The King's Court

XXI

"Messy business," Leon muttered as he stood next to me. He had just arrived and saw the mutilated body of Myer, one of the members of the King's Council.

His arms were at odd angles. His elbows might have been detached from the joints but it's hard to tell with all the blood coming from his chest. Cuts and bruises could be seen on his exposed legs and arms.  The alleged murder weapon was lying close to Myer's body. It was gruesome, indeed.

"You didn't happen to do this to him?" Leon asked and some guards whipped their heads in our direction.

"That mouth of yours could get you killed one day, Leon," I answered.

He released a feigned gasp and placed a dramatic hand on his chest. "And now you are threatening me?"

I ignored him and looked at Master Filip who stood and faced us. He bowed before me before he said, "It would seem that he was killed first before he was in a state like this."

"How did he even end up in this state? Could you tell how he was murdered?"  

I heard Leon groan next to me. Seeing the body in its gruesome state was terrible enough. Hearing the details of his body became like this was even worse. 

"A sword through the heart, Your Majesty," Master Filip said and then he looked up. Me and Leon looked up too where we saw a small mezzanine several meters high. The mezzanine was built there to have extra storage for the weapons. Another question that popped into my head was why was Council Myer here? And what made him climb all the way to the mezzanine?

"Are you telling us that Council Myer took his own life?" asked Leon. I was about to ask the same question but something just doesn't sit right.

Master Filip shook his head. "The sword came from behind. I believe someone killed him up there and pushed him. He got the bruises, the cuts, and the broken bones from the fall."

It was definitely a high fall. Even if Council Myer wasn't killed before being pushed, the fall would have killed him. 

Leon grimaced. "Who could have done this?" he asked quietly. 

I couldn't help but feel like this was too perfect to be just a coincidence. If this was murder, was it just a coincidence that was done right after I announced Evelyn to be a member of my court? And right after Evelyn was shot? It was as if this was done to make Evelyn look like she had every motive to kill the man. 

"I shall bring the body to my laboratory, Your Majesty. I still need to examine it." Master FIlip bowed and I nodded. 

"Please tell me if you see something important, Master Filip." 

I looked at Leon and he nodded at me. A silent agreement that we had to talk about it somewhere only we could hear. I know what he wants to tell me but I let my mind wander to the situation. There is no way Evelyn could have done it. I was with her. And besides, she isn't a spy. She was just someone who happened to share the same name and the same face as someone else in this world. She couldn't have done it. 

Would it be possible that there are others here? Spies from the South? What could be their motive of killing Council Myer? Perhaps the South was aware of our plans and is trying to get rid of Evelyn? 

Leon and I reached my quarters and Leon locked the doors before he faced me. 

"Where are Evelyn and her friends?" he asked as he stood near the fireplace.

"In Evelyn's chambers. Guards are there. I asked Roylan to be there too."

Leon looked at me disbelievingly. "And you let yourself without a guard? Have you gone mad? The culprit could still be in this castle."