Chapter 16: The Man at the Garden Party
The party proceeded smoothly. Thistle medals-shaped cookies were presented on fine tableware. Lili proudly set the cookies on the table.
“Is there no cake at this party?”
Lili nervously looked at a young lady standing in front of her, her hair a bright, light reddish-brown.
“Cecile, look at this. Who would bring such awful cookies to a party?”
At that, the lady beside her picked up one of the cookies. Lili swallowed nervously.
“They may be for a party honoring soldiers, but these look like cookies for the very poor.”
As the girl snickered cruelly, a woman in a dress embroidered with yellow mimosa shook her hand in objection.
“They look like they’d taste like paper.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Lili defended herself. The chef had carefully shaped each cookie by hand. It was frustrating to be misunderstood like this.
“These were made for the soldiers who triumphed in the Moore War.”
“Don’t talk back. How dare you speak to me?”
A young lady struck Lili’s wrist sharply with her fan. The skin quickly swelled red.
Across from them, Cecile Hobert was watching the scene quietly before finally speaking.
“I’d like to know why, when we had already coordinated the menu with the chef, such food was served on the day itself.”
Instead of scolding Lili for failing to answer, Cecile stared at the cookies silently, awaiting a response.
“Cecile, this is an insult to you.”
Her gaze alternated between the medals on the chests of the soldiers and the cookies before taking a bite. The taste wasn’t bad.
“Siena, I like these cookies.”
Hearing that, the young lady called Siena hid her flushed face behind her fan.
“And you, what’s your name? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
“Elisabeth.”
“Elisabeth, since you’re new, let me tell you—maids like you don’t speak unless we ask a question.”
Lili bowed her head and answered obediently. Pleased with her compliance, Cecile gave Lili a thorough once-over.
At that moment, Siena let out a small exclamation and pointed with her fan.
“Look, Phil Gordon has arrived. Didn’t he attack Lord Belmore fiercely at the recent hearing?”
Cecile Hobert, who had been listening quietly, addressed Lili.
“Would you take some cookies to the gentlemen over there as well?”
Lili nodded earnestly.
“Would you like some cookies?”
“No.”
“These are cookies shaped like medals, made for the soldiers.”
A man nearby frowned and looked at the cookies suspiciously.
“The chef knows that Representative Phil Gordon is attending the party, right?”
Lili recalled the guest list and nodded. The man before her was the same Gordon who had contacted Sister Brigida and had a contentious attitude toward Belmore.
“You can eat without worry, in celebration of the Moore War victory.”
The man reluctantly picked up a cookie and bit into it. Lili bit her lip as she watched him.
At that moment, crumbs flew from Phil Gordon’s mouth.
“What did you put in this?”
He coughed harshly, his hand going into his throat as he gagged.
“Excuse me?”
Before Lili could respond, he shouted:
“What did you put in this… Call a doctor immediately!”
He grabbed his throat, yanking the tablecloth painfully as he collapsed, sending dishes flying.
“Someone call a doctor! He can’t breathe!”
The commotion drew a crowd. Lili, holding cookies, scanned the scene in panic. He writhed in pain, and the surrounding crowd was in chaos.
“What did you give him?”
“Call a doctor immediately!”
The crowd’s pressing pushed Lili out of their way. She couldn’t take her eyes off Phil Gordon, lying there like a paper doll.
An attempt at poisoning?
The terrifying thought pierced her mind.
In the kitchen, it was only Lili, the chef, and Summer. Realizing how easily she could be suspected, Lili’s face went pale.
A man carrying a doctor’s bag rushed in, forcing a pill and ice down Gordon’s throat.
His face gradually regained color. He looked near unconscious, and those nearby supported him to move him indoors.
“What did you do?”
The manager leapt forward, glaring at Lili.
“Get out of here immediately. What is everyone watching? Leave!”
At his firm command, the nearby maids scattered. The manager repeated sternly to Lili, frozen like a statue.
“I said get out.”
