Unfortunately, I'm an Evil Villainess

Chapter 129 - Trial (II)

Next was my physician, a formality to get the facts out of the way.

"Yes, I have attended Lady Valentina her entire life. Yes, her symptoms after the tea party aligned perfectly with that of belladonna poisoning, and we were able to find traces of deadly nightshade in her system. No, there was no possibility of it having been due to any preexisting conditions. No, the dosage needed to have caused those symptoms could not have been accidental. Yes, the time that dosage must've been administered aligns with the time when Lady Valentina drank the tea served by Lady Catherine, and it could not have been any earlier or much later. Yes, it's a miracle that Lady Valentina survived, due to the resilience she'd built up over the years. That dosage could've easily killed a woman of her stature otherwise."

The other guests at the tea party, my dear friends, supported my story.

"Yes, Lady Catherine's posture blocked our view of the teacup."

"Yes, it was commonly known that Lady Catherine was infatuated with His Highness, and there had been signs she was jealous towards Lady Valentina."

"Yes, we all ate and drank the same things, and no one else went near Lady Valentina's food."

My good Delilah and Annalise.

"Yes, Lady Valentina had written us letters expressing concern for her life and safety in regards to Lady Catherine prior to the tea party."

Those letters were presented and read aloud. The faithful but intelligent lady, unaware of what was going to transpire, did not wish to cast about baseless suspicions upon a fellow noblelady that she held as a dear friend, but could not help but confess her vague apprehensions to her friends. Alas, her uneasiness had proven to be merited.

"Yes, I had noticed afterwards that Lady Catherine's sleeve had a secret pocket sewn into it that contained what seemed to be remnants of deadly nightshade powder."

The sleeve containing the poison was presented. A collective gasp at the apparent murder weapon.

A seamstress who had worked on the dress for Catherine acted as an expert witness.

"Yes, I was in charge of creating the sleeves. No, the pocket had not been included when the dress was initially made. No, the clumsy threadwork indicates this could not have been the work of a professional tailor, or a lady with much experience. Yes," upon being presented with a verified piece of Lady Catherine's sewing, "these two pieces are very likely to be the handicraft of the same worker."

"Yes, this is a common design in the east. The pocket is sealed by a clear, thin thread, practically undetectable. One end is cleverly tied to a finger, usually a pinkie, and the pocket opens with a slight but intentional movement of the hand. The awkward position needed to pour out the contents aligns with what was described by the guests. Yes, its pitfall is that it tends to leave remnants of powder. Yes," upon being presented with a piece of string discovered afterwards on the floor of the greenhouse where the tea party had been held, next to where Catherine sat, "this is the exact kind that could've been used to seal the pocket until it was ready to use."

The police constable reported the routine investigation that had followed and presented a glass vial half-filled with powder.

"Yes, we discovered this in one of Lady Catherine's drawers. The fingerprints on the glass have been verified to belong to Lady Catherine."

An apothecary, both a fact witness and an expert witness.

"Yes, the serial number engraved on the bottom matches that of a belladonna vial I sold the night before the incident, and so did the contents. A hooded woman came in to purchase it just before a quarter to two; I checked the time because I found it suspicious that she tried to pay in gold for something that cost a few coppers, and wore an expensive locket despite the commoner's cloak and bearing. Yes," upon being presented with the silly locket Damian had gifted Catherine, "that is the one she was wearing."