Retrieve the Kingdom

Strickening Problem

The court trial was abruptly ended with a man lying dead on the floor. It was the worst event that could end this session. It was just as worst as losing the trial for Bermin. “Vogel! Vogel! Don’t close your eyes! Breathe, breathe!” He was shaking the poor man, no one can stop his appointment with death. 

The doctor arrived and pushed everyone around the patient. He checked the vital signs of the patient. He hovers his index finger just right in front of his nostrils. “No… No…” He muttered, he checked his pulse by putting his index and middle finger on his neck. His face’s positive aura dropped, it was not a good news. He tried to check more of his body, but it was no good.

“He cannot be saved, I am sorry…” He stands as he looks at the crowd. “Vogel… No…” Bermin clenched his fist and walked away from the crowd. The other people, particularly men, brought the dead body of one of the councilors out of the court. The judge decided to dismiss the session due to what happened. 

The noble couple along with the prince went to the morgue of the city. Vogel was already there, being examined by investigators and dieners. Bermin took a last peek at his face before they cover him all in a white blanket. 

Bermin mourned at the morgue for some minutes. Silence ensues as the authorities let them stay for a while. “Let’s go… Did someone already told his family about this?” He raised his head, looking at the other people in the room. “A messenger was already sent the bad news, sir Bermin.” One of the investigators said, clutching his hand together. 

“Please send me updates on this investigation. I would like to know what happened to him. This is so unexpected.” The archduke sighs. “Noted that sir, we will update you as soon as we get some clue. For now, we are deducing that this is like what happened to the late Queen Desiree, but we will see.” 

“Thank you… We will go now.” He flashed a bittersweet smile at the authorities in the morgue as they all bow their heads for a quick time before the archduke takes his leave along with his family. They board their carriage and this time, they went home. 

As they entered the mansion, Andrei asks his uncle quickly. “I am… Sorry for your loss… Uncle…” He was a bit nervous talking up with all the silence they had in the carriage. Bermin sighs, he bends his knees to be at the same height as Andrei as he caresses his cheek. “And, I am sorry that you witnessed all of that. You already witnessed a lot of deaths in a year. I know it’s traumatizing for you, it’s hard seeing someone meet their fate.” 

“It’s fine, uncle. I am teaching myself to get used to it, I know I will be seeing a lot in the future, so I must be ready.” Bermin hugged him, comforting the teenager. “I am proud of you, though, let’s not hope to witness another death. One is enough, two is many. We will end this once and for all, I promise that.” 

Andrei hugged him back, the prince felt warmth on his gloomy and cold heart. A pair of hands touched his shoulders, he looked up as he saw the sweet smile of his aunt. He switched the embrace to her, which was responded by Naia wrapping her arms around his shoulder. 

“We are not done yet,” Bermin stands properly. “The case is not yet concluded, and we got another problem. I need to know what happened to Vogel. That kind of assassination is already an old trick, yet, he still uses it.” 

They took a seat on the couch as they arrived at the living room. “You really believe that your brother may have been involved to this again?” Naia asked, to which Bermin strongly agree. “He already has done this to Desiree, his own niece. His own relative, a carrier of a royal blood, which he has too. Oh wait, he isn—” 

Naia shushed him and points at Andrei secretly who is just contemplating his life, diving deep into his thoughts. Bermin sighs, “My point is, if he can do that to Desiree, then he can certainly do that to Vogel, which has no relative connection to him whatsoever. And, he is one of my trusted persons, which means he was not an underling of my brother. Do you know who is? That Claro and this trial will affect his image since he is the one who personally chose him.” 

“Why did he killed Vogel, not Claro, or anything? Like, paid the judge to do something, or just sabotaged whatever with his cunning mind. Killing him would only cause more suspicion on Claro. Which is not their goal, right?”

“That’s the thing I am questioning. I am certain that my brother is involved with this. He likes to be the hero of everything these days. Since some of his operations were known, he is fixing his image to everybody. I don’t know what cunning plan he is performing right now. But whatever it is, I certainly don’t like it.” 

“Maybe I can be your spy.” The couple froze onto their places as their eyes went to Andrei. He released from Naia’s embrace as he looks at both of them. “Sweetie, don’t risk yourself.” His aunt holds both of his cheeks with her soft palm. “Your aunt is right, Andrei. You know how suspicious your dad is to you and especially your friends. You eavesdropping every conversation will be too risky.” 

“I can do it smoothly, though, I have to fix my relationship with my dad to be able to execute my plan.” The couple was confused, the prince was determined, which made them curious. “What’s your plan? Tell us, so we could help you out in any way we can.” Andrei discussed his flawed but potential plan with his uncle and aunt, leaving them to judge it. 

