Chapter 19
\-The next day-
As Amabel stepped out of her room, her eyes met Cedrissa’s, who was emerging from the kitchen. Amabel rushed over, grasping Cedrissa’s arms. “Good morning, dear,” she exclaimed, her face radiant with a warm smile. “You left the event yesterday, informing no one, and we got back late last night, so I couldn’t speak with you. How was your night?”
Cedrissa nodded sympathetically. “I was still awake when you got back, ma, but couldn’t come out because Alaric was still wide awake,” she explained. “He’s still upset that I took Felix’s side at the event yesterday, so I was doing my best to apologize and make amends.”
“I understand your approach, and I must say, I’m impressed,” Amabel praised. “You’re navigating this situation skillfully, knowing exactly when to take a step back. If you had openly supported Alaric yesterday, the chairman would likely have turned on Felix,”
Amabel leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. “He might even reconsider transferring Alaric’s share to Felix,” she smiled, her eyes sparkling with approval. “I must say, Cedrissa, your tactics were spot on. Well done.”
“Thank you, ma,” Cedrissa replied, her face lighting up with a genuine smile. “As team Felix, it’s my priority to clear off anything that might put him in a difficult spot.”
Amabel nodded her appreciation. “Thank you,” she said, her eyes drifting toward the kitchen before returning to Cedrissa with a warm smile. “Is breakfast ready, or should I go check on it?”
“It’s all set, ma,” Cedrissa replied. “I got up early to cook breakfast, so everything’s ready to go.”
“You cooked the meal yourself?!” Amabel asked incredulously, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise. She dropped Cedrissa’s hand and strode past her, making her way to the kitchen. “Where were the maids? What were they doing while you were slaving away over a hot stove?”
“How dare they let you lift a finger in the kitchen?” Amabel fumed, her strides growing more purposeful and indignant as she marched toward the kitchen.
Cedrissa hurried after Amabel, catching up to her just outside the kitchen door. She gently grasped Amabel’s arm, halting her progress. “It’s not their fault, ma,” Cedrissa explained. “If anyone’s to blame, it’s me. I snuck into the kitchen early, before anyone else was up. When the staff arrived and saw me cooking, they were mortified and immediately apologized, and begged for forgiveness.”
“Even Mrs. Chloe tried to intervene, telling me to leave the cooking to the staff, but I was determined to see it through,” Cedrissa said, her eyes pleading for understanding. “I wanted to do this myself, and just have the maids assist me. I’m sorry if I overstepped, ma. I just really wanted to take care of this.”
Amabel let out a gentle sigh, her expression softening as she gazed at Cedrissa. “You’re not overstepping, dear,” she said, her voice calm. “It’s just that, with all the staff we have, you don’t have to take on the responsibility of cooking. You deserve to be pampered—not burdened with household chores,”
“We employ staff to handle these tasks, so it’s not your responsibility to do their job,” she explained, her concern clear in her voice. “Imagine if a guest were to see you exiting the kitchen, wiping your hands on a towel,”
“If word got out, it could tarnish our family’s reputation and spark unwanted speculation about our household. The last thing we need is for people to pry into our private affairs.”
Cedrissa hung her head in shame, her voice laced with remorse. “I’m so sorry, ma,” she apologized, her hands clasped tightly together in front of her. “I didn’t think things through before acting. I should have come to you first and asked for your permission. Please forgive me, ma.”
Amabel placed a reassuring hand on Cedrissa’s shoulder, shaking her head. “No, dear, I’m not trying to make you feel guilty,” she said, her expression softening.
She added her second hand to Cedrissa’s shoulder, her smile warm and encouraging. “If you’d like to take charge of the kitchen, I’m more than happy to give you my blessing.”
Cedrissa’s face lit up with a smile as she met Amabel’s gaze, and Amabel’s beam grew even brighter. “And if any issues arise, don’t worry—I’ll take care of them.” She promised.
“One more thing, ma,” Cedrissa added, a hint of hesitation in her voice. “I changed today’s menu. We were supposed to have Amala, but I prepared a pounded yam instead.
“Why the change?” Amabel inquired, her curiosity piqued. “Were you craving pounded yam, dear?”
“Hmm, actually… I prepared the pounded yam because it’s Alaric’s favorite dish,” Cedrissa explained, a thoughtful expression on her face. “I wanted to use it as a peace offering, to make amends for my behavior yesterday.”
“Amabel’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she let out a soft snicker. ‘Alaric has a weakness for pounded yam?” She asked, her tone laced with surprise. Cedrissa nodded, and Amabel’s chuckle grew louder. “I had no idea,”
“We rarely have pounded yams,” Amabel said, a hint of surprise still in her voice. She jerked her thumb toward the kitchen. “If there are yams in the kitchen, they’re usually meant for frying or making porridge, not pounding.”
“Oh,” Cedrissa exclaimed, feigning surprise. Though she had already learned this tidbit from Mrs. Chloe, she needed to maintain the charade. “No worries, ma. If pounded yam isn’t your preference, I can whip up some Amala for you instead. I’ll have it ready in just a few minutes.”
Amabel’s face lit up with a warm smile. “Don’t trouble yourself, dear,” she declined. “We’re not opposed to eating pounded yam, we just rarely have it. And one time won’t hurt, especially since the aroma of your stew is already appealing,”
“I’m sure it’ll be delicious—so much that I might bite my fingers rushing to take a bite.” She exaggerated.
