Daminas watched the King's figure wondering who could have caused the King harm. Xanxier had not woken up since two days ago. The physician said it seemed to be some sort of poison and the king would not be waking up anytime soon.
Xanxier room was checked throughout but it seemed the poison was consumed by him. The physician asked for the plates but the rest of the meal was already consumed by Quotos and some servants and they were all unconsious when they were discovered but woke up few hours later since they only consumed bits by sharing it among themselves and the plates were already washed before Daminas discovered the King's state.
It was the King that banned them from testing his meal for poison. He used to say he trust Daminas but now Daminas felt like he had failed him.
Daminas had to question Quotos as soon as she woke up but she swore she doesn't know anything. Daminas had no choice but to throw her in the dungeon.
It was when Xanxier turned ten he started using the veil, only Daminas and the physician knew what he looked like but they never look at him for long. They only glance at his face before looking away.
"His majesty hasn't eaten for two days" The physician stirs the concoction he made with a silver spoon.
"Bezel how soon can his Majesty wake up?" Daminas asked wondering who is going to feed him between the two of them.
"Latest in five days time, you have to feed his Majesty" Bezel handed over the concoction to him and started packing up before handing Daminas a note.
Daminas took the note and read it, he only had to feed Xanxier twice by leaving some in the bowl and feeding him later in the dead of the night which means Bezel just gave him the responsibity of feeding Xanxier.
"I will come back tomorrow morning to check on his condition but I believe my medicine will help his conscious find his way back to the present." Bezel bowed and left with his apprentice he left in the meeting hall. His Majesty only allows Bezel to see him.
Daminas turned to Xanxier. He looked like he was only sleeping anybody could have mistaken that except he had not open his eyes for the past two days. He placed the bowl on the bedside table. He lifted Xanxier's head up to untie the rope keeping the veil in place. He tried as much as possible to not look him.
He untied it and quickly place it on the to cover Xanxier's eyes and forehead. He searched his wardrobe for two veil he used to cover both his cheeks, only his mouth remained uncovered.
Daminas sighed in relieve and raised Xanxier's head with two pillows. He pried his mouth open and started feeding him slowly. It kept on spilling from the side of his mouth to the veil. Daminas removed the veil on his cheek and cleaned his cheek with a handkerchief, trying not look at his face. He must have spent hours just to make sure he swallowed the content because his back was already numb when he was through feeding him half of the concoction.
He placed the bowl on the table and went to fetch a bowl of water from the basin. He took a towel and soaked it to clean Xanxier's face, he had to look away as he wiped his face clean. He took another towel and patted his face dry before fetching another veil to cover his face and tied it at the back of his head. He lifted his head and removed a pillow slowly before drawing the duvet to his chest and then ran out like he was being chased to clear his head.
He walked to the King's study and sat down heavily on the chair to look at the list names he wrote. His first suspect that came to his mind was the King's brother. Xanxier was only older than him with two years but he was away in his mother's house taking care of the house since he doesn't want to help Xanxier rule.
His second suspect was Lord Yua. He was the Minister of welfare, he only suspected him since he had seen Quotos paying him a visit in his house once. He had only been able to see her as she tried to cover her face with a scarf beforing entering through the back gate of his house.
The servants serving in the palace barely leaves and they had to have a permit with a stamp on it before they can be permitted to leave the castle walls and they were always with a guard or two if required since even though Xanxier was a very wise King but there was no King without an enemy.
What motive dose he have? Perhaps he is working with Vane?
Daminas felt like his brain was about to be exploded.
His third suspect was Quotos since she brought the poisoned meal for Xanxier.
His fourth suspect was Sky. She was a close friend to Quotos and they both serves in the palace, perhaps she sprinkled the unknown poison to the meal Quotos brought for Xanxier.
His fifth suspect was Trazin. Trazin was Xanxier's uncle and was the previous King's guide and Xanxier made him the Lord of coins relieving him his duty as the King's guide. Trazin accepted it and Daminas knew Trazin had finally seen an opportunity to embezzle and secretly live a lavish life.
His sixth suspect was Lady Lily. She was the wife of Trazin and even suggested stupidly to Xanxier to choose between her daughters for marriage. Xanxier had to remind her it was against the law for cousins to marry but she had to open her mouth and remind him he was the King, the son of Heaven and he was above the law.
Xanxier had to politely excused himself thinking Lily's ambition doesn't have a boundary. Since then he avoided her like a plague.
Lily never gave up. she even paraded her daughters to his quarters and Xanxier had to put up with them till they left.
Daminas took a deep breath. The King was more beneficial to Lily alive, he narrowed his eyes trying to repress the urge of including Lily's daughters name in the list of suspect.
Was it someone outside the palace?
He needed a motive for each and every name he had written.
"It is I Kale." Kale announced before he walked in. "Lord Daminas."
"Speak." Daminas said as soon as Kale came to view.
"The minister of Justice and the General are here."
"let them in." Daminas rubbed his eyes, he barely sleep this past days. Duren appeared by the doorway with Goutra.
"Lord Daminas." They both said and bowed in greeting.
"Minister of Justice..... and General Goutra what did you find out?" Daminas skipped to the chase eyeing the court uniform Duren wore, it seemed new and the General as usual was in his amour which looked heavy. It made Daminas wondered why he had to kit up everyday, doesnt he feel uncomfortable?
"Quotos I investigated seems to be in some sort of affair with Lord Yua's son scholar Huyua and Lord Yua had a private meeting with her, he told her to leave his son and since then they didn't meet again." Duren explained while Goutra nodded. "Retracing their steps to a month back they didn't do any shady business and according to their steps they have not encounter Lord Vane or anybody having a link to him except Lord Za"
Za.. Daminas wondered why he had forgotten to include the man's name in his list.
"That seems to rule out Quotos, what of Sky?"
"Sky is now the part of the ladies-in-waiting of Lady Calila and Lady Casila." Duren said.
"A personal maid of Trazin children, who made that order!."
"It was the master of the house." Duren replied. "According with what we found out, Sky loves fooling around with a lot of men in the palace and we have rounded them up for questioning at dawn."
"General Goutra, does the previous majesty have an illegitimate children?" Daminas had to ask.
"We have gone through the family tree and investigated but it seems the previous King's affairs didn't result to a child." Duren explained. "Lord Trazin has been doing his duties and doesn't seem to meet any shady person except the brothel he use to visit and there is nothing suspicious about his movement."
"Lady Lily and her daughters?"
"Lady Lily meets with her friends in and outside the palace, she still visits the bet house in the High town and have tea in the lovely garden with her friends as usual and Lady Calila and Lady Casila have taken in their mother's footsteps and refused to study." Duren reported. "I will give you a suitable report soon."
"General Goutra, still keep your men watching over them and Lord Yua. Lord Za has always been close to Lord Vane when he was still in the palace. Lord Za hasn't return from his royal mission to the Nomand's land?" Damina asked.
"Yes and it seems Lord Vane hasn't been in the house of Trenor since a month ago." Goutra declared.
"Hmmmm, find where he is." Daminas told Goutra. "That will be all."
They all stood up, bowed and Daminas took his sit as he watched them leave. He took a pen and dipped it in the ink thinking of whose name to cross out and he quickly included Za.