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Chapter 22
Alina came to her senses after the sun had risen the next day.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself resting her face against Richard’s shoulder.
“Mm…”
“You’re awake?”
Startled by the golden eyes looking down at her, Alina rubbed her own eyes.
She was still half-asleep, so the situation didn’t immediately register.
“Ri…chard?”
“Let me see.”
Richard smiled gently and placed his hand against her forehead.
“Your fever’s gone down a lot.”
“Where did your clothes go?”
As she rubbed her eyes, Alina finally noticed his body and jumped in surprise. Richard gave an awkward smile and pulled down the shirt that had been draped over her forehead.
“My clothes were right here.”
He shook out the shirt and slipped it back on casually. Watching him, Alina’s expression darkened.
“I did something unnecessary.”
“Huh?”
“I shouldn’t have brought you.”
At her words, Richard replied with a hurt tone.
“What do you mean? I came with you. You didn’t drag me along.”
“I know. But I should’ve taken better care of you. Instead of making you suffer. It must’ve been hard all night. Weren’t you scared?”
When Alina spoke gently in concern, Richard suddenly scowled.
“It wasn’t hard, and I wasn’t scared. Why do you keep talking like that since yesterday? Who’s taking care of whom? We’re only five years apart, you know?”
“That’s exactly why I’m saying this. You’re only fourteen, and I made you do all that. I’m sorry. For making you stand watch all night.”
“……”
“Richard?”
Richard pressed his lips into a straight line.
Nothing could be read from his expression.
After much hardship, Alina safely returned to the imperial palace and began preparing the dish she would submit for the competition.
She’d been worried because her fever had risen after getting caught in the rain, but thankfully Lilith had used healing magic on her.
Lilith, who had come again today to check on Alina’s condition, spoke with concern.
“About that request Riese made last time… it might be impossible to send that boy to the Academy.”
“Is His Majesty against it?”
“Yes.”
Lilith nodded, her face unusually dark.
So there really was a reason Richard had been neglected for fourteen years.
The emperor of Malehark seemed to truly hate Richard.
She’d heard the general reason, but it still felt unbearably cruel.
The empress’s death was tragic—but it wasn’t Richard’s fault.
Alina couldn’t understand why all that misfortune was being directed at an innocent child.
Richard was the last child left behind by the person the emperor had loved most.
If anything, he should have been cherished and protected even more.
Instead, he was being denied even the love and education every child deserved.
And Richard was so full of hope.
No matter what, Richard had been excited, believing that he would finally be able to attend the Academy.
To think it was now facing such obstacles…
Alina’s gaze sank. Lilith spoke again in a grave tone.
“I’ll try to persuade him some more. This is harder than I expected.”
“Please.”
Alina clasped Lilith’s hand and pleaded again. But judging by her expression, the chances of success seemed extremely slim.
Isn’t there some other way?
Thinking about Richard, Alina went down to the prep room and tied on her apron.
For now, she decided she should focus on what she had to do immediately and think things through slowly.
When Alina stepped into the kitchen and took out the eggplants she had set aside in storage, Marika—who had brought over the tomato sauce at her request—looked excited.
“So, you’re finally starting?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s the name of this dish? ‘Riese’s Eggplant Dish’ or something?”
Alina smiled slightly at Marika’s curious question.
“I hope it turns out good enough to deserve a name like that. It’s called Eggplant Parmesan.”
“What’s that? Eggplant with Parmesan cheese on it?”
Marika tilted her head at the unfamiliar name.
That was understandable—it was a foreign dish to people of Malehark.
But for Alina, dishes like this were familiar. Though her memories from before her reincarnation were incomplete, the recipes themselves remained vividly clear.
As she sliced a large, washed eggplant lengthwise, Alina explained.
“You know lasagna, right? The dish where you layer meat sauce and cheese between wide pasta sheets and bake it in the oven.”
“Of course. I had it when I worked in Genotat. Are you making that? But that’s not a vegetable dish.”
“Right. But Eggplant Parmesan uses sliced eggplant like this instead of pasta sheets.”
She showed Marika the broad cross-section of the eggplant and continued.
“You can use meat sauce too, but I’m making it vegetarian, with a tomato sauce full of herbs.”
She laid the eggplant slices out on an oven tray and drizzled them with salt and olive oil.
After putting the tray into the oven, her gaze moved to the cheese prepared on the table.
