Queen Mary looked at the letter from her son. It had been three days since the king’s death. She did not need to supervise what Lord Williams was doing. Instead, she took her time to investigate her husband’s death. This was not only because she wanted to give him justice, but also because she felt that as long as the culprit remained unknown and at large, the royal family would be walking on the edge of danger.
Queen Mary was most worried that the person responsible might remain hidden and strike again once their guard was lowered. She certainly did not want her family destroyed, so she began reviewing the investigation records and the list of those who had served her husband. Yet, there was nothing significant.
She had never left anything unchecked. In three days, she had found nothing and was growing anxious. Then she received a message from Prince Edward. He asked her to investigate the Seer.
When she first read the opening line, she frowned. After all, it was thanks to the Seer’s help that the king had survived for so long. But the more she read, the more the possibility troubled her. The king trusted the Seer deeply—if the Seer said yes, the king said yes.
She had married the king when he was still a prince. At that time, she did not know whether he was already involved with the Seer. Although they had been close, the king never liked anyone meddling in his affairs. She had always acted accordingly. Later, following the deaths of his elder brother and father, he became king.
She believed her husband had been fortunate—he had held the kingdom in a firm grip. The lords feared him. Though he seemed gentle, he was ruthless when dealing with betrayal or when any lord dared question him. He knew how to wield both rewards and threats to get things done. Everyone in the royal council listened only to him and spoke in agreement. No one dared oppose him openly.
Those who once claimed that God had rejected their family’s right to rule when King George’s father and brother died were silenced without mercy. He secured his throne and ruled it firmly within two years.
The only person the king seemed to listen to was the Seer. The only person he would meet with in complete privacy was also the Seer. When he fell ill a few months ago, the moment he felt better, he sent for the Seer.
The poison that afflicted the king was strange. The royal physicians were powerless against it. She recalled how, during the most critical days of his illness, the Seer had not visited. But after he finally did—on the same night Anastasia left for the North—the king’s spirit improved. At first, it was said that the Seer had found a cure. But after another visit, the king returned saying the poison had spread too far and could only be suppressed. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel⸺fire.net
Physician Nathan had asked what rare herbs were used to suppress the illness, but the king had no idea, and the Seer was "cultivating." She had not thought much about it before, but after reading her son’s letter, doubts began to form in her mind.
The Seer indeed appeared suspicious. She considered questioning the eunuch who had served her husband closely, for he had been nearest to the king during those times.
"Go to the prison and bring Eunuch Mose," the Queen instructed a guard, handing him a note. She could have gone herself, but she was currently in mourning, and walking about was not permitted.
The guard bowed and left. She wanted to begin the investigation immediately but realized she knew almost nothing about the Seer.
Two hours later, the eunuch was brought to her.
"Your Majesty," the eunuch bowed. He had hoped that once the king recovered, he would remember his many years of loyal service and bring him back. But the news he received instead was of the king’s death.
Once he heard that the king had died, he knew there was no hope left for him.
"I want to ask you about the Seer. Do you know when the king first met him?" the Queen asked directly.
"Your Majesty, I only began serving the king closely a few months after he became king. At that time, His Majesty already knew the Seer," Eunuch Mose replied.
The Queen frowned at the response. "What do you know about the Seer?" she asked, shifting to a broader question.
"The Seer is a worshiper of the Old Gods. He is highly skilled. I believe he comes from the second region of the kingdom. He is very well known in his home village and the neighboring ones. I’ve overheard his conversations with the king a few times, and his predictions always come true. When I first began serving the king, we visited his temple in the Mountains of Gloom..."
The eunuch hesitated as he spoke. That year, he had followed the king to visit the Seer. He was supposed to wait outside the mountain as instructed, along with the other guards. But after two hours of waiting, he had felt the need to relieve himself and wandered into the bushes. As he did so, a faint light in the distance caught his eye.
One part of him urged him to return to his post, but he had been young and curious, and this was only his second time visiting the Mountain of Gloom. His curiosity overcame his caution, and he followed the light. As he got closer, he heard the Seer’s loud chanting—a chilling incantation.
He paused, his instincts telling him to turn back. If he were caught by the king, he could be executed. Yet, he kept moving forward. When he drew near, afraid of being discovered, he climbed a tree.
The temple before him was brightly lit. Though he couldn’t see inside the cave clearly, he saw a small baby lying on the ground. He watched the entire ritual unfold—the child was killed, and its blood was sprinkled upon the king.
His heart pounded in terror, and he fled, terrified that if he were caught, he would share the same fate.
"Speak. What did you see?" Queen Mary pressed, noticing that his expression was growing paler. She guessed he might be holding back a grave secret.