Day 6 - Daytime - Noon
27th Second autumn, 1152
...
...
...
Two people walk out of the room where they just sat there for half an hour to discuss. That's investigators Jeanne and Hannah. They just experienced a long discussion with Prince Koenig Sonne about the case, most of it was about the content in the document and the permission to examine the basement which is only accessible to royal members. The results appeared to be successful. At least most of them.
Last night, the mother and her daughter had discussed and shared information with each other about what they saw. Somehow, this was the cause that extended the time of the earlier discussion. The prince's answer wasn't so much positive. However, he promised to do his best to help the investigators to solve the case.
Another good news, the group that Jeanne requested was finally chosen and deployed. They would arrive at an inn in a few next hours. Ten royal guard members in the palace were chosen, that was the largest number the prince could afford to help the investigation. From now on, the group will watch the activities of the suspects whenever they go outside. There would be one member working as a messenger, sending letters to both sides whenever he is called.
Braun Frieden was initially chosen to be a member of the group but Jeanne phased her out. She didn't want to bother her any longer, at least Jeanne has shown some trust in her although she is a suspect in this case, but she is still a mother who has a child to take care of.
Jeanne looks at the hallway before her eyes. She pulls out a fur paper which was stored in her handbag. It's a warrant paper that was given by the prince in the earlier discussion. From now on, these two investigators can use this warrant to examine every wagon they want, this warrant has an expiration date up to two months.
"Ahhh... finally...". - Jeanne sighs in relief, she raises the warrant paper up to see it once more before storing it inside her handbag
Hannah stands next to her mother, she doesn't feel so happy. In her thoughts, it's extremely ridiculous for the aristocrats to set up rules and do whatever they want. Especially in this case, just a basement, both of them would go in there and do it quick. But only royal people are allowed to go there, while the peasants like her and her mother need permission.
"At least we got this paper...". - The daughter murmurs to herself
Hannah seems to have stopped suspecting Prince Koenig. She can't see a killer figure in him, to her, he is too wimp and inferior to become a murderer, he is just a man who hates to face the truth. Now Hannah feels mad at herself for being too emotional to list the prince on the suspect list.
Her point of view has shifted back to the conclusion the real killer could be a woman. The Queen and Selena seem suspicious enough. The Queen is a big figure, not much information about her is known by both her and her mother, but that woman appears to have a clear motive for murder. Political motives, as described by her mother, Hannah knows nothing.
Selena is too clear, her possessiveness says it all, even if she can't have Koenig for herself, she can still stay with him. These two women just share objectives, both of them will get rid of each other once it comes to an end.
"But what about Reila?", Hannah asks herself. To think about it, Selena works as a butcher, killing and cleaning the mess for the Queen along with other maids. Meanwhile, the Queen is the mastermind who is always behind the curtains. She chooses her victims and Selena takes care of it.
"Reila, Reila huh?", Hannah keeps thinking over and over again.
Her mother told her that the two-killer-groups theory had a lot of problems in it. Hannah thinks about it again and it does have a problem. The newest victims of the case are only the maids. Unlike the previous incident where the victims went missing, they were murdered by a group of outlaws who intruded into the palace and were later killed.
To bring up another conclusion, Hannah can only think of one thing...
There was only one group of murderers from the start...
...
Alright, maybe I will tell my mom once I finish this.
I was bored last night. I had nothing else to watch after those carriages left, I went to the kitchen to grab some leftovers and somehow I ended up in a library by a mistake. Maybe... I should say I was lucky when I got there. The library was still active at that time, I remember I met a woman named... Libra? She's the librarian who takes care of the place. I just got curious, I sat there with some books while enjoying the cookies I took.
The first book was about Warsaw Kingdom's law system. I don't know if mom has read this book yet. Maybe not... she's too old for that, she only solves the cases through her experience. She uses time thinking more than reading, I remember she read a lot when I was little... maybe she is now too confident so she stopped reading.
The book was interesting. It gave me knowledge of how the laws in this kingdom work, this helps me solve the case slightly better.
About the second book... it was a history book. I found an interesting detail, maybe it's related to the case, it's my assumption anyway.
