Chapter 54 Assassination at the Celebration
Chapter 54
54.1
Euridice's voice was like a knight's sword drawn from its sheath, slashing sharply towards Cardinal Square.
"There's something wrong with this evidence," she said. "Someone is trying to frame Prince Richard."
Prince Constance was stunned for a moment, then he narrowed his eyes, seemed to understand something, and wanted to reach out and grab Euridsi's arm; but it was too late.
Olidisi had already strode through the crowd and headed towards the golden platform in the square.
Perhaps because of her strange expression, the crowd in the square unconsciously moved aside, making way for her. Some people stared at her in surprise, asking, "Who is that?"
"That seems to be the new Baroness of South Hill, Euridice Arquitas."
"What is she talking about? Prince Richard was framed?"
"But this evidence was found in his room. The Queen's Knights are always right."
"And George Blier. He has confessed it."
"However, Prince Richard is so stupid, it's possible that he was framed... Uh, I mean, Prince Richard doesn't look like someone who would do something like 'assassinating the Supreme King'."
Prince Richard on the platform didn't care about people's opinions of him at all. He just stared blankly at Euridsi who was approaching the platform with a confused look on his face.
Princess Sabina's eyelashes trembled slightly as she looked at Oledsi. Oledsi smiled at her, then bowed to the Grand Judge on the podium: "Your Excellency."
Grand Chancellor Rose Goode looked at her. "You are Euridice Aquitus, the newly created Baroness of South Hill."
Oledsi smiled and said, "I am."
The judge frowned slightly. "Prince Richard and the Blier family, who assassinated King Lucinda, have no kinship or friendship with you. Why are you defending them?"
Olidesi smiled. "The Wanzeta Empire uses the Hydebot Code to resolve conflicts between citizens, seeking fairness and justice. As a citizen of the Wanzeta Empire, when I see unfair persecution, I feel it is my duty to fight against it—especially when this kind of fabricated evidence is likely something only someone like me can disprove."
The judge raised his eyebrows slightly: "Someone like you?"
"I'm an alchemist." Oledsi smiled calmly, "I have a way to verify the authenticity of evidence."
After a pause, Oulidisi repeated, "There's something wrong with this evidence. I believe Prince Richard was framed."
The judge paused for a moment, then looked at King Lucinda and said, "Your Majesty."
King Lucinda's eyes were calm, and the Grand Judge said, "Your Majesty, you are the victim of this murder. Do you accept Euridice Aquitus's defense of Prince Richard?"
King Lucinda smiled. "Of course, fairness and justice are what I seek. Euridice Aquitus, if you claim Richard is innocent, please prove your claim."
Oledsi saluted and said with a smile, "No problem."
She held up two fingers as she spoke. "Prince Richard was convicted on two pieces of evidence: first, George Blier's testimony that he had received a letter signed by R.R.M.; and second, the weapons, scepters, and sacrificial vessels that the Knights found in Prince Richard's room."
Ouliidesi's tone was orderly and very clear. The people in the square gradually quieted down and unconsciously began to listen to her carefully.
"First," she said, "I must point out that the weapons, scepters, and sacrificial vessels recovered from Prince Richard's chambers are highly problematic."
As Oulidsi spoke, he walked up the platform step by step and approached the pile of evidence neatly stacked on the platform:
Three sealed parchment letters, maps of the deployment of the knights in each county; a "Scales Sword" scepter of the royal family of the old Elton Empire, a silver sacrificial vessel of the goddess Hecate; a "Nine Lights of the Sun and Moon" ring, a bronze round mirror, and an ancient knight's sword.
Euridsi looked at the pile of things and said clearly, "These weapons, sacrificial vessels, and scepters found in Prince Richard's room were not kept by Prince Richard himself for a long time. Instead, they were moved to Prince Richard's room by others in a very short time and in a hurry."
When Oulidsi said this, the crowd fell silent, and then a low buzz of discussion began.
