Hey everyone, this chapter would be a sort-of Rex special. I also put something else on the table... hope you like it!

After Rex taught Klaus the basics of using a sickle, and then divided their work, the two men get down to work immediately. "Why did you stood my sister up?"

"I have a lot of considerations on my part," Klaus answered calmly. "There is our age gap, for one… and then, there are other things."

"Other things… like what?"

"It's not for you to know."

"Fine, but does my sister know?"

"She does," he replied. "In fact, it was her who eventually convinced me that this relationship was worth attempting."

Rex chuckled. "Now, the pieces are starting to fall together."

"Pardon?"

"Raelyn is not really a people person, but when she falls for someone, she falls so hard. When I learned that someone broke her heart, I was so upset myself. If my work in the Capital didn't hold me back the way they are, I've gone here much earlier. I expected some douchebag who wanted to take advantage of her or something, but you didn't strike me as that type. In fact, you seemed to be an over-thinker," he laughed. "In a way, you remind me of my old man. I suppose that's partly a reason why she falls for you."

The next day, armed with a rough map drawn by Raelyn, Rex decided to take a walk in the town. While the outer appearance of the Oak Tree Town was vastly different from his hometown, there was something in this town that reminded him of it. Was it the warmth of the townsfolk—the way they treated him as if he was a part of them? Was it the fact that farming was an integral piece of this town, too? Whatever it was, he couldn't be sure, but it surely made him miss home more than ever.

The blond man stopped in front of a building with the sign "Antique Shop" written nearby. Raelyn had told him that this was where Iris lived. His conversation with Klaus the day before had filled him with more questions than answers; it alleviated some of his concerns but raised a few more. If Klaus was a no-go for an answer, Rex figured that Iris would be the next best choice. Besides, he couldn't deny that she was very alluring herself.

The bell dinged when he pushed the door open. "Welcome to the Antique Shop," a voice, but not Iris', greeted. Rex looked around and found a young man, maybe even younger than Raelyn, stood behind the counter.

"I believe I have never seen you around," he said with a polite smile. "Would you like a tour of our collection?"

"Thanks, but I'm looking for Iris. Is she here?"

The young man took a moment to study him. "She is. Just take those stairs."

Rex climbed to the second floor. Just like the first floor, the private living quarter was floored in dark wood. However, if the shop was painted in light, pastel colors, the second floor was decorated in dark purple wallpaper. It was clear to him that the resident of this estate favored the color purple; and something about this house gave off a very classy feel to it. Dismissing his thoughts on the estate, he looked around for his main purpose of the visit; he found her sitting in front of the desk at the corner of the room, busy with the papers in front of her. Rex was unsure on whether he should greet her, but she noticed him first: "Oh, Rex. I'm sorry, but I'm a bit occupied right now. Could I ask you to wait for a few minutes?"

"Uh, sure."

"Just take a seat on the sofa over there."

Iris wrapped up her work in a few minutes and followed him to the sofa, sitting across him. "Would you like some tea?"

"Tea sounds great."

"Any preference… red, black, green? Your sister is partial to green teas."

He chuckled. "She does, but I'm good with anything you offer."

Iris smiled and excused herself for some moments before coming back with two cups, a teapot, and a small jar of biscuits. After the tea was served, Iris started their conversation, "I'm sorry to make you wait for so long."

"It's fine," he assured her. "But what were you doing?"

"Writing my new story," she replied with a smile.

"You're a novelist?"

She nodded. "Are you familiar with I. Delacroix?"

"Sounds familiar, yeah…" he noticed her meaningful gaze and smile. "…wait, you're that person?!"

"You catch on fast," she replied with satisfaction.

"Wow… never expected to see a real-life novelist."

She chuckled. "You make it sounds like I came from a fairytale land."

"In a way or another, you are. You weave one."

She nodded in agreement. "So, what's the story is about this time? I'm all for spoilers."

"My, I don't think it is something that would suit your taste… it's about an unrequited love—or at least at this point of time, it seems that way…" Iris glanced poignantly at the table between them. "Say, have you ever been in love?"

That escalated pretty quickly, he thought. He looked at her, right in her eyes. "Love? Not yet, but who knows?"

"Not yet? So you have your eyes on someone?"

