I woke up in Dannyal's bed. I sat up scratching my head. It was pounding so bad.
It was as if someone was hammering me. My temple twisted.
In front of me, Dannyal and Shuying were sitting. Dannyal said with crossed hands,"You okay?"
"Oh, yes. I feel like I'm in heaven cherished by God on a flower bed." I said rolling eyes.
"You and your sarcasm." Dannyal said with a sigh.
He then came a bit forward,"You know that Jesuit?"
"Which one?"
"The French one."
"Oh yes, did you know–"
Shuying interrupted saying,"He is the killer."
"Really?"
"Yes." Dannyal said with crossed hands.
What? No way a fool like him could do it I asked Dannyal,"How did you figure it out?"
"Shuying figured it." He said looking proudly at Shuying.
Just as I expected, murder mysteries don't fit Dannyal.
"How?" I asked Shuying. I was sure she would point out the reason I suspected her for.
"Remember that undusted poisoned book? It was of the same poison used to kill the prince." She said with confidence.
"Oh! You're a genius." I said to feed her mediocre game play.
"Isn't she?" Dannyal said smiling at her.
"Yes, of course." I added.
But it can't be that damn Jesuit. It felt like he was trying to show me he was a murderer. A murder showing proofs of murder?
"So what are you gonna do to him?" I asked to measure how much time I had for confronting the Jesuit.
"Let's get to him right now." Shuying said. Before Dannyal could say anything, I said,"Dannyal, I have a thing to say...in private." " Uh, sure."
We went to a corner of the balcony. "Let's get him caught in the morning."
"What?"
"Yes, I don't have time to explain."
"You're not gonna tell me?"
"I will but later. You believe me without explanations, don't you?"
"Yeah, right. I trust you."
"Then delay Shuying."
"As you say, small brained girl."
We returned to Shuying. She asked with suspicion,"What were you taking about?" "Your birthday is coming soon, right...dear?" Dannyal asked.
"Yes!" "We were planning a gift!" I added. "Oh." Shuying said but her suspicion didn't end for sure." Let's go get the killer then !"
"No,let's go to sleep now...honey." Dannyal said acting as if he had a headache. Shuying gave a delayed blink. But agreed.
Dear? Honey? Back to back? I will have to tease him for that later on.
I went away. But why did I go unconscious? My head still pounding around my temple. I will have to go to the Jesuit.
In that shady night when the only light was the moon. I walked across the long yet thin corridor filled with large windows. The cold wind made the sufferings less.
I opened my eyes only to see the Jesuit at the end of corridor. I walked to him. The smell of incense and flowers became more intense the closer I got.
He felt almost invisible like a dream person. No noise came from him but I could sense his sadness. Sorrowful like a...I don't know.
I sat tired, lying on the small carpet in front of him. He was sitting with his knees close to him and his hand surrounding it. His head was on his knees making me unable to see his face.
I leaned on the windows. "You're not the killer. I don't care what they say." I gave a deep exhale then placing hands on his shoulders,"Who are you? No... more like what is your pain? That I can feel from far away?"
"Finally, someone asked." He raised his face,"I'm dying...of betrayal." I didn't interrupt, just listened.
"My wife, my child...dead."He said with utter horror. "I came here, only to be manipulated. They said it was for the empire's betterment. " He said while scratching his head in madness.
"But it was just for their greed, right?" I asked. He nodded while tears fell from his eyes.
" I don't know your name yet." I said while offering a napkin. "No one does. It never mattered. Nor ever will. For pawns of history."
"We just stay their to fill their pens with ink so they can go on with their ambitions?" I asked tilting head but my neck hurt.
"Yes, we can't change it. No matter how many rebels or revolutions." He said wiping off his tears.
"There will always be those who will be above and below. The middles can't change it?" I asked looking at the moon.
He nodded hopelessly slowly loosening his tightness in posture. As if he had no regret anymore. All of it wasted blaming on the highers.
"But what's your story?" I asked with raised eyebrows.
" Story of a manipulated man. I showed two clues to you, one of them to the manipulator."
I stood up. Yet today I don't know why. My head throbbed again. I shut my eyes for a breath. When I opened them, the corridor was empty. The carpet was empty as well. I don't remember him standing. I don't remember him leaving.
But I didn't chase him. I think part of me knew he wasn't meant to be caught. However his final words echoed in my ears...only my ears.
"A nameless imposter can't change it all, no matter what. A poem of love is what it can sing for everyone but none will listen."
He felt like me. Listening to him, felt like hearing my own future. An object out of place, he says.
Had I stayed there a moment, I would have turned crazy by my own thoughts. So without a delay I went straight to my bed.
The next morning when I woke up. It felt all like imaginations. The Jesuit, he looked normal. The same madness, now which felt like sorrow, hidden with happiness.
I went to him. He smiled saying," I have been promoted for the Jester. Now all of you gotta do is just laugh seeing me."
I went to say something. Before I could say anything, he put his index finger on my lips and said,
"No need for words of condolences. For it's said by the saddest wanting to hear the same words they speak and heard by the more weaker ones." Then he went to the other side laughing.
I didn't have the gut to ask him anything. My eyes widened hearing them. His words, they are way too observant.
I just can't figure out what he wants to show me. Not because I can't but these words are driving me, more like distracting me.
That incident was way too heavy to share with Dannyal. He wasn't something out of place after all. Maybe I didn't have the strength to say him, even though I knew he would say something caring.
More like, his caring words would hide the meanings for me.
I felt lonely. Unexplained absence surrounded me. Who is the one who manipulated him?
Who is he? Perhaps that doesn't have an answer after all.
What clues? I have no idea.
Wait! It makes sense! Not with happiness though.
It wasn't about the Jesuit.
It was about who needed him guilty.