Cedrissa’s face lit up with a bright smile. “Thank you, ma.” She said, her voice filled with gratitude, casting her gaze downward, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.
“Cedrissa, if eating pounded yam every day is what it takes to achieve our goal, then don’t hesitate,” Amabel advised, her eyes serious. “You’re doing this to win Alaric’s heart, and I must say, you’ve made progress—until yesterday’s mishap.”
“That is-” Cedrissa opened her mouth to respond, but Amabel’s curiosity got the better of her, and she unintentionally interrupted.
“How did you get through to him?” Amabel interrogated. “What exactly did you say to convince him to attend the event? He was in such a good mood, too… until the incident, that is. What was your secret? Did you use some kind of trick to win him over?”
“To be honest, he told me he wasn’t coming, and I was just as surprised as everyone else when he showed up in such high spirits,” Cedrissa confessed. “I had given up trying to convince him, just like you advised. But I guess he reconsidered after I mentioned that the chairman would think I’d fail as his wife if he didn’t attend.”
Amabel shrugged. “Either way is fine,” she said. “If he showed up because he didn’t want you to fail as his wife, then he has something for you already.”
Cedrissa elevated her left shoulder. “Maybe…”
“I was against him attending because I worried he’d upstage Felix, which he did; but only briefly,” Amabel admitted. “The best part of the event was how Felix was showered with praise. But the icing on the cake was seeing Alaric humiliated, storming off with everyone, seeing him as a cruel and heartless person,”
A sly smile spread across Amabel’s face as she revealed her most satisfying moment. “The highlight of the evening was the chairman publicly rebuking Alaric.” She confessed.
Cedrissa scoffed. “The scene is nice. I love watching as well. Alaric’s expression at the moment made me excited, and I wished I could burst into laughter.”
“Don’t bother about serving. Let the maids set the table and pack the food out,” Amabel instructed. “You should take your bath and dress up so you can come out to eat. They’ll sort out Alaric’s meal as well.”
“Okay, ma.” Cedrissa uttered. She bowed and walked to the room.
“Oh, great. You’re finally back. I was thinking I’d have to pick out my dress,” Alaric said, his eyes on his wardrobe. “I do not know what to wear. Help me out.”
A light chuckle escaped her lips. “Why wait for me? You can choose your dress, can’t you?”
“Of course I can, but why bother when I have you to do it for me? I’m enjoying this babysitter thing,” he replied. “It feels nice to be pampered,”
He positioned himself to face her. “As I’m taking your role, I expect your cooperation,” he stated. “If I requested you bathe me, won’t you?”
Cedrissa’s eyes went wide. “Hun, what are you talking about?” she asked, her tone laced with shock and confusion.
“Don’t look so worried. I was just joking,” he teased. “I just need your help with a few things; pick out my dress and prepare my meal. That’s all I need, at least for now.”
Cedrissa moved forward. Her eyes darted to the wardrobe, her gaze sweeping over the array of dresses. She stood there for a few seconds, her fingers trailing over the fabrics before settling on a white rounded-neck shirt. “Would you like this one?” she asked, holding it up for his inspection.
“I asked you to pick because I’m having a hard time deciding. Can you just choose something already? I’ll wear whatever you pick.” He said.
She broke eye contact and scanned the wardrobe before turning back to him. “What’s going on? You always know exactly what you want. Why’re you suddenly having trouble deciding what to wear?”
He raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with having someone help me out? You’re not blaming me for taking you up on your offer, are you?”
Cedrissa stared at him, saying nothing, and her silence made him press on. “You promised to take care of me, didn’t you?”
“Seriously, I didn’t sign up for this!” She yelled. “I didn’t think I’d have to deal with this level of childishness.”
Alaric looked down, his eyes filled with remorse. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll take care of myself from now on. You don’t have to worry about me.”
Cedrissa filled her lips with a smile. “Don’t be so serious! I was just joking,” she said. “I’m not tired of helping you out at all. And honestly, if you need me to bathe you, that’s okay too,”
“I want you to feel totally comfortable around me, and that means being able to ask for anything without feeling weird. So go ahead, ask me anything. I’ve got your back.”
Alaric’s face lit up with a smile. “Alright, it’s a deal,” he said. His eyes sparkled with curiosity, and he asked, “what’s your favorite color?”
“Blue,” Cedrissa replied curtly.
Alaric grinned. “Perfect! Then I’m wearing blue today. And you know what? You’re wearing blue too!”
Cedrissa playfully rolled her eyes and headed straight to the wardrobe. Without hesitation, she grabbed the first blue shirt her hands landed on. “This one,” she said with a smile, holding it up for Alaric to see.
Cedrissa hurried over to her dress section and grabbed the first blue dress she saw. “I’ll wear this one too.” She said with a smile.
Alaric beamed with approval. “Perfect! And I have some great news,” he proclaimed. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said, and I’ve decided it’s time for me to interact with people again,”
He exhaled a deep breath and locked eyes with Cedrissa, his gaze filled with determination. “I’m not sure if it’ll be easy, but with your help, I think I’ll be okay,”
A hint of a smile played on his lips. “You made my favorite meal, just like you promised. And to show my appreciation, I’ve decided to start eating in the dining hall with everyone else, starting today.”
Cedrissa’s eyes widened in surprise. She dropped the dresses and rushed to him, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug. “Thank you!” She raised her voice with excitement running through her. “This is wonderful!”