So, Maxwell, right now my ideas are as follows: 1.) A high priestess of some kind, one with enough political and religious clout to have been a close, personal friend of the king, 2.) A spymistress as opposed to a spymaster, though I'd defer to your judgment as to whether or not an idea like this is viable in your setting, 3.) A royal assassin with some connection to the late king. Let me know your thoughts, and I'll see what I can do.