Twenty-four hours later, Gelda returned. Liebe saw the clock.
"It's only 11:32 PM… That nap felt amazing for just two minutes."
Licht yawned. "Same. Didn't know two minutes could feel that good."
Gelda, now in different clothes, said, "It hasn't been two minutes."
Elizabeth asked, "Wow, Mommy, how'd you change so fast?"
Alysa said, "Yeah, that's amazing."
Gelda replied, "You might also want to check the date."
Liebe did. "It hasn't been two minutes… It's been 24 hours and 2 minutes?!"
Licht groaned. "No wonder I'm starving."
Alysa said, "I could go for some pizza."
Elizabeth added, "Get me a mountain of fries!"
Licht said, "Extra-large BBQ chicken pizza with extra cheese!"
Liebe nodded. "Three-patty chicken burger with extra beef bacon sounds perfect."
Gelda smiled. "Got it."
The doctor re-entered. "Sorry, but those foods are off-limits right now. Please refrain."
Liebe whispered to Gelda, "How much experience do you have with smuggling?"
Gelda grinned. "A bit."
"There are 927 cameras in this hospital. Think you can get the food in without the doctors noticing? It's okay if you have to commit a few murders."
"Understood."
The doctor cleared his throat. "Sir, I'm still here."
Liebe sighed. "Well, Plan A failed."
Then he asked, "Doctor, what's your rank?"
"First-Class Knight of Fire."
Liebe smirked. "As Vice Captain of Black Rose, I'm ordering you to bring us that food."
The doctor blinked. "Umm… Sir…"
"Remember, that's an order."
Just then, Lilith knocked.
Liebe said, "Come in."
As she entered, the doctor immediately dropped to his knees.
Lilith said, "At ease."
Liebe tried to get up. "Ma'am, why are you here?"
"To see how the interns are doing… and if the Vice Captain is still alive."
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. I'm not."
Lilith sat beside him. "I brought all your food. Pizza for Licht and Alysa, fries for Elizabeth… and for you, I made the burger myself."
Liebe's eyes lit up. "Ma'am… Did you really?"
"Of course."
"Is your house okay?"
"It's fine."
"Ma'am… Those who died for this food should be counted as martyrs."
"No one died."
Liebe nodded. "Then… Can I get some head pats? And if you fed me, that'd be nice."
Lilith chuckled, gave him head pats, and fed him.
Liebe took a bite… and instantly fainted. His mouth foamed.
Gelda groaned. "Lilith, really? Couldn't you let him enjoy two seconds of glory before you poisoned him?"
Lilith said, "Oh well, his mouth's open. Let's just shove the rest in."
She crammed the whole burger in.
Licht looked horrified. "I don't think I can ever sleep again."
Alysa muttered, "Is the Captain trying to demonstrate a new form of torture?"
Elizabeth said, "It's worse. She's showing us what'll happen if we don't obey."
Gelda added, "It's obvious. She's demonstrating how she erases evidence. And you're next."
Lilith said, "You done doubting me?"
A few minutes later, Liebe woke up.
Licht asked, "My dear friend… are you okay?"
Liebe groaned. "I'm fine… except my mouth feels like it's on fire… and it tastes like dog poop for breakfast."
Gelda grinned. "That was the secret ingredient. Ulsarius poop."
Liebe screamed, "What?!"
Lilith quickly said, "There wasn't any poop."
Liebe smiled. "Don't worry, Ma'am. I know you wouldn't poison me. You're just… terrible at cooking. But your food can be used in interrogations—or as torture."
Lilith teared up. "Really?"
"Definitely."
She left in a huff. Liebe turned to Gelda. "Did I say something too harsh?"
Gelda replied, "No, young lord. You didn't say anything wrong besides you conversation ofcourse. In fact, she's starting to look at you the way she used to. It just shows… she's getting better. And that she's proud of what you've done."