: Step 5: Make Sure Doors Aren't Locked Behind You When You're Not lookingChapter Text
"Grannie! I've finished planting!" Klaus exclaimed as stepped back into Tom's house, looking up to his wife who smiled at him happily as she placed snacks and tea on the table.
"Good work today, why don't you take a break before going back?" She requested, gesturing towards the plate of jam cookies and hot tea that make Klaus's mouth water.
"Yes please!" He agreed happily, but before he stepped into her home be quickly brushed the dirt off of his clothes and boots. Whenever he visited the town Klaus would always dress in a simple white shirt and trousers so as to not draw attention to himself. He blended in well to the rapidly growing village as he was just as messy as the other children who ran around playing while he was performing his multiple jobs.
Klaus quickly cleaned off his hands and eagerly sat at the table. "Thank you for the snack Grannie!" He said before munching on the cookies. Allowing the taste of strawberry jam on shortbread to rest on his tongue. It tasted especially good when it was paired with the earl grey that was lukewarm as it was mostly milky to drain out the bitter taste.
"Grannie, what is that house hidden away near yours?" Klaus asked as he recalled seeing it a few times as he snuck into the town. He never saw any light or any trace of anyone living there, yet something about it made him feel uneasy.
He then wondered if he asked an inconsiderate question as he saw Grannie's smile falter. "It's been a while since I've thought about that place." She said. "But I wouldn't want to scare you, young master- ah, young Klaus." Grannie said, correcting herself as she recalled how Klaus wanted to be called. After all, the people in the village weren't his servants in the slightest, and he desired to stay far away from his position as a noble whenever he visited.
"I won't get scared grannie, promise!" Klaus exclaimed in excitement at the prospect of a possible mystery.
He saw Grannie rest her hand on her cheek as she pondered to herself. "You know, a few of us around here don't want anything bad to happen to that place."
"Why? Is it haunted?"
Grannie chuckled at the prospect. "Nothing of the sort. Simply put, there was a kind family that used to live there a while back. They kept to themselves but they were good people. One day they simply moved overnight without a word to anyone. Out of respect, we've never allowed it to be touched just in case they may return."
"That seems sad." Klaus remarked.
"It was just so sudden, none of us really knew how to handle that kind of situation. Of course, the lady left a letter behind explaining the situation, but..." Grannie's words drifted away as though she were recalling something that upset her.
Klaus frowned in worry as he saw a disturbed expression on her face, so in response, he jumped off the chair and hugged the elder woman.
Grannie flinched slightly at the touch and then smiled as she began to laugh. "What is this for?"
"You looked like you needed it." Klaus said. He liked Grannie very much, she reminded him of the other grannies whom he befriended in his past life when he did odd jobs for them, even similarily smelling of elderberry.
Grannie chuckled as she returned the gesture, grateful for this thoughtfulness.
Klaus ruffled his hair as he closed the door behind him. He had done his work for the day and looked towards the sun to see that it was about to rise, signaling that he should head back to the manor. As he started jogging he passed by the home they were talking about earlier. He stopped for a moment, staring at it nervously as he took a few steps past it before then sprinting off back towards the manor, wanting to shake away the unease.
