Chapter 223 Ch 222: Gathering Allies [Pt2]

"This is your opportunity Hobbit. Now that everyone knows that you had a connection with the head cook and you are sad after her death, you can gain sympathy and turn people over to your side."

Hobbit was still coming to terms with the death of his mother figure when the head butler suggested him this method.

Hobbit felt rage build inside his heart as he went motionless. He could not believe that the head butler had suggested he use this death in his favor.

"Can I be left alone for a few hours? I would like to mourn the loss of my mother alone."

Hobbit requested after only a second. He did not want to see the head butler's face since the elder man had most likely killed off the head cook. It just made so much sense in Hobbit's mind.

It was well known that the head butler and the head cook were not getting along for some time because of their difference in opinions. But murder was not something Hobbit had thought would be an outcome due to this.

'Had I known this before, I would have prevented the head butler from ever approaching the head cook.'

Hobbit could not even call out the name of the head cook in his mind. He felt too much grief if he tried to do so. He wanted to calm his emotions down but they were evolving like waves inside his body.

"A-Alright. I can see that you need some time to process what happened. In that case, I will allow you to mourn for some time. But do not take too long or you will lose Lady Rui's favor."

That caused Hobbit to freeze. He could not imagine losing Lady Rui's favor in his current state since she was the only thing keeping him afloat.

"Yohan is making constant moves toward Lady Rui so it might be possible that he would twist her mind against you. And where will you be left after that?"

The head butler seemed convinced of what he was saying so Hobbit found it hard to counter him. And it was not like Hobbit had not realized what the head butler was saying as well.

Yohan was getting closer to Lady Rui as days went by. He was the one Lady Rui called upon and also the one taking care of Lady Rui's needs. Hobbit wanted to kill him off so badly.

'But not right now. I need to get close to Lady Rui before that so that she does not feel the same grief I am feeling. I will make her forget all about Yohan Strout.'

That was all the head butler said on this topic but he had planted the seeds of negativity inside Hobbit's mind. He would follow his set path, even if he wanted to or not.

Hobbit, unaware that he was being made a puppet again, fell into the trap plans began to brew inside his mind and revenge lightened his heart.

It was all Yohan Strout's fault. He was the reason the head butler and the head cook had fought and the head coo's death as well. Yohan Strout will need to pay for it all.

……………………

Yohan did not approach Hobbit until the next morning. It was close to their guests' arrival and everyone was busy.

The kitchen, especially, seemed busy since they had lost someone very significant to them. Their uneasiness could be felt in the way they all moved around each other and tip-toed across the floor.

"Yohan, you will not be able to keep up with the demand if things kept on continuing this way. You should take action as soon as you can."

Hans advised as he watched everyone scattered across the room. They were trying their best but their best was not enough. There was just too much to be done and the head butler was a thorn in their side.

"You are right. I need to make a move today itself."

And that was how Yohan found himself in front of Hobbit's door, ready to knock and ask for entry. But the door opened before he even opened his mouth and Hobbit glared at him.

"What do you want? Hurry up and say because I don't want to listen to you or see your face."

Hobbit looked miserable with his red eyes and tear-filled face. He looked like he had been through hell and back.

But Yohan could not feel sorry for him. He was not an empathic person so emotions did not move him much.

"I want to say a lot to you right now but can I come in before that? This hallway does not feel like an appropriate place for us to talk."

Yohan hinted and it seemed as if he would be ignored for a second. But then Hobbit sighed and gave him the passage inside.

His room was fairly standard and with no personal decorations in place. It was almost as if Hobbit had tried not to get attached to this place because he was not going to live there for long.

'Hobbit must have expected an early promotion and to move out of this room. It's too bad that it never happened.'

Yohan took a seat on the new couch in front of him and looked at Hobbit. The elder man was not looking at him but he seemed to be paying attention.

"Well, I will not beat around the busy. The truth is, we need you to take up the head cook's position temporarily since we lack a capable person. You were someone the head cook trained personally so I cannot think of anyone better to take it up."

Yohan quickly explained, not flinching when Hobbit clenched his fists and looked at Yohan with a venomous look.

"Calm down before you make any decisions. There is a reason I came to you and did not outsource this position. It's all because of Lady Rui and her request to involve you."

Hobbit paused, his eyes narrowing but not immediately asking Yohan to go out. It seemed like he was willing to listen to him now.

"Lady Rui was worried about you and your lack of will these past few days. That is why she wanted to keep you busy by giving you tasks to do. But if you are not interested, then I understand. I will not ask you to fulfill her wish."

Yohan watched as Hobbit thought over his words before he concluded Yohan knew he would reach anyway.

"Lady Rui was the one who suggested for me to take up this position? Then I guess I don't have a choice. But don't make the mistake of thinking that I am doing this for you. I am doing this for my lady and no one else, alright?"

Hobbit agreed quite easily. He had fallen for Rui, just as Yohan expected him to have fallen.

Rui had not asked Hobbit to take up the coo's position but he did not need to know this. It was not like Rui would contradict Yohan's words if they were ever confirmed by Hobbit.

'Now with this, one obstacle has been taken care of. I won't likely need to care about Hobbit and his tricks again.'

The kitchen work would keep Hobbit busy along with all the other responsibilities he had. And the head butler would not be able to shake Hobbit's position off because it was given to Hobbit by Lady Rui.

"You can start tomorrow so rest easy tonight. Oh, and if you don't mind, prepare something extra sweet for Lady Rui. she's been having a bit of a hard time lately and we want her to feel good, right?"

Yohan's words were heard from one ear and take off from the other. But in the end, Hobbit did not say anything even if he had been paying attention to what was being said.

As soon as Yohan exited the room, he was faced with the person he least wanted to see.

Head butler raised his head as he watched Yohan come out of Hobbit's room. The questioning look on his face caused Yohan to smile in an amused way.

"Yohan Strout. It's a surprise to see you here. Did you need Hobbit for something? I can pass on your message to him."

The head butler was all smiles but he was worried in actuality. Yohan noticed it but he refused to say anything of importance.

He just smiled a happy smile that caused the head butler to look even more worried than before.

"No, there is no need for you to be concerned about me. I just wanted to ask Hobbit how he was doing. He did lose someone important right now."

Yohan replied with the same happy smile the head butler had shown him. There was too much hidden behind both of their smiles and they were both not showing the right cards to each other.

In the end, the head butler could not stop Yohan from leaving. He could only swallow his words as he looked at Yohan's back.

Even when the head butler asked Hobbit what happened, he did not get an answer to his question and that pissed him off. And even when he asked Hobbit what happened, he did not get an answer.