kings and presidents are often provided plausible deniability. The king may be telling the truth. That doesn’t mean he didn’t;t want the guy killed. When statements are made the wording is often intentional. “He denies any acknowledge of what took place. Well of course he does. Is he supposed to say, I watched it on video? Ask him if he wanted the guy killed and watch him stutter? Would his people kill the guy otherwise?
Been going on for centuries...
“Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest? (sometimes expressed as troublesome or meddlesome priest)”