I am preparing myself to go to the inn where Jay is the one who is bringing me there because Rune had his hands full at the farm. He's been busy the entire day. Jane is the one who is going to stay at the house since that was the planned. She is the housewife of the house.

So it was already five in the evening when Jay and I head towards the inn.

It's not as crowded the it was the other night but there are a few customers there. I noticed that Frank is talking to a woman around my age. And they seems to be discussing something but it ended when Frank saw us entered.

"Silver and Carmela." He greeted coming to us.

"Good afternoon." Jay greeted back, nicely. "Here's Carmela. Just tell her anything you want her to do and she will obey you."

Frank turned to me and I smiled as a greeting as well. "Good. Your first job is to clean the toilet."

"Excuse me?" My mouth agape.

"It's a joke, kid." He suddenly laughed. "You will be helping my daughter at the kitchen since we have a lot of travellers upstairs."

I nodded and sigh of relief. Jeez, I thought I will go clean the toilet for real.

"Wait...Sarah!" Frank called the woman he was talking earlier.

The girl suddenly rushed her way to him. "Yes, Dad?"

"This is Carmela, she will be helping you out with the cooking. So just carefully instruct her what to do." He told her.

This Sarah faced me and gave me a wide and cheerful smile. "Hi! Daddy told me that you are Red's wife."

I chuckled. "I am."

"Wow, you are so lucky to have a husband like him. He's every girl's fantasy in this village." She cheerfully stated to me.

"Even you?"

"No!" She quickly answered. "Red is like an older brother to me."

Okay then, if you say so.

"I will be going now." Jay nudges my shoulder before walking out to leave me with them. Oh God.

"Okay, lets go." Sarah told me and showing me the kitchen at the back. It was one nice kitchen, I must say. "The travellers upstairs requested some warm chicken soup."

"So, travellers use this village to stop by?" I asked.

"Yep. Some of them stay for days but mostly they stay only overnight."

"So, I will help you make the chicken soup?" I asked, racing an eyebrow.

"Yep, we will make the chicken soup first then we will make the menus." She instructed as she started bringing out the kitchen utensils we will be using.

At first, I thought I will be making a chicken soup on my own recipe but she handed me a book where the instructions and ingredients are listed. I just followed the simple steps and I made the chicken soup nicely done.

"You're a messy chef." Sarah chuckled seeing me pour the soup from the pot to the bowls.

"Sorry about that." I softly murmured.

She went to me and suddenly, she combed my hair up in a ponytail and tied it neatly. No hairs falling in front of my face. "There, never cook anything with your hair down and try carefully pouring the soup like this."

Sarah became very nice to me. She was very helpful while showing me the proper way in the kitchen. Honestly, working as a chef is not my dream job. Since Ariana is already a chef, I don't want to be the same. I took Fashion and Design in college in Regent's University London. And culinary was never my interest but I find it exciting as well. But I love fashion most.

After making the soup, I helped Sarah prepare the next meals that we need to order. Since this is Frank's Inn and Restaurant, there are others who are ordering some foods that we need to cook. Sarah is always there to guide me so it was a little easier for my part.

I also helped with serving the meals. In this job, I found out that I will be a waitress, help with the cooking and also cleaning. I'm all around and I'm not that happy about it. But even if I complain, do I even have a choice?

"You're new in the village?" The woman I served some grilled corn, asked.

"Yes." I only answered.

She nodded, I didn't stayed long so I left her table and went back inside. I checked the clock and I found out that it is already 2 in the morning and the restaurant is about close and that is when my shift will end.

The place is about to close down and I was helping them clean up the counters and tables when I glance to the door and I saw a man just came in.

It was Rune.

"Your husband is here to pick you up." Sarah smiled at me.

"Well, he needs to wait because I'm not finished." I told her, avoiding my eyes to look at my fake husband.

Frank heard us so he walked closer to me. "It's fine, kid. Sarah and I can take care of the rest. You go home now and rest. Thank you for your help." He smiled at me nicely.

Rune reached us and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Good job on your first day of work."

