章 24: Reason #16: Only Troublesome Days Ahead (7)
At Hensley Inn
In the Eye of the Storm
"Oh, I never expected seeing you at this hour."
Ivy turns around to find Sir Ingrid standing behind her.
"Sir Ingrid, what brings you here at this hour?"
Ivy asked as she tried to force a smile while Robbie, on the other hand, gave Sir Ingrid a nasty look.
When Sir Ingrid felt unwelcome, he immediately let go of Ivy's hand and wanted to leave, but the moment he did, Ivy quickly grabbed his hand back instead.
"Wait!" She said, "Are you feeling unwell? You feel a bit hot."
Ivy held on to Sir Ingrid's hand and look at him with concern.
Her soft touch surprised him, and as he blushes, he immediately pulls his hand away from her.
"I'm fine. I just have a little headache. I just came here to grab some water."
When Ivy saw that Sir Ingrid's face was a little red, she asks him to wait while she makes a quick trip to the kitchen.
When she returned, she had prepared a tray of items for him.
"I think you might be getting a little bit of a temperature because of the weather. Just having a glass of water won't help. So I prepared a few things for you."
There was medicine on the tray, a glass of water, honey ginger tea, and a warm bowl of leftover soup from dinner.
When Sir Ingrid saw the tray full of things, it surprises him as he had not expected something so excessive from her.
While Sir Ingrid just stood there, feeling stunned, Ivy just smoothly pass the tray over.
While seeing Sir Ingrid in a daze, she asked.
"Will you be able to carry this all by yourself?"
Her caring voice shook him from his daze, and he instinctively answered.
"Ye.yeah... I can carry this myself. Thanks."
Then as Sir Ingrid was about to turn away, Ivy pulled out a small bottle from her pocket and gave it to him.
"Here, this is a peppermint oil I made. It can help ease your headache. I'm also planning to give it to Hensley for his hip, so try not to finish it."
Sir Ingrid looked at the bottle carefully and was confused about how to use it.
"Here, let me show you how to apply it."
After she poured a couple of drops on her fingers, she asks Sir Ingrid to lower his head a little, and then she gently massages the oil on both sides of his temple.
When she was gently massaging his forehead, his heart began to beat a little as he watches her face appearing so close to his.
Her kindness made him curious as he hasn't had a life where people are genuine and kind to you without any hidden intention. So he had to ask, "Why are you so nice to me?"
"Huh?" Ivy said as she looks at him with confusion, "Are you not sick?"
Seeing her answer him like that made him even more puzzled, and so he questions her back.
"So, you are nice to me because I'm sick?"
"Shouldn't I?"
Ivy tilted her head and looked even confused than before.
"I thought you all hate me." Sir Ingrid look at the ground in shame as he knew many people were not too fond of him.
"Forgive me for saying this, Sir Ingrid" she looked at him with her hands on her hip.
"But even if we may hate you a little, but this is this, and that is that. It doesn't change the fact that you are sick and need someone to take care of you. But of course, it would be easier for us if you are nicer."
While he slowly lifted his gaze and stared at her, he paused in amazement as he had never met someone like her. Then he thought maybe if it's her, he can change to be a little nicer.
"If I start acting nice, will you like me too?"
"Huh? Of course, I would. It's hard to stay angry at people who are nice to you. If you are nice to all of us, all of us will like you too. Isn't that right, Robbie?"
Ivy turns to Robbie, looking for his agreement.
"Uhh... yes, I suppose." Robbie nodded. Though he was unwilling as he had a very unpleasant memory about Sir Ingrid, he couldn't say No to Ivy.
Sir Ingrid then chuckled at her reply and just said, "ok." After that, he carried the tray and went away.
After Sir Ingrid left, Robbie let out a long sigh.
"What's wrong, Robbie?" Ivy asked
"I just think there will be a lot more enemies than I expected."
While Robbie's concerns
grew, Ivy just stared at him, not understanding what is going on.
***********
The Next Morning.
"ONE THOUSAND PERCENT!!!"
Hensley's yell echoed throughout the inn.
Then with his bulging eyes, he looks through yesterday's accounts again and again.
"How... how is this even possible? We have never had such a high profit, even during my father's days."