Rex simply maintained his eyes on her, studying her features even more closely; her milky skin and heart-shaped face that was covered in light makeup. He was not lying when he said she was like she had come from a fairytale land; it was so easy to imagine her to be in one… as the princess.

Iris caught on his answer and held her breath. "My, thank you for flattering me."

"You read me wrong… I'm not one to flatter people lightly."

His sentence marked a period of silence between the two of them—heavy, but not necessarily awkward. It would be more accurate to say that they were studying and evaluating each other. Finally, Iris decided to break the silence: "Someone like you is not the type to come here just to flirt. You mean business—how can I help?"

Rex chuckled. "Right, thanks for reminding me… I'm sure you can guess the gist of my initial business here."

Iris nodded. "You want intel on Klaus."

He smirked. "I guess you can be pretty biased, since you clearly are close to him. I also heard that you played a part—a huge part—in bringing those two together. I figured you have your reasons. That, I'm interested to hear."

Iris crossed her arms before her and leaned back. "So far, what is your personal opinion on him?"

"Overall? He's okay. It's the details I'm worried about. Someone looking as good as him but unattached for so long? Something must be wrong."

"I wouldn't use the word 'wrong'," Iris corrected him calmly. "Klaus had had a hard life before coming here. He practically gave up the idea of settling down and building a family, because he had lost so many of his own."

He did mention that he was adopted…

"Raelyn… how should I put it? Her innocence and kindness revived that hope in him, but with that… came fear. Fear that she might slip away between his fingers, that he couldn't keep her safe. That's why he pushed her away at first… and at first, it seemed that she went along with it."

"Did this happen last year?"

Iris nodded. "Your sister's departure broke his heart. I can tell he was conflicted between pursuing her or defending what he thought to be better for her. Foolish thoughts, I often told him."

Rex took a moment to truly digest what she had revealed to him. Now, there was no doubt that Klaus was not someone who had everything on a silver platter; if anything, it seemed that the silver platter he seemed to have now was one he forged for himself. It was a story familiar to his knowledge—was this why Raelyn chose him?

"…and you think my sister is good for him? Their age difference and… experience must make her pretty immature for him."

"If anything, I think they are good for each other because they learn from one another," Iris pointed out. "Is that not a mark of a good relationship?"

"You really ship them together, don't you?"

Iris laughed merrily. "You don't know just how many people ship them."

Raelyn saw him off together with Klaus and—much to his surprise—Iris. Raelyn hugged him tightly. "Tell everyone back home I miss them," she said.

He chuckled. "You sure you wanna say that? Dad might come flying if he knows what's going on here," he glanced at Klaus who, even if he was nervous inside, maintained a calm visage.

Raelyn pouted. "Don't you dare say I have a sugar daddy."

This time, he laughed slightly harder. "You read my mind, sis."

"Rex!"

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding," he messed her hair affectionately before turning to Klaus. "You better take care of my baby sister right here."

"Consider it done," the raven-haired man replied. "It was a pleasure to meet you."

"Heh. You're also interesting to get to know about."

They shook hands, and Rex turned towards Iris. "So, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Are you sure you are not a flatterer?"

He smirked. "If you keep being flattered by my words, is that not a start of a good relationship?"

He was amused when he saw Iris holding her breath. To think that someone as mature as Iris could be rattled by the likes of his did something good to his pride. He turned around and walked towards the coach.

"Iris,"

"Yes?"

"Yesterday, I had two matters at hand. I settled both… with interesting results."

As the carriage rode away from view, Klaus and Raelyn turned to Iris. "What was he saying?" Klaus asked.

"He was just asking me about the town, nothing in particular."

Raelyn cocked her head to the side. "But he already had a map I drew for him."

"Oh, really?" Iris smiled the best she could manage. "I'm not aware of such a map."

Raelyn shrugged. "Maybe he lost it," she concluded. "I'm going to do my shipment for a bit, you guys don't have to wait for me."

With that, she left.

Iris caught Klaus' eyes, and when he gave a slanted half-smirk, she was filled with mixed feelings. On one hand, she missed that side of his, but on the other hand, she still remembered that every time he had that smirk on his face, it never meant good for her.

"I'm not into younger man," she quipped.

"What a hypocrite. A two-year difference is nowhere near fifteen you've been advocating for."

Now the tables are turned on Iris!

Stay tuned for the next chapter!

Thanks for reading! Please rate and review ^^