Suspect

Rufus listened to what Pixel had said then spoke up. "Have it checked immediately and bring all those that have handled them since they came into the family home."

His assistant bowed. "Yes, I will have it arranged."

Rufus nodded. "I want no mistakes made. Look into where they have been purchased from and into the activities of those within this household for anything suspicious."

The assistant ran off to gather information and instruct those loyal to the family on how they should proceed. "It will be done."

Rufus let out a sigh then stepped into the home of Pixel and Ash then sat down. "I am sorry that you had to suffer like this."

Rufus felt a little guilty that one of the heirs had been so easy to get to within his own home and that he could have lost another of his bloodline to the struggles going on within and outside of the family home.

Ash revealed anger briefly but suppressed it. "I just hope that the criminals will be dealt with."

She did not wish to offend the family head by venting her anger and frustration so she had to suppress it for the sake of her daughter's safety.

It was yet another wakeup call that came once she believed everything was fine and she could live safely and happily with her own daughter.

Ash knew that her daughter was talented and had been excellent since birth, if she would describe her daughter then she would use the word 'extraordinary'.

It was difficult for Ash to hide Pixel's talents and accomplishments within the family especially with how Pixel's personality had become as she grew older.

People started to take notice and that was both good and bad.

It was good that Pixel would be recognised for her own talents and efforts but if was very bad when others did not like seeing her stand out.

Rufus looked a little ashamed as he thought to himself. 'It is happening again. My control over the family is slipping away again.'

He bowed his head and sighed. "Again.. I am sorry."

He walked out with a look of determination on his face then stopped near a tree. "Keep watch over them and send a message to the others to monitor the movements of the elders."

He was sick and tired of people interfering in his family matters.

The servants held more power than they should and acted outside of their set rules and duties.

The elders held high positions and were too involved in the inner power struggles so they could push someone to the position as the family head which would allow them to keep their role or gain a reward rather than working hard.

The mothers of the heirs were trying to raise their children in their own image while making deals with the elders and other parents to form alliances to remove threats or work towards a similar goal.

Not everyone was involved and there would be those that were very loyal to the family and Rufus as the family head but there were those that chose to side with others for their own benefits or in order to live.

Rufus was getting older so their loyalties were shifting from him towards the younger heirs which had people backing them already and had some noble families behind them.

Those within the family could avoid being harmed by siding with the winner and could gain many benefits for doing so.

Looking away from one incident which helped their new master was worth the risk of being caught while those below them could easily be used and discarded once they had been close to being discovered.

Those in higher positions could get away with things when they had others to do the dirty work for them.

It was made easier when the words of those in those positions did not carry as much weight as those up higher.

Even if they were believed, it would be difficult for their words to make a large enough impact to get someone punished that had a high enough standing.

There were more sinister tactics to make them keep their mouths shut and even take those secrets to their graves but those would only draw more suspicion from the family head who had already become suspicious of them.

There were a couple of Minks chained up in different rooms and they were dressed in the attire of the lower servants of the family.

The assistant of Rufus coldly looked down on one female Mink and talked as if he was reading out the information he already knew. "You have worked in this family for more than ten years now and have risen to you position quickly. So.. I do not understand how someone who is supposed to be so capable could make a mistake like this."

The female Mink grit her teeth and cried out. "I definitely checked over all of the ingredients before they were sent and there were no problems. They had been passed through my hands to that part of the residence but there must have been many who touched it before me. I made a mistake! I swear! I definitely tested them!"

The assistant calmly watched over her then nodded a little before removing something. "We searched you belongings and found something strange. Do you know what this is?"

The female Mink nodded. "It is my silver needle!"

The assistant asked calmly. "Did you use this to test the goods that arrived?"

The female Mink nodded desperately with a scared look in her eyes. "Yes! I usually have them specially made in a certain design so I know that they are mine that I am using."

The assistant admired the decorated and unique looking silver needle then started to place it into a small pouch full of different poisonous herbs.

Once he had removed it, the silver needle had not blackened. "Those were indeed poisonous but it did not show it. Now tell me your next excuse."

The female Mink's eyes widened in shock as her voice trembled. "How could.. wait! I am being framed! I must be! That is not mine! Let me see it!"

The assistant's became serious as he held it in front of the female Mink. "Is this yours or not?"

The female Mink examined it closely then cried out. "It is the same! It is exactly the same! But.. but! It is not mine! Mine are made from silver! This is a fake!"

The assistant shrugged. "So what? If it really is a fake like you had said then you could have made a fake yourself for such an occasion."

The female Mink cried and let out a sorrow filled cry. "I did not.. I did not do anything wrong. I swear on my life it was not me."

The assistant examined her closely then spoke. "If you really are not behind this in any way whether it be looking the other way or placing the poison in yourself then give me a reasonable way to prove your innocence. Right now you are the prime suspect."

Her job was to check over the goods to make sure they were acceptable to be used and eaten by those within the family so it was a very high position which needed a certain amount of trust and faith to carry out.

She was by the side of all the goods as they were moved to each residence and accepted by the close workers of each residence.

Since there were not many within the residence of Pixel and Ash, the only people that worked there were very loyal and trusted by the two of them.

Ash usually accepted most of the things personally since she was unlike other nobles so that had freed those around her from suspicion.

The main suspect became the female Mink who tested and made sure that everything was moved to the right place.

There were not many opportunities where the goods could have been contaminated in between the checking and transportation to Ash and Pixel so it was most likely that it had happened when it was in the possession of the female Mink or someone before her.

If that trust was no there and someone untrustworthy was in that position then many would become fearful that the same could happen to them.

If such a person could be so easily swayed then they could easily take one action to eliminate the whole family at the orders of an enemy family.

The female Mink became panicked. "Someone must know! Someone must know! They might have made a fake!"