Raithion entered the palace but did not go to find Soriel first. He went to the commandery offices and found Haedor having a meeting with the team of legion inspectors responsible for investigating the case in the palace.
“Your Highness,” Haedor said in greeting. The legion inspectors all saluted Raithion when he entered the large office.
“At ease,” Raithion said and moved to take the chair behind the desk. “Give me an update.”
“Two days ago, Princess Soriel found a dead palace maid in her closet,” Haedor said. “She was fast in her thinking. She sealed her room and called Lord Maenaer. It allowed us to take over the scene and the body.”
“What have you found?” Raithion asked, his fists clenched into fists at the thought of the shock Soriel had faced.
“The palace maid died of poisoning,” Haedor said. “Lieutenant Volker followed up with the coroner at the palace morgue. The poison used was belladonna.”
“Belladonna is a forbidden herb within the palace walls,” Raithion said.
“Yes,” Haedor agreed. “Someone must have smuggled it in.”
Raithion shook his head and sat back, staring at his legion officers.
“Where was the palace maid assigned to work?” Raithion asked.
“She is not on any roster,” Volker said. “We have combed through the month’s list ledgers and cannot find her usual post.”
“Every attendant in the palace has a task to complete. Otherwise, they are not meant to be in the palace,” Raithion said, holding Volker’s gaze. “It is not that she is not on the list ledger. It is that the list she is on is missing. Find the missing ledger.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Volker said, tapping his partner on the shoulder. They left the office to complete the task.
“What else?” Raithion asked.
“The girl’s family has scattered,” Haedor said. “I have two legion officers on the task, but we may need more.”
“The poison could have originated from their residence,” Raithion said. “Add in four more.”
Haedor pointed to four legion officers who got up and left after a swift salute.
“Where is Kailu?” Raithion asked.
“He is working on the inside of the palace,” Haedor said. “I had him join Princess Soriel’s guard. Your father gave him a token from Basileus Dio that allows him to move around the palace without restriction. He will reach out if he discovers something new.”
Raithion nodded, satisfied that most of the work was half done.
“I want to see this girl,” Raithion said, standing up. “Then I’ll visit Soriel.”
“I’ll take you to the morgue,” Haedor said, leaving the commandery office. “Did you succeed?”
“Yes,” Raithion said as they walked along the vast corridors of the palace, headed to the back buildings where the morgue was located. “It wasn’t easy, but he is safe.”
“For now,” Haedor said.
“Yes,” Raithion nodded. “I’ve set safeguards to help protect him in case of trouble.”
“What happened to him was a tragedy,” Haedor said.
“No, it was a betrayal orchestrated by my father,” Raithion said, self-loathing filling his heart. “I was unable to do anything for him. I owe him for a broken promise.”
Haedor sighed and did not comment.
They stepped outside and found themselves in the back gardens of the palace. The palace morgue was built in the farthest corner of the vast imperial property. They needed horses to get there. Haedor’s assistant met them with a pair of horses. The ride to the morgue was fast.
The head coroner received them with a solemn face. He saluted Raithion, acknowledging his new status in the palace.
“Report your findings to His Highness,” Haedor said when they stood before the dead girl’s corpse. She was wrapped in a white shroud and lying on a slab of ice. Her body was clean and ready for burial as soon as Raithion ended the investigation.
“We have meticulously documented everything we found on her. I’ll state the obvious first,” the head coroner said. “She died of poisoning. The contents of her stomach include a peach blossom cake. Our poison tests show that this peach blossom cake is the source of the poison.”
“How long have you worked in the palace?” Raithion asked the coroner. He looked older, already in his fifties.
“Fifteen years,” the head coroner answered.
“Do you recognize her?” Raithion asked.
“No,” the head coroner said. “But that is not unusual. My place of work is not auspicious. I run into palace maids who work in the outer wings of the palace or in the kitchen where we get our meals.”
“So, would you say she is someone who works in the inner palace?” Haedor asked.
“Yes,” the head coroner said, touching her folded uniform. “The fabric of this uniform is the answer. Expensive silk and embroidery accents are found on palace maids working in the inner palace.”
“She is not on any roster,” Haedor said.
“Then, she works for someone with enough authority to make her existence disappear,” Raithion guessed.
“Don’t burden me with such information, I like my head on my shoulders,” the coroner said. “Let me finish my report.”