Well... Warsaw Kingdom and Attenta Kingdom have been at war for a very long time, they just recently stopped it. The war from ten years ago was a big change. Warsawrian King was assassinated during the war, the prince - who is now a wimp, spineless king, was abducted by Attenta side. It was an alarming incident since the king only had the prince as his heir.
Koenig - the king's nephew was there at that time. But he was considered too young and too naive to become a monarch.
Somehow, the son returned to the kingdom not so long later with a man from Attenta. He was just a lowly guard, who was said to be the person who helped him to escape. After that, the war ended. The son became the new king while the man who saved him was appointed to become the Prime Minister as the way the King appreciated him.
Everything changed since then. Warsaw kept losing its territory and became humble before Attenta after that war. It's clear that this Prime Minister is manipulating the King, making him weak and dependent, so that he can control.
Like father like son... no wonder why Koenig is that pathetic...
The current Queen is an Attentan. She was married to the king not so long after the war. Surprisingly, Reila Sonne, who is the current main wife of Koenig, is also an Attentan, appointed by the Queen.
Coincidence... isn't it?
The previous main wife of Koenig was a woman from another kingdom. From what I know, that kingdom is an ally of Attenta. Maybe she was a big figure... so Attenta and its allies could pressure the Warsaw Kingdom if this case was leaked out?
Hmmm...
Anyway... I think the puzzles are about to get in their right place now, I need to think a bit more.
So... the Queen, Reila and Selena worked with each other? Both of them were the masterminds playing with us all along, huh?
But why Selena had to do this? She's a Warsawrian. Maybe... because by doing this, she can stay closer to the prince, is it correct?
To think about the Queen and Reila, maybe Koenig is nothing but also a card on the board. Maybe he just has a use of being a prince, so that they can manipulate him easily. Maybe adding Selena to the murder group isn't harmful. Her utmost intention is to be together with Koenig... but would Selena accept to live in that kind of environment?
Selena, huh...?
About the maids who were murdered, I can only think of one conclusion:
- They were murdered to erase evidence of royalty's involvement
These maids appear to be less valuable than Selena. They were used to help the murder, but were discarded in the end because of it.
Maybe that's the only possible answer to why the maids were murdered that way. If these two masterminds used more people in the palace for murder, they would just add more numbers of threats. Using the outlaws to intrude, then the devoted guards who know nothing would take care of the rest.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
If that's the case then... Braun has nothing to do with it. But what about the girl Ashura Saeko...?
...
Jeanne keeps staring at her daughter, she loves to see Hannah's cuteness. Whenever Jeanne is drowned in her thoughts, she will get frozen like a statue. Now her daughter behaves just like her, it makes the mother so happy to see it. Like mother like daughter.
But deep inside, Jeanne knows once her daughter is thinking about something for too long, it means the case isn't over yet.
Jeanne decides to let her daughter have some space. The investigator glances at the room that is used as the experiment room, Ashura Saeko must be waiting in there. Jeanne needs that girl's statement to solve the case. Once her daughter wakes up from her thoughts, Jeanne will lead her there to interrogate Saeko right away.
"Uhhh...". - All of a sudden, Hannah scratches her hair, it appears that she has woken up
"What were you thinking, sweetie?". - Jeanne lowers her gaze, feeling her daughter's embarrassment
The daughter doesn't talk. She brushes it off and steps forward. The mother decides to go side by side with her daughter. Both of them are heading to the experiment room to interrogate Saeko Ashura.
"Mom...". - Hannah leans to her mother, she steadies her breath. "Maybe later... I'll tell you something".
Jeanne nods. She knows her daughter is having something in her mind, it's possibly about the case, she's figured out something. The investigator knows her daughter has very much potential to become a great investigator, but she doesn't like it. "My daughter should do something else better", the mother thinks to herself.
This mother had a history that she didn't want to reveal to anybody, especially her daughter. Many times in her life, Jeanne would ask herself whether or not she should hand over her daughter to someone else so that they could raise her better, but she didn't want to see it happen in real life at all. That's too much for her to take, especially when her memories go back to what she went through 24 years ago. "I won't let it happen ever again, no more. Not anymore", the mother is like becoming crazy every time she thinks that way.