Before he went home, he wrote a letter to Phoebe and Belle. Both of which are personalized, but it has the same intention for both of them. 

‘Dear Phoebe,

How is your vacation going? If it’s all fine and nice, I am sorry that I will ruin it a bit for you. I don’t want to ruin it at all, but I guess you deserve to know this. Earlier, I attended a court trial. For what? My aunt Naia was harassed by Cledwyn’s father. Yes, sir Claro has a hidden agenda all along. Or at least, he had. It was an intense court trial, this is so inappropriate to say knowing trials are a bit calmer than that. The story goes by this, my aunt was going home and she wants to fetch my uncle from his office. Tired and all distorted, she went to the wrong room. I know it’s kind of weird to be in a situation like that.

I don’t really know why sir Claro did that and how he had a determination to do that. But, you know what? I don’t want to know it. I don’t want a story about his perversion, and I don’t even want to hear his explanations. My aunt’s statement was already enough.

That’s not even the worst bit yet. The witness my aunt and uncle brought was dead. DEAD, I say, dead! He was speaking about what he had witnessed, which is a bit dodgy for the judge since he was speaking a bit nervous and he seems cannot breathe, from my perspective. And, he just fell dead on the floor. Like, bam, dead. It was surprising. No one stabbed him or anything, he is just dead.

It was sorrowful for my uncle, he was one of his trusted persons. I feel sorry for him. But in all of that, he wants me to send his regards to you, and also my aunt, she is excited to meet you after the winter vacation. See you soon, I guess.

Sincerely, Andrei.’

He also wrote a sentence on the upper side corner of the letter, ‘Chaos is starting to emerge in the castle.’ After writing all of the letters, he sent them via his uncle’s messenger. One for Belle and one for Phoebe. The messenger took off and sent the messages to their respective destination. 

He went home as the messenger went out of the castle. Bermin delivered him home since he only went there with a horse. The horse was delivered too after an hour. When he went home, he saw his dad just in his throne room, this time he has no one to talk to. He thought it was the perfect time to talk to him. 

“Good afternoon, father.” He greeted him, which was responded to by his father, miraculously. “Good afternoon, Andrei. You stayed on your uncle’s mansion again?” “Ye—” He was cut by his father rudely, “Why did I even ask? Sure you did, you always do. I just wonder how did you go there since your carriage was unused. But looking that one of the horses was missing, you might put your equestrianism class in good use, or at least in a situation with your naughty plans.” 

“Yeah…” The only thing he responded to. “Why did you even went to the mansion in the middle of the first snowfall? You know how annoying is to travel in the middle of that heavy snow rain. I am surprised that you managed to ride your horse without attaining any injuries, or have you?”

He shook his head, “No injuries or whatsoever if I did have some, uncle could have said it to you.” The king nods, “Right… Anyway, say it already.” Andrei was confused, “What do you mean?” 

“It’s not very common for you to talk to me. Especially in this situation, we have for months. The possibility of you talking to me without disrespecting me is low at this point, and I am quite happy that we had that for a moment.” 

“Are you just gonna tell me that you appreciate this? Honestly, it doesn’t have any connection to what you asked me earlier. What would you meant me to say, I love you?” The king chuckles, “What I mean is, due to this rare occasion, you wouldn’t go here just to be sweet and say, ‘I love you dad’. Just tell me what you want and what do you want to say.” 

“Oh, that. Honestly, none. I just want to check on you.” The king laughs as he stands, looking down at his son from his elevated position on the throne room. “Come on, don’t play games with me. Everyone who came here has a reason, it’s just petty that that reason is just your only reason. Tell me, is it about the trial or Councilor Vogel’s death?”

“How did you know that?” Dougal smirks, “Of course, I am the king after all. You can’t rely on gossips but sometimes, it’s the quick way to know the headline of tomorrow’s newspaper. And knowing you and your uncle’s influence on you, you are always suspicious of me. I know you, Andrei, you wanna ask me if I have anything involved with that—” 

“Woah, Woah. That’s not my reason. I really want to check you out, because even the world falls on its feet, you are still my dad. I want to have peace with you, but you don’t seem to like that. And dad, I am not suspicious of you. The only person that makes you suspicious is yourself, and you just gave me an idea with your statement.” 

The king was caught offhanded, his son was right, he just spilled something. “I guess there is no point of continuing this conversation. Just approach me if you want my offer.” Andrei left the throne room as the king throws himself on the throne, regretting what he just said. 

A letter arrived in Bermin’s hands. He was so nervous about reading it, but here it goes. “Vogel was poisoned, the suspected poison may come from that plant that bears red fruits.”