The Mystery of the Crown
Not one deed but a whole scheme has come to light — laid patiently, in secret. The crown demands not only the name but the proof: suspicion without grounds is itself a tool of the scheme. On the Chancellery's list stand Gavril the Farrier, Toma the Cellarer, Pantelimon the Gardener, Ilinca the Baker and Safta the Herbwife; one of these names covers a lie. The hours in question: "at dawn", "after matins", "at noon", "at dusk" and "at vespers". A sharp eye is not enough here — it takes an archivist's patience: fit everything together, then pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
Arms like tree trunks and a forge where all noise dies. Some things are better beaten while hot.
1.88 m
right-handed
dark eyes
black hair
He holds the keys to every cellar in the castle. He claims the wine vanishes on its own, by "angelic evaporation."
1.73 m
left-handed
brown eyes
red hair
He tends the queen's roses and no one's beds of belladonna. The second garden is the more sought-after.
1.73 m
right-handed
green eyes
greying hair
She weighs flour to the gram and people at a glance. No one stays in her debt twice.
1.62 m
right-handed
brown eyes
chestnut hair
She gathers herbs at hours when honest folk sleep. The herbs, she says, speak then.
1.58 m
right-handed
green eyes
greying hair
Locations
the mill by the river
The wheel turns day and night. Its noise drowns out any conversation - which is why some are held here.
the north wall
The stretch of wall the patrol skirts when the wind blows. Everyone knows that.
the abbey library
Thousands of leather-bound tomes. Some of the chains on the shelves were cut recently.
the throne room
Gold, purple, and the most closely watched place in the kingdom. In theory.
the guild forge
Anvils, tongs, and a fire that never goes out. Many small metal things vanish here.
Objects
the ceremonial crown
The "wearable" copy of the true crown. At least, that was the idea.
the ledger of accounts
Neat columns of figures, with one page torn out exactly at mid-month.
the vial of belladonna
A small flask, a wax stopper, a label written with care. Three-quarters empty.
the hunting crossbow
Light, accurate, with a walnut stock. Exactly one bolt is missing from the quiver.
the ermine cloak
White fur with black tails - only the royal family may wear it. It has a tear at the hem.
Motives
greed
Dorința nesățioasă de avere, care nu se oprește la nimic.
blackmail
Un secret ținut ca funia la gât, strâns exact cât trebuie.
ambition
Setea de a urca, chiar peste trupuri, spre o treaptă mai înaltă.
the inheritance
O avere așteptată, pe care numai o moarte o desparte de mână.
jealousy
Otrava care mistuie pe cel ce râvnește ce nu-i al lui.
Moments
at dawn
When the citadel is barely waking and the guards still doze.
after matins
The hour after the morning service, when the abbey empties.
at noon
Midday, with bustle in the markets and silence in the alcoves.
at dusk
When the shadows lengthen and the lanterns are not yet lit.
at vespers
At the evening service, when the bells drown out any footstep.
Open the Grid (below) to solve the case, with the testimonies at hand.
Touch a cell: blank → ✗ (excluded) → ✓ (certain) → blank. Each pair of categories meets exactly once.
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Verdict
The culprit always lies; everyone else tells the truth.
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: Gavril the Farrier was not driven by ambition.
- The chronicler notes drily: the ceremonial crown and the inheritance go together, whatever the court may say.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the vial of belladonna matches that hour: at noon.
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: the mill by the river and the hunting crossbow do not go together.
- The chancellor deduced it coldly: if the shortest suspect handled the ceremonial crown, then the suspect with chestnut hair was driven by jealousy.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the guild forge and the ceremonial crown go together.
- An unsigned note, slipped under the door: "the culprit was in the place where the fire never goes out".
- The night watch saw Pantelimon the Gardener first, and only then Gavril the Farrier.
- Pantelimon the Gardener declares under oath: "I was driven by blackmail".
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the throne room and jealousy go together.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the ermine cloak and blackmail go together.
- The Chancellery checked twice: the suspect with dark eyes never set foot in the abbey library.
- The gate guard swears: the suspect with chestnut hair handled the vial of belladonna.
- The chronicler notes drily: Safta the Herbwife was there at vespers, whatever the court may say.
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: the suspect with red hair never set foot in the place where the wheel turns day and night.
- The chronicler notes drily: the guild forge matches that hour: at vespers, whatever the court may say.
- In the gate ledger, the suspect with red hair stands higher, Pantelimon the Gardener lower.
- The hounds caught no scent at all: the hunting crossbow and ambition do not go together.