The Sign of the Treasury
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 Toma the Cellarer, Safta the Herbwife, Lady Ruxandra and Chancellor Veniamin; one of these names covers a lie. Rumor walks the deed through every corner: the queen's garden, the hunting lodge, the cathedral crypt and the customs cellar. 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 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
She gathers herbs at hours when honest folk sleep. The herbs, she says, speak then.
1.58 m
right-handed
green eyes
greying 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
Every charter of the kingdom passes through his hands. A comma he once moved started a war.
1.64 m
left-handed
grey eyes
bald
Locations
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 cathedral crypt
The old kings sleep beneath crested slabs. Now and then, someone disturbs their rest.
the customs cellar
Sealed crates, thick ledgers, and air that smells of undeclared goods.
Objects
the customs scales
Copper pans, sealed weights. One of the weights rings hollow.
the royal seal
Whoever holds it can seal any decree. Which is why it should not be wandering the kingdom.
the purse of gold coins
New coins, unworn, from a minting not yet in circulation. Interesting.
the ruby dagger
A short blade, its hilt set with a stone red as a frozen drop. It was sharpened recently.
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.
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 gate guard swears: the customs cellar and the purse of gold coins go together.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the queen's garden matches that hour: at dawn.
- The chronicler notes drily: the hunting lodge and the ruby dagger go together, whatever the court may say.
- The gate guard swears: Safta the Herbwife was there at dusk.
- The bell-ringer remembers well: the tallest suspect came earlier than Chancellor Veniamin.
- The chronicler notes drily: the customs scales matches that hour: after matins, whatever the court may say.
- Every scout reports the same about the culprit: the culprit was at the cathedral crypt.
- Before the investigator, Safta the Herbwife firmly repeats: "I was at the customs cellar".
- Toma the Cellarer declares under oath: "I handled the ruby dagger".