Dawn broke soft and golden over Sarneth Town as Leon lit the bakery oven. The fire crackled, warming the stone walls, and soon the scent of fresh-baked bread wafted through the open kitchen door, drifting down the street. This time, they weren't selling day-old loaves—they were baking fresh, on-site, a luxury Acorn Village had never known.
Garin and Erika kneaded dough while Leon and Isabella prepared the flyers. They'd spent the night copying them by hand—feather quills were clumsy, and paper was expensive, so Leon had cut large sheets into small rectangles, just big enough for the essentials: Erika's Bakery—New Location! Grand Opening Sale! Free Samples for Lucky Customers!
"Let's go," Leon said, tucking a stack of flyers under his arm. "We'll hand them out at the old market spot—Father said people still look for our bread there."
They walked through the quiet streets, slipping flyers into the hands of early risers and taping them to wooden posts. Isabella's handwriting was neater than Leon's, her letters flowing smoothly, while his were sharp and quick—evidence of years of scribbling notes in Eldrin's cottage. By the time they returned, the first batch of bread was done, golden and crusty, and a line had formed outside the shop.
"Fresh bread! Hot from the oven!" Garin called, setting loaves on the wooden counter. "Black bread, white bread—all discounted today!"
Leon nodded to Isabella, who handed him a tray of new creations: hamburgers with seared beef, ham sandwiches, cream-filled rolls, and honey-glazed buns. These weren't for sale—not yet. "Ladies and gentlemen!" he called, stepping onto a small stool to be seen. "Thank you for coming to our grand opening! Today, every purchase gets you a chance to win one of these special treats—steak hamburgers, ham sandwiches, cream rolls, or honey buns! One draw per customer, no matter how much you buy!"
A burly man at the front of the line laughed. "Three black breads! Can I draw three times?"
"One draw per visit," Leon replied, grinning. "But feel free to line up again—though the treats won't last forever!"
The man grumbled but paid, reaching into the wooden box Leon had made for the draws. He pulled out a plain wooden token and sighed. "Better luck next time," he said, walking away with his bread.
Customer after customer drew tokens—most plain, a few painted red. The first lucky winner was Pas, a steward for one of the town's knights, who'd been buying their bread for years. "A steak hamburger, please," he said, grinning as Leon handed it over.
"Try it now, if you like," Leon suggested. "It's best fresh."
Pas took a bite, his eyes widening. "This is incredible! The meat's so tender—how did you cook it?"
"Secret recipe," Leon said, winking. It was simple, really—seared in oil with garlic and a splash of mead—but the town was used to boiled or roasted meat, and the difference was striking.
Word spread fast. The line grew longer, with people talking excitedly about the lucky draws and the delicious smells. A group of children pressed their faces against the window, watching as Leon stacked loaves and Isabella handed out tokens. By mid-morning, the first batch of bread was gone, and Garin was already kneading more.
Isabella leaned against the counter, wiping her hands on her apron. "This is busier than I thought," she said.
Leon nodded, handing a cream roll to a little girl who'd won. "People love new things. And free things."
As the morning wore on, more red tokens were drawn, and the special treats vanished one by one. Each winner took a bite, their praise loud and genuine, drawing even more curious onlookers. By noon, the shop was packed, and Leon could barely keep up with the orders. He glanced at his parents—Garin's forehead was sweaty, Erika's cheeks were flushed, but both were smiling. This was why they'd moved—to build something that brought people joy, something that would last.
When the last of the morning treats was given away, Leon leaned against the counter, breathing hard. "We need to bake more bread," he said. "And get ready for the afternoon surprise."
Isabella raised an eyebrow. "The cake?"
Leon grinned. "The cake. It's going to be worth the wait."