Chapter 80: the court case 3

"But my lord, the old hospital reports.'' The man was still trying to salvage the situation.

Sir Hamlington raised his hand in the air. "I am taking the report into consideration, sir Mathews, but tell me how could a person be at two places at the same time?

Lady Isabella was claiming that she was in the hospital, taking treatment. While duke de Luca said that she was at his palace to meet him and get evidence. Who do you want me to believe?" his question was sharp and to the point.

Isabella looked at Cassius biting her lip, but I didn't even want to turn and look at his regretful face.

"My lord, we still have another point, lady Isabella was given white roses as a farewell gift, when she was leaving the lord's chamber. But the roses had itching powder mixed in it.

It may have caused deep scars on the victims face. It could have affected the victim's marriage in the future too." Here started the whole process again with the argument of sir Mathews.

"Maybe it was a genuine allergic case, and you are exaggerating it, sir Mathews," said Damien

"We have the report, sir Damien. I never speak assumption, but facts" he declared.

Just like you had the report of the food poisoning case, sir Mathews." replied Damien with a chuckle and Sir Matthew's face turned red. 

I could see him glaring at Damien and then at Isabella for her foolishness.

Isabella bit her lip and looked at me with accusing eyes, and I just rolled my eyes in response. What! Was it my mistake that she roamed in the whole palace when she should be busy in the hospital playing sick?

"Alright, let's proceed with the second point to get done with it." said sir Hamilton. He was looking worried and I wondered why. No matter who will win or lose, it's not like he would lose anything.

"Yes, my lord. The roses were given at the door of the lord's chamber. How could the roses be given without the knowledge of Lady Marianne or lord Killian, as only their maids were available there." he repeated the same line, and I was sure he had nothing except this point. 

What would happen if I told them that the perfume used was the one Cassius had gifted me, would he go to jail in my stead.

"Well, it may be given by his highness, too. He was also there when lady Marianne and lady Isabella reached the chamber." pointed Damien.

"But why would his highness do that?" he replied as if it was completely absurd.

"Then How do you know that this was done by duchess Marianne, sir Mathews?" 

"So do you want to say that little Killian did that?" retorted sir Mathews.

"Not at all, but why only these two are to be blamed?" asked Damien back.

"Because they were the only two in the lord's chamber with all the maids and servants. And I could not believe that a servant had done this without his owner's permission."

"But my lord, why would duchess Marianne do that?" asked Damien

"My lord, there are rumours in the empire that lady Isabella was favoured more than duchess Marianne. Lord Killian prefers his aunt over his stepmother. And duchess duties were also done by lady Isabella.

Recently duchess Marianne had taken them back, and she is having problems in running it efficiently, so to take out her anger, she had done that.

After all, duchess Marianne is famous for her short temper. You can ask her staff to confirm that." 

Ah, that was the old me. You have not updated your notes on Isabelle. 

"Alright, if that puts some light over your accusation, we have no objection in calling them" replied Damien with a smile.

Sir Matthew furrowed brows at this easily accepted but still nodded, "alright, I want to call lord Killian, first." 

Killian stood up and walked towards the chair.

"You may kiss the book"

"Lord Killian, it is said that Lady Marianne is not good to you since the day of her marriage, she had even pushed you in her wedding party." I felt a pang of guilt in my heart, but I swear it was not intentional. I was walking and he just came in the way.

"It is true, sir Mathews but that was all in the past. I have good relations with my mother now," replied Killian with a cold blank face, though not a single part of his face matched his father, his expressions, habits, and dead face muscles all went to Cassius.

"Oh, lord Killian you are still a child. people don't change this easily. You should not be this trusting, as the future heir of the empire."

"I know that I am the future heir of the dukedom, sir Mathews, and that's why I know when to trust and when not to."

"Alright, then lord Killian, tell us, have you ordered your maids to give roses to lady Isabella," he asked and Killian shook his head.

"No, I have never given flowers to aunt Isabella," he replied in the same stoic voice.

"How was the behaviour of lady Marianne towards your aunt Isabella.'' Just see the difference in our addressing, did he think Killian is an emotional fool?

"My mother's behaviour was courteous toward aunt Isabella, sir Mathew. And if I add, she was very adapting towards the tantrums aunt Isabella had thrown during dinner," he added and sir Mathews was speechless.

Gasps and murmurs can be heard again. Isabella stood up from her seat, but her father held her hand and made her sit again, she looked at me and I smirked, running a hand on my hair, she fumed and her hands clenched into a fist.

"Alright, you may go, lord Killian," said sir Mathews,

"Wait a minute, sir Mathews. I want to ask a few things too. What were the tantrums you were talking about?" 

"It was nothing special, sir Damien. But aunt Isabella sometimes forgot that lady Marianne is my mother now, but my mother still maintained her patience," he replied with a smile. "I will assume it as aunt Isabella still missed my first mother, so she was having a difficult time accepting reality."