Chapter 222 Ch 221: Gaining Allies [Pt1]

Everyone was gathered in front of the graveyard, mourning the death of a very beloved person. They all could not believe that the head cook was dead.

"W-Why did this happen? She was so vibrant and full of life just a day ago. Who would do something like this?"

A servant asked, finally breaking down into tears. She was someone who looked up to the head cook. She had even started working in the kitchen to support the head cook.

Some people moved toward her to console her but no one had any answers for her. The investigation for the death had yet to start so no one knew what happened.

They only found a standard kitchen knife and a dead body on the scene. There were no fingerprints or lingering effects of magic left on the stage. There had been no fight either.

It led everyone to believe that the killer was someone from thier staff. But no one from thier team had a problem with the head cook. She was a much-beloved member of thier task force and rather loving as well.

"Nothing like this had ever happened before. This has to be the work of some new worker. Who all were hired recently?"

Someone questioned and Yohan was sure that this person was from the head butler's side. There was just something about his aura that struck Yohan as the enemy. And his question also caused everyone to look at Yohan.

Indeed, he was someone who had just recently joined the Abstel servants force, and then this had happened.

"But it does not make sense for Yohan to do such a thing. Especially near the guests' arrival. It would mess with him as well, right?"

Another maid who had a crush on Yohan questioned and many others agreed with her on this topic. They were all the people under Yohan's magical charms and would take his side.

"Besides, Yohan is not the only recruit that arrived here. Isn't there someone else here who is more suspicious?"

The maid questioned and everyone looked toward Hobbit with suspicious eyes. He had been awfully quiet all this time and that made everyone who knew him suspicious.

But surprisingly enough, Hobbit had tears in his eyes and he had gone silent. He was also not making accusations against Yohan and seemed lifeless.

"Hobbit, do you have anything to say regarding this death? You were involved, right?"

A servant asked even more seriously this time. She seemed to have caught a grasp of what was going on and she was not going to let go of it.

Since Hobbit was not responding and defending himself, more and more people started to believe that he was the culprit.

With these jeering words and pointed looks, Hobbit could not take it all anymore. He decided to break his silence and speak up finally. His words were full of pain and actual longing.

"I would never consider killing the head cook. Not after she had been a mother to me all these years. How dare you even suggest I would do such a thing to her."

Yohan was taken aback by the intensity of emotions he felt coming out of the servent. This man was out here, pouring his life out and begging people to get revenge for the head cook.

Every emotion of his body was real and it radiated pain and longing. Yohan admired this man and his tendency to be so two-faced.

People had started to talk again as well. Some believed Hobbit's words, painting him as a sad teen who lost someone precious, the others painted him as an opportunist who did not know his place.

But they all agreed that Hobbit was not the culprit this time.

"Hobbit, I know you are sad about your mother figures dying and need encouragement but don't be sad. There are so many people around you to help you out. You just need to look and feel thier feelings."

Lady Rui finally decided to make her entrance on the scene. Her eyes looked sad and she felt genuinely sorry for Hobbit and his circumstances.

No one could have seen this death coming and the timing could not have been any worse.

"M-My lady, I don't-I don't know what to say. She was the only one. The only one who raised me here and looked after me when I was sad. I wanted to"

"Hobbit, get a grip on yourself. You still have the head butler and even me. If you cannot find a reason to live for anything, then live for me."

Lady Rui sounded like an angel, firm and unyielding but gentle and soft as well. Hobbit was not able to look away from her noble face.

He had only seen Lady Rui as an objective to his end, never taking into consideration her as a person. But he could not look away from her right now. He had to look away to make his heart stop beating.

'I...don't tell me that I am falling in love here. No, that was not in any of my plans.'

Hobbit tried to stop himself but his heart was not in it. He could no longer control it.

Lady Rui had managed to charm him with her words and wits. She had managed to take control of him when he was at his lowest and now Hobbit could no longer escape her grasp.

The head butler looked pissed at his public show of weakness but Hobbit no longer cared about him and his plans. He just wanted to make Lady Rui his at all costs.

………………..

'Wow, Rui sure is a sly lady. She took advantage of Hobbit's weakness so naturally.'

Yohan watched his 'lover' try and appease Hobbit. And he could even see it the moment Hobbit fell for Rui and her charms.

It would make Hobbit easier to control and Rui would even make sure to use him until he dried out. And now that left only the head butlers to cause Yohan problems.

"Hey Yohan, maybe you should lay low for a few days after this. My father is not looking to be in a good mood from here."

Hans's words were an underestimation of how engaged the head butler looked right now. His eyes were red and shining with murder.

'Wow, if looks could kill then Hobbit would be dead ten times over by now. I don't envy him right now.'

Yohan made sure not to attract attention to himself as he stood in the corner of his commentary as watched it all play out.

The head butler would be heading out any second now and dragging Hobbit away from lady Rui. It was a sure thing to happen.

And it happened just a minute after Yohan thought that way. The head butler could no longer control himself and ended up heading out and reaching for Hobbit.

"My lady, please forgive my foolish underling and his inept social skills. He might have forgotten who you were in his grief and held on to you a little too long."

Everyone looked at the head butler and his tight grip on Hobbit. He was holding the man back from heading toward Lady Rui.

Hobbit looked uncomfortable to be held like this but he compromised. His sad eyes still looked at Lady Rui with longing but he did not act on it until the end, he just followed the head butler's lead and stepped away.

"Yohan, what will you do about the head butler posting for the next few days? Even though we had such a big accident happen, I don't think the guests will understand. We will need to find a replacement soon."

Hans reminded Yohan now worried about his friend. He looked toward the sad staff and he knew that the staff would be even more useless than before. Yohan could not get out of this mess easily.

But Yohan did not look worried. His entire body was shining with confidence and charm which made Hans think that everything would be alright.

"Well, I have a plan for that to happen. And if I succeed, then I will remove a big obstacle from my path soon enough. But I might need your help at times, Hans. Think you can help me out here?"

Hans sighed tiredly as he looked at Yohan.

"You are going to do something weird and dangerous, right? And you will drag me along into your mess as well, right? Do you think I can refuse your offer?"

Hans questioned but he did not mean his words. Yohan just gave him a stare instead of replying. It was an amused but expecting look that made Hans give up.

"Why did I even think for a second that everything would be alright? How could things feel normal when you are here with me?"

Hans spoke and Yohan ignored him. He looked at Hobbit and began to plan how to use that man. There was a lot that could be done but only after careful consideration.

'But first, I need to make Hobbit suspicious of the head butler. That way, I would be able to divert their attention away from me and onto each other. They will also keep each other busy for me to roam around freely.'