Chapter 6: A Peaceful and Troubled Morning

Ten meters away from the Marquez estate is where the front garden sleeps. The blooming flowers were radiant in the morning that stretches far wide, sweeping from the opening garage's pathway to the ends of the towering fences, creating an illusion of a plain snowfield from a short distance, where barely an oversight of imperfection is impossible for a naked eye to spot.

The well-managed flowers were planted in rich fertilized soil imported from the western share of Bhur, its endless waves of pallid petals ripple and dance with the wind as the hot breeze continues to rustle and brush through the clear surface water by the fountain to the tall and majestic branches of trees sitting by the corners, causing its rotten leaves to fall and flee away in one direction.

With the identical height of the pine trees, it shielded and conquered the high and barricade fences as it gave off a view of one canvased masterpiece like nature's fine artwork itself, its fine shadows blending beautifully in the scenery.

The freshly bloomed white tulips blossomed and flourished without effort. The ends of its transparent petals stretched remarkably, lively and welcoming the fine weather in the morning as they glow under the touch of warm sun rays.

It's a dreamy scape to witness and escape to while enjoying and sipping a refreshing cup of tea in the morning.

Looking at such serene place would make anyone forget their troubles for the day and just enjoy gawking at the glorious lawn—an imagery as if brought to life from a children's fairytale book.

The sun had just risen, but the servants were strenuous and hardworking inside the mansion, sparing no second of rest.

Busy footsteps can be heard in every corner of the rowdy manor, vacuums roaring, and low chatters filled the whole grand floor. The head butler and head maid of the household strictly had every process checked twice while running through every ounce of details in their preparation for the heiress and the young master's needs in the morning.

They made sure everything was perfect, but they could only rest their worries and shaken hearts at ease when nothing goes out of plan from such a lovely morning to start.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the manor, far from the sight of the graceful movements of the house maidens and men, was the large kitchen sealed in four white walls with complete kitchen equipment and the latest customized kitchen tools that every chef dreams to lay their hands on.

A man in his late forties who's wearing his black chef uniform paired with his white cotton apron proudly fought with his co-chefs, giving his inferiors a good scolding as he rants about the recipes of the dish the junior chef he supervised was making.

His stern and tough management were understandable. He was especially mindful of the blacklisted dishes and the various adjustments in the recipes. He was only making sure there was not a single flaw in today's breakfast servings, or worst it'll cast another great adversity to the entire house due to the youngest master's picky and hard-to-please taste buds.

Oh, God, so help him!

Another wrong move and it will tarnish his whole reputation further.

He had long feared over the young boy's ruthless wrath in the house and doesn't desire to be on his bad side further. Such incident cannot happen again. Not under his surveillance and authority.

He raised his chin proudly with his long and tall chef hat on his head. It displays how much power and honor he holds with the highest position inside the kitchen house.

"No, no, no, don't put salt in it! Ayayay, amigo, start all over again!" The head chef carefully brushes the sweat emerging from his forehead with a clean and sanitized towel. Good heavens! What a mess!

He could only shake his head towards the newly hired junior chefs who were supposed to be professional enough to work under his premises, but instead, they were full of disappointment with their lack of knowledge and experience.

They were not even half near his level with his ten years of experience serving and feeding this household. But setting that aside, he's well aware their professionalism will sputter once they step their foot in the Marquez's kitchen without running through the list of dishes that were revised and ostracized inside the dining area. These new fools will only give him further headaches!

"Unless you want to be jobless, never put salt in it!" His roaring voice was loud and clear enough for the entire kitchen staff to hear.

The butlers, moving in and out from the kitchen doors halt upon hearing the sudden uproar but resumed afterwards for they do not want to delay a second for their preparation.

The scenery of the kitchen was in disarray, a state of a mess that's normal and pleasing to witness while working such as the head chef himself who had functioned in this four-cornered room to continue pursuing his passion.

It was much more satisfying than being in the kitchen of his privileged restaurant in the capital.

