The head butler looked at his mistress with pleading eyes. He needed to get Lady Rui alone if he wanted to whisper conspiracies in her ear. But Yohan's presence made his plans useless.
"Hmm, you want a solo audience with me head butler? But you did not give me a formal letter for visitation. I don't think I can entertain you today."
Lady Rui was joking around but her words sounded innocent to anyone hearing. Only Yohan caught the underlying mocking tone she let slip in her words. He could not help but chuckle when he noticed Lady Rui's hidden intentions.
The head butler did not appreciate Yohan's chuckle but he could do nothing but glare back at Yohan. Any other outcome could land him in hot waters with Lady Rui.
"Head butler, Yohan is someone I trust. Whatever you need to say to me, you can also say it in front of him."
Lady Rui's words caused the head butler to be taken aback and he frowned in shock. He could not believe what he had just heard come out of Lady Rui's mouth.
'It has only been a few days but she already trusts Yohan Strout this much? I need to hurry up and match the intensity of my plans.'
The head butler clenched his teeth, his eyes flashing red. His nails dug into his palm, causing a river of red to flow down his hand. But he did not feel the sting of his wound.
"I can see that my lady is rather busy right now. I will come back later when you are a little freer."
In the end, the head butler decided not to have his talk right now. He could not make subtle jabs against Yohan before him since he would be found out.
Moreover, Yohan was someone who had a problem with the head butler. He would not let his plans unfold how he wanted them to.
Rui and Yohan watched the head butler quickly run for the door. It was clear that he had no intention of speaking in front of Yohan and he had no contention of letting Yohan come in between his goal as well.
'How unfortunate for him. His last ray of hope, Lady Rui Abstel had no hopes for him since the beginning.'
Did Yohan feel sorry for the head butler? Of course, he did not. And shy should he when he knew that the elder man was responsible for so much of his unnecessary suffering.
"What should I do with this man? He is getting on my nerves with his attitude. Shall I get him killed right now?"
Lady Rui questioned, wanting to help Yohan out. Her eyes flashed with anger and worry as she looked at the head butler.
Yohan could feel Rui's desire bubbling up beneath her skin. She wanted to ruin the head butler but she was holding herself back for his sake.
"Don't worry Rui. You will get your chance soon enough. Until then, why don't you sit back and enjoy the show that will start soon."
Yohan bowed in front of Rui in a friendly manner. Rui considered it for a moment before taking Yohan's hand with a relieved smile.
"Fine, I will not interfere this time in your plan. But the second I feel like it's getting too dangerous, you are out of there, alright?"
Rui sounded resigned but Yohan knew she would cave into his words. His magic has a very strong hole on Rui Abstel.
……………………
The head butler lamented his luck as he went away from Lady Rui's room. Yohan Strout had spoilt all his plans.
But it would not take long for Yohan to leave Lady Rui's room. There was much that was yet to be prepared and Yohan was in charge of a lot of it for now.
'And then I will get my chance to talk with lady Rui'
So the head butler waited and Yohan finally left Lady Rui's room. He wanted about ten to fifteen minutes before he could no longer wait around. He had to talk with Lady Rui right now.
So the head butler decided to be a little rude and opened Lady Rui's room door with a single knock. Thankfully, his lady was in a decent position and he was not in trouble.
"Welcome back, head butler. Was there something you needed from me?"
Lady Rui asked, having forgotten what happened before. But you could not expect a lot from an airhead like Lady Rui.
"My lady, I wanted to assure you that I will never betray you. You do know how loyal I am to you, right?"
The head butler almost pleaded with his lady, his face trying not to break out in a grin as his lady felt sorry for him. Lady Rui was really easy to manipulate.
"O-Oh my. Of course, I know that you are someone loyal to me, head butler. I have never doubted your loyalty or innocence even once in my life. I know you are innocent."
Lady Rui spoke her words full of emotions. It seemed like she would cry out anytime.
'So easy. I knew Lady Rui would not be able to break free from my influence. I did raise her after all.'
"T-Then, I hope that you will listen to my words. There is only one person here who had enough motive to kill the head cook and is also new. Don't you think Yohan Strout is suspicious, my lady?"
The head butler tried to speak, expecting Lady Rui to look upset and not hear him out.
His intention was not to be heard but to plant a seed of doubt in Lady Rui's mind. He needed to make Yohan falter a little.
"Head butler, I know you don't like Yohan but there is no need for you to make unnecessary accusations against him like this. I-I will not stand for this slander."
The head butler watched as Lady RUi shook her head in denial. She was not willing to listen to anything against Yohan but the head butler did not give up.
'I should retreat for now. I will get a chance to change Lady Rui's mind again.'
The head butler took a deep breath, getting ready to deal with a sulking lead in front of him.
"Yohan is a good man and I will not hear any word against him. Both you and Yohan are precious to me so why would you say all that about him?"
"Of course, he's a good man, my lady. So I won't say anything against him anymore. Will that improve your mood?"
The head butler asked, knowing better than to let his lady stay angry at him.
"Of course. Yohan is the best so you don't have to say."
The head butler entertained Lady Rui for a little longer, wanting to appear as if everything was normal. But when he went out of the room, he hardened his face.
It was going to be difficult to change his lady's mind but the head butler was confident that he was safe.
……………………
Golden eyes closed as Lady Rui calendar herself down.
'Don't lose your temper over this small matter. Yohan could not want you to react to him being insulted.'
Lady Rui consoled himself as she calmed down. She was getting too emotional over this. But darn did it suck to sit back and not be able to help her beloved out.
"Who does the head butler think he is? As if I would ever let Yohan get in trouble, even if he did kill someone. I will not stand for any slander against him."
Rui sapped her foot against the ground in anger.
"Aggg, I cannot take it anymore. What is wrong with me? I am not even able to control my anger right now. I need to look at Yohan to feel reassured."
Being in love sucked but could no longer imagine not being in love with Yohan. He quickly changed her clothes and went out of the room.
It was a stupid decision for her to seek out her servant in such an open manner but Rui could not bring herself to care about it. She was going to behave as stupidly as she could if it meant that she would get an answer to her feelings.
On the way there, Rui found her feet taking her toward the empty section of the hallway. In front of her was the corridor she seldom visited. It was a sacred area that no one was allowed to go in.
But for some reason, it was calling out to Rui.
She was about to head into it when someone places a hand on her shoulder. It successfully knocked the wind out of Rui and brought her back as well.
"May lady, is everything alright? You look a little faint back there."
It was Hobbit, the new butler turned cook. Rui only remembered him because Yohan had talked about him. He looked worried for Rui so she decided to take a step back.
"Ah, sorry. I was a little distracted so I did not see where I was going. I apologize for worrying you like this."
Rui apologized, not caring that she was bowing in front of a non-noble. And perhaps that was why Hobbit went red in the face.
'Or, it could just be his crush speaking.'