Hensley rubbed his eyes as he thought it was playing tricks, but no matter how he looks at it again and again, the numbers were correct, and the results are real.
While Hensley was still drowning himself in disbelief, Robbie pulled Ivy over so that she could help to explain to Hensley what happened.
"For starters, half of the profit came from selling the almond milk we made, and since the demand was high and the cost was pretty low, we manage to make fully maximize its potential profit."
Ivy's explanation pulled Hensley's attention away from his pain, and he continues to focus further on what she had to say.
"Another half of the profit comes from up-selling and meal bundles. While we charge less for the side dishes like soups and drinks, we make more through higher order volume."
When she finishes explaining, Hensley looks at her with his mouth wide open.
<What an amazing young girl!> He thought
To think she would have such a talent at such a young age.
Just when he thought her explanation was over, Ivy suddenly took out a few proposal papers and started presenting in front of him.
"These are just a few ideas that I thought of when I worked yesterday! We could make even more profit if we could offer special room packages like dinner for two coupons or All-You-Can-Drink Beer hour! I'm confident that it will help draw more customers for the inn in the future!"
Ivy's eyes glittered when she presented her idea, and when Hensley saw her expression, only then he knew this girl is no ordinary girl.
He then started to cry as her effort touched him.
"To think you've done so much for us, even though I was the one who troubled both of you."
When Ivy saw Hensley suddenly shedding tears, she panicked as she didn't know what she had
done.
"Mr.Hensley, please don't cry."
Ivy took out her handkerchief and began wiping his tears.
"I didn't do much. You offered us your home and your kindness. I just wanted to repay that. If I have done more than I should, I apologize. In the end, it is still your family's Inn. I shouldn't have acted freely without consulting you first."
Then after a long paused, Hensley just clasp Ivy's hand tightly and intensely gaze at her and said
"Ivy, Please call me Papa Hensley."
From that moment on, Hensley was determined to make her his daughter.
**********
After tirelessly trying to pull away from Mr. Hensley, Robbie and I head towards the desk reception to start the morning.
"I'm sorry about Pops." Robbie felt terrible as he places his hand on his head, "You don't have to call him Papa Hensley. He was just surprised to see the Inn's business doing so well."
"It's okay. I'm happy to see your father recovering well. He was also very proud of you for managing the front counter by yourself. I'm amazed to see how you handle yourself. You are very cool."
Hearing her showering him with compliments made Robbie's face flushed in bright red.
"I see the two of you getting along well."
Sir Ingrid said as he slowly climbs down the stairs with his tray.
"Good Morning, Sir Ingrid. It's a surprise to see you so early today. Are you feeling a lot better now?"
Ivy smiled at him happily and checked his face for signs of illness when he comes.
"Yes, I'm feeling much better. Thanks for your kind hospitality yesterday."
Sir Ingrid thank her while he unconsciously blushed when he saw her smiling face.
"I just want to return the tray and the peppermint oil you gave me and ..."
"And?" Ivy looked at him curiously as she waited to hear what he wants to say.
"Uhm..." Sir Ingrid began to stutter.
"Hmm? Yes? Do you still need anything?"
"Uhh... I...I haven't got your name."
"Ahh!" She said, not realizing that they have yet to self introduce themselves.
"Please call me, Ivy. I'm a traveling merchant from the capital. I'm just temporarily helping out at the inn until the storm ends."
"I see. It is very nice to meet you, Ivy. I'm Andrew Ingrid, the first son of Baron Ingrid. And, I also wanted to ask, if it's not too much trouble, maybe after the storm we could..."
Before Sir Ingrid could finish his sentence, someone stopped him when they called out Ivy's name.
"Ivy," Prince Leon called her as he slowly steps down the stairs.
"Leon!" She yelled in surprise, then place the tray on the table and went towards the Prince's side.
"Good morning, Leon" She smiled brightly at him. "Did you have a good night's sleep?"
Prince Leon smiles back and tugs her hair behind her ear, then he held her gently by the shoulders while he looks at her cherishingly as if he hasn't seen her for years.
"I slept well, but it would've been better if you were by my side."
Ivy blush as she recalls all the forceful hugs she had to endure a few nights before. So she immediately held back her emotions and sternly lectured him for his past actions.
