CHAPTER 356: CHAPTER 167: BLOOD ROSE IN THE SNOW

168-169 My Queen

When the last gunshot sounded, Wen Maixue screamed by the fire.

The scream pierced the sky, and the first rays of morning Sunshine lit up the snowy ground. The hunters, realizing they had not yet received their hard-earned hunting rewards for the month, quickly ran out.

Viscount Orleans’ hand continued to pull the trigger, with the sound of empty shots echoing inside the barrel. Count Olson fell to the ground, his eyeballs bulging out of their sockets, and his warm blood melting deep furrows in the snow.

In the campsite, only two people stood: the shocked Wen Maixue and the Viscount who had killed Count Olson.

Such a major event had not occurred in the secluded Alpine Mountains for many years. Just before the harsh winter was about to set in, the arrival of over ten police cars made the entire Great Snow Mountain boil with activity.

"Viscount Orleans went mad, he killed the Count by mistake," all the hunters agreed, as if the scene had unfolded right before their eyes. No one doubted the shooting incident; hearing and seeing were almost the same.

Wen Maixue, the only eyewitness at the scene, spoke of the entire incident after drinking several cups of hot cocoa and receiving an injection of a sedative.

"Viscount Orleans has been living under Count Olson’s severe pressure for a long time, and he has been controlling his mood by consuming psychiatric drugs over the years. During this hunt, the Count, due to Viscount’s inappropriate behavior, had publicly reprimanded him multiple times, which must have greatly increased his mental stress. That night, I heard some noises outside, so I went out. I saw him acting unusually, saying he saw a bear." Wen Maixue spoke, suppressing the terror within her heart. She had been cooperating with the local French police investigation right after the incident, making the romantically inclined French officers deeply believe her testimony.

"Miss, if you find it difficult to speak now, you can continue tomorrow," the police said considerately. Anyway, the medical examiner had found a large amount of psychiatric drugs inside Viscount Orleans, along with other mixed drug components, proving that Viscount Orleans was a drug addict. These nobles, living idle lives, like to stir up trouble, making dozens of people rush to Great Snow Mountain, which certainly isn’t a pleasant endeavor.

"Later the Count also came out, he saw Viscount Orleans looking frantic and got very angry, leading to some verbal conflicts between them. The Count even angrily fired several blank shots, finally saying, ’You are a waste, if you continue this way, forget about inheriting anything from me. I have already found out, Piero is not dead, I have sent people to look for him, once he returns, I will hand over everything of the Olson family to him.’’" Wen Maixue declined the police’s kind offer, her lips pursed together, continuing in a soft tone.

"Who is Piero?" the officer responsible for taking notes asked, Wen Maixue shook her head, she could no longer provide more information, as that could cast doubt on her testimony.

"The Olson family’s housekeeper has arrived," another officer brought in Housekeeper Dennis, who had come overnight.

"Piero is the only son of the former Count, said to have died on this mountain during a hunt many years ago. However, the last time the old master came, he mentioned that he heard Piero had not died and was saved by a hunter in the mountains," the testimony of the traditionally meticulous British Housekeeper Dennis further affirmed the authenticity of Wen Maixue’s account.

"This means, the truth of the case is, Viscount Orleans, due to excessive use of psychiatric drugs, suffered a mental breakdown, and in a state of emotional distress, mistakenly killed the Count," French police wrote this concluding sentence in the case report.

"I think at that moment, Orleans must have mistaken Count Olson for a bear," Wen Maixue subtly added.

"We will send him to an insane asylum near Nice for isolation and treatment," the French police thanked Wen Maixue, then let her leave the police station.

After leaving the police station, Wen Maixue looked around, but did not see Piero’s figure. Piero should have descended the mountain earlier than her, so why hadn’t he come to meet her personally?

"Miss Wen," Housekeeper Dennis respectfully stood by a car, Piero Manor ""Mr. Piero mentioned that the future Piero Manor would be taken care of by this lady here. Although emotionally, Housekeeper Dennis likely preferred Miss Su who visited that day, as the master was very happy when together with her. However, it is not his place as a servant to speculate on the master’s thoughts."