I let out a fake chuckle. "You don't have to pick me up."

"Of course, I have to." He lets out a boyish grin, he is only wearing a white plain shirt and cargo pants. "Lets go?"

I nodded. "I will be going now, Frank. Thank you for your help too, Sarah. I will come back tomorrow."

They both waved at me goodbye as we take our leave. He released his hold on me when we finally got out of the inn. We got down the pathway in silence. I was walking ahead from him and I can feel his gaze from behind. I know we are just waiting for someone who will talk first.

"A whole minute of silence of Jasmine Waylord. That's a record." Rune suddenly broke the quietness between us.

I let out a scoff. "Would you rather have my mouth shut or have me whining and complaining?"

I heard him chuckle huskily. "You are not Jasmine if you have your mouth shut so I would rather have you complaining and whining all the time."

"You are so weird." I rolled my eyes.

"Weird is not the right word for it, my lady." He stated, this time walking beside me.

"Really? What do you think?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "How about being kind?"

I suddenly bursted out of laughter. "Kind? You're kidding me."

Rune also laughed with me. "I'm just being honest, my lady."

"Honest? All you did was make my life miserable." I retorted.

"Well, my lady...If you were just being considerate with us, everything will be easy. But you brought your bratty attitude with you so I have to push everything just for you to obey me." He explained, in a matter of factly tone.

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms across my chest. "If you think that I will change my attitude just to be friends with all of you then better give up home."

"I'm not telling you to change, my lady." He told me, no room for sarcasm in his tone. "What I'm saying is...be more open to us. Be more comfortable around us. Everything will go smoothly if you just won't argue. We are doing the best we can for you."

I tilted my head as I face him but no words came out from me. Inhaling deeply, I spoke "I just can't...maybe not yet. Don't rush me. Trusting is really hard for me."

He nodded. "I am looking forward to the day that you will be comfortable around us, my lady. Just remember my words that I promise you...as long as I am with you, no one will hurt you."

His eyes pierced right through my soul. He says his oats like he is ready to give up his life. I don't know but he made me nod my head and at that exact moment, I feel like I have to trust him. To completely trust him.

"Don't completely rely on that. I am not promising anything that I will trust and be comfortable with all of you." I murmured, removing my eyes from him.

"I will still rely on it, my lady."

I scoffed. "Could you please stop pretending that you are very respectful to me as my bodyguard. You are so unreal sometimes, Rune."

Rune grinned at what I said. "You would like to see the real me, my lady. It's better if you see me as your bodyguard because once I stopped this character, you wouldn't like the real me."

"What is the real you?" My eyebrows furrowed in curiosity.

He just laughed at me. "You don't have to know. It is already enough for you to rely on me by being your bodyguard but...the man you saw in your mansion in Crimson City at midnight...that is the real me. Half of it, actually."

My cheeks heated up when I remembered that night when he kissed me. That was what he meant? That he is not this kind and nice when he is not playing his job?

But I don't want myself being involved again. "Do whatever you want." I avoided his eyes again and just stare at the sidewalk that we are walking on.

Rune bowed his head lightly as we proceed walking until we reached the house. Everyone seems to be asleep already because it is already quiet inside. I am still going to clean up my face and wear something comfortable as Rune went on ahead to sleep because I can see how tired he is.

The next morning, as usual, I was the one who was up first so that is when I took my time to do my morning routine before changing into some normal clothes. Rune was up by the time I finished shower.

"My lady is finally up. You were the last one to sleep but you got up first. You should have slept longer." He murmured, standing up from the sofa. Rune massaged his nape and it looks sore from his position.

"Nag, I'm fine." I murmured, inhaling deeply. I sat down on the edge of my bed and crossed my legs. "Are you going to cook breakfast?"

"Yes, my lady. What do you want to eat?" He asked.

I shrugged. "Cook whatever you like."

"You have to join us for breakfast." He demanded.

"No." I quickly replied. "I already joined you guys yesterday."

