The Trap of the Lady
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. The testimonies keep returning to the same names: Anica the Miller, Luca the Squire, Grigore the Cupbearer, Ilinca the Baker and Elisei the Stargazer. The places named in the testimonies — the guild forge, the wharf, the scriptorium, the hunting lodge and the mill by the river — each await their turn under scrutiny. A sharp eye is not enough here — it takes an archivist's patience: fit everything together, then pronounce your verdict.
Suspects
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
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 tastes the king's wine before anyone else. A trade with a short future, he says, but a rich past.
1.70 m
right-handed
brown eyes
chestnut 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 reads the future in the stars and the past in men's debts. The second method fails less often.
1.67 m
right-handed
blue eyes
greying hair
Locations
the guild forge
Anvils, tongs, and a fire that never goes out. Many small metal things vanish here.
the wharf
Moored boats, wet ropes, and goods that prefer to arrive in the fog.
the scriptorium
Slanted desks, ink, and working silence. Here a quill creaks louder than a conscience.
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 mill by the river
The wheel turns day and night. Its noise drowns out any conversation - which is why some are held here.
Objects
the bronze key
Heavy, old, its teeth worn smooth. No one knows what door it opens anymore - or so they say.
the ruby dagger
A short blade, its hilt set with a stone red as a frozen drop. It was sharpened recently.
the hunting crossbow
Light, accurate, with a walnut stock. Exactly one bolt is missing from the quiver.
the abbess's bell
It calls the nuns to prayer. On the night in question, they all say, it rang once too many.
the map of the realm
The kingdom's borders, drawn with a fresh correction where there should be none.
Motives
revenge
O datorie de sânge pe care numai fapta o mai șterge.
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.
a debt of honour
O făgăduială care cântărește mai greu decât viața.
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.
- Even the jester says it in earnest: the suspect with green eyes never touched the abbess's bell.
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: a debt of honour matches that hour: at vespers.
- By the order of the hours, first comes the suspect with blue eyes, then Grigore the Cupbearer.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the mill by the river and revenge go together.
- The chronicler notes drily: the wharf matches that hour: at dusk, whatever the court may say.
- The night watch saw Grigore the Cupbearer first, and only then the suspect with blond hair.
- The chronicler notes drily: the hunting lodge and jealousy go together, whatever the court may say.
- The tracks in the dust do not lie: the scriptorium matches that hour: after matins.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the abbess's bell and blackmail go together.
- Even the jester says it in earnest: Anica the Miller was not present at dusk.
- An honest-faced witness saw it plainly: the suspect with blue eyes was there after matins.
- The healer says it with a raised finger: if the suspect with green eyes handled the hunting crossbow, then Luca the Squire never touched the hunting crossbow.
- The gate guard swears: the hunting crossbow matches that hour: at dawn.
- An unsigned note, slipped under the door: "the culprit was at the guild forge".
- In the Chancellery's ledger it stands in black and white: the hunting lodge and the ruby dagger go together.
- A maid whispered it at confession: the scriptorium and the bronze key go together.