“This is the place I loved coming to the most,” Lena said, her voice filled with a clear sense of nostalgia. “They sell pastries, and they also make extra Wall Biscuits during the holidays.”
As she spoke, her expression unconsciously softened.
Flora nodded and repeated the name silently to herself.
‘Happy Sweet House.’
‘It sounds very simple.’
When they pushed the door open, the wind chimes gave a light ring.
The shop wasn’t large, but it was tidy. The wooden tables and chairs were polished to a shine, and the air was thick with a warm, sweet aroma, as if something had just come out of the oven.
A cloth curtain hung toward the back, where the faint outline of a kitchen could be seen.
“One moment.”
A slightly hoarse but spirited voice came from the back.
Flora stopped in her tracks instinctively.
Before she could take in the shop’s decor, she heard footsteps approaching. The curtain was swept aside, and a figure emerged.
It was an elderly grandmother.
Her hair was gray but neatly combed, and the wrinkles on her face didn’t make her look old; instead, they made her look gentle. She wore an apron, and some flour still clung to her hands.
She had come out with her usual smile.
But the moment she saw Lena clearly, she froze.
“…Lena?”
Her voice was so soft she almost seemed afraid to believe it.
In the next second, her eyes widened.
“Is it really you?!”
Lena stepped forward to greet her with a smile.
“It’s me, Grandma Alvina.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than the two were embracing.
The movement was sudden yet so natural it didn’t feel like a reunion after a long separation.
“You child,” Grandma Alvina said, patting her back, her tone full of disbelief. “You didn’t come back last year, and I thought you were so busy you couldn’t get away.”
“I really was busy,” Lena said with a laugh. “Didn’t I tell you two years ago? I went to Her Majesty the Queen’s castle.”
“Of course I remember.” Grandma Alvina let her go and looked her up and down. “You said you were going to the Queen’s castle to be a maid… I thought then that once you left, it would be hard for you to ever return.”
“I thought so too,” Lena said, scratching her head. “So I’m really happy I could come back this time.”
The two talked back and forth with a familiarity that made Flora stand to the side, unsure for a moment whether she should interrupt.
Grandma Alvina soon noticed her.
Her gaze fell on Flora and paused for a moment.
“And this is?”
Flora was slightly startled.
She didn’t speak immediately; instead, she gave a soft nod.
Grandma Alvina’s gaze lingered on her face for a second.
It wasn’t an evaluation or scrutiny, but a gentle sort of confirmation.
“I see.” She smiled and didn’t ask further. “Please, sit. There are many people outside; it’s inconvenient to stand.”
Flora offered a brief response and followed them to a seat by the window.
Grandma Alvina turned back toward the kitchen but soon popped her head out again.
“There are quite a few people today, so you’ll have to wait a bit.”
“No problem, we’re not in a hurry,” Lena answered immediately.
The sounds of busy work rang out from the kitchen again.
The shop suddenly fell quiet.
Flora sat on her chair, her hands resting naturally on her knees. She could feel that the atmosphere was very relaxed, completely different from the distant silence maintained in the castle.
Not long after, Grandma Alvina came out carrying a tray.
“Here, fresh from the oven.”
She placed the tray on the table.
The Wall Biscuits were cut into neat little pieces, the outer layer slightly golden and wafting with fragrance. The filling inside showed a faint hint of red, looking sweet and delicious.
“Strawberry flavor,” Lena said immediately. “Give this one to her.”
She naturally pushed one of the pieces toward Flora.
Flora looked down.
‘Strawberry.’
‘It looks quite delicious, too.’
She picked up the piece of Wall Biscuit, feeling a bit of warmth through her fingertips. She took a gentle bite.
The outer layer was thin but not dry, and the filling had just the right amount of sweetness. The sourness was very light, leaving only a refreshing taste.
She blinked instinctively.
“It’s delicious,” she said.
Her voice wasn’t loud, but she was serious.
Lena’s smile grew even more pronounced.
“I knew you’d like it.”
Grandma Alvina watched from the side, looking satisfied.
“Eat slowly, no rush,” she said. “The one thing we have plenty of during a festival is time.”
Flora lowered her head and continued eating.
This moment was truly comfortable. The pale gold sunlight streamed in, covering the whole room in a golden mist and filling it with warmth.
The two young girls sat close together. Slender, delicate fingers lightly pinched a piece of Wall Biscuit before parting lips that looked like works of art, bending their arms to bring the sugary biscuit to their mouths.
Flora closed her eyes, seemingly enjoying the moment.
A moment felt like an eternity.
Peaceful.
When they stood up to leave, Lena pulled a coin purse from her pocket. Just as she untied the knot, Grandma Alvina pressed down on her hand.
“Oh, enough, enough.” She waved it off. “It’s just a little something; no need to pay.”
Lena was startled for a moment, then immediately shook her head.
“That won’t do.” Her tone was serious. “I pay every time I come.”
“Before was before.” Grandma Alvina smiled at her. “You haven’t been back in so long, and we finally see each other; how could I take your money?”
“That still won’t do,” Lena replied almost reflexively. “There’s no reason to eat and not pay.”
The two were caught in a back-and-forth stalemate.
Flora sat to the side watching the scene. After hesitating, she spoke up.
“…We should still pay.”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear.
Grandma Alvina looked at her.
“It’s a festival,” she said with a smile. “There’s no reason to force a guest to pay.”
Flora shook her head gently.
“It is precisely because it is a festival that we should pay.” She thought for a moment and continued in a calm tone. “That way… we will feel more at ease when we come back next time.”
Grandma Alvina was slightly stunned.
She stared at Flora for a few seconds as if seeing her in a new light.
Then, she gave a light chuckle.
“Fine, fine. Thirty will be enough.”
“No, make it forty,” Lena cut in. She realized the price was lower than before—and significantly lower than it should be.
Grandma Alvina wanted to protest, but seeing Lena’s expression, she didn’t say anything more. She just grumbled, “You child, you’re still the same.”
The money was placed on the table.
It was a common action, yet it seemed to put a perfect period on this encounter.
When they walked out the door, the doorbell rang lightly once more.
Grandma Alvina stood at the door watching them until their figures were slowly swallowed by the flow of people on the street before she turned back into the shop.
The street was still bustling.
Flora followed beside Lena, her pace neither fast nor slow.
This trip had become interesting.
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