Chapter 16: “The Man at the Garden Party”:
The party proceeded smoothly. The thistle medal cookies were arranged elegantly on fine tableware. Lili proudly placed the cookies on the table.
“No cake at the party?”
Lili looked nervously at a young lady standing before her with bright, light reddish-brown hair.
“Cecil, look at this. Who would dare bring such terrible cookies to a party?”
The young lady beside her picked up a cookie. Lili swallowed nervously.
“Even if it’s a party for wounded soldiers, these look like cookies for poor people.”
A woman wearing a dress embroidered with yellow mimosa flowers waved her hand dismissively at the rude comment.
“They probably taste like paper.”
Unable to bear the misunderstanding, Lili tried to explain. Each cookie had been carefully shaped by the chef himself, and being accused otherwise felt unfair.
“These were made for soldiers who fought in the Moro War.”
“Don’t talk back. How dare you address me?”
One of the ladies struck Lili’s wrist with her fan, leaving it red and swollen immediately.
Cecil Hobert, seated across from them, watched quietly before speaking.
“I want to know why, even though you coordinated with the chef beforehand, such food was served on the day of the party.”
Rather than scolding Lili for not answering directly, Cecil simply stared at the cookies.
“Cecil, this is an insult to you.”
Her gaze shifted between the medals on the chests of a group of uniformed men and the cookies, and then she took a bite. The taste wasn’t bad at all.
“Siena, I like these cookies.”
The lady called Siena fanned her flushed face.
“What’s your name? I haven’t seen you before.”
“Elizabeth.”
“Elizabeth, since you’re new and inexperienced, I’ll tell you. A maid like you doesn’t speak unless asked a question.”
Lili bowed her head and replied that she understood. Pleased with her compliance, Cecil gave her a once-over.
Siena then pointed somewhere with her fan, murmuring in awe.
“Look, Phil Gordon is here. Didn’t he attack Lord Belmore at a recent hearing?”
Hearing that, Cecil turned to Lili.
“Could you bring cookies to the gentlemen over there as well?”
Lili nodded vigorously.
“Would you like some cookies?”
“No, thanks.”
“These cookies are medal-shaped, made for the soldiers.”
A nearby man eyed the cookies with suspicion.
“The chef knows Phil Gordon is coming to the party, right?”
Lili nodded, recalling the guest list. The man in front of her was the same Gordon who had contacted Sister Brigida and held a grudge against Belmore.
“You can eat without worry. It’s to celebrate the victory in the Moro War.”
Reluctantly, Phil Gordon picked up a cookie and took a bite.
Lili bit her lip as she watched him.
At that moment, crumbs flew from his mouth.
“What did you put in this?”
He choked, coughing, and shoved his fingers down his throat, gagging.
“Huh?”
Lili barely had time to react.
“What did you put in this… Call a doctor immediately!”
He clutched his throat and violently pulled at the tablecloth as he collapsed, scattering the food.
“The gentleman has collapsed! He can’t breathe!”
A commotion ensued as people rushed over.
Lili, clutching the cookies, looked around in panic. He writhed in pain while the crowd panicked.
“What did you give him?”
“Call a doctor! Now!”
Pushed by the throng, Lili was forced outside the crowd.
She couldn’t take her eyes off Phil Gordon, sprawled like a paper doll.
An attempt at poisoning?
The terrifying word echoed in her mind.
In the kitchen, it was just Lili, the chef, and Summer. Realizing she looked like the obvious suspect, Lili’s face went pale.
A man with a doctor’s bag rushed over, shoving pills and ice down Gordon’s throat.
His face slowly regained color. He looked nearly unconscious, and those nearby helped him inside.
“What on earth did you do?”
The hotel manager leapt forward, scowling at Lili.
“Get out of here immediately. What is everyone staring at? Go.”
At his firm command, the surrounding maids scattered. The manager repeated his order to the frozen Lili.
“Leave. Now.”
Lili didn’t move. Or rather, she couldn’t. Once Gordon was gone, people crowded around the maid who had dropped the tray.
Their faces were filled with grotesque curiosity.
