A special chapter request by Happyranko. To get to know what's inside the brain of our henchman. Do feel free to request me if you want to get to know the others as well :) This special chapter will be shorter than the other main one and it is a subplot. So it won't affect the main plot.

Please feel free to correct my writings! :)

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That one time at the penthouse

The elevator shortly brought me to the highest floor of the building, which is where Sir Sakda is currently staying. My steps automatically go towards the engraved double door of the penthouse. As usual, I let my eyes start to trace the carvings that are shaped in leaves, flowers, and veins. The nature elements intertwine to each other, forming an intricate pattern that is symmetrical to the other door. I honestly don't understand why Sir Sakda chose this design as his front door. It's... ugly.

But who am I to judge? I believe he has a higher taste than me.

I press the doorbell once and patiently wait for the other side to let me in. Not long after, the door open, revealing one of the many maids that I did not recognize. This one has blonde hair that is neatly tied to a bun and hazel eyes. Then my eyes automatically observe the woman in front of me. Slowly, my brain starts to remember the maid, letting my guard be slightly down because of the familiar features. Her relaxes posture immediately tell me that nothing bad is happening. But I can't help to see a little bit of worry in her eyes.

She then clears her throat and pivots her body to the side, giving a room for me to enter. I let myself in and as usual, will begin to observe the surroundings, to see whether if there are any changes around the house. My eyes go to the familiar living room, looking at the furniture and vases briefly. Seems like nothing's changed. Then my gaze slowly pans around to the left, looking at the grand piano and stairs, still in its original places.

I turn towards the maid and was about to ask about Kana's whereabouts when my eyes divert to the kitchen. I immediately close my slightly gaping mouth as I understand why she was so wary to let me in. She might be scared that I report this mess to Sir Sakda. But of course, I won't. Because based on my intuition, Sir Sakda will feel more ecstatic than mad, knowing his lover tries so hard to make dinner for him.

The kitchen is a bit messy, with onions that are chopped sloppily on the counter and a small pot on top of a lit stove that looks overboiled, judging from the brown bubbly liquids that slowly descending from the gaping lid. My eyes linger to the abundant distorted shapes of onions, wondering why does Kana need that many onions for his cooking. I never see someone use that many in their dish before.

I immediately go towards Kana, who is now looking down to an opened thick book with a knife on his left hand. He begins to tilt his head to the side as the knife is now erecting up, making it glints from the lights that reflect the metal surface. He hums as he read the book with the deadly object still standing tall in his hand.

I let myself close to him and mutters, "What are you doing?"

He let out a gasp and jolts, releasing the kitchen weapon from his hand. I immediately catch it with my index finger and thumb, pinching at the edge of the metal. I divert my gaze to him, "Be careful when using sharp objects, Kana."

He let out another gasp as his eyes go wide, seeing the knife between my fingers. Might be shocked because of the way I catch it. He then replies my gaze and pouts at me, "You're the one who startles me! Please make a sound when you walk. I can't count on how many times you shocked me with your quiet steps," then he looks down at my shoes, "And you're wearing oxford shoes that supposed to let out sounds. How can you do that?"

I carefully put down the knife to the counter and turns off the stove, making his doe eyes widen again because he just realizes whatever he cooked just now is overboiled. I tilt my head to the side, trying to find a logical explanation on how my normal walking style that I myself can't explain. I honestly don't know how I can stealthily walk without making any sound. All of the students back in the academy had the same thing, making the place back then awfully quiet. Maybe that's why I like quiet places. Because that means I get to be alone inside my own tranquillity. Then my wandering mind goes back to the earlier question. About how quiet I am when I walk. I conclude that I have no answer to this, so I just reply with the most logical answer I can think of, "Might be because Sir Sakda wants us to guard him secretly. He doesn't like to have guards around him when he's with you."

Kana turns his gaze to me and perks up, hearing my answer, "Oh? You're guarding him in the shadows?"

I let out a nod, "Not only me. But the other subordinates as well. One person won't be able to protect him. Sam just doesn't want you to get uncomfortable so that's why he told us to guard stealthily. Besides, his headgears don't really work to hid his face. There are still many times people can recognize him."

