Chapter 34: Don’t Forget The Deal Zelle

….

“We all know how much both the young Randolphs care about you. It’s just that their ways of caring are different from each other!” ---Cohen.

….

As the scorching sun rose in the sky with not much of a wind that could help ease the gardeners' thirst, Cohen walked towards the huge tree to take a rest for a while.

It was already noon and time for lunch. All the gardeners except him went inside the mansion for a meal prepared by the kitchen staff. “Did you hear? There was an extra meat that came earlier in the morning. If we get lucky, they might leave some for us.”

“Oh, great! I hope there’s some for us.” The other one said, “I heard lately we would mostly have vegetable meals for a day or two due to the market’s drop.”

“That’s why it’s really lucky that the meat shop owner gave me extra for today. So let’s grab it while we still can!”

“I don’t think there’s any left. The kitchen maids would probably finish it in the morning.” The other gardener that heard them, grunted and walked away.

The two others chatting shrugged and followed him.

As for Cohen, seeing the gardeners left already, he stood up and took out his lunch box, hiding in the huge tree, and sat under it.

With his job as dangerous as it is, living on the same roof with almost a hundred people that would be after his head if they found out his identity, he always made his meals from the harvest he snuck from the storage.

When he opens his lunch box, the smell of brown rice, potato, and carrot mix dish makes Cohen’s hunger grow.

He took his utensils and started to munch. While eating, from behind him, a woman in a red dress suddenly sat beside him, making his heart go up from surprise! “Miss Zelle!”

Zelle’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth from surprise guilt, “I apologize. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

Cohen was about to stand up when Zelle stopped him, “Please stay and enjoy your meal. I just thought you would be lonely eating here alone when I saw you at the window.”

“Oh no,” Cohen disagreed, “I’m okay, Miss Zelle. I just like to eat here most of the time. I like nature, you see. Part of the reason why I chose to be a gardener, other than the huge salary here is.”

‘Pft,” Zelle chuckled, “Well, I do agree that nature is the best. Still, do you mind if I stay here for a while too?”

Cohen shook his head, “No, not at all.” Cohen helped her sit beside him and offered his handkerchief to be used to be sat at. She accepted it and sat down. “Would you like some, Miss Zelle?” Cohen showed his lunch box and offered it to her.

Zelle declined and shook her head, “No thank you. I already filled my stomach with porridge just now. But please, enjoy.”

Cohen nodded and ate again.

With her beside him, Cohen was put under pressure to eat faster without her noticing and acted like that was just how he ate.

Zelle kept staring at him with unfathomable thoughts, but with the sweetest smile she gave him. “M-miss Zelle, may I ask, other than seeing me from your window, what brings you here?”

Zelle tilted her head, “I just don’t want my people, my friends, and future friends to be lonely.” She took out her handkerchief from her pocket and gave it to him, then pointed at the dirt under his lips, “And also, I just want to take a breath from what’s happening inside the mansion.”

“It must have been hard for you,” Cohen sympathized. “You have known them for years.”

Zelle nodded, “Yes. I grew up with most of the people here.” She sighed, “I hadn’t much time to help the new workers settle here, you know, getting you all to know each other better. I can’t even help them prepare for my few days left debut….”

“I---” Zelle bit her lip, “I don’t have time to think much about the deal between me and Uncle Zeppelin... Because of this, you know what.…”

“Miss Zelle,” Cohen assures her, “Everything will be alright. Sir Zeppelin is trying his best to keep the peace here, and Sir Aaron is trying his best to help find the culprit.”

“I hadn't seen Aaron in a long time,” Zelle said graciously with a frown, “And I'm not sure if he still cares about me,” she mumbled, “Unlike Zach.”

“Don't say that, Miss Zelle!” Cohen flabbergasted as he put down his fork, “We all know how much both the young Randolphs care about you. It’s just that their ways of caring are different from each other!”

‘Yeah, too many different ways to woo her, but both are still jerks. ’ Cohen thought and hid it behind his soothing voice, “Sir Aaron cares about you by protecting you from afar. And Sir Zach cares about you by being there beside you in this crucial time.”

‘Or takes advantage of you, that is.’

Zelle looked at him as she wondered, “You really think so? That Aaron really cares?”

Cohen nodded, “We all know Miss Zelle.”

From afar, Aaron was stunned to see Zelle and the gardener talking to each other under the huge tree as if they had been friends for a long time.

Although he knew Zelle was friendly inside the mansion and everyone knew her for that, that gardener was still under probation. “What the f*ck is Zach thinking of letting Zelle out of his sight?”

He rushed to the office and saw Zach sleeping on the couch and frowned. “Useless,” he mumbled and left. When he came back to the hallway where he could see the back garden, he saw Zelle was standing up and was about to leave.

Aaron took this chance and went to the garden to talk to that gardener, “Hey you!”

“Young master,” Cohen turned around to meet him.

“What did you and Zelle talk about?” Aaron asked directly, with a frown.

“Miss Zelle came out for a fresh air and she happened to see me, young master.” Cohen explained, “I reassured her that everything would be back to normal like Master Zeppelin told us to tell her.”

Aaron glared at him for a minute before responding, “Don’t forget where you stand.”

“Yes, young master,” Cohen said, keeping his head down and trying not to roll his eyes, “I am loyal to the Randolph.”

“Good.” With a satisfying answer he heard, Aaron left. As he turned his back on him, Cohen rolled his eyes before he brought his head up to watch him leave.

….

Knock knock

Diana had just finished her lunch when someone knocked on her door as she was about to change her clothes. She grunted and opened the door and frowned, seeing Brietta outside. “Ugh, what do you want?”

“Master needs you asap.” Brietta stated.

Hearing that, she clicked her tongue and went outside her room, “Lead the way.”

~

• R18GB • KL • Season One •