“The Kestol ambassador eats cheese, so I’m adding plenty of fresh cheese too.”
“So basically, eggplant lasagna? That sounds delicious!”
Marika clasped her hands together, her voice rising. Alina smiled at the sight.
“Exactly. Think of it as lasagna made with eggplant instead of noodles.”
Once the eggplant was lightly roasted, Alina transferred the slices into a large baking dish.
She covered the bottom with eggplant, spread tomato sauce over it, then generously sprinkled Parmesan, mozzarella, and ricotta cheese.
She layered eggplant again on top, repeating the process until the dish was full.
Finally, she piled the remaining cheese on top and put the dish into the oven.
“Now we just wait.”
Clapping her hands, Alina brushed the cheese crumbs from her fingers.
As time passed, the rich aroma of tomato sauce and the savory scent of melting cheese began to seep out of the oven.
Sitting in front of it while trimming garlic, Marika made a tortured face.
“This smell is torture. I already ate, but now I’m hungry again. Riese, your crime is serious. You’re literally torturing me.”
Alina giggled at Marika’s solemn accusation.
“I’ll repay this sin with flavor. Please make sure to taste it.”
At her reply, Marika’s face brightened.
“I can taste it? Isn’t this for judging tomorrow?”
“Today’s batch is just a test. I’ll make the judging version tomorrow. It’ll be the same recipe, but we won’t get to eat that one. I can’t submit a dish without knowing what it tastes like.”
“That’s a great idea. I really admire how thorough and meticulous you are.”
Thinking about eating the dish, Marika nodded enthusiastically.
Alina smiled softly and asked,
“How’s Trudy doing? Is she preparing well?”
“I saw her boiling potatoes earlier.”
Marika frowned at the basket full of garlic.
“She knows you’re entering the competition tomorrow and still made you prep garlic. It’s so transparent it’s almost impressive. Making us finish all this by tomorrow morning—what a spiteful streak.”
“It’s fine. If we can’t finish here, we’ll take it back to the dorm.”
“I’ll take half with me and help too. But seriously, what does our sous-chef plan to do with all this garlic? Make garlic jam or something?”
“Who knows.”
Letting Marika’s sarcasm roll off her, Alina went to check the oven.
“It’s almost done. Just a little longer.”
“Okay!”
Marika’s eyes sparkled. She looked barely able to contain her excitement at trying a new dish.
“It’s done. Let it cool a bit, then we can eat.”
Fresh from the oven, the Eggplant Parmesan was blanketed in a golden layer of cheese.
With patches of perfectly browned cheese, it was hard to tell what lay beneath.
“Wow…”
Marika murmured in awe.
It had already made her mouth water in the oven, but once it was out, the aroma was so delicious it made her salivate.
Alina took out two flat plates and a large knife.
She plunged the knife deep into the cheesy top to cut it into bite-sized portions.
When the tip hit the bottom of the dish, she drew the knife straight down.
The eggplant, cooked soft like noodles, offered no resistance.
After cutting it into four neat squares, Alina lifted the most golden piece and placed it on a plate.
“Here. Be careful, it’s hot.”
“Thank you for the meal!”
Marika exclaimed energetically and picked up her knife.
Even though it wasn’t a steak knife, it sliced through easily. It really did feel like pasta.
Alina sat beside her, nervously watching the first taster’s reaction.
Marika took a bite.
Before she even finished chewing, the tender eggplant melted in her mouth, mingling with fresh cheese and herb-filled tomato sauce.
It looked like regular lasagna, but it was lighter, less greasy, and full of fresh vegetable flavor.
After swallowing her first bite, Marika didn’t pause her knife.
The second bite was even better.
Without meat, it wasn’t heavy, and the cheese made it satisfyingly filling. It was hard to believe it was made entirely from vegetables.
“Well? Is it good?”
“…Riese.”
Marika called Alina’s name with an uncharacteristically serious tone.
Alina’s eyes widened as she watched her expression.
“What? Is it bad?”
Marika quickly waved her hand.
“No, that’s not it.”
She clenched her hand into a fist and raised her thumb.
“It’s insanely good. You’d better hurry up and decide what wish you’ll make when you win.”
Relieved by the praise, Alina smiled with her eyes crinkling.
“What the heck, you scared me. Don’t tease me like that.”
“But seriously—weren’t eggplants supposed to be mushy and tasteless? Honestly, I was worried when you said you were using eggplant. I didn’t think it could really become a proper dish.”
