The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Music Recommendation: Windmills - Ludwig Goransson

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In one of the castle's private rooms, Morganna sat in front of Helena, the younger-looking vampiress who wanted to ask her something. In the same room were King Laurence, Calhoun, Lady Samara, and some of the people who attended the royal court room.

It wasn't Queen Morganna but Helena who had asked the others to accompany them so that they could witness what she was going to speak with the Queen.

"What is it that you want to question me, Lady Helena?" Morganna looked at the woman who sat in front of her with a streak of arrogance and pride in her eyes.

Helena watched the older woman, the Queen, who looked down at her. "This is regarding Madame Fraunces's death. I believe you have already heard this name before?" questioned Helena.

"I do," answered Morganna, "The woman who was killed by a guard in the castle and you freed him."

"Are you upset that I freed him, my Queen?" questioned Helena and Morganna's eyes narrowed. "I received information that you were the one to tip the magistrate about it. Magistrate Maki," she called the magistrate, who looked like he was struck with fear and nervousness.

Queen Morganna raised her hand as if telling her there was no need for the magistrate to come and talk.

"Being the Queen of Devon, I need to make sure my subjects are well taken care of and that no harm comes to befall on them," stated Queen Morganna. "And being in the responsible position, I receive information regarding who does what in the castle. More importantly, this is the place where my family lives, it is only right I see and inform the magistrate to take necessary actions. Are you questioning me that I shouldn't do it?" Morganna raised one of her brows at Helena.

"You didn't conduct any trial to prove if he's guilty or innocent. If I am not wrong, people are often put under trial before being sent to execution. On what basis did you send him for execution without any proper evidence?" Helena's tone was slightly demanding, and it got Morganna annoyed.

"I am the Queen of Devon, the mother of the present King. Do you think I would do something wrong, and that is why you are questioning me back and forth?" asked Morganna. "Just because you are the Head of some small organization, don't think you can compare your responsibility to the vastness of the land that needs to be looked after."

When Helena was young, her brother had been put under execution by the King's word; When the matter came about the King or the royal family, their opinion was different. Since then, she had tried to find a way to establish a central system so that each person in all lands could get fair treatment and catch the people who belonged to the higher status and committed sins.

"Considering you were the one who informed the magistrate about the woman's death through your servant, your informant must already know where the body is or must have seen it?" asked Helena.

"My informant said he found blood on the floor and that the neighbours were concerned as they didn't see the woman for quite some time. Magistrate Maki, why don't you go get the people who saw what happened," ordered Helena, and the man was quick to leave the room.

Helena stared at the woman before saying, "There was no blood spilt in any part of the house. The blood that was reported earlier on the wooden floor was not blood but a vegetable extract. It might be possible the woman left the house to go somewhere and someone framed Mr. Chauncey for it? Do you agree with it?"

"How would mother know about that person," demanded King Laurence, "Your questions are absurd, Lady Helena."

Helena shifted her gaze from Morganna to look at the King, "I will tell you soon enough why it isn't absurd. With the way I see it, it seems like Mr. Chauncey was framed for no apparent reason, and whoever informed you possibly didn't like him, Queen Morganna," her eyes had gone back to look at the Queen.

Morganna glared at Helena.

"Do you understand what can happen to you with you pointing your fingers at me?" Morganna asked in a low, threatening voice.

The Queen's words didn't faze Helena. "I am only doing my job, my Queen. You do not have to feel intimidated by my presence if you aren't guilty."

"You must be delusional to think a person who is more experienced and wiser than you would be intimidated. You seem to be a person who likes to give yourself a lot of credit," chuckled Queen Morganna.

As time passed in the room, Dimitri, as well as magistrate Maki arrived at the room. Dimitri had left the castle with the pace, one would think he had gone to fetch men from the High House to get reinforcement, but unlike Maki, who brought three people along with him, Dimitri had returned alone.

"Here are your witnesses, Lady Helena. These are the people who testified earlier against the bodyguard," stated Morganna, letting her back lean against the chair she sat in.

She knew this day would possibly come. Therefore she had readied the people to support her side of the story in advance.

Helena left the chair, and she walked towards the three people who didn't look like they were part of the Queen's schemes. But the Queen was a clever woman, and she might have chosen people in a way where the fingers would not point at her.

Magistrate Maki was the one to introduce the three people, "This here is Mr. Barwood, Lady Gracelynn, and the one at the left is Lady Christine."

Helena took her time staring at each and every one of them closely.

The first one to be questioned was the man, "Mr. Barwood, what did you see and tell that you have accused Theodore Chauncey to be the murderer of Madame Fraunces?"