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Chapter 11
“She is my friend. You, Director of the Imperial Household, oversee everyone working inside the palace, right?”
“The Director of the Imperial Household does.”
“Then you must know a lot about Richard too—what he does and how he spends his days.”
“You?”
“…Sorry?”
The director snatched Alina’s basket away and asked sharply:
“This isn’t a place just anyone can come to. Only those with His Majesty’s permit are allowed inside. And I know who all of them are. You are not one of them.”
She pulled a sandwich out of the basket and glared at her.
“How am I supposed to know whether that innocent, adorable face of yours is hiding the intention to poison someone who lives in this palace—or to cause harm in some other way? I don’t overlook things just because someone’s cute.”
“Oh, I…”
Alina stammered as she listened.
She was definitely being scolded—interrogated even—yet for some reason her face grew hot.
“What’s this? Why is your face turning red?”
Alina covered her cheeks with her hands.
She was used to compliments about her food, but not about herself.
Her mind briefly went blank, and she murmured shyly:
“You… said something nice about me.”
“I literally just said you might have tried to poison Richard.”
“You did.”
Alina lifted her head quickly.
“But that’s not true. Like I said earlier—I’m Richard’s friend.”
“And I already told you I’ve never once heard of that brat having a friend.”
The director leaned in threateningly.
“People misunderstand this, but neglecting someone doesn’t mean we threw them away.”
Her words seemed to be about the palace… and at the same time, about Richard.
Alina stepped back with each of the director’s steps, but she didn’t back down verbally.
“Isn’t neglecting someone basically the same as abandoning them?”
“No. Neglecting is better than abandoning. And why would anyone waste attention on something with no will or ability to survive?”
“That’s… such a typical Malehark thing to say. You think something without ability has no worth, right?”
Alina forced down the bubbling anger in her chest. The director completely missed the criticism in her tone and smirked.
“For a Malehark woman, I’m actually quite humane. And not just that—rational and logical too.”
As she boasted about herself, dust suddenly rained down from the column above them.
Waving away the dust cloud, the director stepped back.
“Well, the truth is, that brat’s a headache I’ve put off dealing with—just like the repairs in this palace. I have no idea what to do with him.”
“Richard’s a problem? What did he do wrong?”
“That’s not something to blab to just anyone.”
The director shut her mouth firmly, building a wall.
Frustrated, Alina raised her voice.
“I told you—I’m Richard’s friend!”
“Then prove it. List everything you know about him. If you do, I’ll talk.”
“Well, he’s ten? Eleven? Something like that…”
“Wrong.”
She lifted her second finger and wagged it.
“He’s fourteen. Small for his age. Doesn’t grow well.”
“…”
Alina stayed silent.
That was wrong.
Richard isn’t failing to grow—he can’t grow.
During the growth years, children need to eat well. How could he grow on shriveled, stale bread?
“I may not know his exact age, but I am his friend!”
“Second question, then. What’s his full name?”
“Uh… that…”
Alina broke into a cold sweat.
She hadn’t thought of that at all.
“All he ever told me was ‘Richard’…”
“Wrong again.”
The director clicked her tongue.
“You don’t know his age, don’t know his name. And you still call yourself his friend?”
Alina closed her mouth tightly.
Put that way… she had no real defense.
“…Yes.”
“Highly suspicious.”
The director eyed her with deep distrust. She unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite.
“Lise Kruger, I have strong resistance to poison. I’d know right away if this had venom in—huh…?”
“Yes?”
“What is this sandwich?”
With a peculiar expression, she took a bigger bite.
The moment the filling hit her tongue, a creamy, sweet softness filled her mouth—no chewing required. Then came the savory, slightly salty aroma of nuts.
The sweetness of the smooth filling and the mild saltiness spread on the bread blended perfectly, coaxing her appetite awake.
“What is this? Why is it so good?”
Her voice boomed across the Ivory Palace courtyard.
“What did you say this was again?”
Alina blinked.
“A sandwich. I told you earlier.”
“Right, you did. But what did you do to it?”
“Nothing much. Just added banana and peanut butter. Oh, and a little cinnamon.”
