Ch66 - Come to my workshop

Edward got back in the car with a head full of questions. As they drove up a narrow hill road with no other cars around, he finally couldn’t hold it in. “Since when are you the friendly type, Josef?”

He wasn’t misremembering. This was the same old man who never had patience for strangers—and who’d even complained that his new apprentice was probably useless. 

Yet somehow, after bumping into Violet by accident at the pastry shop, the two of them clicked instantly. Josef even pulled Violet into the back seat with him, leaving Edward alone up front like the hired driver.

Their conversation in the back got interrupted, and Josef shot Edward a glare. “Eyes on the road.”

Edward raised a brow, then turned forward again with a quiet laugh. He wasn’t offended—not even a little. Josef had always talked like this. But seeing the old man’s face soften into that rare, warm smile whenever he spoke to Violet in the rearview mirror… that was new. And honestly? Pretty funny.

They’d switched from English to French halfway through their watchmaking discussion. Every time Violet answered something right, Josef’s smile deepened—like he’d just rediscovered an old joy he’d forgotten he had.

Ten minutes later, they reached the front of Josef’s workshop. The entrance was tucked into a quiet little lane—this was where his brand was born. Sure, the company had boutiques everywhere now, but Josef spent half the year living and working in this very place.

The exterior still looked exactly as it must’ve decades ago: weathered stone walls, flower pots lined neatly beneath the windows, and a wrought-iron sign with a small, understated name—“Reinhardt & Cie.”

Josef unlocked the door, then glanced back. Violet was still lingering outside, mesmerized by every architectural detail. He waved. “Come on in. The real treasures are inside.”

Violet nodded quickly and followed him in.

“HEY—wait for me.” Edward leaned out the car window. He’d told them to go ahead while he parked, but apparently Josef had no intention of waiting.

“Hurry up,” Josef barked.

Edward let out a helpless laugh and jogged after them.

The moment they stepped inside, Violet felt like she’d walked into a space that didn’t obey the laws of physics. From the narrow wooden door outside, she never would’ve guessed the inside opened up like this—warm, bright, and impossibly larger than it should be.

Right by the entrance was the workshop itself, taking up almost the entire floor. A half-height wall split it from what looked like the living area and kitchen beyond.

In the center stood a massive redwood table—big enough to seat twelve if it ever served as a dining table. One edge of the tabletop had been worn smooth over years of use, right where Josef always stood. Hundreds of tools lay across its surface, old but spotless, arranged with a kind of disciplined chaos.

Against the back wall, several clocks ticked softly in different rhythms. Below them, an entire row of glass display cases held not complete watches, but components—gears of every era, all shapes and sizes. 

Some were chipped with age, others still gleamed like they’d been made yesterday. Standing in front of them felt like watching centuries of horology pass in a single breath.

Violet slowed, reached out, and tapped the glass lightly with a fingertip. “This one… is that a late-19th-century cut gear?”

Josef’s ears practically twitched. He’d been a few paces behind, but the moment those words left her mouth, he hurried to her side like someone had pulled a string.

Violet shifted half a step, eyes moving along the case. “And this… is this an early bridge? The engraving on it is so delicate—”

She looked up at him. Josef lifted a brow. “Good eye. Hand-engraved.”

The pride softening his usually sharp features was unmistakable.

Behind them, Edward sighed to himself. “Here we go again…” He wandered to the counter, made himself tea, and sat down like it was his second home—because it had been. He watched the two of them talk with effortless ease, already resigned to becoming background scenery. 

Most enthusiasts lit up at this display, but Violet wasn’t just excited—she identified pieces at a glance, dating them, spotting details even trained apprentices missed. Edward still remembered how long it took him to recognize half these components.

And what surprised him even more was Josef. The old man—infamous for his temper and his dislike of strangers—showed no frost, no grumbling, no impatience. None of the usual “first-meeting tension” that made most newcomers sweat bullets.

Violet had been nervous earlier in the car, but now? Standing beside him, discussing gears and engravings—she wasn’t afraid at all.

For Edward, honestly, this was the best possible start—at least he didn’t have to worry about the old man scaring Violet half to death with that infamous stone-face of his.

Until Josef opened his mouth again… that was when Edward stopped being calm.

Josef had been standing with Violet, talking her through the pieces inside the glass case. She listened, wide-eyed, genuinely fascinated. “The history behind all this is incredible… I’ve only ever worked on modern restorations. Looks like I’ve still got a long, long way to go.”

Josef pressed his lips together, pleased. “Not bad. With your basics, once you grasp one principle, the rest’ll click right into place.”

Then he turned — flicked a quick look at Edward — and snorted, telling Violet, “This guy can only teach you so much. Why don’t you come to my workshop instead? I’ll teach you personally.”

Edward’s jaw just about hit the floor.

He almost spilled the cup of perfectly-timed tea in his hands. The always-unshakeable Edward actually cracked.

“You— you told me  you weren’t taking any more apprentices. And now you’re trying to steal mine?!”

“She’s too talented to waste on you.” Josef stroked his beard like he was stating a scientific fact.

Then he looked at Violet. “Well? What do you think, kid?”

When she instinctively glanced at Edward, Josef waved her off. “Don’t mind him. His opinion isn’t as important as yours.”

The old man’s eyes were brighter than when he discovered a rare gem. Finding someone with real potential after so many years alone in this little workshop—it was like someone had handed him ten extra years of life.

“This…” Edward sputtered. “Can you at least pretend you value my input…?”

Violet felt like she was dreaming. Chatting with the legendary Reinhardt was already surreal—being recognized by him, and now invited to be his apprentice? Unthinkable. But she couldn’t just say yes on impulse; there was too much to consider.

Edward stepped in, steady as ever. “Don’t forget she has a life in the States. She’s not exactly going to pack up and move to a tiny Swiss town.”

That dimmed Josef’s excitement for a moment. Right—Edward had mentioned she was married into the Ashford family. Moving wasn’t exactly simple.

“…Then how about you spend a few months a year here?” Josef suggested seriously. “Or—if that doesn’t work—” He paused, thinking far too earnestly. “I could consider moving to the U.S.”

Edward shot up from his seat. “Are you serious?!”

“OF COURSE I am! Do I look like someone who jokes about this?” Josef huffed, beard bristling.

Edward stared at him. “You always call New York an ant nest. Three days there and you’re already dying to come home. How would you survive actually living there?”

Josef waved him off. “I’ll manage.”

Edward opened his mouth again, but no sound came out. He looked torn between laughing and crying.

The atmosphere warmed instantly. Watching them, Violet couldn’t help but giggle. “I thought you two had completely opposite personalities… but actually, you’re pretty similar.”

That lit Josef right back up. “Similar? Him? Absolutely not. That boy’s a stiff bookworm. Careful or he’ll rub off on you.”

Edward narrowed his eyes. “You’re really gonna insult me in front of my apprentice? No mercy at all?”

Josef snorted. “And you still can’t take a joke. Fine. Show Violet to her room upstairs. You know the place—you don’t need me to hold your hand.”

Edward exhaled in relief the moment Josef dropped the topic of snatching Violet as a disciple. “Gladly.”

He grabbed both their suitcases, one in each hand, and headed up. The first floor held a small landing and two rooms—Josef’s bedroom and Edward’s usual room. Edward set down his own luggage, then carried Violet’s up one more flight to the attic suite, complete with a private bathroom. Perfect for her.

As Violet passed another closed door on the way up, she noticed a sturdy lock on it. Whatever was inside, it wasn’t meant for strangers’ eyes.

They settled ther things, and were just about to head back downstairs when they heard it—

A sharp, insistent pounding on the front door.