Before Allie was first sent to the palace, her friends had asked her to do something for them. To be careful of the princess with white hair and red eyes, and meet with their colleague.

She couldn’t understand why they were telling her to be careful of a princess she never knew or saw. What they only said to her was that she was very dangerous to them, and that there might come a time that they would ask her for help.

As they were the friends that saved her and she trusted so much, she agreed without much thought. Besides, she would get to cook.

Her friends, you see, were a particularly bizarre bunch. They were different from the humans from the young Allie knew, but they still appeared so closely to humans. Furthermore, they were strong.

Some of them had ears like animals on their heads, while some had long pointy ears. She tried to ask why they were different, but one of them, which she was so close to compared to others, only replied that they were made differently.

He was a kind man, he was warmer to her than the others. And he was the one to convince her to cooperate. He was almost like a big brother.

Then came the time she entered the palace and eventually met with Oryn. He was the one to first approach her since she didn’t know who the colleague her friends were talking about. Apparently, her friends had already contacted Oryn that she would be entering the palace as a cook.

As time passed, they often met, and they got to know more about each other. However, not too deep about his own personal life. But Allie found herself developing feelings for the handsome man.

In her interest, she asked about Oryn from other people. She spoke with maids, but not much since they were nobles, but there were plenty kind enough to talk. She even heard a talk that Oryn didn’t seem to change much in appearance.

Well, there were just some people that their age just won’t show on their appearance. But that only made Oryn more wonderful to her eyes.

Then they got closer to each other, it wouldn’t be strange to describe them as intimate.

Occasionally, when it was time for a day off of Allie, as she would be leaving the palace to go around the city to refresh, Oryn would task her to report to their colleagues. Those same colleagues were her friends — well, some of them. It was safer for Allie to give the report since it was safer, they said.

Of course she couldn’t converse with them, but rather she would write down on a piece of paper what Oryn said to write down. Then, she would sneakily pass that message to their colleague within the city. There were a lot of times that she imagined they were the friends she knew, and she was disappointed that she couldn’t speak with them. In the end, she still missed them, but there was nothing she could do about her own longing.

Then, the time came when Oryn had made a decision, to find an opportunity to eliminate the princess. She wondered why they did not do it a long time ago, but they didn’t tell her the reason.

She thought about the princess that time. The beautiful and pure princess, an existence so innocent. She was also kind and made her a chef. To be honest, her heart began to warm up to the princess. This led to one time she forgot that she was the target of her friends.

She just couldn’t figure out why they would go after her like this. But, her friends were the priority, and so she must do what they wished for her to do.

“If I fail, use this. Utilize your position as her chef.”

Oryn snuck a tiny bottle of dark violet liquid in her hand.

“It’s a potent poison, not even their curing spells can erase it.”

She looked at the poison before placing it in her pocket.

“Remember, this is just in case I fail. Once that happens, it’s all up to you.”

“I understand… But be careful.”

“Of course.”

He cupped her chin all of a sudden and gave her a kiss on the lips and then retracted.

“Do good, Allie.”

Then came the moment she found him dead. She found it hard to believe, and it pained her heart greatly.

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It took a while to cope up with his death, but remembered what she had to do. To take care of someone.

That someone was the reason why Oryn had to die.

After successfully inviting the princess, she prepared a dish. Then when she was about to mix the poison, she found herself hesitating. To kill the princess? She was doing something she couldn’t understand why it was necessary.

But in the end, she steeled herself and poured the poison.

The princess finally came, and was about to eat, but she stopped which made her heart jump. Allie was of course feeling apprehensive.

But relief came over when the princess continued to lift up her spoon only to stop again and speak.

“What a waste of talent.”

Allie was baffled.

Then it was followed by...

“Allie, I am hurt that you are trying to poison me.”

She was struck with disbelief, there was no way the princess would realize it. How could she have realized? This was what she had always done, there was nothing that changed.

Unbeknownst to her, she underestimated the princess — her mind, her eyes, and the way she reads people.

As the poison was a failure, she was left with no choice but to do it herself. She grabbed a nearby knife and launched herself towards the princess. When she was about to stab her, Allie’s eyes went wide when a crimson barrier blocked her knife.

M-Magic?!

There’s no hope in this if the princess decided to use magic. That was why she had to use poison to kill her, but that plan failed.

