Chapter 210 Case File 3: The Mysterious Dinner Party at Rose Villa (14)

Although Xiaogutou's statement was all speculation and there was not a shred of evidence, Andre felt that it made some sense.

However, in order to prove this guess, we need to know what is recorded in Baron Chand's family notebook.

Andre thought for a moment, then looked at the small white porcelain pots on the table filled with quinoa, lotus root, and pig's trotter soup. "Which one is for Baroness Chandler?"

"This one." Jiang You took out the only portion with lotus seeds, placed it on a tray and handed it to Andre. "Here."

Andre picked up the tray, looked at her approvingly, and joined the line of people being served.

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Half an hour ago, twelve guests and Madame Butterfly were seated in the banquet hall.

They looked at the empty seat with the nameplate of "Baron Cameron van Chand" on it, with expressions of surprise and confusion on their faces.

"Camo is dead...how could it be!" Baroness Chandler's eyes were filled with tears. She clutched the handkerchief in her hand and burst into tears.

"This is a serious accident! Madame Butterfly, there has never been any danger in your parties. Now, as the host, you should give us an explanation!" Countess Durand de Canberra said righteously.

Madame Butterfly sat at the head of the long table. She said in a deep voice, "Yes, that's what I was about to say. According to Count Mordor's investigation, we suspect Baron Chand's death was a murder! And the murderer is most likely among us!

"We will find out the truth tonight during dinner."

Madame Butterfly paused, looked at Winston and said, “At 5:22 this afternoon, Count Winston de Mordor, Miss Vivian von Leicester, and a waiter witnessed Baron Chandler having an allergic attack.

"Subsequent examinations revealed that Baron Chandler had roasted almond powder and rose pollen in his mouth and nose, and that the roasted almonds had triggered his allergic reaction."

Everyone's eyes fell on the witch's finger biscuits placed in front of them. Botanist and toxicologist Landner hesitated and asked, "Roasted almonds? Are they the roasted almonds on these finger biscuits?"

Their eyes moved again to Baron Chandler's empty seat. On that plate that no one would touch, the five finger-shaped biscuit nails had a different color, texture, and luster from those on other people's plates.

——That’s cranberry.

Before everyone could figure it out, Madame Butterfly's voice rang out again.

She continued, "Since Earl Mordo and Miss Leicester have no chance of attacking Baron Chand, and Earl Mordo has always been trusted by His Majesty the King and is very experienced in investigating cases, I propose to entrust Earl Mordo as the investigator of this case. I ask everyone to cooperate as much as possible."

"Why don't you invite the Kingdom Knights?" Baroness Chand slammed the table. "Why are you conducting your own investigation?"

"This is Rose Hill." Madame Butterfly said coldly, "It is the place of love given to Isabella by King Rudolf Delman.

“Until the descendants of the German royal family are found, this land will not be governed by any lord unless the king or an official authorized by him comes in person.

"And Earl Modo happens to be the imperial censor who holds the authorization of the king's agent."

She smiled and said, "Look, there are so many nobles here. If one of them is really the criminal, which knight of the kingdom would dare to investigate? Why don't we solve it ourselves? If Earl Modo finds nothing within three days..."

She turned to look at Winston.

Winston understood and continued, "If I can't solve this case within three days, I will report this to His Majesty the King and ask His Majesty to send someone to investigate."

After a lot of discussion, everyone finally agreed to this approach.

"Baron Chandler said a few words to me before he died. Based on these words, I judge that he met someone before he died," Winston said. "Baron Chandler sold something to this person. During the transaction, this person 'poisoned' Baron Chandler by using roses sprinkled with almond powder."

He turned to Madame Butterfly. "So, I need to know where the guests were between 4:30 and 5:30, what they were doing, and whether there are any witnesses... Madame Butterfly, you are the organizer of this party, so I'll start this inquiry with you."

"Four-thirty... Let me think. I was having afternoon tea with the Countess of Canberra in the annex tower on the left wing of the manor. It should have started at four in the afternoon. It wasn't until five-thirty that I received the news from the servants that Baron Chandler was in trouble. I hurriedly left the tower and went straight to the first floor."

The place where Baron Chandler had the accident was in front of the gate leading to the back garden on the first floor. Baron Chandler came from the back garden at that time, and the person he met should have been in the back garden at that time.

Winston looked at the Countess of Canberra, who was tall and thin, and nodded slightly in confirmation. "That's right."

After eliminating two suspects at once, Winston frowned slightly.

The seats were arranged according to rank. Next to the Countess of Canberra sat Valentine, who was chewing a finger biscuit. "I'm in the hot springs in the back hills, right, Butler Richard?"

"Yes, Lord Rosewood did occupy the hot spring," Butler Richard confirmed. "Lord Rosewood had a minor seasoning incident and used the hot spring for two hours, from 3:30 to 5:30. This period is not the usual bathing time, so there was no one else in the hot spring."

"I went to the kitchen to look for some snacks and happened to bump into the skeleton chef. I got splashed with white pepper all over my head and face. It was really embarrassing. I took the snacks and asked the butler to take me to the hot springs in the back mountain. I even asked the butler to bring me a change of clothes..." Valentine smiled and thought, "Hmm... What time did you bring the clothes?"

"It was five-fifteen," the butler continued. "When I returned to the mansion from the hot springs, I received a message from the lady, telling me what had happened to the Baron."

Valentine spread his hands and said, "Look, I was naked in the hot spring!"

"What snacks did you take from the kitchen?" asked Winston.

"Oh, it's this kind of biscuits." Valentine said without hesitation, "I don't know what the chef has prepared, I just ordered some snacks.

"The cook was also covered in pepper, and he looked like he was in a hurry to get rid of me. He just stuffed me with some leftover food that looked like it was burnt, but it tasted pretty good."

He licked the corner of his mouth, as if savoring the taste, and smiled seductively.

Winston's eyes passed over his hair, which was indeed still damp.