"So Yohan, I heard a weird rumor today. You are being harassed by the head butler and other staff? You can tell me if you are having any problems, you know. I am always here to help you out."
Yohan was not phased by lady Rui's casual remark. He had been aware that the news of him being singled out by the head butler had gotten to Rui.
"There is no need for my lady to be concerned. This is a small matter I can take care of on my own. If I need your help with something I will let you know."
Yohan flashed Rui a small smile but it was filled with his charm. He was more than aware that Rui was speaking of helping but she would prioritize her own 'image' over Yohan.
After all, that was what Yohan had asked of Rui. Even if Rui wanted to do something, his powers would make her obey the command and not let herself help Yohan.
"So you did know what you are doing? Then I will leave you to handle this. Make sure you don't pull anything too drastic or I will not be able to save you."
Lady Rui sipped her tea with a relaxed mind. She did not trust Yohan 100% but she was not too concerned about him as well.
Her image was much more important than Yohan's safety.
But still, she could not help but feel pissed off for some reason. She was not sure why she felt such annoyance when the head cook had brought Yohan up.
'That damn cook. As if I don't know what is going on with Yohan. I just know better than her to not help Yohan until he asked for help. That was what we agreed upon.'
Yohan watched Rui's expression turn sour as she got lost in her thoughts. He had a small idea of what Rui was angry about but he decided not to pull her pigtails right now.
"Then, I shall take my leave for today, my lady. There is too much for us to do and not enough time."
'You mean not enough capable hands. And yet, you will not ask me for help? That's the determination I like you showing Yohan."
*cough* "You are free to go if you are done here. I will not be coming out of my room today."
Yohan bowed after getting those orders. His duties to Lady Rui were done if she was not coming out today. Now he needed to look after the other preparations.
He had not taken a lot of steps away from Laday Rui's room when he noticed a familiar pest roaming around her room.
"Hobbit, what are you doing here? Don't you have duties to take care of?"
Hibbit glared at Yohan and gritted his teeth in irritation. He found it difficult to look at Yohan right now and he even knew where Yohan would be right now.
But despite that, Hobbit had risked coming here and shrinking his duties. Yohan could only think of one reason for him to come this way and risk running into Yohan.
"Hobbit, you better give up for today. Lady Rui said that she would not be coming out of her room today."
Hobbit looked pissed off but also embarrassed at being caught. He looked away from Yohan's eyes with a clenched fist.
"I-I am not here for Lady Rui. I need to inspect the rooms around here. Yeah, that is what I am here to do. Look, it even says so in my list."
Hobbit extended his list for Yohan to see and it had a job in this wing. But Hobbit's nervousness did not reassure anyone that he was here to do his job.
He was acting too suspicious and spooked for anyone to take him seriously. Anyone would be able to guess what was going on here.
"So you do have some work here. You better get on to it because you have a lot of tasks left, right? I heard that you were barely able to finish the list yesterday, and that after you were helped by the head butler."
Hobbit's face went red with fury. But he was unable to counter Yohan's words since they were true.
Hobbit's workload had not been small to start with, and then he had added Yohan's workload as well. He was super busy throughout the day and had no time for anything else.
'And yet, he somehow made himself a nuisance for me. This has ot be some kind of talent.'
Yohan wanted to applaud Hobbit's dedication but he did not want to encourage him. So he picked up his things and turned away from his fellow butler.
"Well, I should head back and do my work now. I don't know about most people, but I am too busy to talk with people and I am sure you are as well."
"And who's fault is this that I am stuck with all this work?"
Hobbit yelled in the end, no longer being able to take Yohan's haughty attitude. He was lucky that there was no one around to listen to him yelp about this topic.
The head butler especially would have Hobbit by the throat if he had embarrassed himself any further.
'Oh well, it not my business anymore what this fool does. I should be more concerned about the head butler.'
Yohan had not seen the head butler for some time now and that was sending all kinds of alarm signals inside his mind. He was aware that he was paranoid but he could not help himself from being paranoid.
After all, the head butler had an unfair advantage and a lot of people on his side. But Yohan had Lady Rui and that was the biggest difference that made his side powerful.
…………………….
The head cook returned to her kitchen with a pissed-off expression. She put her plate down and started cooking food for the next meal.
"I cannot believe that Lady Rui did not take swift action. But then again, she is faint-hearted and I would have to compromise with her over this."
The head cook sighed as she got to work. She had a lot to do and a lot to forget as well.
Worst of all, she could not believe she had been made to go back empty handed and she had nothing to tell Yohan.
Yohan would not blame her for not being able to help him but the head cook still felt pissed and disappointed.
'I wanted to help Yohan as well. He's such a sweet boy.'
The head cook could not help but lament. It was always the 'nice' guys who got stuck with difficult tasks. Even Yohan had fallen into the same trap as everyone else.
Just as the head cook was finished cooking her meal, the door to the kitchen opened. She did not notice someone nearby until the shadow was standing right behind her.
When she turned around, the head cook was scared out of her wits but her heart calmed down after seeing a familiar face. Her expression softened as well and she slapped her spatula on her hand in agitation.
"What the hell? You scared me for real. Can you not make some kind of noise when you sneak up on me?"
The head cook complained as she got back to cooking. She did not notice her companion not responding to her but looking at her in a complicated way.
"Hey, can you pass me the salt? It's the white bottle on your right. And also-"
The head cook was slashed in the back, the attack causing a clean cut across her body. She instantly died due to the shock and her blood covered the floor.
Her killer let the knife fall off and then walked away. That was the end of this interaction.
In the morning, the head cook was found by an innocent kitchen worker found the dead body of the head cooks. It was a horrible sight, with the kitchen turning red due ot the dried blood and the still-open eyes looking at her.
*AHHHHHHH*
Her scream brought other people on the scene as well and all hell broke loose.
The head butler who arrived on the scene decided to take charge and urge everyone out. It was a mess and everything had happened by the time Yohan made his way to the dead body.
He examined her but she had long gone dead. Her body was also useless since a lot of people had seen her dead already.
'Shit, there goes one ally I had in this place. Now I can only rely on Hans to keep his father in check.'
Hans had gone rather pale while looking at the body of the head cook so maybe he knew something about it.
'Or rather, he knows who killed the head cook-off. No wonder the timing was causing me this much agitation. It was to weaken my supporters.'
Yohan now had a good idea who the killer was as well. It was just a matter of catching the man red-handed.
The head butler looked rather composed but his eyes were cold and lifeless as he glared Yohan down. Yohan had no need to second-guess himself - the head butler was the killer.