Even covering her face, the murmurs pierced her like arrows. She might as well have buried her head in the sand like an ostrich.
“Come here.”
A large, strong hand gently grasped her shoulder and pushed through the crowd.
She expected no one to move aside, but people hesitated and stepped back.
Once the air cleared, Lili shook off the hand and ran without even looking to see who it was.
At first she walked quickly, then almost ran, putting distance between herself and the garden where the party was held. Only then did she regain her senses.
By a large pond with floating water lilies, the two stopped.
“You can stop crying now.”
Only after hearing the calm, composed voice did she recognize who had pulled her out.
Room 301’s guest.
Lili raised her head, meeting the perfect gentleman’s gaze with a look of reproach.
“What did you do?”
He demanded answers. As usual, when overwhelmed with emotions, Lili fiddled with her locket and bit her lip.
“What are you holding in your hand? Give it here.”
When he reached for her clenched fist, Lili gripped tighter to prevent him from taking the locket.
“No.”
“What did you give Congressman Gordon?”
Realizing he suspected her locket contained poison, Lili’s expression fell. She relaxed her hand, letting the locket fly from her grip. It plopped into the pond.
“What are you doing?”
Trembling with anger, Lili stood holding the broken chain. The handsome man’s face flickered with surprise.
“I’m asking what you’re doing right now!”
Without hesitation, Lili stripped off her bonnet and untied her apron, letting them fall to the ground.
She unbuttoned the front of her black maid uniform, revealing skin pale enough to dazzle in the sunlight.
Even her low-heeled maid shoes were discarded. Then, without pause, she leapt into the pond.
The water was ice-cold. The bottom was slippery with green moss and dark, but sunlight reflected through, helping her locate the locket.
She grasped a soft clump of mud, feeling the locket’s shape through it.
As she disturbed the pond’s sediment, visibility briefly clouded.
Before she knew it, a large hand grabbed her by the nape and pulled her to the surface.
“Haah… haah… what are you doing?”
“Are you crazy? This pond has no bottom! There’s nothing beneath!”
He shook her shoulders. Her usually tidy hair hung wet across her face, unfamiliar to her.
“Why are you doing this?”
He pulled her struggling body out of the water.
“It wasn’t deep at all.”
“One more step and it could have been different.”
“Someone worrying about that is suspecting me?”
Lili sat at the edge, panting. He could not take his eyes off her, drenched, revealing every curve.
“Do you think I’m hiding poison? Are you some kind of detective?”
Initially, she wanted to insist on her innocence.
But saying it aloud made her realize she had almost killed someone herself, and the thought made her dizzy.
“Congressman Gordon is allergic to nuts.”
He held out the broken locket chain.
“This isn’t good. Food changes at the last minute, and the maid serves it…”
Lili wiped a moisture from her chin—perhaps tears. His words were essentially a reprimand.
“Gordon is an enemy of Prime Minister Hobert. And this hotel is tied to the Hoberts.”
“Could you bring cookies to the gentlemen over there?”
She felt like a helpless mouse trapped in the nobles’ snare, ready to fall with a single misstep.
“Take it.”
Lili held out her hand, letting the chain fall onto his palm. He shook it slightly to hurry her, and she grabbed it cautiously, still resisting contact.
She tensed her whole body to avoid trembling.
“I truly dislike you all.”
“No matter how much you dislike us, the nobles will twist it into politics.”
Lili roughly tied the broken chain. Though not perfectly secured, it could be worn around her neck.
The locket rested between her chest, reflecting sunlight brilliantly. She suddenly felt uncomfortable under the man’s gaze. Covering herself with her clothing, she whispered:
“Stop staring.”
“Congressman Gordon won’t die.”
“I know.”
Though her voice was cold, she felt relief. At the same time, she wanted to get away quickly. Seeing his shirt cling to his muscular frame made it impossible to meet his eyes.
Water splashed against her leather shoes.
Small footsteps marked the dry earth under the noon sun. Christopher’s gaze followed the persistent strides for a long time.
Even after a while, the muddy water of the pond did not settle.