"Indeed, these things could have been put there by someone else. But it's also possible that they were put there by Prince Richard himself. The question is, how can we prove this?"
“Unless there is sacrificial smoke in the room that records the scene.”
"However, sacrificial incense is not allowed in the royal living room. The Hydebot Code explicitly prohibits the use of any sacrificial incense for record keeping in the room where anyone rests."
Oledsi paused, letting the crowd discuss for a while, and then he smiled calmly and said, "Everyone."
The people in the square looked at her. Euridice smiled and said, "In Kaderin Castle, there are four suites used by the castle owners: one, the King's Suite of King Lucinda and Prince Rochlan; two, the room of Prince Richard and Princess Sabina; three, the room of Prince Constance and Princess Bertha; four, the room of Princess Matilda and Duke Lorenz Ebrard."
Someone murmured, "Isn't this nonsense?"
Oledsi seemed not to have heard and just continued with a smile: "Because the owners have different hobbies, the four suites have different incense and flower arrangements."
As she spoke, she looked towards the King's Knight Commander, "Excuse me, what kind of incense and flowers are used in each suite?"
The King's Knight Commander was startled, somewhat surprised, but he answered truthfully, "There is no incense in the rooms of His Majesty the Supreme King and Prince Rokolan. During the hot season, they occasionally place a few eucalyptus flowers, but they have no fragrance. His Majesty does not like the scent of incense or spices."
Oledsi nodded, and the Knight Commander continued, "The room used by Prince Richard and Princess Sabina uses red dragon roses. The princess loves the scent of roses."
Princess Sabina forced a smile, a gesture of approval. The Knight Commander said, "Prince Constance's room features silver-blue butterfly flowers. Princess Matilda's room features golden-white phoenix jasmine."
Oledsi smiled and said, "Thank you."
As she spoke, she took out several pieces of thin, neatly cut off-white cloth from her arms.
Someone whispered, "What is that?"
Oledsi smiled and said, "These are the cloths I use to test potions. They've been soaked in the juice of purple cabbage and litmus lichen. When they come into contact with different plant extracts, they produce different color changes."
As the alchemist said this, many people began to understand Euridsi's intentions. King Lucinda waved her hand, and four Winged Knights quickly spread their wings and went to Kaderin Castle to retrieve the spices, essential oils, and flowers used in the rooms of their masters.
Olidesi stood in the center of the platform and cast his eyes into the air. Four Winged Knights quickly landed on the edge of the platform, holding in their hands the spices, bouquets, and essential oils that were being used in the four masters' suites.
The first knight said, "It is a cold season now, the eucalyptus flowers are not in bloom, and your Majesty's room is not scented."
The second knight held up the bouquet and perfume in his hand: "This is the incense used in Prince Richard's room, it's the 'Fire Dragon Rose'."
Olidisi smiled and nodded, not forgetting to show the crowd on and off the stage:
"Please look, everyone." As she spoke, she dropped a drop of colorless "Fire Dragon Rose" incense oil onto the white cloth, and a light red color appeared on the cloth.
Olidisi showed the piece of cloth to everyone for a week and then took out a new piece of cloth.
"The pollen of the Fire Rose has the same effect as the Fire Rose incense oil." She shook the rose towards a new piece of white cloth, and sure enough, a light red color appeared on the cloth as well.
The knight holding the Fire Dragon Rose took the two pieces of cloth in his hands. Oledsi turned to the next knight. "These blue ones are the 'Silver Blue Butterfly Flowers' used in Prince Constance's chambers, right? It's a winter fragrance used only by a very small number of nobles."
The knight nodded, and Orridsi took out a piece of cloth. This time, the alchemist didn't even need to drop essential oil on the cloth. The white cloth just came close to the silver-blue butterfly flower, and it quickly showed a darker blue color.
The "Phoenix Jasmine" in the hands of the last knight, which belonged to Princess Matilda, dyed a light blue on the white cloth.