“This is fruit and peanut jam?”
Well, phrased like that… yes.
Alina nodded hesitantly.
The director devoured the entire sandwich in seconds, then stared at her.
“Lise Kruger. Speak honestly. I am a person enlightened in all the truths of this world.”
“Yes.”
With grave seriousness, she asked:
“Peanut butter toast is usually dry, right?”
“Yes. If it’s only peanut butter. But if you add ripe banana, the texture improves and it tastes much better. It’s filling too. Do you like it?”
“I love it.”
“Here, have some milk too. Nothing goes better with a peanut butter sandwich than plain milk.”
The director gulped down the milk Alina handed her, as though she hadn’t been suspicious moments ago.
“Wow, this is just…”
She drained the last drop and laughed helplessly.
Switching glances between the empty bottle and Alina, she suddenly grabbed both of Alina’s hands.
“I’ve made a terrible misunderstanding. I’m sorry.”
“…Sorry?”
At some point, she had become Alina’s “big sister,” and now spoke gently.
“Of course a kid like you wouldn’t try to poison anyone. To think I doubted those clear eyes. Shame on me.”
Alina blinked, confused.
The director returned the basket with a warm smile.
“Truth is, they said someone planted poisonous herbs in the imperial garden recently. I’m not the type to accuse people carelessly.”
“Oh… Was it rosebay, by any chance?”
Alina recalled when she first met Richard—the poisonous herb he almost ate.
The moment she said it, the director clapped loudly.
“Yes, that!”
Then she widened her eyes as if discovering something incredible.
“Oh?”
Her gaze swept over Alina’s pink hair and neatly pressed apron.
“You’re the ‘Delicious Lise’?”
Alina blinked, then answered awkwardly:
“Well… there is someone who calls me that…”
“Ahahaha!”
The director burst into laughter and pulled Alina into a tight hug.
“So it is you! I thought you’d be older! Just saying ‘friend’ isn’t enough! He said you were his lifesaver!”
She hugged Alina so tightly she could barely breathe, then began thumping her back enthusiastically.
Judging by the laugh, it was meant affectionately—but it hurt a lot.
Alina fought the urge to wince and asked:
“So you don’t suspect me anymore?”
“Of course not!”
Then please… stop hitting me…
Her eyes were starting to water when the director finally settled down.
“You won’t be seeing Richard today. I came to see him too, but as you can see, he’s not here. He wanted to borrow something, but I guess I came too late.”
She glanced around the near-ruined courtyard of the Ivory Palace and shrugged.
“Anyway, I got stood up, and I have another terrible dinner waiting tonight, so I was in a rotten mood. But thanks to you, I got to eat ahead of time. I’m grateful.”
She eyed the remaining half-sandwich in the basket with longing.
“Though honestly, I’m still a little hungry.”
Her eyes were unmistakably fixed on the sandwich.
“If I see that brat, I’ll tell him Delicious Lise came looking for him.”
“Just Lise, please.”
“Alright, just Lise. I always keep my word. You can trust me.”
Anyone watching might think she was promising the sandwich, not Alina.
Alina took the sandwich out and offered it to her.
“If you don’t mind… would you eat this too?”
“…Why?”
“No reason. Since I can’t see Richard today either, I’d rather give it to someone who’ll enjoy it.”
“You’re giving it… without wanting anything in return?”
The director’s smile faded. She seemed unfamiliar with unconditional kindness.
Alina nodded—then paused.
“Well, there is one thing I want.”
“What is it?”
“Enjoy it.”
“…Hmph.”
The director stroked her chin, studying her. Flustered, Alina began to pull the sandwich back—
—but the director snatched it lightning-fast.
“If you want it that much, this big sister will eat it for you. Deliciously.”
“Yes. Thank you… big sister.”
At the word sister, the director looked as though she’d been shot through the heart.
Clutching her chest, she spoke thickly:
“It moves me… desperately so, Delicious Lise.”
“Lise Kruger.”
“Yes, Lise Kruger. My name is Lilith. Lilith Mariam von Holtzriger.”
The moment Alina heard the name, she sucked in a breath—
and dropped the basket.
