Kitanna
Chapter 64: WHO SAW WHAT?

Chapter 64: WHO SAW WHAT?

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: SALVATORES~ CLANDESTINA]

After talking with Kitanna, Nix left the kitchen to take a look at the murder weapon before it would be discarded. His shoes made sharp noise as he walked to the place where Lady Aggie was being wrapped. Some maids were called to wrap her up and clean the blood before she would be buried. They turned to bow when they noticed the presence of the guard.

"Leave; I’ll take it up from here," Nix said, his eyes not leaving the body.

The servants bowed at the instruction and exited the place. Nix checked for the cheese knife, and he found it already wrapped with a white cloth. He picked it up and checked for the inscription Kitanna spoke about.

It was boldly but freshly written on the knife handle, ’he who wills to join can only leave by death.’ Nix narrowed his eyes; he wrapped the knife and placed it in his pocket before stepping out of the room.

As he stepped out, a guard ran to stand in front of him, "Lord Nix, the king has asked that everyone should assemble at the court room, and he has asked that you take the lead in the interrogation." The guard, who was panting, spoke hurriedly, trying to catch his breath.

Nix raised his brows; he was never asked to take the lead in any investigation. He wondered whose idea it was.

"I will be there," he finally replied.

Before going to the royal court, he stopped at the kitchen where Kitanna stood, waiting for him. She turned her head when she heard the sharp footsteps.

"Did you find anything?" Kitanna asked, her face creased with worry. She wanted to know why anyone would hurt Lady Aggie.

"Did you meet with the head maid today or recently?" Nix asked; he was suspecting that anyone who did this was related to the queen dowager, and maybe the head maid had tried to say what she knew which caused her to be silenced.

"Yes, I met with her this morning before breakfast," Kitanna replied, confirming Nix’s thoughts.

"She was acting strange, though. She tried to tell me something, but before she could, other maids entered the kitchen, and she left," the princess spoke, her voice becoming low. The look on her face turned dull and gloomy.

"What if she died because of me? What if—" Kitanna held her dress, trying to keep the tears away; she raised her face up in an attempt to stop herself from crying anymore.

Nix noticed the princess was struggling not to cry; he walked to her and pulled her into a hug. "You can cry in front of me." Those words acted as a catalyst because Kitanna broke down in tears, her whole body shaking.

"Why? Why are they doing this to everyone close to me? What did I even do? I just want to live like a normal person without having to watch my back," Kitanna said, her voice sounding muffled. Her head continued to rest on Nix’s chest.

When she was sure she had cried enough, Kitanna wiped her tears, but the corners of her eyes were red.

"Let’s go to the royal court; I’ve been asked to lead the investigation," Nix said.

Kitanna nodded; she was the first to leave the kitchen, leaving Nix behind.

Nix looked at the scene one more time; he moved to the place the body was found just in case he missed something then he exited the room, as he strode to the royal court.

At the royal court, everyone had already assembled, waiting for the questioning to proceed. Kitanna stood among the palace maids.

"It is so sad that even within the palace people are not safe. I wouldn’t want such a thing to repeat itself, which is why I have decided to investigate and punish severely the person or persons responsible for such an evil act," Khelan addressed the crowd.

"The investigation will be handled by someone neutral, and our most trusted royal guard," the king motioned for Nix to start with the questioning.

Nix did not start immediately; he first looked at Almaria and Deonisia, wondering who had made him the lead investigator. He walked to where the servants stood and began.

"If you saw something or know something related to this case, move this side," Nix directed his hand to his right side. When he said this, about ten servants moved to the right side.

"The rest of you, move to this side," Nix directed them to the left. Kitanna moved with the people on the left side.

Finally, after the crowd was divided into people who knew something about the case and people who didn’t, Nix sat down and moved on with the questioning.

"You first," he pointed at a young maid to be the first speaker.

The young maid, who was about Axilla’s age, stood at the center. It was evident that she was scared.

"Long live the king and his queen. Long live the queen dowager," The maid bowed deeply.

"I am palace maid Gurit. I was on my way to the duty post this morning when I saw Lady Aggie entering the kitchen, and at the same time, I saw the princess," the maid named Gurit lifted her fingers to point at Kitanna.

Kitanna chuckled; so this was it. Anyone who did this wanted her to be roped in. Her eyes moved to look at Nix, then at the maid.

Nix raised his hand for the maid to continue speaking. He knew very well the princess was going to be mentioned, and that confirmed that she was the main target.

"I did not think of it as anything, so I went on with my duties, which was to pick out the weeds from the garden. That was the last time I saw Lady Aggie." Gurit bowed when she was done speaking; she moved to the side to allow the next speaker.

The guard whose duty post was to watch over the kitchen passage that morning was the next; he stepped to stand where the maid left. He greeted the royal family and bowed.

"I am a lower rank guard, Brice. I did see the head maid enter the kitchen with the princess, but I also saw Lady Aggie leave when other maids entered the kitchen." The guard stated and moved aside.

Nix noted this down and waited for the next speaker. This time it was three palace maids who came to stand in, at the center. They bowed and said their greetings.

"We were the first to enter the kitchen; we saw the head maid leave the kitchen hurriedly. She looked like she was scared of something." The leader of the three, named Catja said. Her eyes looking at the ground.

The one standing beside her then said, "We- think...Lady Aggie was..." the maid drawled.

"Speak, child!," Almaria ordered. She was enjoying every bit of the show. All hands were pointing at Kitanna. At the end of the day, it’ll only look like it was a murder done out of spite and dispute.

"Maybe Lady Aggie was being threatened by the princess!" The maid knelt down.

Nix raised his eyes to look at the maid; then he wrote down on the parchment and called for the next person.

The next was an elderly woman who was among the cleaners. "I was cleaning the passage when Lady Aggie walked out of the kitchen; she called me to follow her because the west gate was not cleaned yet. There she met another maid named Bareea. Lady Aggie told Bareea to get all the maids who were in the kitchen to get breakfast ready for the royal family." The elderly woman named Ifeta said.

She had known Aggie for long; they all started working in the palace as young girls. Even though Aggie was suddenly moved up to be the head maid, she was someone that was close to her. When she heard the woman was no more, it broke her heart and made her suspect everyone in the palace.

Nix looked at the elderly woman who just spoke; he nodded his head but made no expression. He scribbled on his book and called for the next person.

"The head maid was inspecting the cleaners of the inner palace when this young maid, Axilla came to call her. She said the princess wanted to speak with her, privately." The male servant who was in charge of clearing the cobwebs said.

Kitanna frowned when she heard this; she never told Axilla to call the head maid. And moreover, she was helping to serve breakfast. She turned to look at Nix shaking her head; Nix nodded and wrote down on his parchment.

It was now remaining for three speakers to talk before judgment will be passed. The key suspects have been mentioned except for one of the maids, Misam.

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