Day Two…

[ Mission Strategy Number 2: Serve Him Like A King! ]

~~*****~~

After showering, Abigail went downstairs to check the kitchen. The maids and the butler were already awake as early as Abigail. They were already cleaning the house. A Cook and his assistant were already preparing the ingredients for today’s breakfast.

“Good morning, Miss Abi.” The head butler greeted her politely; a small smile worked its way across his aged face and into his eyes.

Slowly adjusting to her new identity as Abigail Scarlett, she smiled back, greeting the head butler.

“Good morning, Butler Li.”

“You wake up so early. Were you not able to sleep last night?” Butler Li asked her as he took notice of the dark circles under her eyes. Abigail was also yawning.

“It’s my first time here, that’s why I was not able to sleep properly last night,” she said, roaming her eyes around the house. She sensed that the maids were looking at her.

There was a hint of puzzlement and displeasure in their eyes. Aside from their Madam Monica, Abigail was the only woman their Master brought into this house. They wondered what their relationship was.

“Are we going to have a new Lady of the house?”

“She looks familiar. I forgot where I saw her.”

“Hmph. No one can replace Madam Monica. I will only consider her as the only Lady of this house.”

“But she’s gone. Don’t you think it’s time for our Master to find someone? Little young master needs a mother.”

“It’s only been two years. Our Master hasn’t moved on yet. He loved Madam Monica so much.”

The maids kept on murmuring and whispering to each other, talking about their female guest. They couldn’t help but compare her to their late madam.

Furthermore, Nathan’s helpers in the house were not that exposed to the social media and entertainment world so they didn’t recognize Abigail as an actress.

The maids just stopped mumbling when they caught Butler Li’s warning gaze. Abigail and Butler Li could somehow hear their conversation. It was impolite to talk about their guest like that.

Abigail just ignored them, asking Butler Li to come with her to the kitchen.

“Butler Li, who is in charge of the kitchen today?” Abigail asked him as they walked towards the kitchen.

“It’s Chef Min and his assistants. Are you hungry, Miss Abi? I guess they are done cooking today’s breakfast. You can eat ahead.”

Abigail immediately shook her head, waving her hands. Butler Li misunderstood her intention. “No. I’m not hungry yet. I’m just thinking if I can borrow the kitchen today and cook breakfast for your Master and Ethan. I want to thank them for taking care of me last night and allowing me to stay here for a while.”

Butler Li let out a soft chuckle. “Apology for that, Miss Abi. I appreciate your initiative but I’m afraid that Chef Min is done cooking all the menu for today. Why don’t you cook dinner instead?”

“Dinner?” Abigail’s eyes widened upon hearing that. Cooking breakfast menus is easier than dinner courses.

“Yes, Miss Abi. If you want you can also make a lunchbox for both of them. We will just ask Axel to pick it up here and deliver it to the Master’s office,” Butler Li suggested as he saw some hesitation in her eyes when she mentioned the word ‘Dinner’.

‘Dinner and lunch are the same. They are both more difficult to prepare than breakfast,’ Abigail lamented to herself. But she had no choice.

“Okay. I understand. I will just prepare a lunchbox for them later. Ethan will have to go to school, right?”

“Yes, Miss Abi.”

When they arrived in the kitchen, the food had been served. It was only a light breakfast– fresh vegetable salad, toasted bread with ham and cheese, two sunny side up eggs, melon fruits, and coffee (for Nathan) milk (for Ethan).

“The breakfast is ready,” Chef Min mumbled with his poker face.

He didn’t even greet Abigail, not looking at her. He totally ignored her. Just like other people in the mansion, Chef Min was only loyal to their late Madam, Monica. Seeing another woman in the house, he felt like someone was trying to replace their beloved Madam.

Butler Li was the only one who was treating Abigail generously. He was neutral.

“Miss Abi, if you want you can deliver this food to our Master. He might be awake now.” He leaned closer to Abigail. “A breakfast in bed!” Butler Li whispered, winking at her.

Since she couldn’t cook for him this morning, delivering a-breakfast-in-bed was not a bad idea either.

“Sure, let me bring this to your master!” Abigail didn’t ask permission from Chef Min as she grabbed the tray nearby. She put the plates and cup of coffee on the tray before turning around to leave.

Chef Min and his assistants just gave Butler Li a questioning gaze. What was he trying to do here? No one was allowed to enter Nathan’s room except Ethan, his assistant, and Butler Li.

“Butler Li, we knew it! You are just faking it, pretending to be kind in front of her. You are also against this woman so you asked her to bring the food to our Master’s bedroom. You want her to be scolded by our Master, right? Good job!” Chef Min commended Butler Li tapping his shoulder with a wide grin on his face.

“Eh? Of course not. I asked her to do that with a good intention in mind. Besides, I doubt if Master will scold her. Don’t you know that Master was the one who allowed her to stay here? From today onwards, she will be living here with us!” Butler Li declared cheerfully, giving them a silly smile.

Chef Min: “…”

Assistant Cook: “…”

Maids: “…”

“One more thing! Little Young Master has been in a cheerful mood because of Miss Abi. He is very fond of her so be kind and polite towards her. Understood?”

…. *Silence* …

“I guess this house will become lively once again,” Butler Li added meaningfully, before leaving the speechless Chef and his assistants.