While two of them were happily bickering, Sir Ingrid let out a dark face.
"Who is he?" He asks Robbie quietly.
"He is Leon, Ivy's lover."
Then a shattering sound fell upon Sir Ingrid, as he felt his heart crashed into pieces.
"She... she has a lover?"
"Yes"
"That guy?"
"Yes"
"Seriously?"
"Yes"
"Urgh Why...?" he said as he started beating the wall with his frustration.
"It's always the handsome ones, isn't it? To think she has someone with a high level like him."
Then as he turns and looks their way, he saw the Prince glaring at him as if he was giving him a warning.
<You touch her, You DIE!>
The Prince threatening glare forced him to take a step back, but when he saw Ivy's smiling face again, he couldn't help but want to take a second glance.
"Ivy!" Kourtney yelled from the Kitchen, "We need your help with the dishes."
"Coming, Kourtney! Leon, let me go now. We'll continue this later." Ivy pushed the Prince away and ran towards the kitchen.
Then both men stood there ready to begin a war for the maiden that they wish to have.
Sir Ingrid held out his hand and began his introduction.
"I'm Andrew Ingrid, first son of Baron Ingrid."
Prince Leon, on the other hand, folded his hands and introduced himself.
"I'm Leon, a traveling merchant from the capital. My Lover and I are here on business."
Sir Ingrid angrily draws back his hand and clench it into a fist when he heard him announcing her as his lover.
He then calms himself and criticizes Prince Leon's actions.
"I see that man from the capital can be quite ruthless towards ladies. It seems to me that she wasn't quite happy with your actions."
Prince Leon smiled cunningly and gave out a light laugh.
"Well, let's just say my lover prefers me to be a little rough. It's not something we tend to share with outsiders like yourself."
The atmosphere heated up even more as they both glared at each other with a menacing aura.
When Ivy finally returns to the scene, she saw both of them glaring at each other and felt confused as to why suddenly there is an uncomfortable atmosphere between them.
However, the dark atmosphere was suddenly blown away when the entrance door slam wide open.
*BAM!* *BUMP!*
A man stepped in and brought himself together with the dreaded rain.
"It's no use." He grumbled, "It's still pretty bad out there."
It was Peterson who came in the front door. Once he was in, he immediately pushed the door as much as possible to stop any more rain from coming in.
Ivy ran over to Peterson and immediately handed him a towel.
"Are you ok?" She asked, " Why we're you even out there?"
"I've got a report that the storm may turn worse than expected, and I wanted to check it out myself."
Ivy looked at him and showed a full face of concerns.
<From the way he speaks, it sounds like a bad flag is about to be raise>
Then Peterson just patted her on the head, telling her that "everything will be just fine, don't worry about it."
As soon as Peterson turns his gaze, he notices the two-person staring angrily at each other in front of the door.
He grins as he felt something fun is about to begin.
"Hoho, what do we have here? Were you two planning to fight?"
Peterson gave out a sinister laugh as he tries to stir some trouble between them.
"You were?!"
Ivy quickly turns and looks at them with fear.
Sir Ingrid quickly replied and reassured her.
"We weren't fighting. We just had a little argument."
Ivy then places her hand on her chest and sighs in relief.
<If Leon were to start fighting, he would demolish the whole Inn in seconds! I can never let that happen!>
Once her heart calms down, she curiously asks sir Ingrid.
" I thought you said you are going to start playing nice with others. What is this argument about then?
She stared at him, waiting for an answer, but Sir Ingrid just stepped back and froze as he didn't know how to answer her.
As no answers were coming out from Sir Ingrid, Ivy turns to Leon for an explanation instead.
But the Prince stayed quiet and turned his gaze away from her.
"Sigh, fine. If the two of you don't want to tell me, then I won't press further either, but you need to promise me that you play nice with each other ok? I'm strictly against violence!"
They both nodded then Ivy left them to continue her work at the kitchen.
The moment she left, Peterson grabbed both of them and hung himself over their shoulders.
"Hey boys, shall we settle this like man?"
Without a moment's hesitation, both of them nodded, and without Ivy knowing, Peterson began to play with them.
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