End War

Chapter 16 : The Assassin

"Noooooo!!! Please nooo!! Why did this happen!!!", Queen Alice cried heavily and screamed because of what she saw in Prince Julian's room. The room was filled with armor and sword collections, showing Prince Julian's interest. There was a big table with confidential files on it. Near the table was Prince Julian's body facing the ground floor. His eyes opened as if he had seen a ghost and was surprised. He had holes in his heart. He died because he was out of blood.

Queen Alice still hadn't believed what she saw. Prince Julian's blood wetted his gown. She was hugging him. Princess Jeanne was in the room. She didn't believe what she saw too. Her eyes was blank. Even she was so sad, she couldn't dropped a tear because she was confused with the sudden situation. Prince Johan was beside her. He was facing the ground, gritted his teeth.

The guards entered the room. They asked for the Queen and the Princess to leave the room. They would investigate the room. The Queen insisted to stay in the room but then Prince Johan persuaded her. Princess Jeanne was leaving the room.

In front of the room, Princess Jeanne mumbled, "Why did this happen?" She asked the same question as Queen Alice.

"Jeanne, please rest in your room. I will investigate it and find the perpetrator," Prince Johan tried to calm her.

"...What can I help you, brother?" Princess Jeanne offered her help.

"Just stay in your room right now. Later, we may have you as witness to the attack that night," Prince Johan said.

"Don't force yourself, brother!"

Princess Jeanne entered her room guarded by men. She sat near a window looking at the sky. The sky was cloudy as if he was mourning the kingdom's misfortune. She pondered their unfortunate fate. Finally, her tears were dropped as the rain fell.

The next day, some guards knocked Prince Jeanne's room. They asked the Princess to come to the room of council as witnesses. Prince Jeanne couldn't sleep last night. Her eyes were black and blank. Her body was weak because she hadn't eaten anything since last night. A guard pushed her chair over and ushered her to the room of council.

As she entered the room, she saw nobles and the council sat rounding a table. One of them was Prince Johan who would lead the discussion.

"Welcome, sister. Please sit beside me. I'm sorry to make you come here in your rest", Prince Johan felt sorry to her.

"It's okay, brother. I hope I can help the investigation," Princess Jeanne said with low voice.

"Gentlemen, let's start our discussion to identify who the perpetrator is," Prince Johan lead the discussion.

"I've investigated the King's assassination trial and suspected that the assassin was the nobles from Ivra itself, not the Exovia's assassins. Last night, Princess Jeanne was attacked by assassins. After short investigation, we found that they were nobles from Ivra too. Princess Jeanne was here as the victim and witnesses," Prince Johan explained his investigation.

"It's true, some men in red robes suddenly appeared and attacked last night. Luckily, Prince Johan was there and protected me. After that, we heard the unfortunate news," Princess Jeanne confirmed Prince Johan's word.

"We heard that Prince Julian was dead in his room. It was true after we checked the room. We suspected that the assassination were done at the same time with the assassination trial of Princess Jeanne. Maybe they attacked Princess Jeanne to try to kill her too. Or maybe they attacked her as a distraction on Prince Julian assassination. Now we are here to discuss who are the perpetrator," Prince Johan explained his suspection.

One of the noble raised his hand and spoke, "Prince Julian's room wasn't messy. It sign that Prince Julian have known the assassin. His face seemed surprised, signing that he was surprised with the assassin's attack. From those, I'm sure you have known that the killer was the royal nobles at this castle, Prince Johan. Yet you still gathered the nobles here. It looks like you want us to suspected each other."

All the nobles in that room were realized that. Their eyes were looking each other as if they didn't trust anyone in the room. One of the noble near a door stood up and shouted,

"It is definetly the Exovian's doing. We know they are clever and cunning. They must have plotted this to to pit us against each other!"

The other noble said, "After all the evidence, why did you still said that this is Exovian's doing? It precisely make us suspected you!"

The room became hot. The nobles spoke loudly, attacking each other with their words. Knowing the discussion wasn't productive, prince Johan shoutted,

"Shut your mouth up, all of you!!"

Suddenly the room was in silence. In those silence, Princess Jeanne subconsciously spoke,

"Brother Julian was strong, he was one of Ivra commander. His Gift can burned and melted any weapon. Among all of the nobles in this capital city, the one who have the ability to counter Brother Julian's ability is...."

"Me," Prince Johan said. He had a Gift to manipulate rock. It couldn't be burned and melted just like Princess Jeanne's said. The nobles there were surprised amd realized. They didn't suspect any of the throne family member because they know that the family never had any conflict before.

Princess Jeanne wrinkled her face. She bited his own lips as if she was holding her words.

"Just said what you think, sister," Prince Johan asked her to continue speak.

"Brother Johan was with me that night when the assassins attacked me. But we can't sure that brother's Julian assassination happen after or before it. Where was you before you met me at the garden, brother?"

"...I was continue investigating King Ivra's assassination trial," Prince Johan answered the Princess' question.

The room was in silence again. Princess Jeanne's eyes was wet. She bited her lips until it was bleeding. She seemed holding her words forcefully. Prince Johan smiled and said,

"Don't worry, sister. Just said it, I won't hate you."

"Brother... When the assassin hurted me in my arm, you tied it with a handkerchief I made, right? Why did you use a handkerchief with tiger motives on it? It supposed to be Brother Julian's. I gave you a handkerchief with a deer motives on it. Where did you get brother Julian's handkerchief and where was your handkerchief?" Princess Jeanne's word suspected Prince Johan.

"..." Prince Johan was in silence. He couldn't answered her question.

"Where is your handkerchief now, Prince Johan?" One of the noble asked.

"It is in my room", Prince Johan answered. The noble asked the guard to bring Prince Johan's handkerchief. When the guard had bring his handkerchief, all of nobles and guards in the room were surprised.

The handkerchief with small deer motives on it was burned.

To be continued...