The Dark Crown

Chapter 3

An eerie silence enveloped the castle that had been so peaceful only a few hours earlier, interrupted only by hushed murmurs and silent sniffles. Charles stands in the drawing room surrounded by his family who had previously gathered in excitement for a wedding now looking broken and in tears bathed in grief mourning their loved princess's loss. "Are'nt we to announce the news to the kingdom? They remain unaware of this whole tragedy", King Hans asks. "We should .But first of all the castle is to be sealed .No one should be able to leave these walls. Telling the people the news of the murder could only cause unrest and conflicts which we are not in the state to deal with at the moment . Let the manner of death remain hidden from them for now. When the murderer is found we would announce the truth of the matter to the people when he is hanged to death in the gallows " ,Charles replied still staring at the now fading night sky with through the window. "Charles is right. I agree that the news of the murder is to not be shared but  instead is to be kept within this castle. The murderer is among us and all those who know about the murder too is in here. For now let it remain as such", King Hans agreed. Just then the royal guard emerges stating , "Sire, all the entries and exits have been blocked. No one could get in or out without our knowledge now". "Very good let it remain as such for the time being. And I am to be notified when someone tries to violate the rule. No matter who they are" Charles says  and the guards nods in affirmative. He then turns to face the family. "I am convinced you all remember our friend , Louis. I have invited him and his wife to the castle to get to the bottom of this matter . As all of you must be aware they are the greatest detectives in this kingdom and I am sure no one would be more suitable to find out who the murderer is as well they could", Charles announces as everyone exchange glances. "But are we sure that this is murder. Although it did look like a murder, is it not possible still that she stabbed herself? ", Asks duchess Dorsetta. "No .Alexandra would never have done that", Charles said his voice wavering with the depth of his emotions as he utters her name. With a short pause he continues, "Although if you are not convinced whether or not it was a murder, Louis will be able to confirm if it is indeed a murder or not.". "Now what of the other things? We have to break the news to the grooms family first", said duchess Dorsetta her own voice wavering .Before Charles could reply, duchess Ella steps into the room her own face grave with sadness.

" How is she?", asks King Hans ."She is broken. But again what else could you expect from her? First she loses her husband and now her only daughter", She replies with a sigh sitting down on the arm chair by the fire  her son moving towards her. "Good gracious why did this have to happen to our Alex? To Margaret? What family does she have now?" says duchess Dorsetta with a stifled sob. "Who said she has no family? We are still here are we not? We are and always will be  her family." said Charles hugging his crying mother , tears of his own brimming his blue eyes but restrained from rolling down his cheeks. "Yes ,we would always be here for her. She is a part of our  family too" agrees Duchess Ella leaning into her sons hold for support. "I will write to Edward now. It is better to let him know the whole truth. He deserves that at least.",  Says Charles with a sigh. "But charles..is it right to let him know through a mere letter? He loved her so much. Does he not deserve better?", asks duchess Dorsetta. "He does. But it is better that we do not leave this castle or let anyone in either for now." ,said Charles sighing unhappily settling down at the study and taking the quill into his hands. With another moment of hesitation, he begins to  pen the distressing news  down , turned away from everyone else focusing on the paper alone letting a few of his own silent tears wet the paper. The family sits in silence all reliving the horrendous moment they saw Alexandra bathed in her own blood over and over in their head again while tears continue to fall down their faces. "Johnathan, have this delivered to Edward yourself. I do not want anyone else leaving these grounds.", Charles orders on finishing the letter and handing it over to Johnathan who had remained in silence the whole time near the door with the royal guards. Johnathan takes the letter with a bow and leaves the room wordlessly with his own face grief stricken. "Now ,it is time to announce the death of the princess to the people. Not a word is to be uttered that would arouse suspicions that Princess Alexandra's death had been anything but natural. You are to return straight to the palace after the announcements", Charles  orders the remaining guards handing over another paper roll to the pair and they too leave the room with a bow leaving the family alone "How on earth would we find the murderer among the staff? There are 500 people working in this palace at the moment. It is seemingly impossible to find out the murderer among them", comments King Hans. Just then Granita steps into the room her own face soaked with tears quieted sobs still audible from her petite figure. "Sire, Master Louis and his wife Charolette have arrived." She says and leaves the room immediately when she receives a nod of dismissal from Charles "There are more than 500 people alone who could have committed this murder" ,Charles says with a pause as his eyes sweep across the faces in the room and continues . "As for finding the one responsible, I am not worried about that because I trust Louis. I am convinced he wants to find the one responsible for this as much as I do. So let us all leave it at that for now", Charles says with a final nod and leaves the room making the family exchange shocked and bewildered glances among themselves.