Villains also get Second chance

He walked to the centre of the room and sat on the chair, designated to the witnesses.

"Your highness, kiss the book."

He kissed the book. "Your highness, were you the one who helped lady Isabella in collecting the samples of soup from the lord's chamber?" asked Mathews and Cassius nodded.

"On the very next day of the incident, when I was leaving for the palace, lady Isabella came to meet me. She was crying badly, asking for justice, so I sent a trusted aide with her to collect the samples of last night's food for her assurance that nothing was mixed in that. But later she told me that the sample did have small particles of poison in it." he replied with confidence and a strong instance and sir Matthew gave a smug smile to us.

Oh my! My eyes sparkled and so as Damien. We exchanged glances as a big smile formed on our lips.

"You mean, to say that lady Isabella came to request you personally, your highness," asked Damien and Cassius nodded.

But then his expression changed to surprise and he bit his lip. Too late Cassius, too late!

"My lord, I want to call lady Isabella for some questions." requested Damien and the judge nodded.

Isabella walked towards the centre with a pale face. Her eyes met Cassius's and she passed him a shy smile. I wanted to puke right there for their public display of affection. She walked and sat on the chair, Cassius was sitting a minute ago.

"Lady Isabella, you may kiss the book."

She kissed the book.

"Lady Isabella, how is your condition now," asked Damien sympathetically, his voice was concerned,

"I am better now, sir Damien," she replied with a forced smile.

"You are still looking pale and weak, you must have suffered a lot," added Damien, shaking his head.

Isabella bit her lip but nodded, "if not for the empress invitation and this court hearing, I would have stayed all the time in the room to recuperate myself." she added in a further low voice. I was amazed at her level of acting and for a moment I felt ashamed of myself, she was a whole level higher than me.

"Oh, I understand, you must have been admitted late for the treatment, to suffer this much," he added and I smiled, the net was there.

"No, sir Damien, I was admitted the very same night, it's just that my case was very critical," she added bringing fake tears in her eyes and my eyes twinkled, the fish had taken the bait.

"Oh my, still you are this sick, you must have not taken treatment seriously then always running around," he added and she furrowed her brows.

"I mean, at least two days should be spent in the hospital, to be sure, you know," he added again, in a soft tone and her expressions loosened.

"I know, I had spent 3 days, sir Damien, I only got discharged when I had to go to the royal tea party," she added firmly and Damien nodded.

"Thank you for helping me to understand your condition. Lady Isabella, you can go and have a rest now.

She looked confused, she must be thinking there was nothing that went against her, how foolish. As she went back, Damien looked at the bald lawyer who had finally get the gist of what just happened.

"Sir Mathews, as far as I understand from the conversation that lady Isabella was hospitalised same night, then how could she come personally to collect the proofs," asked Damien and the smirk from the bald man's face diminished.

"There must be some confusion here." he tried to stall but Damien smirked.

"Then let's read the reports, shall we? The report clearly stated that lady Isabella was admitted the same night, and stayed there all the time for 3 days. And here his highness said that she went to meet them and personally collected proofs. Can you explain if a person who was suffering serious disease could travel more than 3 hours in the carriage, wait to meet his highness, personally roam around to collect the evidence and then go back to the same 3 hours journey from the carriage? She must have superpowers to do'' he remarked amused and many laughed.

I knew if I or any other person from my chamber would have said that she was there the next day, she would have claimed it as a false witness to save me. But they couldn't say so when they were the ones who claimed Cassius was honest and on their side.

But I wonder how he made such a big mistake, had they not been discussed before?

"That's not the case." started Mathew, but we could see he was confused too.

"If you are in doubt, sir Damien, you can ask the royal physician to come here and check the reports and conditions again." said the judge and we nodded.

"That would be much better to clear the confusion, my lord." Damien nodded and soon the physicians entered, they were too quick, I wonder if it was because of the case.

Soon Isabella was taken to another room, to have a stool test and blood test.

We were given a small lunch break till her reports came. Damien walked to the corner when Killian tried to join but I shook my head. 

"You should not be with us or Isabella, Killian. There may be your statement too. Then you could be blamed to be partial, go and sit with your father." I explained and he bit his lip. 

"I am sorry, baby. I will make it up to you, ``I replied with a wink, and he finally nodded and walked towards Cassius. Cassius passed by me, but I did not spare him even a glance.

We had some tea in the garden when we were called back.

"Your highness, the reports have come." we nodded and went back.

"The reports of the test are out. It states that except for a bit of irritation there is nothing, the irritation is because of not having anything since morning. Lady Isabella is fine." 

There were again loud gasps and murmurs in the room. I looked at Isabella and smirked, her face was paler than before.

"But there may be a chance that it was because she had already been treated well. But since there is doubt whether she was admitted and treated, this point is proven null. Next point please."

(A quick question, Daoist488393, asked me about Killian's scientific tests, many of you had other doubts about their age, era, things too.. Do you want me to create an auxiliary chapter for that? Do comment, and happy reading. Love you all)