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Chapter 14
At Alina’s question, Trudy put down her fork and spoke arrogantly.
“Tonight’s menu will be something special! Smashed potatoes. Don’t peel the rest of the potatoes — just boil them all.”
With a smear of white yogurt still on the corner of her mouth, Trudy continued.
“You know I’m only approving this because it’s you, right?”
“Yes. Thank you, Trudy.”
Alina answered with a bright smile.
“Wow, how generous of her.”
Marika, standing beside her, grumbled. But Trudy left as if she didn’t hear anything.
* * *
“‘Because it’s you, I’m approving it.’ Did you hear that? What a saint she thinks she is.”
Once Trudy disappeared, Marika stuck out her chin and mimicked her mockingly.
“She could at least wipe that yogurt off her mouth before talking.”
Alina laughed lightly at Marika’s grumbling.
“Still, getting the assistant cook’s menu approved is a big deal.”
“She would’ve done it for Greta too. You know that.”
Marika popped one of the potatoes in her mouth and shrieked.
“This, this, this! Look at this! It’s amazing! Fresh, soft, savory — it’s insane!”
Stomping her feet, she added in frustration:
“And you know Trudy’s totally going to claim she invented it! She’ll call it ‘Trudy’s Potato Dish’!”
Alina gave a resigned look.
“Well… she did choose it as the menu. It can’t be helped.”
“What do you mean, can’t be helped? Greta would’ve called it ‘Lise’s Potato Dish.’ She even named the pancakes ‘Lise’s Pancakes’ last time!”
“I’m just happy it’ll be on the table. The name doesn’t matter.”
“If you say so.”
Marika sighed deeply.
“But it really is a waste. To get promoted to sous-chef you have to work ten years. At times like this, Maliharck’s whole ‘merit-based system’ sounds like nonsense.”
“Instead of spouting nonsense to Lise, why don’t you prep some potatoes?”
“Greta!”
Marika, who had been complaining to Alina, turned around in shock.
Greta stood there, and beside her a young girl with the same red hair and brown eyes. The child waved brightly.
“Marika!”
“Nina?”
Marika looked startled.
Little Nina, only up to Greta’s knees, hopped in place and giggled.
“Lise! Marika!”
“Nina, long time no see! You’ve grown so much!”
When Alina crouched down to meet her eyes, Greta let out a short laugh from above.
“A kid telling another kid she grew.”
Greta lifted Nina easily into her arms and spoke solemnly:
“Nina, remember? You promised to behave because the big sisters are working.”
“Yesh! Nina behaves! I even won an award! ‘Cause Nina is a good gill!”
Sitting securely in Greta’s arms, Nina puffed up proudly.
Apparently she had a performance at the orphanage today — and won some prize.
“Nina, you won an award? Congratulations!”
When Alina celebrated with her, Nina took off her paper necklace and hung it around Alina’s neck with a big smile.
“Now Lise wins too! Congrats, Lise!”
“Thank you, Nina. But… can I really have this?”
Alina glanced at Greta, who silently mouthed:
‘Give it back later.’
Lise nodded and asked:
“But Greta, wasn’t today your day off? What brings you here?”
“This little lady said she missed her big sisters, so I brought her.”
Greta poked Nina’s chubby cheek. It turned pink, then pale again.
Nina giggled, swinging her short legs.
“It tickles! I’m hungry!”
“Nina still speaks purely by stream of consciousness, huh.”
At Marika’s half-admiring comment, Alina stifled a laugh.
“We can’t have you hungry. Now, young lady Nina, what would you like to eat?”
“Somethin’ yummy!”
“And what yummy thing do you want?”
Alina froze as soon as she asked the question.
Not long ago, she’d asked Richard the exact same question.
He spoke as if filling his stomach was enough — as if anything that soothed long-standing hunger counted as “delicious.”
Before Alina’s smile could fully fade, Nina’s answer came loudly:
“Swee’ stuff! Lots of swee’ stuff!”
Alina nodded.
This was normal. Usually, kids name the food they love the most.
But Richard couldn’t think of anything like that.
Meaning he probably hadn’t eaten many kinds of food at all.
‘I’ll be the one to find out what Richard likes best.’
Renewing her resolve, Alina smiled warmly.
