CHAPTER 304: CULPRIT [BONUS CHAPTER]

After breakfast, Ferdinand noted that Arabella’s condition was truly stable. Thus, he informed her that the one who likely added poison to her wine was not the butler who served her the wine.

Instead, it was one of Lucille’s maids called Risa.

They learned of the said maid’s identity through a thorough investigation of all the maids and butlers who served as waiters and waitresses during the banquet. Even the kitchen staff and guards assigned to the venue were investigated.

Risa was only identified after all the palace maids and kitchen staff were gathered and they noticed two people were missing among those who helped them with the food and drinks that day.

Through the descriptions of those who saw her, Alwin made a portrait and it matched Risa’s appearance. They confirmed it was Risa who was missing when she was brought to them.

The other was the butler who served the wine. His name was Bert. He was someone whom Risa had been flirting with for the past month. They could have worked together or he was used by Risa.

Though she was not supposed to be there since she was a Princess’ handmaiden, Risa was one of the helpers in the kitchen that day.

It was a job that a maid of Risa’s status was not supposed to take part in. She was only there for a bit but the others vouched that she was dressed the same as the kitchen helpers that day and helped with some of the work in the kitchen and storage area.

Yet, Risa still denied that she was the one who added poison to the wine. She insisted that she did not know anything about it and that she did not even go to the banquet that day.

Lucille’s other maids supported Risa’s statement. They said Risa was on holiday at the time and was lounging around in her room with other maids who were also off duty. There were four of them who said they were with Risa.

However, the kitchen staff verified that Risa was with them that day. There were ten of them who saw her.

This increased the likelihood that Risa was indeed the one who added poison to the wine served to Arabella. And Bert who liked Risa served the wine. He was likely an accomplice along with the four maids who vouched that Risa was with them.

It meant they worked together or Risa meant to use Bert. Perhaps, another of Lucille’s plots was on passing the blame to the butler.

But why would Lucille use her own maid this time?

Even if Risa pretended as a palace maid, it was easy to catch her once her identity was revealed. Ten people saw her.

It was an assassination attempt through poisoning.

Risa shouldn’t have shown herself at all. She could have just made Bert do it since it would not be suspicious that he was there since he was a palace butler.

It was puzzling that Risa helped out in the kitchen. Sure other nobles would not see her, but there was the possibility that some of the helpers knew her face and recognize her as Lucille’s maid.

Moreover, Lucille stayed in Medeus quite a lot this year. Which meant a lot of people knew her handmaidens’ faces.

Was it merely a grave oversight on their part?

How come they did not think about it?

Moreover, why did the other kitchen staff and palace maids, especially those in charge, allow Risa to be there when they noticed that she was not a part of the usual kitchen crew?

Did they simply assume she was a new hire? Do they let a new hire help in an event where only royals and noblemen of the highest stature could attend?

They were supposed to be careful and vigilant since this was the yearly Assembly of the Council.

Were they that lax with security in Medeus? Even Lobelius who did not have much military power was careful in matters like this.

Arabella was getting confused. Did she expect too much?

"The maid has still not admitted to her crimes so we will interrogate her again today. Don’t worry. I will ensure that she gets executed for attempting to assassinate you. I will take care of whoever is behind her as well," Ferdinand assured her.

He also knew that a handmaid would not gain anything in assassinating an Empress. It meant someone made Risa do it.

And who else if not her mistress Lucille? She was the one who had power over Risa.

But how should they deal with Lucille this time? Even as a princess, assassinating an Empress was punishable by death.

Especially since it happened in Medeus where violence against other royals was strictly prohibited even if, for instance, their countries were at war with each other.

The reason royals attended the Assembly yearly was that they were assured that once they entered Medeus, this rule was strictly followed.

It would cause chaos if the daughter of the current Head of the Council herself went against the rule.

Did Lucille not think about the risks in the case she was caught?

Her whole family’s reputation would turn sour and the influence and power that King Neville carefully and wisely gathered over the years would drastically wane.

This would also cause doubt and distrust among all the royal families who attended the Assembly this year. The peace and trust in Medeus could greatly wane because of this incident.

In the worst scenario, it could even cause the Council’s downfall. And right when they have problems regarding Fynnia and Griffith too.

"!!!" Arabella was wide-eyed when she realized something.

’Could this be it?!

’Did someone from Fynnia or Griffith made friends with Lucille and tempt her to poison me? And Lucille did not realize the repercussions of her actions? She did not realize they were using her to shake Eliora?!’

Since King Neville was the Head of the Council, he and his family met with delegations from other continents.