Chapter 14 MISLEADING TRAIL
The castle corridors were unusually still that morning, it was the kind of silence that presses against your chest. Even the faint shuffle of servants seemed muted as though the walls themselves were listening.
A few days before the king awakened, the Royal Investigator was called in. The Royal family and council members were in the hall. Prince Eric was brought into the hall with two guards by his side.
The chief investigator moved deliberately through the old wing as his long coat brushed the floor and his sharp eyes examined every detail from frayed tapestries to small scuffs on the stone, as if secrets could be read in the dust itself.
He checked through the arrow and the rope that once hung on the palace wall. He approached them cautiously, pausing before his gloved fingers hovered over them. The rope seemed almost alive to him as if whispering events it had witnessed.
“Notice anything unusual, Lysander?” asked the Chief Adviser, standing a few steps behind, with concern.
Lysander knelt slightly. “Yes,” he murmured. “There’s a scent… faint but on both weapons. It smelt floral and sweet, yet sharp beneath it, it was medicinal. Whoever left this intended for it to be noticed… and felt.”
The Chief adviser frowned. “Is it Perfume?
“It is not merely a fragrance,”The investigator said gravely. “This scent was meant to hypnotize its host.”
Adrain shivered. “Hypnotizing… isn't that dangerous?.”
“Exactly,” Lysander said. “And we must trace its source. Whoever handled the rope, also shot the maid and he or she carries this perfume. However, this person had been quite careless. But we have to find where this arrow came from!.”
"It came from the Elite guards." The Chief Adviser said quickly.
There were murmurs in the hall.
"Very well then. We know where to search!.'" Lysander said.
“Bring out all Elite guards and search their quaters!” the chief advisor declared.
After searching with the royal investigator, the investigation led them to Talen's quaters who was a young guard. His quarters carried the same faint fragrance of the perfume until detected from a shirt. It was brought before the council.
“Talen,” Lysander said, his voice calm but firm, “Where did you get this fragrance?.”
Talen’s eyes looked at the shirt.
“I don’t know what you mean, sire. I probably got it at the market” Talen said confidently.
"Do you know what this fragrance is for?"
"No sire" Talen said.
There was a eye contact between the Chief Adviser and the investigator.
"Guards, hold him." The Chief adviser thundered.
The investigator moved closer and stuffed the scent from the shirt and the rope directly where his nose could perceive it. Talen was calm and stood like a statue. The effect caught up quickly after a little slipped into his nose.
“How long have you been carrying it?” He asked steadily.
Talen said nothing.
“ I implore you to speak.” Lysander thundered.
"I was told to!” Talen said on his feet in hypnosis.
“By whom?” Lysander asked sharply.
Talen glanced around the council hall and toward the doorway.
“Princess Emelia." Talen said.
Everyone murmured. Some in disbelieve.
Eric's eyes widened. “Emelia? That’s impossible!”
The Chief Adviser raised his hands and silence fell again.
Eric's eyes widened. “Continue” The investigator asked firmly.
"She said it would help to calm and guide the prince to claim the throne from his brother.” he said
There was whispering in the hall.
"So he really tried to take his brother out for the throne!" some thought.
Adrian's eyes widened. “The throne?" he thought as he remembered Athalia’s words.
"Hunger for power turns people into monsters". she said.
"We should probably confirm the facts before drawing conclusions. I mean, he is being hypnotized but that does not prove what he says is right, does it?." Adrian said in disbelieve.
"What if someone could be using this to frame her?" he continued.
"Hpnotism never lies. Anyone who was hypnotized remembers everything in hypnosis but when they are themselves, they loose their memorys." Lysander said.
"Does that mean... my son?" The queen asked.
He nodded in acknowledgement.
"So when brother says he doesn’t remember anything,it probably meant he was hypnotized and lost his memory?" Adrian asked curiously.
"I believe so, Prince Adrian. Once hypnotized, the victim can be hypnotized over and over again if the same smell persists." the investigator said.
The hall was filled with murmurs again.
Then the investigator turned to Talen. "Tell us. What did you do?" he asked.
Talen shook violently. “I only followed instructions and sprayed it on him, then i left!.”
Lysander turned to the queen and Royal Adviser. Athalia smirked slightly while Adrain stood in disbelieve.
"There must be something wrong. Emelia could have never done this" Eric shouted.
"Prince Eric." The chief adviser said. "One more word and you'll be sent back to confinement until this investigation is over."
Meanwhile, the Royal Investigator and the chief adviser exchanged a look, then made their way toward Princess Emelia’s chambers. Guards hurried ahead of them, pushing open the door and searching each corner.
Emelia was walking through the castle corridors close to her chambers unaware of the storm closing around her.
When they finally found Emelia standing by her window, she turned in shock.
“Princess Emelia,” the chief adviser said, his tone measured, “we must search your chambers for anything connected to the King’s attack.”
Her heart dropped. “The King’s attack? I… I had nothing to do with it.”
“We will determine that,” the investigator replied quietly. “For now, allow us to do our work.”
When they searched, the faint scent of perfume clung to one of her cloak and ribbons, leaving a trail invisible to the untrained eye but clear to those who knew what to look for.
“Princess Emelia,” The Chief adviser said. “You must come to the council hall now.”
Her heart raced.
All eyes were on her as she walked into the hall with two guards by her side. There were wild whispers in the hall, some filled with dissapointment and disbelieve. The chief Adviser raised his hands and silence fell.
"Please continue, Lysander." The Chief Adviser saild firmly.
“Princess Emelia, the guard, Talen, claims you sent him with this fragrance,” Lysander said calmly lifting up the bottle of fragrance they had seen in her chambers. “He says you asked him to influence the Prince.”
Emelia’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Impossible! I would never...”
“Princess,” Lysander said firmly, “the scent on the rope, the arrow and traces of fragrance on your belongings suggest otherwise.”
“I… I don’t know anything about this!” Emelia exclaimed. “Someone is framing me! I swear I did nothing to endanger the king!”
The Chief Adviser exchanged a glance with Lysander. “Then explain why the scent is on your dress and room.”
“I… I don’t know!” Emelia cried.
Athalia smirked faintly. Her plan was flawless as Emelia faltered, even as Lysander’s steady gaze observed her gestures. The room seemed to shrink around the princess as it was more heavy with tension and suspicion.
“Tell them the truth, Talen!” Emelia said, voice trembling. “It wasn’t me! Did someone else...”