“Okay, I’ll make you something sweet. Just wait a bit, Lady Nina.”
“You’re short on time — just give her jam toast. You still haven’t finished prepping the potatoes.”
Greta sighed and stretched Nina’s cheeks.
Nina squealed and giggled.
“It’s okay, Nina. We’re not making fries today.”
“Then what are all those potatoes for?”
“They’ll be used for Lise’s ‘Trudy Potato Dish.’”
“What does that even mean?”
Greta looked confused at Marika’s annoyed tone.
Instead of explaining, Marika pushed the plate of potatoes toward her.
“This. Lise made it today. Trudy said she’d allow it as tonight’s menu.”
Greta set Nina in a seat and examined the dish carefully.
Scooping a bit of potato and yoghurt, she tasted it.
Quietly, seriously, she chewed — then stared deep in thought.
“…About Nina’s lunch.”
“Yes?”
Breaking the silence, Greta looked at Alina.
“You know the leftover baguette from yesterday’s lunch? Try using that. I don’t care if it’s Zenotat-style or whatever.”
Alina glanced at Marika.
Greta, who normally said “just give her whatever,” had completely changed her stance — leaving Marika bewildered.
“But it’s all dried out. You can’t make toast from it.”
“I asked Lise. You, sit here. Don’t distract her.”
“Huh? Okay…”
“Lise, what do you think? If it’s too much, jam toast is fine. I’m just curious what kind of lunches you make for yourself — don’t feel pressured.”
Flustered but encouraged by Greta’s warm tone, Alina nodded.
“I can do it. I’ll make it sweet and tasty, just how Nina likes it.”
She pulled out the baguette from a brown paper bag.
It was so hard from sitting out all day that even a knife had trouble cutting it.
Trying to slice it would only shatter it.
Alina examined it, then asked Greta:
“Can I use whatever ingredients I need?”
“I already said you could last time. Don’t overthink it.”
Alina headed to the pantry and returned with eggs, cream, and frozen blueberries.
She’d make a Zenotat-style lunch — but sweeter.
It might be good to bring one to Richard too.
He’d liked the sweet peanut-butter sandwich she brought him last time, so he probably didn’t hate sweets.
Alina beat the eggs in a deep, wide dish and poured in the cream. The rich yellow became a pale creamy color.
She added honey and a little sugar, stirring until the honey blended smoothly, then placed the hard baguette pieces into the mixture.
It would take some time for the bread to soak and soften.
While waiting, she poured the frozen blueberries and sugar into a small saucepan.
As the pan heated, the berries melted into a sweet, thick syrup.
The entire kitchen filled with a sugary, fragrant aroma, like someone was making fresh blueberry jam.
“Smells yummy!”
Nina, waiting politely at the table, bounced in her seat.
“Mm-hm, it’s almost done.”
Alina soothed her, then took the sauce off the heat.
It was still bubbling — far too hot to touch.
Heating fruit draws out maximum sweetness. The deep blue berries turned a dark purple as they released syrupy sugar.
Leaving it to cool, Alina checked the bread mixture.
The baguette had absorbed the egg and cream, becoming soft and rich.
Normally I’d soak it overnight for best results…
But this was good enough.
Smiling, she put a pat of butter in the pan.
Ssshhh—
The butter glided across the pan, shrinking as it melted.
“Smeww goo’!”
At the buttery aroma, Nina grabbed her cheeks with both hands.
“Uuuung!”
Greta watched her daughter’s excitement with a weary smile.
“You never react like this when I cook, Nina.”
“…Yesh…”
“Well, kids are the most honest critics.”
Nina’s pout made Greta pat her tiny head.
Meanwhile, Alina placed the soaked baguette pieces into the pan.
A different aroma filled the kitchen now — toasty bread, egg, and cream browning together.
Sniff sniff.
Nina lifted her chin high, sniffing enthusiastically.
“Nina loves it!”
“…Oh no.”
Beside her, Marika looked uncharacteristically serious.
“It already smells delicious…”
Alina chuckled and plated the toast — two pieces per plate. She dusted them with powdered sugar as fine as flour.
It looked like snow falling on golden toast.
She lifted the blueberry sauce to drizzle it on top — then paused and looked toward Greta.
