Rivan ran his hand through his hair as he sat in the waiting room of Minister Melinda's house.

He'd been waiting a long time. After much probing and bickering, he'd managed to convince the head of prison affairs to let him see Melinda.

He brought out his pocket watch and checked the time, he'd have to be at work soon but he was determined to meet Melinda before he left.

He fiddled with his pocket watch.

After a while, he sprung from his seat as he heard footsteps coming down the stairs and put away his watch.

Melinda came in, she seemed well, there was no sign of mistreatment but she'd lost the colour in her face and the spark in her eyes.

She took her seat not bothering to greet her visitor.

"I would have visited earlier but access is abysmally minimal"

"I am being imprisoned after all. It won't make sense to just be able to dily dally about" she noted

"Are you well, is there something that bothers you" he managed to ask but was shocked when Melinda let out a soft chuckle

"That's what you want me to say...to you, because that's how you feel." Melinda knew that she was being disrespectful to a friend but she didn't have many choices. It wasn't like she was in a position that permitted her to be sunshine and rainbows.

Rivan cleared his throat "I talked to someone recently and they made me understand that I had the veil of trust preventing me from understanding reality and while I believe I have every reason to blindly trust you, I still hold connection to basic critical thinking aptitude...and I sense foul play with you"

Melinda stared for a while "what do you mean?"

"It's either hypocrisy or dishonesty. When I met you, you strongly criticized the work of the Harbinger, while I understood that you were greatly affected by the newspaper's feed because of personal reasons when you revealed yourself to be the owner, I wad taken aback and it even annoyed me"

"I sat down to think and it safe to say, you were never the owner or co-owner of Harbinger, but you were personally affiliated with Qaya the original owner. Which has led me to deduce that you are greatly involved in her murder"

Melinda opened her mouth to speak. She was frightened greatly by his discovery and the apathy she earlier exhibited began to elude her. Rivan was someone who looked up to her and had made plenty sacrifices. He was such a selfless man always ready to give and never demanding anything in return. If he left her side, she couldn't recover from losing such importance.

Rivan cut her short before she could confess "do not feel insulted, I did not mean to insinuate that you are the culprit...whilst I feel that you've strayed, murder is such a long way" he clarified

Melinda nodded, she agreed with him. She wasn't a horrible monster and she'd never kill someone, everyone could vouch for her. If she was to turn bad, it would be by doing other things...how can someone has kind as her just go straight to killing someone....if only she could still say this. Why did she kill Qaya? And why doesn't she regret it even with all the trouble it's causing?

"Ms. Charmale" Rivan tapped her "why are you quiet? Answer me"

Melinda smiled, she would have to clear any doubt in his mind, Rivan must not think her a murderer.

"You're right" she finally managed to say

"What?" Rivan asked confused but their discussion would have to come to an end, the king himself entered into the room.

The both of them got up to greet him but he stopped them

"I am not here as the king but head of investigation I have come to interrogate prime suspect, Melinda"

Rivan got up to leave, leaving the two of them to talk.

Melinda looked at the king with apathy, but he returned a genuine smile at her.

"Tell me, how has confinement been?"

She shrugged "nothing special"

"I'm surprised that you didn't send word to me, threatening me"

"I trust you to help your loyal companion"

Awin winced and turned to the men that accompanied him, signaling them to leave.

When he was sure that no one would listen in their conversation, he slyly turned to Melinda

"I want us to be on the same page as you know..."

***

"The court investigation will reveal their findings tomorrow" this was Rachel talking to Qaya.

The younger woman was perusing a document intently and groaned when her teacher distracted her.

It's not really my business, though I am curious about what the king is planning, so I'll attend but I don't want to be too involved with Qaya Wright.

Rachel raised her eyebrow "was she not the reason you'd did all this in the first place?"

Qaya sighed "things change"

This was the best thing she could do for everyone. When things were beginning to look up for her; living as a member of an influential family and being on her way of becoming a barrister. Guilt hit her in the gut-

-After the king left the house the day before, Jaslin had confronted her.

"I take it that your mother doesn't know about your coma rendezvous"

Qaya stopped in her tracks and turned to her cousin.

"You...Ms. wright... heavens I'm so confused, whoever but Qaya Wright, someone you claimed to be, was responsible for our family misfortune..."

