The Swordswoman’s Revenge Story after Rebirth

Chapter 344: Murderer

Agnes shot Mell a vicious glare.

Mell’s lips trembled. “My lord… it’s true that I purchased arsenic last night, but I swear—I didn’t poison Lady Cristina! I only bought it for medicinal use. I have a festering wound, and someone told me that arsenic could cure it quickly. That’s the only reason I bought it!”

Isolde scoffed. “How convenient. You neither bought it earlier nor later—only on the exact night Cristina was poisoned? What are the odds?”

“I don’t know why it happened that way!” Mell’s head hung low, her entire body trembling.

“Fine. You claim you have a wound. Show me where it is—I’ll examine it myself.” Isolde’s voice was icy as she stepped forward.

Mell remained silent, her forehead pressed against the ground in submission.

“Mell, look at me,” Isolde crouched down, lifting Mell’s chin so their eyes met. “After Cristina cut her wrist, the physician prescribed medicine. Her chamber has a small stove, meaning her decoction was brewed in her own kitchen. Only a select few could have entered. Tell me, Mell—could it be that you were one of them?”

Mell fell backward onto the floor. “I…”

Suddenly, Cristina’s maid, Demi, pointed an accusing finger at her. “Yes! Last night, when I was making the medicine, you were there! You spilled vinegar on my dress, and I left to change. You were alone in the kitchen after that!”

Mell’s lips quivered. “I didn’t do it.”

Isolde sneered. “Didn’t you? Then let’s ask Cristina—aside from drinking the medicine, did you eat anything else last night?”

Cristina shook her head. “No.”

Her eyes bore into Mell, her expression shifting from suspicion to sheer horror. “It was you?”

Mell burst into tears. “Lady Cristina, I never meant to harm you!”

Her words were an admission in themselves.

Allan’s face twisted in fury. “You wretched servant! You dared to poison your mistress? How many lives do you think you have? Guards! Send her to the authorities at once!”

Cristina, shaking like a leaf in the wind, suddenly spoke. “Wait.”

She approached Mell, her gaze sharp as a blade. “A mere maid like you wouldn’t dare to do this alone. Who ordered you? Who bought you? If you don’t tell me, I’ll kill you myself.”

Mell’s terrified eyes darted toward Agnes. “Lady Agnes! Save me!”

The room went dead silent as everyone turned to Agnes.

Isolde chuckled. “Is that so? Then let’s report this to the authorities. Let them investigate.”

“Report to the authorities? The evidence has already been manipulated in your favor. Who would believe me once I’m accused?” Agnes stepped forward and kicked Mell to the ground, her voice turning cruel. “Wretched servant! I have treated you well, yet you dare collude with outsiders to frame me?”

Mell crawled back, her face filled with terror. “I… I was blinded by greed! Lady Isolde’s people gave me silver. They only told me to teach Cristina a lesson—I didn’t know it would nearly kill her!”

Isolde laughed lightly. “Oh? I bribed you? When?”

“Last night… Lady Isolde sent someone to me… they gave me 10,000 taels!” Mell pointed a trembling finger at Hattie.

“Do tell,” Isolde’s smile was all sweetness. “Exactly when did this happen?”

“During the hour of the pig… last night.” Mell stammered.

Hattie turned to Ryker. “Ryker, where was I at that time?”

Ryker answered immediately. “Last night, Hattie was busy entertaining guests in the bridal chamber. She was with Rosemary, Princess Aveline, and several other ladies. I personally escorted them to Ningser Pavilion.”

Mell paled. “I—I must have misspoken. It was during the hour of the dog!”

Isolde’s lips curved into an amused smirk. “Ah, so I possess clairvoyance now? I somehow foresaw that Cristina would attempt suicide and require medication, so I preemptively bribed you to poison it? Is that what you’re suggesting?”

Seeing Mell faltering under Isolde’s relentless questioning, Agnes grew impatient and snapped. “Enough, Isolde! Stop trying to weasel your way out of this. You’ve hated Cristina from the start. It’s no surprise you’d try to get rid of her the moment you set foot in this house. You’re utterly vile!”

Isolde’s smile vanished, her expression turning frosty. “Very well. No more questions. I’ll summon the Southern Watch to handle this matter.”

At the mention of the Southern Watch, Mell collapsed, shaking uncontrollably. “I confess! It was Lady Agnes! She ordered me! She told me that convincing Cristina to commit suicide wasn’t working—Cristina cared too much for her life. She barely shed a few drops of blood before backing out! So Lady Agnes instructed me to buy arsenic and mix it into her medicine. But the dose wasn’t meant to kill her outright—just enough to make it seem like another failed suicide attempt. Lady Agnes knew Lord Allan hates causing trouble. He would rather pressure Lady Isolde into accepting Cristina as a concubine than let the scandal grow!”

“Lies!” Agnes shrieked, lunging at Mell and clawing at her in fury. “I’ll tear your mouth apart! How dare you frame me? Do you have a death wish?”

Isolde yanked Agnes back, her voice deathly cold. “You know exactly whether she’s telling the truth. I have done nothing to you, yet you schemed against me the moment I arrived. This is bullying, plain and simple. Our grandfather and the family elders are here—I ask them to uphold justice and clear my name.”

Arthur, his face filled with bitter disappointment, stared at Agnes. “Is it true? Give me an answer.”

“You have two choices,” Isolde’s voice cut through the air like steel. “One: confess. Two: I summon the Southern Watch.”

Agnes scoffed. “The Southern Watch? Their commander is your mentor, and their deputy commander is Oliver! You control them!”

“That’s right,” Isolde said without a hint of shame.

“Disobedient girl! Will you only confess after being dragged to court?” Pablo slammed his palm against the table, his voice thunderous.

Agnes flinched, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Father, even you don’t believe me? You’d trust an outsider over your own daughter?”

Pablo’s face twisted in fury. “Mell is your personal maid! Would she really risk her life for a mere 10,000?”

Cristina, trembling with rage, hissed through gritted teeth. “You did this? You tried to kill me? You’re a monster! I’ll have Arthur divorce you!”

Agnes snapped. “Kill you? I was helping you!”

She pointed at Cristina, her voice laced with resentment. “Look at you—still acting like a spoiled princess! I did this for you! If you had just listened to me before and not broken off your engagement, you wouldn’t have ended up a concubine! But no—you had to be arrogant, and now look where you are! And even as a concubine, you’re still unsatisfied! I tried to secure your position, yet you lacked the courage to even stage a proper suicide! You wanted everything without sacrifice! Isolde was right—you were too proud to accept reality but too weak to fight for more.”

Cristina trembled violently. “You dare say you were helping me? You almost killed me! You… you murderer!”