Poisons

It was a new day and the entire Del Montague household was taught with tension. Even after the physician had tended to Lady Felicia's injuries and gave her medication to numb her pain, the incident was a bone of contention.

While many of the servants believed that the sweet Lady Helena could never have done such a thing to Lady Felicia, others were confused and wondered if the Saintess had actually grown jealous and hateful towards her sister since she was no longer in the annex. It wasn't a secret that for the past 4 years or so, only Lady Helena had been regarded as the daughter of the Grand Duke.

A few who knew of Helena's true face weren't surprised she would be able to act out with such violence.

The gossip was rampant.

Lord Alexander was fuming. He locked the door to his sister's room and refused to allow in to anyone to see her. The maids delivered food, gauze, ointment and medication to the door and left it there. Alex was solely tending to sister's wounds.

Helena had been punished. She was not allowed to step out of her room for a month and her allowance had been revoked. Her attempts to explain herself were met with derision. Even when she tried to redeem herself by offering to use her holy powers to heal Felicia, Alex had refused.

It was an insult to be tended to by the same hand that hurt you.

Bonnie knew the truth of course and was shocked by Dixie's recklessness. She wasn't surprised Helena would attempt something so stupid to frame her sister and she expected Dixie to maneuver her way out of it, but she had not expected her to do something so extreme.

She was badly hurt!

Dixie had sobbed claiming that she regretted her decision almost as soon as she made it, but she was still happy she was able to deliver Helena such a blow. Now the brat would think twice about messing with her.

Two could play the blame game!

When the Duchess tried to convince the Duke into being lenient with his punishment, Roelle pointed out how Helena had come to him earlier complaining bitterly and crying over Alex spending too much time with Felicia. He believed that Helena had lost her temper in a fit of jealousy.

Regardless of the division of opinions, the servants all felt sorry for Lady Felicia. She really suffered and was going to be bed ridden for at least 2 weeks.

Tyren swore vengeance upon Felicia after Helena informed her of what had actually happened. To think that girl would go that far just to destroy Helena's relationship with her own father! Naturally, she could not repeat Helena's accusation to the Duke as it was quite extreme and would not simply be believed. Besides that, Felicia did not have a history of hurting herself and blaming Helena. It was always the other way around.

Inside the Emerald Room, Bonnie and Dixie were further examining the sword. They read more inscriptions and watched it float. After one particular reading, they saw the sword vanish and imprint itself as a tattoo on Bonnie's wrist.

Oh, how convenient! Now she could summon it and sheath it with just a thought!

They did nothing more than read and eat for the next little while until the physician came and informed Felicia that she should be able to move around again. Dixie had tried to use her Saintess powers to heal herself but nothing happened. She wondered if her powers were locked away. She felt a vibration in her heart each time she tried to draw out her magic, but it appeared the power was in a dormant state.

Curious. There had been no mention of such a thing in the book. Felicia had been able to heal minor injuries and she had dreams where she saw herself with the holy sword. That's why she was convinced she was the real Saintess, but never voiced it out of fear of being accused of witchcraft.

Meanwhile, the actual witch was busy being paraded around as some sort of savior. Pfft! How could that self-serving brat ever be anyone's savior? 

Finishing her meal, Dixie set down her cutlery and laid back down. She was still aching each time she moved. Never again would she do something like this. She was here to get strong, not engage in petty bullshit! This was also a reminder of how weak she truly was. Getting hurt would destroy her unless she learned how to fight. Without or without magic. 

"Hey, Dixie look at this." Bonnie held out a book she was reading.

It was another one of Moniqua's book. Ever since the incident with the blueprints where at least half were lost, they were certain the Pope was now onto them. Going into the archives was still important, but no longer an option. They had to find some other way to enter and had been looking through Moniqua's books in the hopes that she had hidden another clue which could assist them.

Taking the book, Dixie saw that it was narration of various types of poisons. Six pages were heavily written on. Moniqua seemed to have been obsessed with poisons, how to recognize them and their antidotes. She spoke of a satchel of remedies she kept in her closet. She would place various counteragents and antitoxins in her dress pockets. Not once did she leave her room empty handed.

Why? Was she that certain that she would need them? Was there a threat on her life only she was aware about? They doubted the Duke knew. That clown was ever so oblivious about what was actually going on in his own family. 

But if Moniqua had suspected someone was trying to kill her, why wouldn't she have confided in the Duke? The book had said that the two were deeply in love. Was there something amiss with their marriage?

"We have to talk to some of the servants who served Moniqua directly and knew her since she married the Duke." Bonnie asserted. "She may not have confided in her husband, but I'm certain there was at least one person whom she trusted enough to be open with."

"Most of the maids were replaced shortly after Tyren showed up. She did it discreetly, but over the course of 6 months ensured she got rid of anyone who was too loyal to Moniqua." Dixie replied.

She even forbid Moniqua's name from ever being spoken. 

"Still, I'm sure there is someone. And if they're not in the manor anymore, we can always extend an invitation or meet up with them discreetly at a café or something." Bonnie was searching through Alex's memories when a sudden face and name popped into her mind.

"Nanny Hildegarde!"

"Who?"

She was Felicia's wet nurse and caretaker. Moniqua selected her, personally. Nobody else was allowed to touch baby Felicia."

Dixie frowned. "But, then where is she? Where has she been all these years?"

"She left shortly after Tyren showed up. I remember it clearly. She just handed in a letter of resignation to the Duke and bolted out of the castle like she was being threatened." Bonnie revealed with a scowl.