"That's why I'm strove so hard to right my wrongs" Qaya answered trying hard ti clarify herself. She knew Jaslin would confront her ever since that day that Marie had spoke about her relationship with Qaya Wright and it even upset her when it seemed like Jaslin wasn't saying anything, she thought she'd be relieved when Jaslin finally brought it up, but she felt everything but relief.

Jaslin scoffed "so everything you've done up to now wasn't out of love and duty but guilt and vengeance"

Qaya could not respond, why would she defend herself when there was no use. Before waking up, she was certain she was lowlife commoner, Qaya wright but now, she's come to know that she's lived as Qaya Heris her whole life, her memories were proof of this. This was so absurd, so many things upset her.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"My loyalty to this family makes me what to seek retribution against you but that same loyalty respects you immensely as the young lady of the house"

Qaya swallowed saliva; she was slightly frightened by Jaslin's dark gaze and cold voice.

"If you want my support please live as Qaya Heris and forget everything about that woman"

That was what Jaslin had told her day and whilst it seemed like a very reasonable and perhaps the most probable reaction, Qaya knew she couldn't forget or condemn her last life but she would try to,

"that's the last act of repentance I can do as Qaya Wright."

The court investigation disclosure

The kings court was not as filled as during the days of the trial, the people were no longer intrigued and went about their daily lives.

Even Qaya had attended it as part of an assignment, or at least under that guise.

She looked around; Melinda was there, she looked forlorn and tired.

"Poor girl has not been eating" Qaya mused as she saw Melinda pinching her knuckles something she'd seen her do during the days they were too poor to eat.

Rivan was not around and this threw Qaya off, what could possibly have happened.

Once again Qaya saw the the woman she presumed to be Melinda's lady-in-waiting, and she was looking dignified as ever.

This time the meeting started right on time because it was the King's aide that proceeded over the disclosure meeting.

He was a stern no-nonsence person and was the same age as the king, he himself had abdicated a title as the archduke and next in line to the throne of a country, one that Qaya's father came from, his name was Zachary Harill and he was standing on business today.

"I summon the head of investigation" he called as he looked on at the whole court with perusing eyes.

Awin stepped forward with someone, the deputy head of investigation, following behind him.

He took a bow, something everyone must do to the judge but everyone had expected Zachary to stop the king but he looked on unfazed and returned a slight nod or what Qaya deemed to be a returned bow.

"What were the findings of your investigation?"

"We visited the barn and from what we found it seemed that the body was killed in a different spot and then moved to turn the blame to someone else"

"We decided to ask everyone if they'd seen Qaya Wright, the day before her murder or more conveniently the hours preceding it but nobody had seen her, she's someone who kept to herself"

Zachary squinted and this caused Awin to stop talking

"Is anything the matter?"

"Nothing investigator, Awin. It is just that I'm sure I've seen this Ms. Wright a few times...at the court and ministers' meeting that you preside over"

"Does she?" Awin asked feigning ignorance "then again, seeing as she was a journalist it would make sense that she attended this things"

Zachary nodded in approval "my point exactly, you said testimony said she kept to herself but a journalist cannot afford keep to themselves"

Awin frowned "I am recounting the testimony of her neighbors, she was reported to be someone who was cordial with her neighbors and if she wasn't working, she stayed in her house the whole day"

"Okay, continue"

"Seeing as no one saw her and there weren't many people she was close too, we perused her belongings and found her personal journal, even though it is seen as utmost disrespect to inspect..."

"I doubt her corpse will hardly care for such courtesy when you're solving her murder" Zachary interjected in a sarcastic tone, he motioned for the journal to be handed over and Awin passed it over.

"From the diary, we had a huge revelation but I'd like to summon someone, Ms. Charmale"

Qaya turned to look at Ms. Charmale; her knuckles were red and she looked panicky. She reluctantly stood up and dragged her feet until she got to Awin. Her whole expression screamed uncertainty, she took a rickety bow before the court and raised her head.

"Please truthfully tell the court your relationship with the deceased"

"We shared a living area but we weren't close"

"But you were close enough to be partners in a business venture" this was Zachary

Melinda flinched "we maintained the minimal level of cordiality. We could have grown to be close friends but difference in values stopped me from pursuing genuine friendship, Qaya was an extremely selfish woman, who'd go to any extent, no matter how despicable, to get what she wants"

"Did you notice anything peculiar about her?"

