spell on him that will make him human for fourteen days so he can work till he cries blood for me repeatedly.”
Rhydian looked at the petite girl in front of him, who had wielded herself with tiny but powerful threats.
He slowly shook his head.
“Why are you here?”
Seraphina pushed Casian to the front to answer.
Rhydian looked at the new face, raising an eyebrow in question.
Casian drew Seraphina to the front again, grinning.
“Talk to him yourself, Seraphina. He would understand better.”
Seraphina turned to him.
“I thought you said he was your friend?”
“Yes,” Casian nodded. “But he doesn’t speak my language.”
Seraphina stared at him, dumbfounded, for a few seconds.
She shook her head, clicking her tongue.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You are a goner… excuses.”
She turned to Rhydian.
“Hello, neighbour.”
She planted a sweet smile on her face, her hands held together behind her back like a fangirl who had just seen her idol.
“Actually, I need to bake your cake. Took the money already, but…” She turned to Casian, who gave her a thumbs-up.
She nodded, gathering her courage.
“It’s broken. I need you to come help me fix it.”
“No.”