Kana's eyes flutters, bewildered at the fact, "...Oh. I thought no one recognizes him when he's in incognito. Turns out, it was because of you guys secretly guarding him."

I nod again. Then my eyes turn towards the messy counter. I gaze back to him and let out my previous unanswered question, "What are you doing?"

Kana immediately blush and scratch his cheek awkwardly, "I was... trying to make a dinner for Sam. But as you can see," he frowns, "I'm not that good at cooking." Then he takes out a spoon and opens the lid of the pot, showing me a brown-almost-black concoction. Looks like a soup, but I'm not sure. I have never seen this dish before. He scoops a tiny bit of the cooking and offers it to me, "Can you help me to judge it?"

Not asking any further, I oblige and tries whatever it is. Surely I won't die just by tasting his food. As far as I know from Sir Sakda, Kana is not bad at cooking. And he's not someone that is evil enough to poison me. But, I can't help to let my face frowning, confuse because I taste nothing in there. I let out a question, "What is this?"

Kana's doe eyes immediately look down as he let out a dejected face, "I knew it, it's not good. I even managed to make you frown with my cooking. This is supposed to be a french onion soup."

I can feel my heart soften, seeing how hard he tries for Sir Sakda. Surely, the master will be very pleased if he tastes this, no matter how... undelicious the food is, "I'm sure he won't mind, Kana. He for sure will eat whatever food you make. No matter how horrible it tastes."

It seems my reassurance isn't working, making his frown deepen, "You're just indirectly said my cooking is not good."

I blink, not knowing what to answer. Because it is the truth. But maybe it's best if I don't reply back to his true statement. I don't want to upset him any further. Sir Sakda might get mad if I do.

He then let out another sigh, "Maybe it's better to just ask the maids to cook it for us like usual. I don't want to disappoint and forcing Sam to eat my food when he's tired."

Seeing the dejected face makes me tries to find reassurance words inside my brain once more. It's a bit hard to arrange one since I never really reassure anyone in my life before. Then as I finally finish the sentence in my head, I held my tongue, rethinking whether if it's a good idea to really let out that sentence.

Sir Sakda for sure prefers to taste your bland food than having a delicious one from the maids.

Well, now that I think about it, it's not really a reassurance. Kana might be more upset if I mutter it out. Then if Sir Sakda knows, he might be upset with me as well. I don't need two people getting upset on be at the same time. So, I just decide to let out the truth, "It's just bland, Kana."

Then he tilts his head to the side, "Bland?" and goes to the pot and tries it himself. My eyes go to the book that I know realizes is a recipe book. I immediately scan the ingredients, then point at the writing, "Maybe you forgot to add bay leaves and thyme. Add more sugar and black pepper so it can taste better. Then add brandy as well."

His doe eyes go towards the book, reading the one that I pointed. He then goes and add the ingredients that I mentioned earlier and once again, turns on the stove to the highest heat. I turn it down, "It says low heat."

Kana turns to reread again and nods as he smiles to me, "Thank you for the help, Levi. Are you able to cook as well?"

I shake my head, "Sir Sakda often forced me to judge his cooking."

Kana chuckles at my response. Then, he tilts his head once again, observing me with his doe eyes, "You know, I often see you not talking a lot with others. Why is that?"

I let my eyes to gaze towards the doe eyes as I begin to contemplate on what's the best answer I can let out. There is no apparent reason for me to start conversing with others. I don't feel the need to get close to insignificant people in both mine and Sir Sakda's life. Because in my opinion, having too many connections relating to feelings will eventually disadvantage me, who works in this dangerous field. There's no need for me to have unnecessary things that can become my weakness. As I conclude my thoughts, I let out an answer, "Because I don't need to."

One of his brows raised as his head keeps on tilting at the side. Sometimes I wonder if his neck is going to be fine, to keep on tilting his head like that. Kana replies to my short statement, "Don't you want to have someone important in your life?"

I took a pause, processing his question. Then I answer, "Sir Sakda is someone important in my life." and then I add, "Unromantically."

Kana let out a soft snort, "You're a very unique individual, Levi."

I nod as my eyes blink, not understanding whether it is a compliment or a taunt. But based on my observation regarding Kana, he's not someone who likes to speak ill of others. So maybe I'll just take that as a compliment.

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