Raithion hid a smile at the head coroner’s will to survive. He spent most of his morning hours listening to updates from the head coroner, who documented all the palace maid’s injuries before and after death.
***
Raithion visited Soriel in the afternoon. He needed to change and dress in a formal uniform to enter the inner palace and meet with the soon-to-be Basilinna. The process allowed him to clear his thoughts. The case facing them was simple yet complex.
On the surface, a girl was poisoned with belladonna, and her body was hidden in Soriel’s chambers. The palace guard commandery should solve the crime and bring the culprit to face justice.
Hidden, in this case, was the girl’s true identity. Her clothes belonged to the inner palace, which meant she was under the control of the Dowager Basilinna Olneth, Dio’s mother. He doubted Dio’s grandmother and aunt would want to harm Dio’s bride. Still, perhaps someone in their households worked for Olneth.
Why Olneth? Raithion frowned.
His father had evidence that the Dowager Basilinna wanted the power to control the throne. Which meant taking control of the newest Basilinna. She had tried to get Gesi Ajai’s daughter in place, but since that failed, she wanted a way to control Soriel by placing Soriel in the middle of a murder case.
Raithion smirked. Let’s see you try to control a Maenaer.
An attendant led Raithion to Rose Hall, Soriel’s residence when he was ready. He was not surprised to find Dio waiting with Soriel when he arrived.
Soriel looked beautiful in a long gold dress, the skirts shimmering in the sunlight. Her hair was brushed to perfection and restrained by golden leaves in the form of a crown. She looked lovely in her royal clothes. She sat in an armchair, her hands resting on her lap.
Raithion noted how hard she had to work at not running to hug him. She visibly clenched her hands on her lap and smiled at him.
“Your Highness,” She said with a demure tone, her gaze shifting to Dio before she smiled at Raithion. “You have returned.”
“Yes, and I received your message,” Raithion said. “Are you alright?”
“Of course she’s alright,” Dio said, getting up from the couch to stand next to Soriel. “Why wouldn’t she be?”
Raithion held his sister’s gaze, ignoring Dio’s comment.
Soriel’s brown eyes were filled with mischief. Her lips twitched, fighting a smile as she held his gaze and he sighed in relief. At least they had not broken his sister’s spirit. It would be a tragedy if Soriel turned into an uppity highborn lady.
“How long are you going to keep pretending?” Raithion asked.
Soriel scowled at him, then to Dio’s surprise, she bolted out of the chair and raced to hug Raithion. Jumping on him with her usual energy, she kissed his left cheek and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Raithion held her tight, hugging her back.
“What took you so long? Lord Haedor would not tell me where you were,” Soriel complained. “Everyone in this place wants me to start calling you Your Highness. Even Pa keeps repeating the same things. It’s been so difficult. Are you really a Commandery Prince?”
“I will always be Raith to you, Little Bird,” Raithion said.
“Oh thank the fates,” Soriel said with relief. She held on for a moment longer, then let go and he set her on her feet. “Where did you go?”
“To fulfill a promise,” Raithion said, adjusting Soriel’s crown on her head. It was askew. “I like your crown, Basilinna Soriel.”
Soriel turned to glance at Dio who had taken her seat. She shrugged and looked at Raithion.
“He’s a good man,” Soriel said, her voice low. “I like him and want him to be my husband. Will you accept him the way you took in Nori’s Hujan?”
“I think he has to take us in,” Raithion said, pressing his index finger into her right cheek. “He’s the Basileus.”
“What a powerless position,” Soriel said, shaking her head. “He’s in trouble in this place. Someone dared to plot against us with a dead girl. It’s disgusting. He helped me escape the worst.”
“Did he?” Raithion’s brow rose in surprise and glanced at Dio, who watched them with avid interest.
“Yes,” Soriel said, taking his right hand. She squeezed it and smiled up at him. “He sent his aunt to neutralize the Dowager Basilinna’s lecture. She saved me from an investigation.”
Soriel tugged at his hand, her expression full of expectation and pleading. She was talking for her new husband and it irked him.
Raithion fought a scowl and tightened his hold on Soriel’s hand. He led her to the couch and made her sit next to him.
“Raith,” Soriel started.
“I’ve heard it,” Raithion said, squeezing her hand. “Now, it’s my turn. There’s more to agree on before I commit.”
Soriel nodded and remained obediently next to him.
