The Secret of the Seal
An overturned goblet, a face gone pale, whispers dying down — thus began, in Realm of the Crown, the case before you. The dose was measured with care — enough not to look like chance, too little to go unpunished. Suspicion has fallen on Zaharia the Spice Merchant, Anica the Miller, Ilinca the Baker, Sword-Bearer Dragos and Filip the Steward — and until the proof is plain, none of these names leaves the room. On the inquiry's table, like pieces in a game, lie the small wine cask, the royal seal, the bishop's chalice, the amber necklace and the stained parchment. A sharp eye is not enough here — it takes an archivist's patience: fit everything together, then pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
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
Her mill grinds grain by day and rumours by night. The flour comes out white; the rumours, always black.
1.63 m
right-handed
brown 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
He bears the king's ceremonial sword. At the tourney he has never lost; at dice, always.
1.86 m
right-handed
brown eyes
chestnut 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
Locations
the scriptorium
Slanted desks, ink, and working silence. Here a quill creaks louder than a conscience.
the queen's garden
Roses trimmed to a line and paths you may walk only by invitation. At night, the hedge has ears.
the hunting lodge
The royal cabin in the heart of the forest. Far from the eyes of the court - which is exactly what suits some.
the abbey library
Thousands of leather-bound tomes. Some of the chains on the shelves were cut recently.
the north wall
The stretch of wall the patrol skirts when the wind blows. Everyone knows that.
Objects
the small wine cask
Arin wine, the good year. The bung was pulled and put back by an unskilled hand.
the royal seal
Whoever holds it can seal any decree. Which is why it should not be wandering the kingdom.
the bishop's chalice
Gold set with blue stones. Blessed three times, stolen twice.
the amber necklace
Beads of golden resin strung on a silk thread. The thread is broken and hastily reknotted.
the stained parchment
A half-burned document with a stain that might be wine. Or not.
Motives
the inheritance
O avere așteptată, pe care numai o moarte o desparte de mână.
ambition
Setea de a urca, chiar peste trupuri, spre o treaptă mai înaltă.
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.
revenge
O datorie de sânge pe care numai fapta o mai șterge.
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.
- The scouts confirm it: at suspects, the paths of the hunting lodge and the amber necklace diverge.
- Whatever the market gossips: the bishop's chalice and blackmail do not go together.
- About the culprit, the Chancellery knows one thing for certain: the culprit was driven by fear of exposure.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: Ilinca the Baker was there at vespers.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the stained parchment and the inheritance go together.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the queen's garden matches that hour: after matins.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the scriptorium and the royal seal go together.
- The gate guard swears: the shortest suspect handled the royal seal.
- Filip the Steward raises their right hand and says: "I was at the queen's garden".
- The chancellor deduced it coldly: if the suspect with grey eyes was at the queen's garden, then the suspect with grey eyes was driven by revenge.
- The customs register is clear: the stained parchment does not match that hour: at dusk.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the tallest suspect was at the north wall.
- The healer says it with a raised finger: if the suspect with dark eyes was driven by fear of exposure, then Sword-Bearer Dragos handled the bishop's chalice.
- The chronicler notes drily: Zaharia the Spice Merchant handled the amber necklace, whatever the court may say.
- The gate guard swears: the abbey library and fear of exposure go together.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: Zaharia the Spice Merchant was there at dawn.