The Mystery of the Night
Something — or someone — has vanished in Realm of the Crown, and no one can say when the thread was cut. Someone knows more than they say; the silences at court have suddenly grown very loud. Suspicion has fallen on Luca the Squire, Filip the Steward, Princess Smaranda, Petru the Herald and Ilinca the Baker — and until the proof is plain, none of these names leaves the room. The testimonies cling to certain hours: "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
He polishes the knight's armour and dreams of a sword of his own. For a coat of arms he would do almost anything.
1.72 m
right-handed
green eyes
brown hair
He counts the crown's silver every evening. On some evenings the count comes out different - and he says nothing.
1.79 m
right-handed
grey eyes
chestnut hair
She has refused seven suitors and kept the gifts of all. She calls it practicality, not greed.
1.66 m
right-handed
green eyes
chestnut hair
He proclaims the crown's will to every corner of the kingdom. Sometimes he proclaims it before the crown itself knows.
1.82 m
right-handed
blue eyes
blond 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
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 throne room
Gold, purple, and the most closely watched place in the kingdom. In theory.
the cathedral crypt
The old kings sleep beneath crested slabs. Now and then, someone disturbs their rest.
the castle cellar
Barrels as big as carts and corners the lantern never reaches.
the merchant's house
Carpets brought from overseas and a desk with more secret drawers than drawers.
Objects
the signet ring
The crest has been filed away almost completely. Almost.
the ruby dagger
A short blade, its hilt set with a stone red as a frozen drop. It was sharpened recently.
the locked chest
Three padlocks, two rows of straps. Fresh scratches around the hinges, not the locks.
the amber necklace
Beads of golden resin strung on a silk thread. The thread is broken and hastily reknotted.
the ledger of accounts
Neat columns of figures, with one page torn out exactly at mid-month.
Motives
the inheritance
O avere așteptată, pe care numai o moarte o desparte de mână.
greed
Dorința nesățioasă de avere, care nu se oprește la nimic.
jealousy
Otrava care mistuie pe cel ce râvnește ce nu-i al lui.
a debt of honour
O făgăduială care cântărește mai greu decât viața.
blackmail
Un secret ținut ca funia la gât, strâns exact cât trebuie.
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.
- Filip the Steward declares under oath: "I was there at dawn".
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: Ilinca the Baker was at the mill by the river.
- Even the jester says it in earnest: the mill by the river and the inheritance do not go together.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the throne room and the ledger of accounts go together.
- The Chancellery checked twice: Filip the Steward never touched the ruby dagger.
- The healer says it with a raised finger: if the suspect with grey eyes handled the amber necklace, then Princess Smaranda was driven by jealousy.
- In the gate ledger, Filip the Steward stands higher, Luca the Squire lower.
- Whatever the market gossips: Luca the Squire never touched the ruby dagger.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: greed matches that hour: at dawn.
- The night watch saw Luca the Squire first, and only then Ilinca the Baker.
- The traces left at the scene show it plainly: the culprit handled the signet ring.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the ledger of accounts and a debt of honour go together.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the ledger of accounts matches that hour: at vespers.
- The gate guard swears: the cathedral crypt matches that hour: at noon.
- The gate guard swears: the castle cellar and the locked chest go together.
- The Chancellery checked twice: the ruby dagger does not match that hour: at dusk.
- The hounds caught no scent at all: the locked chest and greed do not go together.