Chapter 225 Case File 3: The Mysterious Shadow at Rose Villa (1)
"The third person to die..." Madame Butterfly sat on the sofa in the front hall. Her voice was hoarse, full of frustration and distress. "Oh, my God, this happened! Who will come to my party in the future?"
The housekeeper stood beside her and handed her a handkerchief.
"Valentine?" asked Winston.
Andrei, who had just gone out in the rain to investigate, took the large, soft towel from Jiangyou's hand and wiped the rain from his face. "The body was sprinkled with an alchemical potion that helps with combustion. Even in this downpour, it burned like a fireball, undimmed by the rain. It also fell from a great height, shattering into pieces... In this situation, it's almost impossible to identify the body... I only found this."
He opened his palm, revealing a half-burned bunch of long blond hair wrapped in oil paper, mixed with charred flesh and blood. "Considering the remaining guests and servants have already gathered in the banquet hall, I think it can be correct."
However, the guests gathered in the banquet hall were already getting restless.
"What's going on? Valentine, the murderer, also died inexplicably. Did you make a mistake?"
"So many people died! Who knows if there will be another victim? I want to leave here and go back to my territory!"
Winston did not comment on this. He felt that the situation was unclear and it would be much safer for everyone to stay together than for each noble to leave individually, but he also wanted to see Madame Butterfly's attitude.
"At this point, the so-called deal and game can no longer continue! Quickly get us out of this deadly villa!"
"Not only that! We also need compensation! Madame Butterfly, you put us through such danger, you must give an explanation!"
Madame Butterfly looked devastated. She drooped even more, her voice hoarse. "Okay, I'll see you off, but not now. The rain's still pouring, and the mountain roads are bumpy and difficult to navigate. Horses are prone to slipping and falling in these conditions, not to mention the pitch-black night... If you don't want to break your necks, please stay here for another night. We can discuss compensation while we're here."
"Tomorrow morning, I will send a carriage to take you all back."
Her attitude was sincere, and what she said made sense. Even in this magical world, the weather was still determined by natural forces beyond the reach of ordinary people. Even if they were rich and powerful, they were not some fantastical race that could shake the world, and they could not compete with them at all.
The heavy rain had not yet stopped, and who knew if they would encounter mountain torrents or mudslides on the road. Thinking about the long and winding drive, the guests' faces turned green, but they had no choice but to accept this arrangement.
The discussion of compensation naturally began with the most senior person. Madame Butterfly bowed to Madame Duran, and the two of them walked into the adjacent small room. A short while later, Madame Duran hurried out, her serious face tinged with a sense of relief, having gotten what she wanted. She walked straight out of the banquet hall with a clear purpose, as if to retrieve something.
"Madame Butterfly must have told her where the Heart of Tiara was kept," historian Gently speculated. "Well, it can be considered a return to its rightful owner."
Vivian should have been next, but she waved her hand: "Forget it, Madame Butterfly can no longer give me what I want."
She had originally hoped to use Madame Butterfly's rising popularity and connections to get her into social circles, but now that Madame Butterfly was in a precarious situation, she no longer wanted to have anything to do with her.
The butler who was in charge of leading the way looked at Winston, but unexpectedly Winston also shook his head and refused: "I don't need any compensation."
He had come here out of concern for Vivian's safety, and he had no intention of asking anything from Madame Butterfly... To be honest, he did have a lot of doubts, but now was not the best time to ask Madame Butterfly questions - he had too little information to ask the right questions, nor could he judge the truthfulness of Madame Butterfly's answers.
If he didn't want to go, then Is would naturally not go either. The butler then turned to Eleanor van Chand, but to everyone's surprise, this widow, who should have demanded the most compensation from Madame Butterfly, also refused. She simply said to the butler, "Please arrange a carriage tomorrow morning to take my husband's body and me back to our territory."
The butler naturally agreed.
After her request was met, Elenor did not go back to her room to rest. She seemed to be afraid of unknown dangers and still stubbornly wanted to stay with the crowd.
"Since you guys aren't going, I'll go." Botanist Landna stood up and followed the housekeeper into the next room.
The small door was closed and the butler was standing guard at the door. Winston withdrew his gaze and walked towards Mrs. Samantha, who was trembling in the corner with her arms around herself.
"Hello, Mrs. Samantha." He said softly, his tone gentle and amiable, but it still aroused a great reaction from Mrs. Samantha. She jumped up screaming, holding a sharp dagger in her hand: "Vengeful demon! Don't come near me!"
Winston took two steps back suddenly, and Andre, who was still dripping with rain, rushed forward and protected Winston behind him. He subconsciously reached for the sword at his waist, but found nothing.
Andre: "..." Oh no, he came here in casual clothes and didn't bring his sword and armor.
Unexpectedly, his stunned moment allowed Mrs. Samantha to see his face clearly. The almost crazy woman screamed even louder: "It's you! Lowly, dirty lowlife! It's you who deceived the young lady's heart and defiled her chastity! Everyone in the three villages is dead! Why are you still alive?!"
She brandished a dagger and stabbed at Andre. The knight frowned, took off the towel draped over his shoulders and injected his fighting spirit to block the attack. The ordinary towel danced vigorously in his hands, accurately twisting the dagger in Mrs. Samantha's hand and disarming her easily.
"Let me be clear." Andrei glanced at Little Bone, who was standing in the corner watching the show, and said seriously, "I'm not deceiving anyone."
"I recognize you!" The old maid stumbled, trembling as she pointed at André. "I've seen the young lady's painting. You were soaking wet, your clothes tattered, lying in the dark harbor of an underground cave! She pointed at the painting so happily and told me about your first meeting! She saved you, but you deceived her body and her heart, made her give birth to a son for you, and then disappeared without a trace!"
She was completely immersed in the memories of the past and burst into tears at Winston: "Miss, I didn't betray you! It's just that I can't hide this kind of thing from the Queen!"
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