NOT THE USUAL CINDERELLA (Season 2)

ARSENIC

It seemed that all the food at the dinner table, which had once made Deanda so lustful, suddenly made Deanda shudder and immediately lost her appetite.

Ba... how did your highness know about my plan? How am I supposed to find an alibi this time? What do I have to say to make your majesty believe I'm not the culprit?

Avitus said inwardly with a face that looked so pale as to know that this time he would not be able to escape.

A bell from the door made Erich move quickly towards Alvero's penthouse door, and opened the door. As soon as the door opened Evan's figure entered with steps looking so elegant.

"Good day, Your Majesty, Empress...." Evan immediately gave a greeting and salute to Alvero and Deanda.

As soon as Alvero gave a sign that he received a salute from Evan, the handsome blond man with his beautiful green eyes immediately approached Alvero, and handed him a brown envelope, in it is Avitus's letter of resignation, which he plans to hand over this afternoon, before he flees the town of Tavisha.

Initially Avitus hoped that after successfully doing his job of mixing the Cassoulet with poison, and making Deanda poisoned, he immediately gave a letter of resignation, and go as far away as possible from the city of Tavisha so as to avoid Alvero's investigation. Moreover, Eliana had promised a safe hiding place, which could not be found by Alvero.

If all goes according to plan, Avitus will hide for a while until Eliana gives him a chance to escape abroad. And he was able to return to Gracetian after Eliana successfully overthrew the Adalvino family government of the Gracetian kingdom.

However, all of Avitus's plans seem to have failed miserably because what he did was already known in advance by Alvero and the others.

"I found evidence of Mr. Avitus's resignation letter lying on his desk. And also proof of the transfer of a large amount of money from one of the account numbers which according to the info from the bank, is owned by a person in the palace. Besides, I also found this Your Majesty." Evan said as his glove-wearing hand held up a plastic containing a small brown glass bottle.

Inside the bottle there is a little powder in it, and from what is seen, some of the contents of the bottle have been used, so that it leaves only a small amount of waste.

Seeing what Evan was holding, Avitus's face grew pale, while Alvero immediately frowned.

"I found this bottle in the trash can in Mr. Avitus' room, among the paper garbage that came from the shredder, which seems to be deliberately dumped in the trash to hide this arsenic poison." Evan said as he stared intently at Avitus with angry eyes, having already dared to put the poison on Alvero and Deanda's lunch menu.

Arsenic toxins that enter the body will cause different effects, depending on the dose and duration of exposure. Exposure to very low levels of arsenic may not have a serious impact on health. However, if the exposure is moderate or large, arsenic poisoning can occur. Here are the symptoms: Indigestion, such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, muscle cramps, disorders of the brain, such as headaches, seizures, delirium, and coma, shortness of breath, and, irregular heartbeat, tingling in fingers and toes, red and swollen skin, dark or blackish urine, garlic-scented breath and urine, dehydration. If you don't get help right away, arsenic poisoning can lead to death. In pregnant women, arsenic poisoning can cause the baby they contain to die, or be born disabled. A person who is constantly exposed to low to moderate doses of arsenic toxins, over a long period of time, can show symptoms such as: the skin becomes reddish or darker, or, the appearance of bumps on the skin that resemble warts, swelling of the skin, the appearance of white lines on the fingernails, damage to the heart, liver, kidneys, and nerves. From a number of studies, it is reported that people who are long exposed to arsenic poison in moderate doses are also at risk of complications, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer).

How can a man who has been trusted for decades since the reign of King Vincent betray like Lord Avitus? It's really unfortunate, at the same time very rude to do such a thing.

Evan said inwardly, to then look back at Alvero who from Alvero's body language, indicating he was so angry at this moment. From his fist, Evan could guess that Alvero was currently trying hard to control himself not to hit and smash Avitus' face with his fist.

His Majesty Alvero looks so angry. Is he angry about worrying about Deanda? After some time together, does your highness now have more feelings for Deanda? Or angry because if something happens to Deanda will tarnish his face as a king who is not good at guarding his empress? What does that mean that the noble one now really considers Deanda to be his real wife?

Evan said inwardly, trying to guess Alvero's heart against Deanda.

"Erich! Take Avitus to where he's supposed to be! After lunch I'll do the interrogation myself!" Alvero gave an order to Erich who instantly blocked Avitus' hands on his back and dragged him out, taking him towards a special place that was on one side of the Gracetian palace, which was located on the other side, where there is an underground building belonging to the Adalvino family that is usually done to interrogate criminals, prisoners, or people who are considered to have done wrong to members of the royal family, he said, especially the Adalvino family.

"Duke Evan, one of my informants in the palace did indeed give me the info that one of the palace servants looked suspicious while preparing lunch for me and the empress. And it turns out that it does seem like someone has given Avitus orders, intent on administering poison in one of our lunch menus." Evan took a deep breath hearing Alvero's words.

Evan has just come to Tavisha city to return home. Deliberately taking his leave because he plans to take his mother to attend his cousin's wedding later tonight.

No 10 minutes had passed since Evan arrived home, when a phone call from Erich said that Alvero gave him orders to immediately conduct a search of Avitus' workspace and find something suspicious.

"Your Majesty, who is going to poison His Highness Alvero? Is Your Majesty suspecting someone?" Evan asked, furrowing his brows, trying to guess who would dare to do that to Alvero, even though the name Eliana was the only name on his mind right now.

But as someone who is always taught to act fairly, of course Evan does not dare to accuse if there is no solid evidence about what he suspects.

"Actually the target of the man who sent Avitus was not me, but Empress Deanda." Alvero's words succeeded in making Evan direct his green eyes towards Deanda with a face and eyes that looked so worried.