Chapter 23: Accusation
The news about the death of one of the residents in the Land of Fantasy reached the ears of the Palace occupants. They were having a Palace council meeting in a closed Hall which was attended by the King, the prince of Quintis, the prime minister, and the ministers.
"Does anyone know how it started?"
"According to the news circulating, it was said that the woman was walking around the Sky Blue restaurant, but suddenly an arrow pierced the woman's heart causing the woman to die."
"Any witnesses who saw?"
"There were about three residents who were on the scene and saw everything. We have invited the three residents to the Palace to testify. Based on the testimony of the three residents that we got from the police, they said that the three residents did not know who the perpetrators were. At that time, suddenly an arrow shot toward the woman and hit her heart. Then the residents who were in the restaurant came out to see what happened.
"Are there any suspicious things or events?"
"There isn't any. The only suspicious thing is how an arrow could have hit the woman's chest without anyone pulling the bow."
"Right. I'm sure the culprit is one of the residents there."
"I also believe in that."
"Right. Me, too. It must have been one of them."
The ministers believe that the culprit is one of the residents who came or was at the Sky Blue restaurant.
"Sorry Father, but is it okay to suspect the residents themselves?"
"Why so, prince?"
"Sorry, dad. But I don't think they did it. Someone else must have done it. There's no way they could kill each other."
Prince Quintis disagreed with the ministers' accusation that one of the residents was the culprit.
"It could happen, prince. I heard that some time ago, several residents were involved in a conflict over the seizure of the market area. Even though it's been resolved, there must be someone among them who has a grudge against what happened."
"But that can't be used as an excuse if they have the heart to kill their own brother. You must remember minister Hydan if the residents of this country are brothers. Although not bound by blood, the people who live in this country are still brothers. Is it natural for brothers and sisters to kill each other?"
"You seem to have forgotten what happened a few years ago, prince. Even the clashes between brothers had already occurred in the Palace. You're the one who—already, stop it!"
The prime minister immediately cut off Minister Hydan's words. He didn't want the dark events of the past few years to be discussed again.
"It's better for us to think of a solution to find out who the culprit is, rather than just accusing."
The prime minister suggested that there would be no more disputes between the crown prince and the ministers.
"I agree. Instead of making accusations but there is no evidence, we better find a solution to catch the culprits."
The king also agreed to the prime minister's proposal.
"I have a suggestion, Father."
"Tell me, my son."
"How about we ask one by one the residents who were at the scene? Who knows, some of them have seen the culprit."
"I agree with the crown prince. We'd better invite all the residents who were at the scene to tell what they saw."
"Okay. Then order the police to do it. I want you to lead this investigation, my son."
Prince Quintis stood up from his seat and faced the King and bowed.
"I will do my best, Father."
After saying that, Prince Quintis sat back down.
Before the King dismissed the meeting. Suddenly the meeting room door opened and revealed the figure of Prince William standing in front of the door.
Prince William walked toward the King and bowed respectfully.
"Sorry to interrupt the event, King."
"No problem, my son. What did you see me for?"
"I'd like to ask if the residents of the Palace are also invited to be examined."
"What do you mean, Prince William? Why should the palace dwellers also be examined?"
"That's because someone left the Palace last night. According to the guard guarding the back gate of the Palace, he saw two people dressed in black robes leaving the Palace. But they don't know who those two are."
Prince Quintis rose from his seat.
"I agree with brother William. Who knows the culprit is indeed from this Palace. So there's nothing wrong with having them checked too."
"I don't agree, King. Accusing the residents of the palace of the culprit and having to be investigated will make our image bad in the eyes of the people. If we really want to be checked, we have to do it secretly. This is done so that we are not exposed to a bad image from the public."
"But it's not fair. What if what William's brother said was true? If it is true that the culprit is from this Palace, what will be done next? Cover up their actions and say if the culprit has been caught. Or find someone else to turn the blame on him? Isn't that unfair?"
"If it's true that the Palace dwellers did it, then the only way for the citizens not to look down on us is to find someone else and pass the blame on them. This is done so that our image is not bad."
"Then I don't agree. I want this examination to be fair without any cover-up."
"Sorry, King. But we all disagree with the crown prince's proposal. If that is done then our image will be bad and the people will not believe in us anymore."
"I'm in charge of this investigation, so I have the power to decide."
"We ask that for all of us. If society has viewed us badly and lost faith in us, it will be very difficult for us to restore their trust again."
"But covering up mistakes is also not justified. Especially if the public finds out, won't that be a problem?"
"So don't let anyone know, prince."
The king just silently listened to the debate that took place between Prince Quintis and the ministers.
"Father."
"King.
"What the ministers said is true, my son. Those outside the Palace should not know the problems that occur in the Palace. If the culprit is in this palace, then our image will be very bad in the eyes of the public if the investigation of the palace occupants is carried out openly."
"Again you agree with the ministers' proposal. You're like a puppet that ministers can easily control. I'm disappointed with you."
Then after that Prince Quintis came out of the Hall. He was disappointed in his father. This wasn't the first time his father had supported the ministers' proposal to cover up what happened at the Palace. There have been many incidents where there were residents of the Palace who caused riots outside the Palace and were then covered up by their fathers and blamed on other innocent people.
This was done to maintain the good image of the Palace so that the residents would not look down on the residents of the Palace. But according to him, crime is still a crime. It should not cover evil up with an excuse to maintain a good image. Crimes should be exposed to the residents to further increase their confidence of the residents in the leaders and residents of the Palace.
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