"Are you listening, ma'am?" A sudden shaking brought me out of my thoughts.
"Uhm… I'm fine; why do you ask?" I smiled and was glad to see it was Yota, Reiss's old butler.
"For one, you didn't answer me when I called your name repeatedly, and you're... crying... Mrs. Freya, is something wrong?" He asked with concern evident on his face.
"Oh!" I laughed as I quickly wiped away my tears. I didn't even notice I was crying.
"I'm fine; don't worry. What was it you were saying?" I looked at all the cups arranged on the dinner table with sudden amusement.
Reiss made him teach me table manners from scratch and how to ball dance, and I had been spending time with the cooks as well. I was supposed to learn some of Reiss's favourite dishes to prepare, and today I was learning about different cups and how to hold them with charming grace.
As a puppet, I must be perfect, I suppose, and since I will now become part of the high class, I should learn how to act like one.
It's not a bad thing, though; these are good lessons I would pay to learn, but if I had a say, I would make Reiss teach me himself. But I have lost that right, I guess.
"Let's run through everything again. That's a cocktail glass; that's a champagne flute; a water goblet; a champagne tulip; a Margarita glass; that's for vodka; a shot glass; a sparkling wine glass; a highball glass; a hurricane; that's for red wine; a brandy glass; a juice cup."
"Yes?? Chef Gaaf? Oh, you're preparing something new, and you want me in the kitchen?" I interrupted
"I'm sorry, it seems I'm needed in the kitchen; we can continue some other day," I smile.
I know we both didn't hear anyone call for me, but he was kind enough to give me a nod before turning away.
Those glasses were way too much for one person to stick inside their head.
I saunter to the kitchen, where I see Chef Gaaf really busy and into what she is cooking; the aroma is quite provoking too.
"Heyo!" I shout as my hands land on Chef Gaaf's shoulder.
The woman jolted under my touch, and I just chuckled.
"You shouldn't have lied like that. You know you need those lessons," she said as she regained herself and continued chopping some carrots.
She was the head chef, but she still insisted on doing some work like the others, and I liked that.
She was also really sweet, so I warmed up to her quite easily. She's the one I've talked to the most in here, and I'm just thankful she never asks me about Reiss. I could tear up if that happens.
"Yeah, I know that, but it's hard, and there are so many," I whined.
"What are you cooking, though?" I asked as I munched on a muffin she placed beside me.
"Turkey. Roasted Turkey," she smirked.
"You see, that's new; I didn't lie."
"You did, girl." She rolled her eyes, and I laughed.
"Let's call it a white lie," I said, and we both laughed.
"Did I hear turkey?" Someone said it from the door, and my whole body stilled when I heard his voice.
"You know that's one of my favourites." He continued as he walked towards us. My mouth tasted sour as I lost all appetite for the muffins.
He placed his hands on my waist and asked, "Would you be a darling and make some for me?" I instantly felt tingles all over my body.
No matter my hatred for him, my body was still shameless enough to cherish every moment he laid his hands on me.
I couldn't even muster the courage to look back at him and say, "I can't make Turkey. It's one thing I've never been good at."
"But with all of Gaaf's knowledge, I'm sure you'll do well."
"Everyone, please vacate the kitchen. My lovely wife wants to make me dinner," he smiled. I heard their footsteps leave as I looked at Gaaf with worrisome eyes, but she gave me a sorry look instead and stepped away from the oven.
"Gaaf, you won't touch anything, okay? Just supervise, but don't say a word to her."
He breathed on my neck as he whispered, his voice hoarse and sounding dangerous, "Don't think I didn't see what you did with Yota. Just because they won't try to disrespect you doesn't mean you should abuse that. Now this is your punishment, and you had better be excellent." He released me and walked out.
"Oh God…" I sighed, goosebumps all over my skin.
"You know I'll ruin this dish, Gaaf; you have to help me," I immediately blurted out.
"There are cameras, Mrs. Freya," she gritted.
"Shit!"
"So what do I do? Add some pepper. Some garlic?" I raised them in my arms as I looked at her, feeling miserable already.
"It's more like seasoning chicken broth." She gave me the 'You know' look.
"You know I was half asleep that day! I didn't pay attention to the spices; come on!" I whine
"Just tell me what to do, okay? Should I put mayo on this?" I asked as I walked to the fridge and brought a jar out.
She immediately burst into a round of laughter, and I couldn't help but join her.
"You silly child. You can't even remember how to make a broth," she jokes as she brings out some powders from the cupboard.
I guess that's what I'll be using, then.
"Remember, I can't say anything to you, nor am I to help, but this is the best I can do. You need to start now, Mrs. Freya." She nods and looks at her hands, which she had hidden under her apron.
Oh, she's going to give me some heads up.
Oh, thank you! You're the absolute best!
~~~
I did my very best, but he seemed to not like the flavouring. He said a lot of things that I can't remember because I just mentally didn't want to store them in my memory. If that makes any sense,.
He discredited my cooking, and he made a tantrum about every single thing; he even told me to eat the whole plate, and he sat there and watched me eat my very first roasted turkey.
Although it wasn't that bad, it just had a bit more flavour on some sides, and some parts didn't even have any taste at all. Some parts were even undercooked.
My punishment is definitely loading after this.
Well, what do you expect? I have never done this in my entire life. Gaaf has yet to teach me, so please criticise me.
I'm such a failure, I know.
His words I would not like to repeat, but surely they did cut deep into me.
My hell is just beginning...
It's just the beginning.