There is a serial killer in Castle Krakenburg. And they're plotting to murder the Queen of Nohr.
Prince Leo is in charge of the investigation, but with no evidence and little time, he's struggling to keep his sister safe. He desperately needs help...
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Leo spent the next few days popping in and out of the medical ward as he completed paperwork and tied up the loose ends of the case. Any day now, a public announcement would be made that it was closed and the residents of Castle Krakenburg were safe.
He was still struggling to come to terms with the fact that it had all been about him, but with some help from me, he was getting by. He was also helping me to deal with my new reoccurring nightmares about Emiko.
The murders had left their burdens, but together, we would bear them.
On the morning of my third conscious day in the medical ward, Elise skipped over to me and announced that I had a visitor. I was expecting Leo again, and so I was surprised when King Xander came to my bedside.
"Good morning, Grace," he said. "My apologies for not being able to visit you until now. After what happened in Windmire, I've had quite a job reassuring the public that Emiko is no longer a threat, and that we are not going to hang you."
"I can imagine," I said stiffly.
He smiled tightly: an acknowledgement of the difficult feelings between us. "I came to speak to you about that, actually. But first, I need to deliver a letter." He drew an envelope from beneath his cloak and handed it to me. "It arrived for you this morning."
I took it from him and studied the neat writing printed across the front. Castle Krakenburg. Grace.
I would know that handwriting anywhere. I tore the envelope open and pulled out a thick sheet of parchment.
Grace,
Thank you for your letter. I am so relieved that you're safe. Dealing with delinquents in Windmire sounds like it's just what you need now that Janus is gone. It seems that tracking criminals was always your talent. Though I miss you dearly, don't rush to come home when the case is over. Follow your heart. I can send you money to travel around Nohr...or perhaps you can find more crimes to solve.
Love,
Rory
I put the letter down on my bedside table. What would I do now?
Well, one thing at a time. I looked up at King Xander. "You wanted to speak to me about the day of my execution?"
He sighed. "Yes. I just wanted you to know how sorry I am. After you were arrested, Leo begged me to release you. I realised that in not trusting you, I was also not trusting my brother. If he would tell you things he would not even tell me...perhaps I had been wrong to arrest you. But by the time I came to that decision, it was too late. I had been pressured to arrange your execution. I could not release you without repercussions...at least, not willingly. And so I came up with a new plan that not even Leo was aware of."
My ears pricked up. I sat forward.
"Whether you can find it in your heart to believe me and to forgive me is up to you," King Xander continued. "But I gave Commander Jago the order that you were not to be executed. The moment when Emiko attacked the crowd was the moment when he was supposed to cut you free. A controlled distraction would have been made, allowing you to escape. You would have been a wanted woman, and so you would have had to leave Leo and Windmire. But at least you would still have been alive."