"Alright," Oledsi clapped his hands happily, "I think everyone has understood what I want to do."
Indeed, the people in the square have realized what Oulidsi meant:
Incense in different rooms can create different colors on white fabrics.
"Well then," Euridsi said, "let's not talk too much, let's see what color these 'evidences found in Prince Richard's room' will turn the white cloth into, and what kind of fragrance it will have——"
As she spoke, she bent down and picked up a scepter that was considered "evidence of guilt." She wiped it on a piece of white cloth:
The fabric suddenly showed a light blue color.
A low clamor was heard from the celebration square, but Oridesi acted as if he hadn't heard it and continued wiping the white cloth over the remaining "evidence":
The sealed parchment scroll, the silver sacrificial vessel, the ring, the round mirror, the knight's sword, all the evidence either did not cause the cloth to change color, or caused the cloth to turn into different shades of blue.
Oledsi sighed softly.
"If these objects had been kept in Prince Raymond's room," she said, "they should have been stained with the scent and pollen of the 'Fire Dragon Rose', turning the fabric red."
In fact, she didn't need to say this, even the nobles who knew the least about potions could understand:
These things do not belong in Prince Richard's room.
Someone had placed them in Prince Richard's room only briefly, so they had not yet taken on the scent of the dragon roses.
Olidisi curled his lips and said, "These artifacts never belonged to Prince Richard. Someone deliberately framed His Royal Highness."
The people in the square looked at each other in confusion, and Prince Richard suddenly fell backwards to the ground with a "bang".
Princess Sabina quickly supported him, and Prince Richard held his wife's hand and suddenly burst into sobs.
"I, I didn't do it... I really didn't do it." Prince Richard cried, "Thank you, thank you."
Although Euridice was grateful to Prince Richard, she did not talk to him for too long, nor did she show any emotion.
She had proven half of Prince Richard's innocence, but she didn't stop there. The alchemist said coldly, "Your Excellency, we have not only proven that Prince Richard had nothing to do with this matter, but also that these 'incriminating' objects were stained with spices that turned the cloth blue. Doesn't this also mean—"
Euridice stared into Prince Constance's eyes without hesitation.
"These objects come from the rooms of Prince Constance or Princess Matilda."
The celebration square suddenly became quiet.
Olidesi chuckled. "His Royal Highness Prince Richard is the first in line to the throne. Isn't it obvious who will benefit the most from assassinating His Majesty the King and framing Prince Richard?"
——His Royal Highness Prince Richard is the first in line to the throne. The biggest beneficiaries of the assassination of His Majesty the King and the framing of Prince Richard are, of course, the sisters and brothers who come after Prince Richard.
This is an extremely dangerous speculation, and few people dare to say such words in front of everyone.
However, Eurydice Arquitas was a crazy witch who made such a crazy accusation so clearly.
The people in the square looked at each other in confusion, countless eyes subconsciously cast towards Prince Constance and Princess Matilda, and some people even quietly stepped back, standing a little further away from the two highnesses.
The two princes who were accused by the alchemist were very calm and composed.
Princess Matilda still looked indifferent, and Prince Constance's lazy and romantic smile had not disappeared, but his fingers were behind his back, slightly curled up where no one could see.
Princess Matilda suddenly said, "George Blier."
Euridice paused. Princess Matilda looked at her and said calmly, "You said that Prince Richard was convicted on two pieces of evidence: first, George Blier's testimony that he received the letter signed by R.R.M.; second, the weapons, scepter, and sacrificial vessels that the Knights found in Prince Richard's room."
Princess Matilda said, looking calmly at the pile of objects, "You explained these things; but you did not explain George Blier's accusation against Prince Richard."
The princess turned her gaze to the stunned, almost forgotten assassin, George Blier, and asked calmly, "How do you explain the letter in George Blier's hand, Euridice Arquitas?"
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