The sun had set on the kingdom of Arindel, casting a deep purple hue across the sky. The air was crisp as the cool breeze swept through the streets of the city. In the castle, a great feast was being held in honor of the beautiful Princess Elara.
As the guests enjoyed the finest food and drink, Princess Elara sat on her throne, a vision of beauty in her flowing pink gown. Her long, flowing hair cascaded down her back, and her sparkling emerald eyes shone with delight. She was adored by all who knew her, and many sought her hand in marriage.
But as the night wore on, something sinister began to unfold. One by one, the guests began to disappear. First, it was Lord Harrington, a wealthy merchant from the nearby town. Then it was Lady Catherine, a high-ranking member of the court. Panic began to set in as the guests realized that they were trapped in the castle with a killer.
The king and queen were beside themselves with worry, and they immediately summoned their most trusted advisor, a brilliant detective named Sir Reginald. Sir Reginald was tall and lean, with piercing blue eyes and a sharp mind. He had solved many mysteries in his time and was known throughout the kingdom as the best detective in the land.
Sir Reginald arrived at the castle just as another guest disappeared. He wasted no time in getting to work, interviewing each of the remaining guests and examining the scene for clues.
It wasn’t long before he discovered that all of the missing guests had something in common: they had each been seen talking to a mysterious stranger with a black hooded cloak. The stranger had been spotted lurking in the shadows, watching the guests with an eerie intensity.
Sir Reginald knew he had found his suspect. He quickly gathered a group of guards and set out to find the stranger. They searched the castle from top to bottom, but the stranger was nowhere to be found.
Just as they were about to give up, Sir Reginald noticed a trapdoor hidden behind a tapestry. He signaled to the guards, and they descended into the darkness below.
What they found was a gruesome sight. The missing guests were all there, lying lifeless on the floor. And in the center of the room stood the stranger with the black hooded cloak.
Sir Reginald drew his sword and approached the stranger. “Who are you?” he demanded.
The stranger removed his hood, revealing a face that was twisted with anger and hatred. “I am the former jester of this castle,” he spat. “I was banished from here years ago, and I swore revenge on all those who had wronged me.”
Sir Reginald nodded in understanding. “And why did you target Princess Elara’s feast?”
The jester sneered. “Because she is the reason I was banished in the first place. I will never forgive her for what she did to me.”
Sir Reginald raised his sword. “You have committed a terrible crime, and you will pay for it.”
The jester lunged at Sir Reginald with a knife, but Sir Reginald was too quick for him. He dodged the attack and plunged his sword into the jester’s chest.
As the jester fell to the ground, Sir Reginald turned to the guards. “Take these bodies away and give them a proper burial. And make sure that Princess Elara is safe.”
The guards nodded and carried out his orders. Sir Reginald approached Princess Elara, who was still sitting on her throne, looking pale and frightened.
“You are safe now,” he said gently. “The killer has been caught.”
Princess Elara breathed a sigh of relief and smiled weakly. “Thank you, Sir Reginald. You have saved my life.”
Sir Reginald bowed. “It was my pleasure, Your Highness. Now, let us attend to the rest of your guests and give them a night they will never forget.”
Author: Opney. Illustrator: Dalli. Publisher: Cyber.
