Unwanted Visitor

"Layla honey wake up"

Gentle nudging woke the slumberous girl.

Sitting up, the tired girl rubbed her eyes. She yawned.

"Good morning Jane"

Jane was getting some dresses ready for her morning wear. She looked at the girl in bed and smiled.

"Good morning, Layla, though it's nearly afternoon now"

Layla looked at the window from where a gentle breeze was coming from. The window was open. Jane must have opened it.

The sun was high up in the sky. It must be around 11 in the morning.

She couldn't believe she had awoken so late, that too with someone's help. As she was mid-thought when she suddenly felt pain in her muscles. She messaged her aching shoulders with her eyes still closed.

Wow, this hurts so much. What did she do the day before?

Suddenly she opened her eyes as yesterday's events came flooding into her mind.

She quickly got up.

"Feeling alright, Layla dear?" Jane asked as she observed the girl rising from the bed. "I was going to let you sleep for some more time since you had a hard time yesterday. But it's already late, and the lord might get angry" she continued.

"No, it's alright"

Layla got up and went to her dresser.

"Help me get dressed"

"Yes, sure," Jane replied gleefully.

"Did something good happen recently?" Jane asked, helping Layla with her buttons. Jane can't help but ask since the smile on the girl's face was too jovial to just ignore.

"I just feel lucky to have you with me, Granny Jane"

Jane stopped and tightly embraced the girl. Such kind words warmed Jane's heart. "I feel lucky to have you too, Layla dear". A warm smile played on Jane's lips as she embraced the girl. Jane genuinely meant it.

Jane then broke off the hug. "Now, we must go quickly. No lady in this empire gets up at eleven in the morning," she added, pinching Layla's nose in a playful way.

After getting ready, Layla headed to the window and peered outside.

"It's a lovely day, today," Layla said somewhat dazed.

"Hmm.." Jane replied while putting the clothes in the laundry basket.

"But it's rather quiet today. Did something happen today granny?" Layla said, turning towards the older woman who stopped in her tracks and looked slightly nervous after hearing the girl's inquisitive question.

"H-Haha. I-It seems so. Maybe people are really quiet today huh?" Jane said scratching her neck, avoiding eye contact.

"So what would you like for breakfast? Others have already eaten. So don't worry, I will bring something for you here. Just wait" Jane hastily scurried out of the room after setting the laundry basket down in the corner.

"Hmm," Layla hummed as she saw Jane walking away. She then turned to face the sky again. The blazing bright sun was shining brightly in the midday sky. It truly was past 11.

Even on such a bright and sunny day the mansion, which was supposed to be busy with gossiping maids and rushing servants, was mostly deserted. Such silence brought a smile to Layla's face. Hopefully, her plan was working.

She has to see proof before she can be certain, though.

She had intended to wake up quickly so she could see the action firsthand, but unfortunately, she slept in. Who would have thought that she would be this exhausted from yesterday's work?

So her only choice was someone hearing the events from someone else's mouth. Layla was hoping Jane would talk to her about it. But the way she avoided the topic; did something happen? Or did her plan not work?

Layla was deep in concentration as her door slowly creaked open. She looked up to find Jane returning with a tray full of food.

Jane smiled, "I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long." She then moved towards the small table and placed the tray down.

"Breakfast ready," Jane said after putting the food on the table.

The meal was simple and even looked delicious. Two vegetable sandwiches with a cup of hot soup on the side.

Though she would have only bread in her previous mornings, this certainly was an upgrade. How did Jane acquire all of those, though? Did her strategy succeed? she wondered as she raised an eyebrow.

"Sammy said this was all they had in the kitchen. So I quickly grabbed them. Hopefully, you like them, Layla" the sweet voice of Jane answered Layla's hesitancy.

"Oh, ok"

Layla settled down at the table and started to nibble on her sandwich. They were freshly made. It tasted as good as it looked.

Jane sat down across from Layla as she ate her meal.

"Granny, have you had anything to eat yet?" Layla enquired.

"No, not just yet"

"Here you go" Layla swiftly reached out her second sandwich to Jane.

"No, they are yours," Jane shook her head in protest. "Additionally, once you're finished, I'll eat."

"I can't eat until you've had something to eat."

"Don't say that," Jane replied. Layla placed her sandwich down on her plate and stared at Jane who after a few seconds gave up. Knowing well how she can't win against a stubborn girl.

With a sigh, Jane replied, "Fine," and she took Layla's sandwich in her hands.

Layla smiled and then continued with her food.

"Did Henni eat yet?" Layla inquired.

"Uh, yea. I fed her early in the morning. If I didn't she would have caused more trouble by stealing some from the kitchen or maybe even getting into a fight with Sammy" Jane chuckled, imagining the scenario in her head.

"That's accurate, haha. That's how Henni is, Layla said.

"If you fed her then how come you didn't eat anything yourself?" Layla continued.

"That's because I was busy," Jane said, avoiding Layla's eyes.

"How can you be so busy that you forget to eat but feed others?". Layla tapped her cheeks with her finger, "Did something happen after you fed Henni?"

Layla looked directly at Jane's eyes for confirmation of her answers and instead got a pair of worried eyes staring back at her as if caught.

And just then the door suddenly opened with a loud thump in contrast to earlier. And unlike from before an unwanted visitor was standing in front of them.

"Good morning, Lady"

Layla's eyes furrowed as soon as she saw the person Standing in the doorway. She anticipated many things, but not this one.

Internally she spoke to herself.

'Not you'