Vrag accompanied by Juwan entered the Crown Prince chamber. The military agents have been searching the room for evidence or clues on Crown Prince poisoning case.
"Anything that you found here?" Vrag asked while screening the whole room.
"Apologize General, so far there are no evidence."
"No source of poison found yet."
The Crown Prince chamber is spacious, it was decorated in gold and white colours.
"Last night there are no women entered this chamber as well?"
"No, General."
"That is unusual."
"It seems the Crown Prince has mentioned that no women to be sent to his chamber last night."
"Hmm? Is he expecting someone?"
"According to the door guards nobody entered the chamber."
"Nobody?" Vrag now felt something is off.
"If nobody entered it means..."
"Interrogate the guards, if there are nobody entered this chamber beside the Crown Prince they will be the main suspects."
"Yes, General!" two of the military agents give him a salute and proceed to exit the chamber.
"Your Highness, maybe you would like to check the Crown Prince personal belonging?" Juwan make a suggestion. "You know him personally more than any of us here."
Juwan is a sharp guy. Older than Vrag by a few years, he is one of the promising new generation of Slothia military soldiers. He came from Juodas family, born from one of the mistresses, he choose to be out of politics. He is a pure soldier at heart, his excellence in military earned him a General title in a young age forcing him to be involve in politics. He choose to be Vrag's personal aide instead, Vrag like his honesty and he always have brilliant ideas.
Vrag trusted him the most therefore when he was away to Corinth, Juwan is trusted for guarding Zils. After the incident with Grut he can't take any risk. Juwan did it discreetly and Zils didn't even know she was observed.
Vrag screened the room. Khiv's chamber has the best sunrise view in the castle. Vrag is wondering why he like to rise so early but it showed that he has his own consciousness as a Crown Prince despite his regular night activities. Vrag looked at things that scattered on the vanity. One of the agents has emptied the vanity and displayed Khiv's belongings on top of it.
The vanity has white and gold decoration. Khiv wanted to give Vrag the same style vanity for his birthday as a present, but he requested it to be built using mahogany. Vrag didn't like fancy colours which made all the furnitures in his chambers are only made of solid wood. Vrag has been using the same vanity until now.
Vrag is trying to remember all his minimal conversation with Khiv, looking for any clues. The last time he saw him is during Royal dinner after Zils was captured.
***
"Toast to our great General Vrag!"
"Congratulations on our Victory!"
Everybody raised their glasses and praises can be heard. Not all genuine though, Vrag thought to himself. The King and Queen can't attend the dinner that night because the King has been unwell and only the Princes dining together.
"I heard that she is a beauty." Khiv started the conversation earning rolled eyed from some of the Princes.
"Khiv, I know you like women but she is not for you this time." Vrag make a joke.
"Hey I have more than enough. I won't take your woman."
Silence in dining room.
"Crown Prince, you do realize she is Arethea navy general?" Thyr start to join in. He is usually cool but any talk about Arethea will trigger him all the time.
"The important thing is that she is a beauty." Khiv grinning mischievously. The Crown Prince is really a womanizer, everybody in the room thought.
"Well, Khiv is not wrong. She is an exceptional beauty." Vrag continue while cutting his piece of meat.
Now all eyes on him.
"Is there anything unpleasant for you all?" Vrag lift up his face, facing all the judgemental look hurled at him.
"I definitely need to see her." Khiv casually talk.
"Unfortunately I have to say no to that." Vrag answered.
"What?? Are you keeping her as your woman?" Thyr gave a mocking laugh.
"That is none of your business, Brother." Vrag look at Thyr. His way of saying 'brother' gave out the hatred away.
"You are adding Arethean wench in your harem now?"
"This will be the last time I heard that from your mouth, dear Brother." Vrag sent out the warning, he take his wine glass and emptied it repressing his anger to Thyr. Thyr always get on his nerves. The Azure beauty is not just a wench, they will see later.
"Fill in my glass." Vrag ordered the servant behind him. He will need the wine to get him calm through the dinner with Thyr.
"Don't drink too much, Vrag." Khiv can be heard saying. "I need you to be sober to tell me stories." Khiv chuckled and the dinner ended with the desserts to sweet for everyone in the room. The chef was called and almost punished but Khiv dismissed him without any penalty.
Stories? Vrag thought to himself. What kind of stories did Khiv want to hear from him?
"General." Juwan cut him off his mind. "You need to go back to your chamber now."
"Why is that?"
"A messenger has come to report that the Second Prince Thyr is trying to enter your private chamber."
"That damned imbecile."
Vrag curses under his breath and gave instructions to the military agents to search every corner of the room for poison traces.
"Make sure the chemists gave me full report on what poison is used."
Vrag exited the Crown Prince chamber and head to his own.