Chapter 20
"I think I might've figured out who did it."
The moment Josée murmured those words, Michelle stared at her in shock.
A sudden commotion broke out in the mansion. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hall.
Bang! The door burst open—and in stormed—
"...You again."
It was Bernard from the Criminal Division. Josée met his gaze briefly, then turned her head away with an exaggerated huff.
Bernard composed himself and made his way over to the host of the tea party, Lady Barbara.
"Pleasure to meet you, Lady Barbara. I’m Bernard de Simon. I’ll be handling the investigation. If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to begin examining the scene right away."
"Of course, Detective. Please—find the culprit quickly."
The sweets and tea were promptly confiscated, though the dishes and tableware were left untouched. Some tea still remained in Debora's cup.
Bernard turned to Barbara.
"Lady Barbara, do you have a silver spoon?"
"Yes, here."
He dipped the spoon gently into the tea. The liquid darkened immediately.
"Just as I suspected. It could be sulfur—or arsenic."
Leaning against the wall, Josée muttered, "Told you."
Bernard moved on to question Michelle.
"You’re the only one who didn’t bring a gift, correct?"
"Yeah, so?"
"Did any of the others seem suspicious to you?"
"Hmm... Well, they were all stuffing their faces with sweets. And honestly? They all hate each other."
"I see. So anyone could’ve had a grudge against anyone."
"Not me, though. They’re all fighting over inheritance or whatever. So pointless. I’ve got more songs and tech than all of them combined. I’m basically untouchable. That’s why I don’t bother with their drama. I’ve got no motive, and I’m not the culprit."
"Hmph..."
Bernard turned to Josée next.
"Are you the culprit?"
"You think this is funny? I only rushed over because Michelle forgot the galette tin she was supposed to bring. By the time I got here, Lady Debora was already... well, dead. I wasn’t even invited by Lady Barbara, remember?"
"Tch. So that’s why you’re here..."
Bernard then approached the four women who had attended the tea party and began questioning them individually. Soon after, they were taken to a separate room for a physical inspection. Michelle was examined as well.
None of them were carrying poison.
As reports came in from his subordinates, Bernard muttered under his breath:
"If the poison's been used up, it’s no surprise we didn’t find anything..."
"We should verify whether the food was laced with poison."
"Once we bring it all back to the lab, we can—"
Before the officers could finish their discussion, Josée cut in.
"That won’t be necessary."
Everyone turned to look at her.
"How has no one noticed? The culprit left behind obvious evidence."
The officers exchanged confused glances.
Bernard, clearly irritated, snapped, "And how would you know? You weren’t even here when it happened."
Josée waved him off with a smirk.
"Superior intellect. I could’ve solved this from a barstool in a brothel. You lost the case the moment you came in without a working knowledge of poisons. Maybe crack open a book sometime?"
"...What did you just say?!"
The tension between them crackled like static. Michelle sighed from the sidelines.
"Ugh, nothing but drama..."
Josée grinned, eyes gleaming.
"Too bad for the culprit. If Michelle hadn’t forgotten her gift, they might’ve gotten away with it."
Mocking whoever was responsible, she strode forward.
"With me on the case, it’s like bringing an army to a pillow fight. Let’s go, Assistant Bernard."
"...I’m not your assistant."
But with the investigation taking priority, Bernard grudgingly followed.
Josée stepped into the room where the four women were still gathered, trading cold glares.
"Excuse me," she said politely, then continued, "Would you all mind lining up against that wall? The detective has a few additional concerns."
Though visibly pale, the women did as asked without protest.
Josée leaned toward Bernard, her tone as if she were instructing a particularly slow child.
"Now, take a good look... One of them is different. Start with the dress colors."
Bernard examined them.
Red. Pink. Green. White.
"And do you remember what gifts they brought?"
Cookies. Tea. Tableware. Barbara brought nothing.
"I’d have figured it out already, but you’ll need a closer look."
Each woman wore a long-sleeved dress, the hems brushing the floor.
Then Bernard noticed something.
One woman’s sleeve—just one—was slightly discolored.
Josée watched his reaction and smirked.
"Now you see it?"
"The sleeve’s off-color, sure, but what does that prove?"
Josée gave him a look and rephrased patiently:
"It’s not just discolored—it’s been 'dyed'."
"!"
"You’re finally catching up?"
"...What if her sleeve was always that color?"
Josée groaned.
"Bernard, you were so close..."
"...Then explain."
"The silver spoon. That was the second clue to identifying the culprit."
Finally, Bernard’s eyes widened in realization.
"Sulfur... arsenic... dye! Of course!"
Josée didn’t say a word, just smiled as she watched him connect the dots.
"I know who did it. The color gives them away."
The women lined up against the wall turned even paler.
Bernard pointed at one of them.
"The culprit... is you."