The Secret of the Chancellery
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 Teofil the Chronicler, Zaharia the Spice Merchant, Father Nicodim, Duchess Amara de Corvin and Lady Ruxandra; one of these names covers a lie. The places named in the testimonies — the old dungeon, the castle cellar, the customs cellar, the mill by the river and the abbey library — each await their turn under scrutiny. The threads were tangled on purpose: investigate, weigh every word, and pronounce your verdict only when the grid leaves no room for doubt.
Suspects
He writes the kingdom's history as he is ordered. The unwelcome drafts, however, he keeps every one.
1.69 m
left-handed
brown eyes
greying hair
His ships bring pepper, saffron, and news no one asked for. All of it at the same price: steep.
1.74 m
right-handed
dark eyes
black hair
He hears the confessions of the whole court. Forgetting, he says, is a gift from the Lord - one he sells dearly.
1.72 m
right-handed
blue eyes
greying hair
Widowed three times, heir on each occasion. Her smile has buried more nobles than the plague.
1.68 m
right-handed
dark eyes
black hair
The queen's shadow at every hour. She hears everything, sees everything, and embroiders all she learns into patterns known only to her.
1.65 m
right-handed
blue eyes
blond hair
Locations
the old dungeon
Cells abandoned since the new dungeon was built. "Abandoned" is one way of putting it.
the castle cellar
Barrels as big as carts and corners the lantern never reaches.
the customs cellar
Sealed crates, thick ledgers, and air that smells of undeclared goods.
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 abbey library
Thousands of leather-bound tomes. Some of the chains on the shelves were cut recently.
Objects
the herald's horn
It sounds the muster, the alarm, or the retreat. Whoever holds it can start a whole panic with a single breath.
the abbess's bell
It calls the nuns to prayer. On the night in question, they all say, it rang once too many.
the ermine cloak
White fur with black tails - only the royal family may wear it. It has a tear at the hem.
the ceremonial crown
The "wearable" copy of the true crown. At least, that was the idea.
the ciphered letter
Orderly rows of meaningless signs. The ink is costly, the paper costlier, the sender - unknown.
Motives
a debt of honour
O făgăduială care cântărește mai greu decât viața.
blackmail
Un secret ținut ca funia la gât, strâns exact cât trebuie.
fear of exposure
Groaza de a fi dat în vileag, care împinge la orice.
jealousy
Otrava care mistuie pe cel ce râvnește ce nu-i al lui.
revenge
O datorie de sânge pe care numai fapta o mai șterge.
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.
- Father Nicodim raises their right hand and says: "I handled the abbess's bell".
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the tallest suspect was driven by a debt of honour.
- The chronicler notes drily: Father Nicodim was at the customs cellar, whatever the court may say.
- Two witnesses, upon their crest: the suspect with brown eyes was not driven by fear of exposure.
- Whatever the market gossips: the mill by the river and the abbess's bell do not go together.
- The traces left at the scene show it plainly: the culprit handled the herald's horn.
- The chronicler notes drily: the abbey library and the ermine cloak go together, whatever the court may say.
- The gate guard swears: Lady Ruxandra handled the ermine cloak.
- The chronicler notes drily: the castle cellar and fear of exposure go together, whatever the court may say.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the abbess's bell and blackmail go together.
- The gate guard swears: Father Nicodim was driven by revenge.
- At the Chancellery, Zaharia the Spice Merchant maintains: "I handled the ciphered letter".