Amayah's Cooking

A/N: Here's a chapter dedicated to 2 loyal supporters of the novel: @Yass_7238 and @Titania_23! :)

Amayah returned to the Rosewood Mansion with a bag of groceries she'd bought from the supermarket.

She was greeted by Butler Alfred just as she entered the living room. "Welcome young miss, you're back."

She stopped in her tracks to greet Butler Alfred. "Oh, Mr. Alfred, yes, good evening."

Just then, his gaze traveled to the bags in her hands. Noticing his curious gaze, Amayah said, somewhat hesitantly, and apologized. "These are some groceries I bought. Master Nolan suggested that he'd like to try my cooking. It's a bit sudden, but I thought I'd make use of the kitchen on the second floor. I'm sorry I forgot to inform the kitchen not to cook the meal. I hope that's not a problem…" Amayah said, somewhat unsurly.

When she said this, Butler Alfred gave her a sympathetic look. He probably thought she wasn't getting to enjoy the privileges of her new status at all. However, he didn't say anything about that.

Instead, he proposed helping her carry the bags to the second floor. "Let me help you. You must be tired after a whole day of work."

"There's no need, Mr. Alfred," she protested, automatically. She didn't want to bother this nice old man with such menial tasks.

Moreover…

Amayah glanced in the direction of the stairs unsurely. She feared that what if the devil himself came charging out of the room when sensing someone else in his fiefdom?

Seeing her obvious anxiety, Butler Alfred assured her, sounding somewhat downcasted, "You may not have noticed it yet, but ever since the young master lost his sight, he's never left that room."

At last, she didn't let Butler Alfred take the trouble and carried the groceries herself.

Before starting the cooking, she first went to check on Nolan.

Just as she opened the door, she found the man sitting on the couch as usual. She could not help but wonder how this man, even when just sitting there, looked ever so noble, doing nothing. Just as she was wandering in her la-la land, Nolan's voice pulled her back to reality.

"You're back."

"Um… yes. Sorry I'm late. After work, I went to buy some groceries for tonight's dinner." Amayah said. Well, at least she was glad that she wasn't welcome to any sort of mayhem.

He just hummed in response, and she got freshened up before heading to the kitchen.

***

As the doctor had mentioned the day before, the kitchen on the second floor was in an advanced state of disuse. However, with the second floor being Nolan's domain, it was sort of understandable why the servants had neglected this area.

After all, who would dare to throw themselves into the lion's den willingly?

Amayah sighed, looking at the mess of a kitchen, thinking where to start. Looking around, the whole kitchen was somewhat covered in a thin layer of dust, and the same should be said about the pots and pans.

Amayah first started by wiping the kitchen with a wet cloth, followed by washing the pots and pans.

After all the cleaning was done, she took out the cook book the doctor gave her and opened it to a particular page. She decided to cook some pasta as outlined in the doctor's cookbook.

Firstly, she filled a pot with water to boil the pasta in. Followed by taking out all of the vegetables from the bag and washing them in the sink, and got to work. She also decided to serve garlic bread on the side as a reward for Nolan for being a 'good' devil and not destroying anything today.

With her knowing how to cook this dish already, Amayah hardly needed Dr. West's cookbook at all.

***

Back in the room, Amayah placed the plated dinner in front of Nolan and informed him, "For dinner, there is pasta with some garlic bread today."

Actually, Nolan could smell the food as soon as she entered the room. Nolan was surprised that it actually smelled quite appetizing.

Nolan accepted the spoon she handed him and took the first bite.

One thing she didn't know was that Nolan didn't like eating a lot of veggies, but today he ate them without even noticing it.

He was surprised that her food was quite delicious, and his stomach and heart were being fulfilled before he realized it.

Amayah was having her dinner when she happened to glance at the opaque windows.

Struck by sudden inspiration, Amayah said, "Master Nolan, after we've had our dinner, why don't we go for a leisurely stroll outside."

She had heard from the rumors that he had never stepped out of this room since his accident, but if Butler Alfred hadn't confirmed it with her, she'd never have guessed that it was true. After all, how much could the outside rumors be trusted?

She glanced at Nolan and couldn't help but think, 'What a recluse!'

Her suggestion reminded Nolan of those days when he'd first gone blind, tripping and stumbling all throughout the house, while everyone snickered in glee. Suddenly, his whole body was awash in cold sweat. "No!" He cried out frantically.

His loud, sudden yell startled Amayah enough that she almost dropped the spoon in her hand.

"Aren't you worried about getting fat?" Amayah ventured, calming herself.

In spite of himself, Nolan patted his tummy subconsciously. He ate little, rejecting most of what he was served, so there was little chance of that actually happening. Nevertheless, when he thought of the physique he'd maintained during his glory days, he felt a deep sense of loss.

Amayah didn't miss his unconscious gesture; he obviously still clung to his reputation of being a lady killer. She turned up the pressure, knowing this was the only way to make him agree. "Don't be afraid. Just follow me and I'll be holding your hand the whole way."