In general, Allie failed her task.

“Vernon!”

At her loud and panicking shout, the door opened, due to the urgency her shout suggested, Vernon broke the knob. Before Allie could even react, she already felt a hand grasping both her hands holding the knife.

“What is this insolence?” Vernon said coldly as he stared at the knife. “The personal chef attempting to murder the princess?” his voice suggested his shock.

Allie tried to pull away.

“Let go!”

But at that moment, Vernon swiftly snatched the knife by the hilt and followed by his hand going to her throat. Allie felt the hand tighten around her throat, and it was becoming hard to breathe.

“Ggghh!”

“Milady!”

Mera entered, shock evident on her face as she fearlessly rushed towards the princess.

“Are you alright?!”

“I am completely fine,” the seemingly shaken princess said.

Allie struggled, trying to free herself. She glared at Vernon, who was also glaring back at her.

“Vernon, don’t kill her!” The princess said.

“How kind of you princess, but that's too generous.”

“Vernon, please don’t test me, I know you have realized that we need her to extract intelligence.”

Vernon faintly smiled.

“Of course, your highness.”

“I-I w-won’t talk…”

Allie squeezed out those words. She would never sell out her friends.

“Put her unconscious, Vernon.”

Vernon slapped her temple, it seemed casual but that hit was strong enough to knock her out instantly.

***

Wow, he just smacked her on the head, damn.

How strong was that hit that it was enough to knock her out in an instant?! Oh well, guess it works.

Vernon slowly laid her down to the floor.

“I didn’t expect she would also be one… I suppose he’s colluding with Oryn.”

“So it would seem. Ah, please dispose of the food, it’s poisoned.”

“P-Poisoned?!” Mera instantly reacted as she fearfully looked at the food on the table.

“Have you taken a bite, your highness? We need to detoxify you if so, but you seem to be doing fine.”

“Of course, I didn’t take a bite.”

“You realized it was poisoned…?”

“Milady, that was very dangerous, she almost got you. That — that wench. I never thought she would attempt to poison you. To think I tried to make friends with her!”

Wow, Mera was fuming that she actually called her a wench.

She’s mad.

“Calm down, Mera. I’m fine, right? That is what matters.”

I flashed her a bright smile.

“...Yes…”

“But, a poison wouldn’t be much of a threat since royalties can cast high level curing spells.”

Vernon said as though he was convinced that spells could handle any poisons.

However…

“Oh Vernon, you think they don’t know that? They are profoundly eager to kill me, I doubt they would use a poison that can be cured by my family.”

“But, there’s no poison that can resist the spell…”

“Let’s see.”

Aight, time to loot Allie!

I walked towards Allie and searched her pockets.

“Your highness?”

Then I felt some sort of bottle. I pulled it out and it was a small bottle with a tiny amount of dark violet liquid remaining within it.

“This must be the poison she used.”

“That’s interesting, dark violet?”

“Is that weird?”

“The poisons I know, even from beasts I know with strong poison, their venoms are colored purple.”

“So this is a different kind then, no doubt more potent. Which means that it can kill me, and perhaps instantly.”

“How terrifying…” Mera murmured.

“Princess, please give it to me, I will have experts look into it.”

I gave it to Vernon.

“Mera, please call the nearby knight.”

I gave the order and Mera frantically moved out of the room.

“I’m impressed you managed to see through her scheme.”

“Oryn likely gave her that and had her do it. Allie was pretty obvious.”

“But, you selected her, I thought you would have trusted her enough and never thought she would attempt to take your life.”

“I did trust her, until she shattered that trust.”

That was a lie.

“Vernon, don’t go thinking I’m excellent or something. It was just a lucky guess.”

“... You’re too humble, your highness…”

“I’m not… In any case, please make sure to not kill her.”

“.... What are you planning, princess?”

“I’m not planning anything. In fact, from her on, it will be up to you or the knights, or whoever is assigned to deal with her to extract information. But don’t kill her. Tell me immediately if they plan to execute her as punishment.”

“I understand, your highness. I will do as you command.”

He bowed his head.

Now then, I wonder if she’s the only one left here. I’ll be fucked if there’s more than five rats here — no, it’s already too annoying to have two or three.

Aaaah, my leisurely life, it feels like you’re floating away from me.