Rune shrugged. "Alright. If that is what you want. I won't force you." That was all he said before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

After our small talk this midnight, I feel like I have known him better but at the same time, I know that he is hiding something that makes him so mysterious. I didn't know what he meant by the real him. He makes me a little curious about him since that talk but I don't want to concern myself and get closer with him because this thing we have is only temporary.

Rune is only my personal bodyguard. Work is work.

He is only nice to me because he is under Dad's care. Remembering the night that he kissed me, I must say how handsome he looks with that flirty personality of his. That other side of him.

He can be bad in a good boy's frame. And I bet he is very ruthless when it comes to killing.

But the irritating part there is that how he treated me like one of his girls. He kissed me but then he also kissed Jane. For some reason, why did he do that? So he could play around me?

And now he is acting like a loyal bodyguard.

I tried to shrug off all the things that I am thinking about him. Instead, I stood up from the bed and left the room.

There I see Rune working at the kitchen, Jay and Jane sitting on the table, playing and joking around. They noticed me immediately.

"Good morning, Jasmine. Join us." Jay greeted me.

I shook my head with a weak smile as I hover above to grab an apple on the basket then sat down at the couch in the living room and opened the tv to watch.

Sarah mentioned to me last night that no one in this village owns a tv so this one in our house is the only one.

I finished the apple but my eyes still won't lead the tv screen. But then when I was changing every channel, I stopped when I passed through the news.

"The awards was on fire last night! Everyone was at their best dressed and outfits even with battling of having the hottest dates. But one person was missing at the gala. This is the third absence of Jasmine Waylord since she last appeared at the Globes Award and many fans are wondering where she is! She just vanished and didn't appear on set anymore. Even her manager won't answer anything but let us hope to see her again."

I inhaled deeply as I heard the news. "People are looking for me."

"Yes, and you need to keep on hiding." Rune told me.

"And it is not easy." I whispered to myself, hugging my legs closer to my chest on the couch.

"I will be going on ahead, Red. The market needs me this morning." Jay playfully pat his arm and saying goodbye to me and Rune. Jane also followed behind, she must be going somewhere.

"Did Jane find a work?" I asked.

"Yep, she will be working at the market as well." Rune answered, suddenly he took the vacant seat next to mine.

"Aren't you suppose to go to the farm?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Nope. Margaret told me to come back tomorrow. I told Jane to work today so I could stay here to guard you." He informed me taking the remote from my hand. "Stop watching those news...it will just make you even sadder."

"Well, at least they haven't forgot about me. That means I can go back when this is over." I sigh, leaning my back on the couch but still hugging my legs.

"That could be right." He breathe out and yawned as he stretched his arms in the air and lay back on the couch we are sitting.

"You know, you don't have to go to the inn to take me home everyday. I can go back alone." I told him, drawing my eyes back to the screen to watch. "You are tired from your whole day in the farm so you don't need to stay up light just for me."

Rune looked at me like I was odd or something. "Are you starting to feel concern about me, my lady?"

My eyes narrowed at him. "Concerns my ass." I retorted, flipping my hair back. "I am just being considerate like what you said to me."

Rune suddenly laughed and shook his head. "My lady, I am so flattered that you are starting to feel concern about me. You can order me around as much as you want but letting you unprotected outside, that is something that I cannot accept."

I scoffed to hide my fluttering heart. "Do you really think that I am still in danger here?"

"Well, yes. This maybe the safest place from the Black Phoenix but that doesn't mean that this is also a safe place from dangerous men that are wandering around the street."

Oh shit. Rune is becoming a little comfortable talking to me like that, eh? He is not suppose to be talking to me so comfortably but I think he doesn't care about that.

"Just accept my help, my lady." He playfully placed a hand on top of my head and smiled.

And there is something behind that smile.

It looks true and comforting.

And why is he behaving like this? We should not get along like this. He is just my personal bodyguard and I don't know who he really is.

Rune suddenly stood up from the couch. "Get up, I will show you something."

"Show me something?"

"Yep. Let's go and stop complaining."

What is he thinking?