Kitanna
Chapter 187: CRIME AT DUSK

Chapter 187: CRIME AT DUSK

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: EVENING SKY ~ AILEE]

~ I have now edited the previous Chapter. Enjoy your reading time!. \o/

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Back at Morado, the ministers and court officials were summoned to tackle the issue that was disturbing the commoners and tainting the name of the royal family. Few of the ministers who did not support Nix to reign as king had a pleased look on their faces, which they tried so much to hide, but it was still there like a sticker on a new product. One of these ministers was the prime minister, an elderly man whose beard was already covered with gray, and his back a little slanted because of age, yet his wickedness grew younger every morning.

"What do you suggest we do concerning the case that has been happening repeatedly near the well?" Nix threw the question to the ministers, waiting for their answers, not like he expected anything more from them. He already knew their stand before now.

The ministers murmured among themselves, trying to reach an agreement on what to say so it would be a general response.

Kitanna, who sat next to Nix on the throne, couldn’t get the image she had seen earlier out of her mind. Who would go to such an extent just to prove a point by harming a fellow human being? As she remembered it, she felt sick all over again.

Nix noticed the look of discomfort on Kitanna’s face, used his hand to rub her back, soothing her to relax. If he had known it was such a thing they would encounter outside, he wouldn’t have allowed Kitanna to go out with him, especially since she had just had breakfast, he thought.

"Thank you," Kitanna muttered, giving her husband a small smile.

"Your Majesty," one person finally spoke, getting the attention of everyone. The hall turned deadly quiet, waiting for the speaker to continue.

The speaker, who was none other than the prime minister, bowed deeply. Raising his face, he touched his long beard. He stared at the king and queen, mirth dancing in his eyes.

"The cries of the people are the cry of heaven; we shouldn’t neglect what they ask for," the elderly man said strategically. He didn’t want to go straight to the point; all he wanted was to cause a ripple, a small ripple that could cause a huge effect.

Hieron, who sat near the secretary, let out a dry smile when he noticed what the minister was trying to do. Still, he decided to keep calm and watch how everything would unfold.

Nix reclined on his chair, "What the people need is for us to find the serial killer roaming in the village and punish them for their crimes."

"Simple!" Some righteous ministers exclaimed, only to receive a glare from others.

The prime minister stepped back to his position, giving a look to his underlings who took the hint as one of them stepped forward to speak.

"The people have asked that the blood of Zeno should step down as king; we all know they are cursed and would only bring the downfall of Morado," the younger minister remarked, getting a nod of agreement from other ministers.

"And it has already begun! The last days of Morado." Another minister shouted from where he stood, and this elicited murmurs and arguments among the royal officials.

Kitanna opened her mouth to talk but was stopped when Nix held her gently, shaking his head for her to keep calm.

"Don’t stress yourself, my queen; let me handle the vermins," Nix muttered, his gaze shifting from his wife to the ministers he needed to teach a lesson.

The royal secretary rang the bell twice to call order among the ministers. Soon the murmuring died down, with their attention now on the king.

Nix took his time, relaxed like he was not affected by their words. And truly he was not.

"Well, if nobody else is going to say it, I guess I have to. It worries me that the folly nature of the few court officials will be the downfall of Morado. I thought people get wiser as they age; in some of your ministers’ cases, it’s reversed."

The king let out the bombshell, allowing the ministers to digest their own medicine. Some of them murmured.

"Is he indirectly calling us foolish?"

Kitanna grinned; this man beside her was indeed her soulmate. The skill of subtly calling the men stupid while not saying it directly yet hitting them with his words. She puffed her chest like a proud wife.

"What I’m saying is, why would ministers who should seek the growth of the kingdom suggest that their king should step down in place of a murderer? There’s a serial killer on the loose, harming our people, and all you say is the blood of Zeno. What is this victim mentality that kills the royal court?" Nix’s voice resounded in the hall, causing silence as everyone stood cold in their positions. Ministers who had spoken out of place earlier became ashamed of themselves.

The throne room became quiet, as the opposing ministers swallowed their words, including the prime minister, who was the figurehead for the movement. One of the few reliable ministers who had always supported that anyone capable should rule stepped forward and bowed deeply with respect for the throne and crown.

"Long live the king and his queen; may your reign be blessed." As the minister got a nod of approval to continue from the king, he said, "I apologize on behalf of other ministers who have spoken out of place and unwisely. Your Majesty, what are we going to do before this killer comes right to our doorstep? Is there a suspect?" The man completed, bowing he moved back to his position.

Nix nodded approvingly at the knowledgeable question. "May you live long, Minister Alvar. You have done nobly; there is no suspect, but it is only for now. I will lead this investigation; I’ll go to where this crime originated, the well close to the village bridge; and I will make Morado safe again." The king concluded as the hall erupted in a loud shout.

"All hail the king! All hail the king!!" The ministers chanted.

Nix continued when the noise died down, "And if any of you are found guilty during the course of investigation, rest assured you shall be treated like a criminal. Also after today’s meeting, another decree shall be passed and posted at the village center: anyone who utters any words of blasphemy against the king shall be beheaded along with their family, be you who. Let this madness end." Saying this, Nix held out his hand for Kitanna as he walked out of the throne room.

Hieron smiled like a proud grandfather, stepping out of the throne room as he followed his grandson.

The ministers began to disperse, and nobody dared to say anything against the blood of Zeno, who is now their king.

Kitanna held Nix’s hand tightly as they walked to their chamber. "Are you sure you want to do this yourself? You saw how those bodies looked; the killer is not someone normal." A worried wife said to her husband.

Nix brushed Kitanna’s hair with his hand, tucking in a few strands that were on her face. "Did the crown now change my look, or have you forgotten who I am? Don’t worry, I’ll be fine." He said, rubbing her face with his palm.

"Your wife is correct; you need to be careful out there. For all we know, it might be a trap," Hieron said, joining the couple where they stood, "I don’t know what we did so wrong." He muttered the last statement sadly.

Nix nodded; he had also guessed that it could be a trap to lure him outside, but it was still a crime. Killing people was a crime, and it needed to be rectified with the culprit brought to book immediately for the safety of the villagers and his own family.

"I’ll be careful out there," Nix remarked, looking outside the palace. The sun was already setting in its glory, and the day which started so well was now ending with worries.

"Greetings, your Majesty," Clephas bowed as he got closer to where the royal family stood with the elder white Lord. Getting a nod of acknowledgment, the eunuch gulped before saying.

"There has been a killing within the palace, just like the one seen among the villagers. This one happened at the place where Almaria died." Clephas announced