"Mom, we came". - Hannah slaps her mother's back gently
Both of them are standing before the experiment room. It's no use to know who is in there if the room is being looked at from outside. Lucky enough, at least these investigators know there's a person sitting in there through the reflection of the blurred windows.
"Oh hi there...". - A woman greets both of the investigators once they entered the room, but she isn't Saeko
It's Selena Breima.
"What are you doing here?". - Hannah enters with a question
Jeanne just greets Selena by waving her hand. To get closer to the killer, becoming a friend of theirs is not a really terrible idea. Jeanne just needs to play smart with this girl. The two investigators sense that something isn't right. Saeko was supposed to see them at this hour. Just Selena being in this room is already odd enough.
"Where's Lady Saeko, Breima?". - Jeanne then sits opposed to the girl
"She's busy. I mean... she asked me to go in her stead, now she's resting, having some kind of fever". - Selena explains. "What should I do then? Maybe... you write something for her, I will bring that paper back, sounds good enough?".
Jeanne gives her daughter a gaze. Hannah sighs, she pretends to look tired when she is asked by her mother to become the one to write these questions. She knows her mother is using this opportunity to approach Selena as well, it's their good opportunity to keep her here.
"By the way. We're good friends, aren't we? So don't call me Breima". - Selena giggles, she waits to see Jeanne nod. "What can I help here, my investigator friend...?".
"Well... this thing involves privacy, you know?". - Jeanne explains. "These questions are for Saeko, how would I know you would take a peek at it?".
"I won't be that bad to my friend. I can't read either. If you ask me to look at what is on that paper, all I can see is the black lines portrayed in different directions".
"I didn't see you passing us in the hallway when we were coming here". - Hannah speaks up while writing the questions for Saeko, which were all set up but unused due to her absence
"This palace... has more than one way to go to wherever you want". - Selena smiles. "I just met a friend earlier, I was afraid I'd go late but I didn't know I came early".
Hannah returns to write the questions while Jeanne wonders what should she do to deal with Selena. They did not expect to see her here, they wonder if her appearance has another deep meaning. Ashura appears to be a quiet woman, but if she had talked to Selena, then it means she could be a friend of hers. No way someone would do a favor for a stranger.
"Haaahhh...", - Selena yawns a little. "His Highness has been sleepless for days. Maybe it's because of you. Please give him privacy, don't constantly come like that". - She yawns again, trying to stay conscious with her heavy eyes
"He's been like that from the start". - Jeanne replies
"You're right. But when you came, it just went worse. But... as long as I'm there for him, he can sleep as long as he pleases". - Selena sighs and smiles. "I really feel bad for him when he's always worried about his wives, they disappeared all of a sudden. But... I can't let those women gnaw him day to day... he needs comforted".
Jeanne sits there and listens to what Selena is saying. She hopes to find at least a clue or something useful by using this conversation, it may just be about someone's private life, but to this investigator, small details help her find the big ones, so every conversation is needed.
"You said you just met a friend earlier". - Jeanne mentions the earlier story that Selena just said
"Yeah, I came over to see her. She seems sick already, it must be tiring to keep up with your job and your kid at the same time, her husband is not even around".
Based on what Selena just said. Needless to say, Jeanne knows who that was.
"It's much tiring to share your man with other women". - All of a sudden, Hannah steps in between the conversation
The daughter gives her mother a quick glance but full of meaning. "Just get her straight to the point already, mom", Hannah wanted to say those words out loud. But she soon returns to write the questions, she wants to make a big sigh.
"Other women, huh?". - Selena smirks a little after hearing what Hannah said. "Hmmmm... I'm not in that position to decide it. The choice is his, it's his right". - She later glances at Hannah. "By the way... are you done yet? I have to go back to His Highness or else he will be lonely".
"Almost...". - Hannah keeps writing the questions
"I thought he had good time with his women". - Jeanne speaks up
"No no. Her Highness is busy, she has to take care of the mess he made, Prime Minister is not so pleased with him". - Selena waves her hand with a reject sign. "Saeko, well... just only comes when he calls her. Unlike them, I'm with him all the time... I feed him, I bathe for him, I take care of him in bed, everything, just always together". - She puts her right hand on her chest, her face appears both pride and cheerful
"Make sure he only looks at you".
