Chapter 213 Case File 3: Twin Butterflies Dance at Rose Villa (1)
"Ms. Samantha and I have known each other for a long time. I didn't expect that we would still meet here after so many years and after going our separate ways. On a whim, we got together and talked about the past."
The waiters took away the guests' empty plates and bowls and brought back a stew of five-fingered ginseng and pig's trotter soup. Andre also took the opportunity to pass the stew to secretly put a small note in front of Baroness Chandler. Baroness Chandler glanced at it, her expression changed, and she quietly put the note away.
Peter continued, "There was a bench next to the viewing platform, so we chatted there while admiring the flowers. The backyard was bustling with people coming and going. Around 3:30, I saw Count Valentine, looking rather disheveled and dusty, following his butler towards the hot springs."
This statement is consistent with what Valentine said.
"At 4:30, we saw the botanist studying roses. She collected a basket of roses, saying she was going to make specimens... Oh, and the gentleman with the scar on his brow was there too."
Pete nodded at Is.
Is nodded. "I was very interested in the Oster Rose in the back hills. I happened to meet Ms. Betan and talked to her for a while, about... fifteen minutes. After we finished chatting, I went straight back to the mansion."
"Yes, this gentleman even nodded to us when he passed by the viewing platform," Pete said. "It was nearly five o'clock. As for Ms. Landner, she continued to walk deeper into the mountains and out of our sight. Baron Chandler had also been heading in that direction before, so I boldly speculate that Ms. Landner might have happened to see Baron Chandler at that intriguing moment."
Everyone's attention was immediately focused on botanist Landna Wen Betan.
The woman, who appeared to be in her forties or fifties, was plump, with soft brown hair cascading down her back and a chubby, slightly plump face that made her look like the girl next door. She was suddenly called, and she panicked. "I've been conducting research in the back mountains all afternoon. The Oster rose is a specially bred variety, only available at Rose Villa. Naturally, I had to seize this opportunity."
She gathered herself and tried to recall. "I didn't pay attention to time when I was collecting and studying roses. It was a very obsessive job, but I do remember meeting Mr. Lind. He was also very knowledgeable about Oster roses and asked me many insightful questions. I was deeply impressed by him."
She pursed her lips. "After Mr. Linde said goodbye, I continued walking towards the back of the mountain. I don't know the exact time, but I did see Baron Chandler deep in the flowers. He was standing with someone under a marble pavilion..." She looked very embarrassed and glanced up at Madame Butterfly and Baroness Chandler. "Their posture was very ambiguous... one could even say, a little erotic."
The guests' gazes instantly became hot and curious. They looked at the Baroness, then at Madame Butterfly, and then at Ms. Landner, their eyes full of inquiry and gossip.
"That's absolutely not the case!" Madame Butterfly denied righteously. "I didn't go to the back hill all afternoon! This is a blatant slander!"
"Wait a minute," Vivian said, "wasn't Madame Butterfly having afternoon tea in the tower with the Countess of Canberra? Did she leave in the middle of it?"
"No, Madame Butterfly was with me the whole time." The Countess of Canberra also looked puzzled. "She never left my sight until the servants rushed into the tower and told us the news of Baron Chand's death!"
"I didn't lie!" Ms. Landner said solemnly, "I did see Madame Butterfly and Baron Chandler snuggling together. She was wearing a fiery red dress and holding a rose in her hand, which she handed to Baron Chandler to smell and admire!"
Suddenly, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a loud thunder and a torrential downpour. The guests looked at the two opposing sides, each holding their own views and arguing with each other, and for a moment they didn't know who to believe.
Winston looked at Madame Butterfly, whose royal blue dress was exactly the same as that in the morning, and a gleam of light flickered in his eyes.
The dispute ended in nothing. Madame Butterfly had the Countess of Canberra as a witness, and Landra was certain of what she had seen.
However, Madame Butterfly could not have appeared in two places, so there must be a lie between these two contradictory testimonies.
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"How is it?" Jiang You asked curiously when Andre returned to the kitchen again.
"More strange things happened." Andre said, "Some people said they saw Madame Butterfly in the back hill, but the Countess of Canberra testified that Madame Butterfly was having afternoon tea with her in the tower at that time."
"Wow! Two Madame Butterflies?" Takumi's eyes sparkled. "Like twin butterflies?"
"It's more likely that one of the women is lying," Andre said. "The botanist who made this testimony, Ms. Landona Van Betan, is also a toxicologist. She should also know how to use food allergies to kill people."
"Oh wow! The number of suspects has increased." Jiang You pulled up the claws in the oil pan, and in the claws lay a lot of golden gold wire coils. "Where is Count Valentine from before?"
"He did come into contact with almonds, which may have been the murder weapon, but he didn't have the time to commit the crime. While Lady Landner saw Baron Chandler conversing intimately with Madame Butterfly, dancing, and sniffing roses, Count Valentine was said to be enjoying cookies in the hot springs while washing white pepper off his body."
"Hey, this is really interesting." Jiang You took the long chopsticks and put the fried golden shrimp rolls and golden sausages into the plates. Baroness Chandler, who does not eat meat, will get two golden shrimp rolls.
The following marinated platter had already been sliced and plated, a presentation comparable to that of a three-star Michelin restaurant. While the thirteen dishes tonight were numerous, each portion was modest, just enough to fill the nobles without overindulging them.
Andre picked up the new dishes and followed the servants into the banquet hall again. He came in at the right time when historian Daskus van Gently and his good friend Ceylan van Casbelo were giving their alibis.
"Ceylon and I have been good friends for many years, and we've always worked together." Dusk adjusted his silver-chained glasses and spoke excitedly. He looked a little nervous and would get particularly excited at the slightest movement. "I talked to Baron Chand today, but it was in the morning, in the living room!"
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