Lili didn’t move. Actually, she couldn’t. Now that Gordon was gone, the crowd gathered around the maid who had dropped the tray.
Curious, horrified faces surrounded her.
Though she covered her face, murmurs pierced her like arrows. She felt like an ostrich burying her head in sand.
“Come here.”
A large, firm hand gently gripped her shoulder, parting the crowd.
Expecting resistance, she was surprised as everyone stepped back.
Before even identifying him, the oppressive tension lifted, and Lili wrenched her shoulder free and ran.
She hurried across the garden where the party was held, first walking quickly, then almost running, only regaining composure near a pond with large water lilies floating on it.
“You can stop crying now.”
Hearing the calm, steady voice, she realized who had pulled her out.
Guest 301.
She lifted her head, glaring at the ever-perfect gentleman with a mix of resentment and relief.
“What did you do?”
He scolded her. As always, when overwhelmed with emotions, Lili fiddled with her locket and bit her lip.
“What’s in your hand? Give it here.”
He reached for her fist, clenched around the locket, but she held it tight, unwilling to let it go.
“No.”
“What did you give to Representative Gordon?”
Lili realized he suspected her locket contained poison. Exasperated, she relaxed her grip, letting the locket fly like a released arrow into the pond with a splash.
“What are you doing?”
Anger made her hands tremble. She hadn’t let go intentionally; she stood still, holding the snapped chain. The handsome man’s expression flickered with surprise.
“What are you doing right now?!”
Without hesitation, she tore off her bonnet and apron, tossing them to the ground.
She unbuttoned her maid dress, revealing her pale skin that had been untouched by sunlight.
She even removed her low-heeled maid shoes, then without hesitation jumped into the pond.
The water was icy cold. The pond floor was slippery and dark with green moss. Fortunately, sunlight penetrated the water, allowing her to locate the locket.
She grabbed the soft mud at the bottom, feeling the locket within the clump.
As leaves and soil stirred in the water, her vision blurred for a moment. Suddenly, a large hand gripped her nape, lifting her to the surface.
“Ha… ha… what are you doing?”
“Are you crazy? This pond has no bottom!”
He shook her shoulder. Her wet hair clung to her face, making her look unfamiliar even to herself.
“Why are you like this?”
He hauled the struggling Lili out of the water.
“It wasn’t deep at all.”
“One more step and it would’ve been different.”
“Are you really suspecting me?”
Breathless, she sat by the pond. The man, completely soaked, couldn’t take his eyes off her. The wet fabric clung to her body, revealing her figure.
“Do you really think I have poison? Do you think I’m some kind of detective?”
She had meant to insist on her innocence.
But as she said it, she felt dizzy realizing she almost caused someone serious harm with her own hands.
“Representative Gordon is allergic to nuts.”
He held out the chain of her locket.
“Not good. The menu changed unexpectedly, and the maid served it.”
She wiped away what might have been a tear at her chin. His words were essentially a reprimand.
“Gordon is an enemy of Prime Minister Hobert. And this hotel is linked to the Hoberts.”
‘Would you take cookies to the gentlemen over there?’
She was nothing more than a naive little mouse, trapped in the nobles’ snare, one wrong word away from ruin.
“Take it.”
She placed the chain in his hand, hesitating at first but letting it go when he motioned.
She braced herself, trying not to shiver.
“I really dislike you people.”
“No matter how much you hate us, the nobles will spin it politically.”
She carefully looped the broken chain to wear it around her neck.
The locket, resting between her chest, glinted in the sunlight like a radiant jewel. She felt embarrassed under his gaze and covered herself with her clothing.
“Stop staring.”
“Gordon won’t die.”
“I know.”
Though her reply was cold, she felt relieved. At the same time, she wanted to get away from him quickly. Seeing his wet shirt cling to his solid frame made it impossible to look at him directly.
Water splashed from her leather shoes.
On the dry ground, tiny footprints marked her path. Christopher’s gaze followed her stubborn steps for a long while.
Even after some time, the pond’s muddy water hadn’t yet settled.
