Lily was approaching Cedric, on her way across the plaza catching the head judge taking out a handkerchief from within his palm, closing the compartment to dust it off. The wisteria trees shone brightly, ample smell refreshing the air. She told him what she learned and Cedric held his chin.

  "It's not possible to dig beneath. This area is reinforced for structural stability. Nor can anybody hide above."

  "Is there a possibility Chester truly might have had a motive?"

  "He would never." Cedric shook his head, confident. "He teases and challenges but he would never risk his own victory this obviously. We don't check the cupboards of the stalls after setting them up so someone must have placed the jar there and Chester hadn't noticed it."

  "Truly, the only ones who had access to the food were the judges—" Lily's head whipped towards him. "Cedric! The judges are the only second robots who touched the tray."

  He straightened up. "Are you implying they are suspects?"

  "Our closest yet."

  The two stared at each one until Lily recalled the earlier sight which Cedric hammered down with a story. It all came together.

  "Excuse me, may I borrow a handkerchief? I am afraid I had spilled a little drink on myself," Lily asked the head chef sheepishly.

  He looked her up and down before scoffing. "You should ask from someone else."

  Cedric appeared beside him. "You should lend her your handkerchief. I am afraid I don't have one with me."

  He guffawed, "I used it already!"

  "I will simply wipe my dress. Please?"

  "Can't you just—"

  Cedric made sure the robot saw and felt his stare to his core. The judge would have been sweating if he could. "Excuse me, Miss. Here." He opened his palm compartment and that's when Cedric grabbed his wrist and Lily pushed her face in. "What are you doing?! Unhand me this instance!"

  Lily sniffed inside then picked up a few black droplets. "This is moth frass. And when moths are stressed, they emit a musky scent—I doubt that your compartment usually smells like vinegar."

  This started catching everyone's attention, the wave of gazes washing over each second. The judge was losing his composure, struggling against Cedric's hold.

  "You were the only one who had access to every point of the crime," started Cedric.

  "The fire was a distraction for the investigators, not for the witnesses."

  "To make it seem like someone had used that opportunity to plant the moths when in reality—"

  Lily pointed at the head chef. "—he released the moths from his palm compartment just when he lifted up the tray! No one had a clear view of it so it seemed like they fluttered out of the food!"

  The audience gasped. The head chef spluttered. "How—How dare you! Why in the world would I do such a thing?!"

  "You had planted the jar before the participants had come. Not to disqualify Edgar but to sabotage chef Chester. But why indeed?"

  Disappointed disapproval radiated off the Duke. "Because of last year…"

  The three had reached Chester's sublime dish and the head judge as usual took a taste first. Out of greed for more, he mindlessly… double-dipped.

  His fellow judges stared in horror and disgust and the audience went dead silent.

  Chester freaked out. "You are the head judge! How could you make such a mistake?! Are the standards this low these days?"

  The other two judges calmed him down and promised they were going to come back to him. Chester had to redo the dish with the leftovers, and humiliation with the shaking of the audience's heads was strong that day.

  Lily did crInge at the story the first time, and now again. "Perhaps Chester should have been more gracious in that moment but you shouldn't have allowed yourself to step this low."

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  The head judge looked positively livid. Chester was jaw slacked as Edgar face-palmed similarly to the previous year's.

  "Is this true?" confronted the female judge. "And don't you dare to lie to me!"

  "You're blaming me for your amateur mistake—?!"

  The head judge whipped towards Chester, shoving his finger to his face. "You! It's always you! You humiliated me again! Oh, you will pay for this. I will make you pay!"

  The guards took him away and Lily handed the handkerchief evidence over before they left the plaza.

  "Mystery solved?"

  "Mystery solved."

  Cedric and Lily smiled at each other, relieved everything worked out in the end without Chester and Edgar getting hurt.

  "But we still need a third judge." The two judges looked at one another. Cedric perked up.

  "Seeing as it's about the organic ingredients, wouldn't it be perfect to consult with a human's taste buds?" He led their gazes with his hands towards Lily who looked surprised.

  "Hmm, indeed."

  "She did save the tournament…. Alright."

  "I will be fair and square!" Lily excitedly followed them. The festive mood came back again and while the chefs began cooking for the audience not to waste time, Lily got a bite of every dish, relaying her observations to the judges.

  Cedric watched her, amused by her state of bliss from every bite and savoring sight. Lily held her cheek, enjoying a particularly tomato infused dish. Watching her, the audience got an appetite too and they eagerly awaited to try the meals.

  The time to announce the winner came.

  "This year's winner of the annual cooking tournament is… Chef Emily!"

  Everyone clapped with Lily rubbing her ears afterwards. The rising star who was stationed near Edgar jumped in joy, rushing out to claim the golden trophy with a high squeal. Lily grinned at her infectious glee and praised her creative mushroom meal.

  Cedric joined her side and they walked around the stalls, enjoying the food. "You were like a professional. Perhaps next year you should officially come as a judge."

  "I wish but I fear that it may be a health hazard if previous years' themes are anything to go by."

  "Perhaps we should come as one where I will try the hazardous while you eat the organic."

  "We do work well as a team." She elbowed the space near him. That made him feel happy, especially when recalling their adventure. He could get used to this.

  He watched Lily stop in front of Edgar's stall, relaxed expression suiting the wisteria view around them.

  "I am sorry you didn't win this year, Edgar. No matter what, your food is delectable!"

  "Learned that word from the judges, eh?" Edgar shook his head. "And here I was hoping I would get biased favoring."

  "Edgar!" But Lily's mouth curled upward.

  "Thank you Lily. And Duke Cedric." He nodded respectfully at the noble before looking at her humbly. "I am glad you came along."

  "Aw, I told you—"

  "Now move along. Yer holding up the line." He quickly plated her vegetables coated and speckled with spices and seasonings and Lily happily moved to attain more exquisite treasures.

  "My~ What a shame I couldn't continue my winning streak. At least tell me my dish is better than Edgar's over there."

  "Chester," warned Cedric but he sounded too amused.

  "Both of you did a great, unique job as all the others," supplied Lily, wry.

  Chester plated her double the portion. "An extra as a thank you. Feel free to visit my restaurant any day."

  "I suspect you're going to love it. It has a charming feel to it," said Cedric as they went on their way.

  "Hmm, do you have evidence to support that claim?"

  "No, but I do have the astute observation of your particular enchantment with tomatoes if you know what I mean."

  Lily gasped. "Bribing the judge, Mr. Cedric?"

  "Name the price!"

  They laughed as they took their seats at the booth.

  "You were great! My attention was captured when you revealed the culprit."

  "And you were a strong help! When you grabbed the head judge for me to inspect his hand."

  He chuckled, elegantly cutting a stuffed steamed bell pepper; it was green. "That pales to when you caught onto the scheme."

  "We did it together. Not bad for teamwork, hehe."

  "Call me your partner any day, Detective Lily.".

  They ate, taking time to savor each bite in between their conversations and the chatter of the robots around them. The occasional silences and quiet company hadn't felt awkward nor strange, and Lily found herself admiring the way Cedric ate with class under the white and purple of the flowering trees. "Despite the sabotage, I am glad I was able to participate in a way."

  "Seconded. I had a lot of fun. You know, today reminded of a mystery novel I would recommend—"

  Lily listened, engrossed.