The head chef found himself smiling as his ears relaxed to the rowdy sound of meat against boiling oil, the ovens reverberating against each other, and the repetitive sound of knives slicing through various ingredients which creates a loud thud whenever it clasps against the top of the chopping board.

This is life. This has been his source of happiness.

The luscious aroma of different dishes from different famous cuisines continues to escalate around the room and the head chef roamed the large area like it was his own, passing from one counter to another, tasting the servings' flavors, and observing his subordinates' process of completing today's menu.

He would correct mild mistakes he spots until it reached his description of brim perfection, and he made sure none of the dishes from the black notebook were served in the trolleys, for he doesn't want to lose another professional staff who originally worked with him for years.

At the same moment, in the harmonious and peaceful hallway on the third floor were a few maids standing soundlessly, side by side. They maintain their good poise and mannerism as they wait patiently outside the double doors of the locked bedroom, waiting for the heiress and her son to step out.

They could only take their eyes around the tidy hallway, trying to spot any specks of dust or stare at the plain wall, painted with the darkest shade of blue they had ever laid their eyes on, with no single portrait seen on display.

It was dull to look at in the morning, but not as much as it is when the sun falls and the night comes, where the manor's usually empty hallways would be occupied with the horrid screams of a young boy.

Butler yang ushers towards the large window at the end of the corridor. He opens the red curtains wide for the sunlight to gain access, lighting and adding color to the lifeless space. The perfect view of the Garden with a large white gazebo in the corner greets his sight.

The running waters from the circular fountain placed in the center of the territory, inspired from the artistic beauty of the classical era, added elegance to this too modernized mansion.

There was a small smile engraved on his lips as he look straight at the lively neighborhood from afar, where small frames of children can be seen running and playing in their front yards and empty streets.

Now he wonders why this window was their young master's favorite spot, and he knows the reason deep well.

His eyes glance down at the perfect view of the entrance pathway of the house. Currently, housemaids are tidying the area, holding their vacuums to clean the carpets.

A gray Bentley can be seen parked a meter away from the carpet laid out with, Lee, the heiress' private chauffeur waiting outside the closed door of the backseat on his sharp tailored uniform suit has once again earned a few heart shape eyes from the ladies in the morning.

Ah, youth . . .

No matter how the young master endeavors to mask his intentions of dwelling by this window to enjoy the scenery in his free time, he was still like every child his age, anticipating and waiting for his mother to come home, for the heiress' car to be seen in sight.

'Such precious child should be protected.' Butler Yang presumed inside his head. With his back facing the other servants, the maids failed to see the emphatic determination in his eyes, the determination to serve the young boy as much as his old body can endure.

Not wanting to ruin the merry morning mood, he recalled one moment when the heiress summoned him to her study yesterday night and he couldn't be more ecstatic upon hearing the news she shared with him. He was delighted upon knowing for sure how the young boy would react.

That excellent child had proved his baffling development and growth of knowledge that he can honestly say is scarier than anything else he's seen. Because of that, the young master's schedules for his classes would extend up to three hours maximum. Truly, the heiress was considerate as the child needs to loosen up from the pressure at such a young age.

Her goodness and lovable warmth of a motherly image was everything the young master longs for, though the boy sealed it as a secret to himself, his actions were obvious for anyone to easily see through the different glint inside his eyes. His candid obsession and thirst for his mother's affection were clearer to see than his glasses.

It's an understandable behavior for a lonely child like him to have.

The heiress was the young master's only weakness and strength, a truly knowledgeable fact around the house.

Butler Yang saunters his way back towards the five other maids waiting with him at the front door. His smile concealed as his lips form into a thin line.

His keen eyes continue to study the gestures of the newly hired maids who failed to gain his trust on the evaluation test. His favor has always been hard to acquire, and it wouldn't simply be gained through words of pledge loyalty.

Somehow he couldn't rest his heart at ease with these new and young faces.