"You're not trembling." Lucius said finally, his voice smooth and low, breaking the silence. "Most in your position would be stammering by now."
The maid tilted her chin slightly, her voice soft but steady as she replied, "I've done nothing wrong, sir. I have no reason to tremble."
Her words, simple as they were, carried a quiet confidence that made Lucius pause. He studied her for another long moment, the faintest flicker of amusement in his otherwise cold expression.
"Good." He said, his voice dropping to an approving murmur. "At least you're not a coward...That's rare in this household."
The tension between them eased slightly, though Lucius's sharp eyes never left hers. He could see the effort it took for her to maintain her composure, but she was doing it well—too well, perhaps, for someone who claimed innocence.
Lucius's pretty eyes gleamed with a spark of interest, catching the subtle emphasis she placed on "not involved." Her answer was measured, precise—too precise. She was being careful, choosing her words as though every syllable could decide her fate.
A knowing smile played at the corners of his lips as he tilted his head slightly. "I see." He said, his tone light yet probing. "And tell me—do you handle the dishes that the master eats from?"
The maid froze, the question striking her like a blow. Her composed facade faltered, a flicker of hesitation flashing in her expressive eyes. She didn't want to answer; she knew that admitting it would only lead to more questions, more suspicion, and more entanglement in a web she desperately wanted to avoid.
But Lucius's gaze was unrelenting, his smile remaining in place but his sharp eyes narrowing ever so slightly. It was clear he wouldn't accept silence as an answer.
Finally, she gave a small, reluctant nod, her hands tightening into fists at her sides. "Yes.'' She admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I do."
Lucius nodded as well, his expression thoughtful, though his narrowed eyes betrayed his calculating mind. "Hmm, I see.'' He murmured, stepping back slightly. "That's all. You may go now."
The maid's eyes widened momentarily in surprise, as if she hadn't expected him to dismiss her so easily.
She hesitated, her lips parting as though she were about to say something. Her fingers twitched, and her gaze darted to the floor, then back to Lucius. She looked like she was struggling internally, weighing the consequences of revealing more against the safety of silence.
For a moment, it seemed as though she might confess something—her lips trembled, her shoulders tensed—but then she bit her lower lip, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. In the end, she said nothing.
Bowing her head slightly, she turned and walked away, her movements slow and deliberate, as though burdened by something heavy on her heart.
Lucius watched her retreating figure, his expression unreadable. He didn't stop her, nor did he call her back, but his eyes remained locked on her until she disappeared into the corridor.
Lucius was deep in thought, piecing together the clues and replaying the maid's subtle reactions in his mind.
He turned to leave the banquet hall, intending to seek out his master and share what he'd learnt.
But just as he took his first step, he froze.
To his shock, Cassius was standing directly behind him, so close that Lucius almost stumbled in surprise.
"Young master!" Lucius exclaimed, his usual composure faltering for a split second. He steadied himself quickly, though his mind raced.
'How did he get this close without me noticing?'
Cassius, however, simply stood there with his usual air of nonchalance, his arms crossed and a faint smile playing on his lips. He looked as though he'd been observing Lucius for a while, amused by his butler's uncharacteristic lapse in awareness.
Lucius cleared his throat, dismissing his surprise.
His gaze shifted toward the banquet hall doors, where the maid had exited moments ago. He frowned thoughtfully, his voice steady and measured as he asked, "She was the one who poisoned you, wasn't she, young master?"
Cassius's smile widened, his casual demeanour remaining intact. "She's the one." He confirmed with a slight nod, as if the revelation was nothing more than a mundane fact.
Lucius turned back to face him fully, his expression solemn, and asked, "And you knew all along?"
Cassius shrugged, the corners of his lips curving into a wry smile. "Of course...It wasn't exactly hard to figure out."
Lucius's eyes widened in awe, the tension in his posture dissolving in an instant. A bright, almost childish admiration replaced his usual solemn demeanour as he took a step closer.
"Young master, that's incredible!" He exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine excitement.
Cassius blinked at him, slightly taken aback by the sudden shift in his butler's demeanour.
"How did you do it?" Lucius pressed, his tone practically that of an avid fan at this point. "I mean, the library's so big, and we didn't even talk to her that much. You figured it all out so quickly—were there clues I missed? Or did you already suspect her before all of this?"
Cassius chuckled softly, his wry smile widening. "Calm down, Lucius. You're acting like I just solved the mystery of the century."
"But it's amazing!" Lucius insisted, clasping his hands together like an eager pupil awaiting a master's wisdom. "I've seen you do some impressive things, but this...This is on another level!"
Cassius sighed, though there was a glimmer of amusement in his gaze. "Fine, if you're that curious, I'll explain."
Lucius nodded fervently, his excitement making him seem more like an overenthusiastic puppy than the composed butler he usually was.
"It was her reactions." Cassius began. "When you asked her if she worked in the kitchen, she froze—just for a second. It was subtle, but it was there...Then when she admitted to handling the dishes, she overexplained, trying to distance herself from the actual cooking. That kind of defensiveness is a red flag."
Lucius hung on every word, his expression lighting up as he absorbed the explanation.
''And that's all it took for you to figure it out?"
Cassius's smirk grew slightly as he leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms. "Well, it wasn't just that. I already had a major suspicion about the kitchen."
"The kitchen?" Lucius echoed, tilting his head like a curious child.
"Think about it." Cassius said smoothly. "The poison was administered through my food—where else would it come from? It's only natural to start looking there...But here's the problem: there are over twenty people working in the kitchen. Interrogating each and every one of them would take time, and I have no patience for dragging things out."
Lucius nodded slowly, his brows furrowing as he followed the reasoning.
"That's why I decided to play a little game." Cassius continued, his smirk turning mischievous. "While you pursued one angle, I decided to flush out the culprit from my end. Calling everyone to the banquet hall gave me the perfect opportunity."
"The announcement of your death?" Lucius asked, eyes wide as the pieces started to fall into place.
"Exactly," Cassius replied, his tone light yet calculating. "The hall was packed, and with the lighting dimmed, it allowed people to feel like they could drop their guard without being noticed. Most of the staff were panicked or relieved for the most selfish of reasons. But there was one person—just one—who stood out."
Lucius blinked, thinking back to the scene. "The maid..."
Cassius nodded. "She was already on my radar because she works in the kitchen. But her reaction sealed it....Unlike the others, who were busy gossiping or sighing in relief, she acted differently. Tension, guilt—it was all written across her face, even if she tried to mask it. The dim lighting only made it easier to catch the subtle signs she thought no one would notice."
Lucius's admiration grew with every word. "And then my questioning confirmed your suspicions." He said, the realisation dawning on him.
"Exactly." Cassius said, giving him a satisfied nod. "Your little interrogation wasn't just effective—it was the final piece of the puzzle. By the time she left the hall, I was already certain it was her."
Lucius couldn't help but let out an impressed whistle, his expression practically glowing. "Young master, that's brilliant! You turned the entire household into a stage just to catch one person. I can't believe you thought so far ahead."
Cassius chuckled, waving off the praise with a dismissive hand. "It's nothing to get worked up about...Just a bit of strategy and observation."
"Nothing to get worked up about?" Lucius repeated, his tone incredulous. "Young master, you're a genius! Honestly, I feel lucky just to be working under someone like you."
Cassius groaned lightly, shaking his head. "Alright, alright, stop it with the overwhelming praise already. You're making me blush." He said sarcastically, though the faint smirk on his lips betrayed his amusement. "Now, quit stalling and tell me—what did you find on your end?"