The mansion's interior reverberates with the thunderous sound of urgent footsteps. Oliver springs to his feet, bounding down the stairs. Swiftly manoeuvring to the right, he navigates through the grand dining room as his eyes look around.

     As he passes through the dining room, Oliver sees Gregory sitting on a chair while drinking fresh red wine and reading a newspaper. Oliver quickly grabs Gregory by the shoulders. Then, Oliver drags his lover with him until they reach the kitchen.

"Ow? Hey! Ay—" Gregory felt Oliver pulling him. Rising from his seat, Gregory hurryingly placed his wineglass and newspaper on the table. "Ay! Ay!?" he stammered as his lover dragged him along.

     The two men arrive in the kitchen, where aromatic steams flow from every corner. Oliver places his hands on his hip as he approaches a counter. He then opens a drawer and pokes his head and hands inside.

"...What are you looking for?" Gregory asked curiously as his eyes wandered around the kitchen.

"Let's get some ingredients!" Oliver said as he looked around the kitchen drawers.

"Ingredients for what?" Gregory wondered as he smiled and walked nearer to his lover.

Oliver looked at Gregory with a broad grin. "For a cake!" Oliver replied.

"Alright! I got it!" Gregory responded.

     A large bowl, brimming with a mountainous cascade of flour, collided with the solid surface of the counter, generating a resonant thud. A plate loaded with countless sticks of golden butter landed beside the flour. Then, a bowl overflowing with sugar followed, lying between the other ingredients.

      Following closely behind, a separate bowl stood beside the other ingredients, containing plump black currants. Meanwhile, a plate with a medley of colourful diced fruits joined the culinary chorus. Then, a bowl holding four golden yolks of eggs completed the ensemble on the counter.

"Hmm... what else to add?" Oliver pondered as he stared at the ingredients on the marble counter.

"Don't forget the spices!" Gregory stood beside Oliver and placed a tray with bowls of spices on the counter. "Cinnamon, vanilla and cocoa!"

"Ooh!" Oliver smiled. He then turned around and grabbed a bottle. "And a brandy!" he raised the bottle, showing it to Gregory.

"Perfect," Gregory nodded.

     Oliver places the bottle of brandy on the counter. Then, he steps back as his eyes lock on the ingredients. Slowly, Oliver takes a deep breath, folding his hands and placing them on his lips.

Oliver frowned, knitting his brows. "...It's been a while since I last cooked or baked anything," Oliver mumbled. "I don't know if I can still cook."

"But you love cooking!" said Gregory. "I know you'll still create a masterpiece for our dear friend. Besides..." he smirked as he glanced across the kitchen.

Oliver's eyes immediately trailed over where Gregory's sight landed.

     The kitchen staff—chefs, cooks, and bakers—stood beside the kitchen doorway. They donned their proper white uniform, and the fabric of their clothes blended with the white steam flowing from simmering pots. The women glanced at each other, pressing their hands against their brown aprons.

A bashful lady chef stepped forward. "Uhm, sir, may we assist you?" she asked kindly.

Oliver's smile blossomed. "Perfect!" he exclaimed as he jumped.

     Soon, the kitchen stoves began throwing flames. Smoke covers the entire room, filling every corner. Servants scattered and ran around with trays and pans in their hands as others remained focused on one spot.

     Oliver inspects as he marches around with Gregory following his back. As he struts down the aisle, Oliver glances at the counters, where chefs chop meat and dice vegetables. Oliver then stops behind a cook struggling to open a bottle of white wine.

"Need a hand?" Oliver asked while smiling.

     Oliver takes the wine bottle. Then, he pops the seal open, causing the cork to fly around the room. Oliver then hands the bottle to the cook and resumes walking around the counters.

"How's the poached salmon going?" Oliver inquired as he wandered through the counters.

"It's progressing splendidly, sire!" a cook responded.

"How about the turkey?" Oliver questioned as he cut to the corner. "The turkey??"

"It's roasting like a fine flame dragon!" a chef responded with a smirk.

"How about the mango pie?" Oliver called out.

"It's nearly ready, sir! We shall place it in the oven after the turkey!" a lady chef replied.

"Excellent, excellent!" Oliver smiled, grinning as he looked left and right.

     Oliver continues marching down the aisle of counters. Then, he stops and watches a group of men carrying a majestic two-layer cake with a milk-white cream coating on a colossal tray. Oliver's eyes fixate on the cake's surface, covered in white icing with ribbons of melted chocolate gushing down the sides like molten lava.

Oliver gasped in amazement. "...Beautiful!" His eyes glistened.