Satisfied with Soriel’s response, Raithion met Dio’s gaze and felt a wide chasm of anger and frustration open up inside him.
“I’m angry with you, Basileus Dio. I can’t explain what your machinations with my father cost me,” Raithion said. “You’ve made me break a promise to someone important, and now I have no way to restore the break.”
Soriel squeezed his left arm, but he ignored her.
Raithion met Dio’s gaze. “I always keep my word, and you made me break it.”
“Is this about the Sura?” Dio asked, his tone solemn to match.
Raithion clenched his jaw, his hands in fists on his knees.
“They did not deserve such a betrayal,” Raithion gritted out.
“I agree,” Dio said. “I feel the same guilt you do, Raithion. But I have no power to protect them.”
“You’re the Basileus.”
“One with fractured wings,” Dio said. “I wish I could spread them and envelope everyone in my kingdom with protection, but I can’t. I have constraints placed upon me by court ministers with more power than I. I would save the Sura if I could. It pains me to have no power to change this truth.”
“If you cannot protect others, how do you plan to protect Soriel?” Raithion asked.
Dio fell silent and it was his turn to clench his fists on his lap.
“No harm will come to her on my watch,” Dio said.
“You can’t make that promise,” Raithion shook his head. “A dead body in her chambers is already enough of a threat. It could have been her.”
Soriel gasped beside him, and Raithion sighed as he realized she had not thought of it.
Dio’s gaze remained on Soriel for another minute, then he stared at the floor, his jaw clenched.
Soriel squeezed Raithion’s left arm, she moved, getting up and walking over to Dio’s side. Raithion frowned when she turned and faced him, turning them into a unit. His little sister had grown up and dared to love a powerless Basileus.
Raithion sighed.
“Raithion,” Dio said. “I will do my best to protect Soriel. I will do everything to ensure nothing happens to her in my palace, including moving into Rose Hall. I’m begging for your support.”
Raithion frowned at the plea.
“No need to beg, little bird is by your side,” Raithion said, meeting Soriel’s hopeful gaze. “I have no choice but to give you support to make sure she survives. But, before I agree to help, I need a promise.”
“Raith,” Soriel started to protest.
“No,” Dio said, taking Soriel’s hand. “I will give the promise.”
“You don’t know what kind of promise,” Soriel said.
“It will be reasonable,” Dio said, smiling at Raithion. “Go ahead.”
“The Sura Clan,” Raithion said. “I want to protect them. I also want the chance to clear their reputation when the time comes.”
“Why?” Dio asked.
“That is my business,” Raitihon said. “But if you must know, count it as helping me fulfill the promise you made me break.”
Dio held Raithion’s gaze for a moment longer, then nodded.
“You’ll have full rights over the forged silver coin case when it is time. The Sura Clan is your burden.”
“Good,” Raithion said, standing up, eager to leave. “I’ll take control of their manor in the capital and hold it under the Commandery Prince’s authority.”
Dio nodded without protest.
“What about the belladonna poisoned palace maid? ” Dio asked.
“You received the reports from the morgue,” Raithion said, standing in the middle of the room. His gaze was on Soriel. “How many enemies can you have in this palace, Basileus Dio? The one you had to defend my sister from is the culprit.”
Dio scoffed.
“Of course, you would know the truth with one glance. I have to say the Maenaer family is not easy to manage. What do you plan to do? My aunt placed the work of bringing this case to court on your shoulders.”
“Well, since we all know the culprit, we’ll have to play the entertaining drama she has planned. Don’t worry. I will make sure no one ever thinks of framing my sister with poison again.”
“Somehow, hearing you say that relieves me,” Dio said with a grin.
“I have to go,” Raithion said, turning to leave.
“Raith,” Soriel said, drawing his attention.
Raithion paused, turning to look at her. She still stood next to Dio.
They made an interesting picture.
Soriel with her sweet beauty, jet black hair long to her waist, and a royal gold dress that shimmered in the afternoon light. Dio dressed in a long white royal coat with gold embroidery sat in an armchair facing Raithion. They looked perfect together, but their union was weak. Dio needed more strength to protect his new wife.
“Visit us often,” Soriel said. “I missed you these last few days.”
“I’ll try,” Raithion said, winked at her then left.
He was in a rush to seal the home Marius Doriel used to call home. He wanted Azula to find it intact when he returned. If he ever returned.
***
Sui Writes 