«Where are the advisors appointed for the selection?» his majesty inquires, turning to his assistants.

They immediately run out to look for them, but it doesn't take much time to realise they're nowhere to be found. Some are missing, others had compelling commitments out of the capital, urgent and unexpected.

The eldest died, during the night, of old age.

What a coincidence.

«So many lives just for her own gains,» the Empress comments, drying non-existing tears with a silken handkerchief.

Did she kill the officer, or is it just a coincidence? It's hard to believe, but he was so old that the Empress might have been just lucky.

And... who cares about the truth? There won't be any need for investigations here. I already know enough.

«In any case, that's not treason, mother,» the Emperor points out. «Even if the Archduchess lobbied for her cousin, it doesn't mean she wanted to overthrow our family or anything. On the contrary: that link would bring us even closer.»

It's not that simple. But basically, he's right. It's not treason.

Even threatening the officer isn't as grave as to have me executed.

I'd like to see the fake missives, just to be sure she's doing what I'm expecting.

«I would like to know if the Dowager Empress, her majesty, felt the urge to meddle in the selection with her secret moves,» I say. «There was enough space for her to join us. No need for ploys and tricks...»

The hall gasps, not expecting such a direct confrontation. But, what can I do?

Either she succeeds, or I won't need to fear her anymore.

As the Empress introduced further proof and witnesses, I'm surprised to see that some aren't her accomplices.

She's interlacing truth and lies, making out such a huge plot.

«The Archduchess's maids are trained assassins. And the handmaid is proficient with poisons...» she continues.

Oh, well, this piece of information was hard to retrieve, wasn't it?

«Of course, my handmaid's duty is to protect me. Even from poisoning.»

When she's done bringing to light every single meeting Alexander had with his faction, it's finally my turn.

«First of all, I'd like to explain why the maids are always following me. I'm sure your majesty will find the story interesting.»

«Yes?» he murmurs, now a bit nervous. I seem cornered, don't I?

One issue at a time.

«When my daughter was born, none other than the midwife bringing her to this world poisoned her. The Princess couldn't eat anything during her first days of life because of that poison. After a brief investigation, my handmaid found a cure and helped my daughter recover. I also was left to die, but I don't care as much about my own life. It's a Princess of the Empire that we're talking about. Her murder is worse than mine.»

«The culprits have been punished, as far as I know.»

Yes, almost all. Even the girl reminding Duchess Prim of the midwife has disappeared. And it was not because of me nor Alexander.

The Empress cut every tie to the matter, shielding herself. Her involvement was hard to prove.

«My handmaid also studied the poison for a few days to be sure it wouldn't have other effects in the future. It turns out it's a special substance obtained from the plants that grow only in the desert. In faraway lands.»

And here, the fun begins. The harpy didn't find any utility in changing her schemes. What worked once is doomed to work twice, isn't it?

«With the same plant, one can extract hallucinogen powers. I'm relieved we found out immediately because long term abuse of those can bring to madness. Seeing things that aren't there and misinterpreting situations... All of this can be a consequence...»

Now, the doubt is there. Isn't it? The description of the symptoms of the late Emperor was delivered to me by one of the Empress Grandmother's servants.

I asked Kate if there could be any link between the two poisons. The one used on Lavinia isn't nearly as dangerous, thankfully.

It's a regular sleeping draught.

But only the culprit can know about such a detail...

I promised Alexander I wouldn't produce fake proofs, but I need to be convincing. The sentence will be pronounced after the real proof is out, by the way; this is just to manage the public opinion.

«Also, while I was reading some reports concerning a problem I was asked to solve, your majesty, I found some interesting documents...»

I turn to the side and nod. One of the knights walks to me with an envelope. Inside, I've packed all the documents that I could need. Original or forged.

«I will self-report my misdeed as soon as this matter is over. I've taken out official documents from the archive. I was expecting this to happen sooner or later. The pattern is always the same, isn't it?»

I choose one of the documents.

«This is of the day when the Lord and Lady of Kyre were sentenced. The late Emperor didn't respect the three days of delay of the execution with respect to the sentence. Why?»

I lean the document on the table, and his majesty analyses it with a bored expression. Yet, I can tell he's interested.

Alexander's parents' execution is a stain on his claim. He will be happy to get rid of it.

«Because his majesty was pressed. As you can see, someone repeated the same sentence fourteen times in a conversation. That person isn't among the living anymore, but other documents can link him to the Dowager Empress.»

I leave all the proof on the table.

«And this is not all.»

«What are you implying, that I repeated the same things until my late husband decided to listen to me?» the Empress scoffs.

«No, I am not. The words were chosen carefully. The order, the vocabulary... It's a sort of hypnosis. Your majesty can find an expert to confirm my words. I read about it long ago. Alone, those words can't convince a sovereign to do anything. But combined with alcohol... Or even better, hallucinogens... Even the strongest mind would be broken.»

«Your words are offensive, Archduchess! Where is the proof!»

«Here is proof,» I repeat.

This time, I don't open the envelope. This is for later. I nod, and one of my maids walks up to me. She delivers a small booklet, and then she runs away.

«This book was my father's,» the Emperor notices.

«Yes, I will self-report about this too. As soon as this is over.»

I open the book and show the leaves used to keep track of the page.

I take one, and it pulverises in between my fingers.

«What a coincidence,» I say. «These leaves come from a desert plant. They're dehydrated, and they can't stay whole for long.»

The royal doctor walks into the room, called by someone, and he analyses the rest of the leaves and the powder.

«Indeed,» he nods. «It's a hallucinogen.»

I wash my hands and listen to the rest with curiosity.

«If inhaled, it can cause one to see things that do not exist. Even creatures that are fruits of our fantasy. If taken for longer periods, the effects become permanent.»

«So, whoever gave this to the Emperor wanted him to become crazy,» someone comments.

«But... It can't be the Empress. There isn't any proof against her.»

Once again, the Empress Grandmother left me this as her legacy.

«The official acts say that the Dowager Empress talked to her husband about the threat the Lord of Kyre was for the throne,» I point out. «And then, a few days later, the tragedy we all know took place.»

«It doesn't prove anything.»

«No, it doesn't,» I sigh. «But the faked proof does.»

I deliver the rest of the documents to his majesty. I have half of it in a safe place. So that I'm not left without a way out if this is destroyed.

«These are missives from the late Archduke of Kyre and the diplomats of Zegrad. I hope it's enlightening, your majesty.»

«What do you mean, Archduchess?» he asks, confused.

«Can I take a look at one of the missives that are supposedly made by me?»

«Sure.»

He gives me a random one. Indeed, it has been written by the same person. The Empress Grandmother was decades forward with respect to all of these flies.

«The late Archduke and I have the same writing,» I point out. «We use the same combinations of words.»

Then, I check the reply.

«And our repliers were both written by a left-handed person. Not to mention the way they drag the longer letters... Oh, my... History does repeat itself.»

I lean the papers on the table and walk back to Alexander.

He's silent. Probably, suffering. But I want to give him justice.

His face is white. His fists are clenched.

His right hand relaxes only when I hold it.

I smile when he looks at me, trying to be as reassuring as possible in such a situation.

«You're convincing, Archduchess,» the Emperor says. «There's just a single problem.»

«Of course,» the Empress murmurs. «None of these proves I am the culprit.»

Oh, if it was this easy, it wouldn't be fun.