"Hehe... sure". - Selena smiles
"I met somebody last night, they said you forced them to harm those people. You even ordered them to witness all of it".
All of a sudden, Selena stops her smile and starts gazing at the investigator. Her face appears to be a bit worried, her breath is not stable, as if she is being choked.
"What... what are you joking ab-".
"They told me how you killed those people and how you disposed of those bodies. Everything happened in a basement". - Jeanne makes her voice firm, she turns her gaze from normal to serious
Hannah stopped writing when she heard what her mother said. The paper was already filled, she just simply pretended to keep writing those questions to buy time. Hannah knows her mother is making up a story to lure this suspect. The problem is, she doesn't know about how her mother would drive the story, she only knows to join in and behaves to pressure Selena. Hannah tilts her head to the left a little, staring straight into the suspect's eyes without blinking. The young investigator glances at the door for a few seconds after gazing at Selena, as if telling her there's no way out and she should give in.
"Hey, what are you talking about?". - Selena seems to be worried, she backs up a little and intends to get up. "I'm not doing anything bad, don't say it like that".
"I'm trying to believe you, alright? But those people showed up and told me all of that". - Jeanne tries to reassure the suspect but also expresses her doubts
"Proof, do you have proof?". - Selena appears a bit mad, she grumbles her face. "Who are they exactly? I'm not doing anything, I'm innocent, don't joke with me". - She steadies her breath, trying to sit down in peace. "We're friends to each other, we're friends, you know? If I were the killer, I would've killed all of you as soon as possible, before you can even know".
"Don't make yourself look like a killer then, don't "if I were the killer" if you're innocent". - Jeanne reassures the suspect once again, she wishes she didn't do what she did earlier
"What if Selena is truly innocent? What if she is just pretending to be anxious?", Jeanne keeps asking herself. However, the investigator knows one thing that this test is just created for another future purpose. She needs to keep it going. The real aim results would be what Selena would do after experiencing it, it wouldn't take the instant effects from this very moment.
"I can't tell you who told me this. It's privacy between us and our clients". - Jeanne speaks up. "Friend, just listen. You're innocent? You're innocent, are you? Yes, I believe you're innocent. But this information changed my mind, now I have no choice but to doubt you".
Selena stays quiet. Her mouth is closed, but her eyes show that she wants to speak up, as if she's trying to put up a proper word to explain herself she is not guilty.
"I'm innocent. You don't have any evidence to accuse me, those are just... rumors...". - Selena appears a bit angry, but she seems to have turned it down
"Then why do you need evidence to prove you're not guilty?". - Hannah starts joining the discussion, she is thinking carefully about what words should be spoken out. "We investigators find evidence to arrest criminals. If you're innocent, you have nothing to be afraid of... is it correct?".
"You're not even sure of your answer". - Selena makes a mock talk. "I'm innocen-".
"Then why do those rumors exist?". - Hannah puts her face closer to Selena's, trying to look intimidating
Selena stays quiet. She looks away from Hannah and returns looking at Jeanne.
"There's no need to be afraid. Time will tell, I'll do my best to arrest that killer fast". - Jeanne puts her hand on Selena's left shoulder with purpose to ease her mind. "You're not the killer, alright? You're innocent, you're just too worried, friend. That killer would be very stupid if she lost her temper that fast. You're not the killer". - She shakes the suspect gently, trying to soothe her
Selena puts Jeanne's hand away. She snatches the paper from Hannah, showing no care if it was fully written or not.
"I'm sorry... I lost control". - Selena turns around, she approaches the door.
"I understand your struggles".
"May I go now?". - Selena clenches her teeth, feeling annoyed
"Yeah". - As Jeanne finishes her words, the door was opened with a slam. "Be careful".
Hannah steps out to check the outside and then closes the door. The mother and daughter look at each other with a sigh.
"Mom, you should've discussed with me first". - Hannah grumbles her face a little, she soon cuts it off because the incident was over
"We didn't have time for that". - Jeanne then lowers her gaze, looking at the table
"So... what do we do?". - Hannah covers her right hand fingers with the powder of white chalk then runs them on the table, doing some random drawing
"We wait... if she feels itched by our words, she'll take action tonight... or tomorrow".