EPISODE 10%
I froze, pan in hand, the steak sizzling loudly in front of me.”
I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t the chef, if that wasn’t already obvious. I was just trying to cook something to ease my hunger. But now, standing in the middle of this massive kitchen with two strangers glaring at me like I’d broken into a restricted area, I felt completely cornered.
That beautiful and elegant woman, if I heard right, was named Catelyn. And unless I was mistaken, she had just introduced herself as Ulysses’s fiancée.
Perfect. Just what I needed.N
Still silent, I looked down at the steak. It didn’t seem too bad. A little dry maybe, but still edible. I hadn’t expected a live critique. The older woman stepped toward me. The sharp click of her heels echoed against the tiled floor. Her eyes landed on the pan, and her expression twisted in visible disapproval.}
“What is this? That looks burnt! And the meat…, does it even look fresh to you? You think this is something you can serve to Catelyn? A lady of class and elegance?” she said, her voice rising.”
I tightened my grip on the spatula. I didn’t appreciate her tone, but I also didn’t want to escalate anything. I glanced at Catelyn, who stood there like she was used to being praised and waited on.”
Then Catelyn added, in a light but pointed tone, “Also, I’m allergic to garlic. I hope you didn’t use any.”
I looked at the garlic clove sitting on the counter. I hadn’t even used it yet. I was cooking for myself, not for them. I cleared my throat and turned to the older woman.”
“Ma’am,” I said as respectfully as I could, “I’m not the chef here. I was just making myself something to eat.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Not the chef?” She scanned me from head to toe. “Then you must be a new maid.”
“No, ma’am,” I answered immediately. “I’m not a maid either.”
Her nostrils flared. “Then what are you doing in this kitchen? The staff aren’t allowed to cook for themselves here. They have the backhouse for that.“}
“I understand, ma’am,” I said, trying to stay calm. “But again, I’m not part of the staff.”
She stepped closer, clearly irritated. “Then who are you?”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
My mind went blank. Who was I, exactly? A guest? But no ordinary guest would be placed in a luxurious room stocked with designer clothes and accessories. Ulysses hadn’t introduced
myself comfortable.
He said he was pursuing me. But how could I explain
to anyone yet. He had simply told me to stay here, to rest, and to make
saving it al
presen
sounded narcissistic and laughable.”
I glanced at Catelyn again. Her back was straight, her
poised. Her eyes sharpened the longer she stared at me. I remembered their conversation earlier, Catelyn hadn’t denied being his fiancée.
What was happening here?”
The silence in the room dragged on. I was just about to force out some kind of explanation when the butler entered. His arrival couldn’t have come at a better time. He gave a courteous nod to the older woman.”
“Ma’am Veronica,” he greeted, “the master is currently not at home. He left specific instructions that if you arrived, you are to remain in the guest lounge and refrain from walking around unaccompanied.”@
Veronica stiffened. “Excuse me? I am his mother. And you’re telling me where I can or can’t go in my son’s house?”
The butler’s tone remained composed. “Yes, ma’am. I’m simply following the master’s orders. If you wish, I can contact him so he can speak with you directly.”
She looked at him like he’d grown two heads.
“Unbelievable,” she muttered. Then she motioned to Catelyn. “What about her? Do you even know who this young lady is?“}]
The butler gave a slight nod. “Yes, ma’am. That is Miss Catelyn from the Winsor family.”
He spoke as if the whole world should recognize her name.”
“She is well–regarded and highly sought after,” he added.
Veronica gave a satisfied nod, her tone shifting slightly. “Then surely, you should allow her to be treated differently. You can’t expect someone like her to be left in a boring guest lounge.”
The butler didn’t budge. “I apologize, but the instructions apply to all guests. It’s not a matter of disrespect. I’m only carrying out
what I’ve been instructed.”
He then politely gestured for them to follow.
Veronica crossed her arms, clearly unwilling. “So now, his own mother and his future wife are being treated like intruders? Is that what this is?”
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The butler kept his expression neutral. Then she turned to me again.
“And what about her?” she asked sharply. “She’s not a chef. Not a maid. So, she must be a guest. Why is she allowed to stay here
and we aren’t?”
The butler answered with a calm but firm voice. “She is here under Master Ulysses’s direct orders. Her presence has been cleared.“%
Veronica blinked, stunned. “What do you mean, cleared? Who is she?”
The butler gave a small, polite smile. “She’s a special guest, ma’am.“}
“That doesn’t explain anything,” she snapped. “Who is she really? She even has more status than me, Ulysses’s mother.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” the butler replied smoothly. “But I am only following orders.“”
I could feel the attention shift back to me. Catelyn hadn’t taken her eyes off me. Her gaze was steady, almost piercing. I met it without flinching. I had faced judgment before. I wasn’t about to shrink just because someone with a title was sizing me up.”
Then Catelyn tilted her head slightly and narrowed her eyes. Slowly, her lips curled into a knowing smile.
“I know you,” she said.
I stared at her. “What?”
Veronica turned to her. “What are you talking about?”
Catelyn didn’t answer immediately. She seemed to savor the moment, like she was peeling back a secret she knew I didn’t want revealed.
“She’s the orphan from the Red Moon Clan. The Montague girl,” she said, with unmistakable satisfaction.
Veronica’s brows furrowed. “Montague? That upstart family who rose quickly and then died off in some tragic accident?“}
I felt my breath catch. I couldn’t move.
“She’s the last one,” Catelyn continued, her voice casual but cutting. “I remember now. There was a scandal about her wedding five years ago… Isn’t she used as a substitute bride since the real bride left for another man?“”
Veronica’s expression shifted. First surprise, then something darker.
“So, this is what my son entertains now?” she said with a mocking chuckle. “Keeping a stray for pity? Has he gone insane?“}
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