King David's Point of view
Inspector Asher's arrival at Moonshine Palace was met with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. The grand hall is still abuzz with his strange appearance; he is known for his intelligence and different ways of solving his case.
All the guards fixed their house eyes in silence as the inspector's piercing gaze swept across the room.
"Your Majesty," Asher bowed, his deep voice commanding attention.
"I apologize for the untimely and rude visit without an invitation, but the matter I've come to discuss cannot wait."
My expression turned grave, my eyes narrowing as I walked up to him.
"Speak, Inspector. What brings you to Moonshine today?" I patiently asked.
Asher's gaze flicked around the room before settling on the queen.
"The death of King George. I've uncovered disturbing inconsistencies in the official report, but for the past two years now I've never seen anyone so bold as to mention an investigation into the mysterious death of the royal family in Craftanwood Port. Queen Sheila woke up the dead with her speech on that day, and I won't rest until I find every bit of what happened on that day."
The room erupted into whispers and gasps. I exchanged worried glances with Queen Sheila, who tightened her scepter, her knuckles whitening.
"Proceed, Inspector," she commanded, her voice firm.
"But first, let us speak in private," Inspector Asher asked boldly.
"No problem, do you want only me or with Queen Sheila or both of us?" I asked.
Asher nodded, and I signaled Caleb to dismiss the guards. He followed me and the queen to a nearby chamber.
The heavy wooden door creaked shut behind them, enveloping them in silence.
"Your Majesty," Asher began, his voice low and measured, "my investigation has revealed discrepancies in the testimony of the guards on duty the night King George was killed."
Queen Sheila's eyes narrowed. "What discrepancies?"
"The guards claimed to have seen no one enter or exit the king's chambers," Asher explained. Yet, I've found evidence of a hidden passage, previously unknown to the palace staff."
Sheila's face paled. "A hidden passage? That's impossible."
Asher's expression remained grim. "I've confirmed its existence, Your Majesty. Further investigation is needed to determine who might have used it, but I can't get close to the palace to find out."
Queen Sheila's thoughts raced. Who could have breached the palace's security? And why?
"Continue your investigation, Inspector," she commanded. "But discreetly. We cannot afford to alarm the nobles or the public."
Asher nodded. "Understand, Your Majesty. But I must warn you: if my findings are correct, we may be dealing with a traitor within the palace, and the new Alpha King of Craftanwood will be involved in the death of King George and his family."
The queen's grip on her scepter tightened, her resolve steeling.
"We need to find out the truth, and to do that we must have someone inside the royal house, Inspector. No matter the cost," Sheila and I said simultaneously.
"Your majesty, you just nailed it with those words; that's the reason I'm here, your majesty; I need you to give me one of your trusted female servants that can compete in the ongoing selection of a new skilled maid in Craftanwood." Asher explained part of his plans in a very low tone.
My mind raced out of the room, and I thought of what my father could say at that moment:
"If you want to take revenge on your enemy, then you need to dine and wine with them first." Before I could think completely, Sheila's tiny voice echoed in my ears.
"I volunteer to go." She suddenly agreed unexpectedly.
"What is wrong with you, Sheila?" I dragged her towards my spot and whispered into her ears.
"I'll explain to you tonight; I also have a secret to reveal only to you, but let's conclude this meeting with inspector Asher first.
Then I released her arm.
"Inspector Asher, I volunteer to go undercover in Craftanwood; I am the one that pulls the trigger, so I must be at the receiving end." She repeated herself and stood on her strong will.
"Uhmm! Inspector Asher signed
"Queen Sheila, I would like to inform you that this road you are about to drive on is a very dangerous and rough road. There are more wicked people hiding in the shadow controlling Alpha Malakai and the people of Craftanwood as a whole, so if you agree to this, it means you are risking a lot for a city that's not yours. Soni will ask again, Are you really on for this?" Arsher asked her again, and this time the seriousness ran through every word he uttered.
"Of course, I'm aware I would be putting my dear life at stake, but it's a risk worth taking. I'm ready to risk it all to put evildoers behind bars." Her confidence stood with her words.
"Queen Sheila, Your Majesty, here is the plan: there is an ongoing registration for a maid servant in Craftanwood, royal courtesy of Alpha Malakai and her beta's wife to be 'Camara'. Queen Sheila would disguise herself as an aspirant and compete in the competition; I would be there to assist her to pass every stage of the tests." Inspector Asher narrated the whole plan to us.
We all agreed to the plan, and I'd also made a promise to be there with Sheila at her every step.
However, I still find it so uneasy to comprehend what's given her the boldness to put her neck on the line for those she doesn't know or are related to.
This is the kind of mate I've prayed for—a fair-skinned damsel. Although I haven't been able to see her physically, I'm very certain she's endowed with ultimate beauty.
She portrays the attributes of a real queen; she's so intelligent that Sheila can think very fast when it comes to difficult issues.
I will hurt my heart if I refuse to believe the fact that I am falling in love with her gradually, even though my heart still belongs to Layla.
As Asher departed, Layla's mind whirled with questions. Who had killed her father? And
why? The answers, she knew, lay
hidden in the shadows of Craftanwood Palace.