"Her family was a touchy subject, anytime I asked she would get irritated and say she was an orphan but I had caught her giving her wages to someone in a guild to investigate the whereabouts of her parents"

Awin took a deep breath and sighed "so tell me, why did you kill Qaya Wright?"

Melinda paused and turned to him astounded, she was frantically shaking her head. "I didn't kill her, no I didn't" she burst into tears and shook violently and grabbed Awin for support falling into his arms, then in what seemed to be a loud whisper she said in a defeated tone "it wasn't my fault"

Everyone gasped. Qaya just stared stunned, What were they planning, it seemed like Awin was going to throw Qaya to the dogs but that would be stupid. She held on to her notebook like it was her dear life and watched in anticipation.

"Tell her to compose herself" Zachary declared in an irritated tone

"It wasn't my fault...that day"

Awin let go of Melinda and turned to Zachary "from that Journal, Qaya Wright admitted to hating Melinda Charmale so much, that she wanted to kill her, for no less than 17 consecutive pages, the deceased passionately described her hatred for the suspect"

"She also told me to my face" Melinda spoke out, she'd somewhat recovered but she was still shaking "we'd been on bad terms because of the horrible article she'd made about me, so that fateful day, I finally spoke up and let her know I wanted us to go out separate ways...and when I told her about breaking the partnership of The Harbinger, she became furious"

"I was the rightful owner but she felt like I stole something from her and she was blinded by rage so she launched at me..."

"So what?" Zachary scoffed "Did you want to say you killed her in self defense and then framed Sir Milton?"

"No, no, I managed to get help and run to Sir Milton for help but I couldn't get there, she'd caught up with me and just when she was about to kill me, someone came to my rescue. She was a woman in her forties who worked in Sir Milton's estate, she hit Qaya's back with a rod but then we later found out that the rid had a 9 inch nail that the woman missed and it had impaled Qaya"

"Obviously, we could tell that Qaya was still alive, so she suggested that we take her to the barn and tend to her wounds and we did just that, she was recovering that's why I thought it was Sir Milton that killed her out of fury at the article she wrote"

"But you withheld this information"

"I was scared. Everyone was suspecting me so if I said this it could implicate me and everyone kept saying my testimony wasn't reliable"

Zachary shook his head "you could have let the police know when he was being arrested. How am I to even believe you? Is there anybody who could defend what you said like the woman who rescued you for instance"

Awin spoke up "she committed suicide a day after the murder"

Zachary scoffed

"She left a note" Awin handed it over for inspection "this along with the journal have been verified as authentic"

"So the two people who can prove this claim are dead?" Zachary's tone was skeptical. He looked at the note and was quiet for a while

"She died of guilt?"

"Yes, she admitted to killing Qaya out of fear for punishment and when she found out her master was blamed for her misdeed she couldn't cobta6tge guilt" Awin exposited

"And so she killed herself?!!!"

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, he seemed to be in deep thought.

"Is this the extent of your investigation?"

"Well there's nothing else to investigate concerning this matter" Awin replied smuggly

"Do you have any other evidence?"

"Yes, the forensic physiologist confirms that the knife was handled by a woman lacking skill and that there was a sign of perforation beneath the stab wound. Also the doctor testified to treating wounds on Ms. Charmale that came from the tussule" he brought out more papers and handed it over.

Zachary's frown deepened "the investigation disclosure has ended so I must give my declaration"

"With the evidence before me, I first of all convict Melinda Charmale of the crime of withholding information and as per the tenets of the laws of the court of order, she will pay a fine of 3 Fordes* and be on citizenship probation. Seeing as the culprit of the murder has killed herself, the only punishment we can give her is to change the location of her grave to the prisoner graveyard."

"Court dismissed"

As everyone started leaving, Qaya looked on bewildered. She stared at the effigy before her, a long haired person holding the world on its back, it seemed like it weighed down on the marble person but he held on strong.

She looked at noticing every speck of dust, all the intricate lines and mistakes the sculptor made and as she was the only one left in the room, the first of many to come; a tear rolled down her cheek.