Going to Crestfall House to Find the Culprit
With a final word, Cassidy snatched the cash from Princess Verity's hand. She ignored the two men still kneeling on the ground and waved a dismissive hand over her shoulder.
"Tie them up."
Her black-clad guards immediately stepped forward, binding the bailiff and the other man, who were still pleading for their lives.
Standing nearby, Princess Verity soaked up the attention, a smug little grin spreading across her face. To prove just how principled she was, she pointed a finger at the manager of The Food Cauldron. "What about him? Aren't you going to arrest him, too?"
The manager's heart nearly stopped. *Isn't she the owner's niece?* he thought frantically. *Did her uncle not give her a big enough allowance this month or something?*
Cassidy nodded and ordered her guards to search The Food Cauldron from top to bottom. They found nothing.
"Looks like there's no poison here, so you're in the clear, for now," Cassidy announced, turning back to the manager. "Your kitchen is clean. Keep it that way. Don't get lazy."
She glanced at the crowd of onlookers, then fixed the manager with a solemn look. "Even though we didn't find anything, you'll have to cooperate with the investigation if we need you later. And if you think of any clues, you report them to the Capital Inspection Bureau. Immediately."
The weight on the manager's chest finally lifted. He rushed forward, practically bowing. "Thank you, thank you, Princess! Your insight has saved The Food Cauldron! We'll report anything we find, I swear it. Everyone here will help however we can!"
With that settled, Cassidy was about to head for Crestfall Manor to find the real culprit. But Princess Verity tugged on her sleeve. "Aren't you going to investigate more? You let them off the hook so fast."
The manager's panic flared all over again. *The owner definitely didn't give her enough money,* he thought. *I have to tell him to double it.*
Cassidy gave Verity a strange look. "Isn't this your uncle's restaurant? Did he do something to piss you off?"
Verity puffed out her chest proudly. "I am principled and impartial. I don't cover for anyone."
Cassidy patted her on the head with an affectionate smile. "Your uncle is so lucky to have you." Then she grinned. "Alright, Ms. Principled-and-Impartial, let's go find the real poisoner."
She pushed Verity onto the carriage before hopping onto her donkey, Maserati. "Bring those two," she called out to her guards. "We're going to Crestfall Manor!"
Verity's eyes lit up. This was exciting! Being an official really was fun. Cassidy didn't even have any clues, but she knew instantly that the poisoner was at Crestfall Manor. It was true what they said, power made you smarter.
Meanwhile, at that very manor, Prince Ashworth was lounging in the main chair of the great hall, thoroughly enjoying himself.
He was badgering the Duke of Crestfall, who stood beside him, fuming.
Ashworth was demanding the Duke produce the servant he'd allegedly had murdered, dead or alive.
If he couldn't, the Prince was threatening to arrest him on the spot.
The Duke's expression was thunderous.
"I've already sent people to look for him," he growled. "Must you be so aggressive, Your Highness? Anyone would think you lived here." Having to see this scoundrel first thing in the morning meant he hadn't gotten a wink of sleep.
Prince Ashworth snorted. "Your manor has countless servants, and you can't find just one? Do you take me for a fool? You have fifteen minutes. If he's not here by then, you're spending the night in my dungeons."
The Duke of Crestfall gritted his teeth. "Does Your Highness always abuse your power for personal grudges?"
"Who are you calling abusive?" Prince Ashworth shot back, rolling up his sleeves. He was done waiting; he was ready to drag this old snake in for questioning himself.
Just as the Duke was preparing to throw the first punch, Cassidy and her entourage arrived in style, with a dead body and two suspects in tow.
The moment she stepped inside, Cassidy saw her father looking absolutely delighted and the Duke of Crestfall looking like he was about to keel over.
*What the hell?* she thought. *Does Dad just hang out here all day to annoy the Duke?*
Making herself right at home, Cassidy found a seat and plopped down, looking at her father excitedly.
"Dad, I've got him. The Duke of Crestfall is finished."
Prince Ashworth's eyes lit up. "What is it? Did you find proof he's a traitor? My daughter is amazing! That old snake is done for."
The Duke sat beside them, fuming. Were they acting like he was already dead? If he was truly guilty, he prayed the Emperor and the law would be the ones to punish him, not these two scoundrels.
He gritted his teeth. "May I ask what dirt the Princess has supposedly found to cause such a commotion?"
Cassidy looked smug. "I found your servant."
The Duke shot up from his seat. "Where is he? I'll question him myself! We treated him well. Why would he conspire with outsiders to frame my household?"
Cassidy just crossed her arms, her expression clearly saying, *Sure, keep putting on a show.*
"Still acting, Duke?" she said sharply. "You knew the Capital Inspection Bureau was tracking him down, so you had him poisoned. And now you have the nerve to ask me where he is?"
Prince Ashworth slammed his hands on the arms of his chair and stood. "You old snake! You resorted to murder! Did you think silencing him would let you get away with it?" He pointed a finger at the Duke. "I'm arresting everyone in this house and taking you all to the dungeons for questioning!"
The Duke looked completely baffled. "You're saying the servant is dead?"
Cassidy clapped her hands. Reid Donovan and Jed immediately carried Rongsheng's corpse into the center of the hall. At the same time, Auspicious and As-Desired, dripping in gold and silver, presented the signed confession to the Prince.
Prince Ashworth's eye twitched as he took in the sight of the two gaudy men. *Just how much money did my daughter squeeze out of Princess Verity?*
The Duke of Crestfall's gaze was fixed on the corpse.
The man's face was a sickly, bruised purple, the unmistakable sign of recent poisoning.
His eyes bloodshot, he snatched the confession from the table where the Prince had set it.
After a quick scan of the document, his sharp gaze shot toward the bailiff and the other man, who were tied up just outside the hall.
His stomach dropped. A cold sweat broke out on his back.
*This is a setup. A carefully planned setup.*
The person behind this knew they were looking for the servant, so they'd struck first, poisoning him to keep him quiet.
Then, they'd deliberately sent the body and this "damning evidence" right to his doorstep.
They were trying to pin it all on the Crestfall household, which would confirm the treason charge they'd been framed with.
Facing the predatory gazes of the Prince and his daughter, the Duke's only regret was that his mind couldn't work faster.
"Your Highness, Princess," the Duke pleaded, "I... I didn't poison him. I swear. I was looking for him, too."
Cassidy just scoffed. "Heh."
Prince Ashworth snickered. "Hehe."
Princess Verity giggled from the side. "Hehehe."
A chill ran down the Duke's spine. As his mind raced, his gaze snapped to the accuser tied up nearby. In a low, dangerous voice, he asked, "You said your friend was poisoned after eating a duck pie from The Food Cauldron?"