The Crown's Obsession (WN)

"My apologies, I didn't know the Queen didn't know how to read. Let me read it for you," Helena proposed, ready to unscroll it, but the Queen took it away from her hand.

Morganna quietly read the contents in it one after another, her eyes widening now and then. People in the room turned curious about what the parchment consisted of. Morganna, after finishing reading it, looked up at Helena.

Before the Queen could say anything, Helena said, "I think it would be wise for you to cooperate with the High House unless you want to face the wrath of the other Kings for not listening to such a simple thing."

Morganna gritted her teeth, and she finally nodded her head. "Jaime, take Helena to the room where my favourite plants are. We would like to discuss something in there," said the Queen without revealing anything to people who were watching and listening to them.

After an hour, the High House and the rest of the ministers left the castle.

After finding out what Helena and his mother had spoken with each other, the King was enraged about it.

"You gave her the chain I gifted you?!" King Laurence looked at his mother with a look of disbelief on his face.

Morganna had her back faced towards her son, her hands holding behind her back. She wanted some time alone, but Laurence, being curious, wanted to know why his mother had agreed to speak to the head of the High House in privacy.

The parchment had sealing of the other Kings on it, where it was written in there that the Kings had all agreed that the High House would be the one to go through the justice system. Though her son had no clue about the jewel that he had gifted her was cursed, she and her daughter were well aware of what it could do to a person who wore it. Surprisingly, even Helena knew about it.

"Would you rather prefer that Devon is ambushed by the other kingdoms and we fall down? We overlooked these people, and they are gaining power and favour too quickly," came the frustrated voice of Morganna.

"Do you know how hard it was for me to find the rarest jewel?" asked Laurence.

Morganna's hand itched to slap her son to bring him back to his senses. She was speaking about the High House, and he was stuck talking about the jewel!

"Just go back to your room, Laurence. I need to be alone and think on what to do next," said Morganna before turning around to meet her son's eyes. Seeing her son not answer her, she asked, "What is it?"

"Did you have something to do with the woman's murder?"

Morganna appeared hurt by her son's words, "Are you believing them?"

The King sighed, "If you had something to do with it, tell me now so that I can help you before it is too late." Laurence knew his mother could go to any point, but he had come to believe she had nothing to do with the woman's murder.

Morganna pursed her lips, "The High House must despise me. They are trying to put the blame on me because we have continued to resist them."

Laurence had differences with his mother, but he would always choose his family, his mother, over a mere stranger to protect. He let out a frustrated sigh when his mother didn't say anything more than that.

"Mother-"

"You know this wouldn't have happened if you would have listened to me," whispered Morganna.

"Are you telling I didn't rule right?" asked Laurence. "You still want to put Markus on the throne, isn't it?"

"Why aren't you listening to me, Laurence. I-" Morganna tried to speak, but Laurence raised his hand for her to stop speaking.

"I need some time alone," and Laurence left the room.

Laurence's steps were heavy on the floor as he made his way to another room without going to his sleeping chambers, where his wife waited for his return. He had to draw out some plan to get rid of the High House because, at this rate, every murder case that had their involvement that had been closed would come to haunt them back because of Helena.

The room was moderately dark, with only the light coming from the fireplace burning and the candles on the chandelier. He walked towards the small table that had the bottle of liquors on in it. Taking hold of the bottle, he started to pour one of the liquid into the glass and took a couple of sips from it.

Laurence went to sit on the couch, placing one leg of his over another as he stared at one corner of the room.

Almost ten minutes passed when he felt an ache that started to rise in his throat. He uncrossed his legs, and he fell on the floor as his body was going through fits. Laurence turned his body with great difficulty, looking at the door and his hand reaching out for help,

"G-guards!" he called for help.

Three seconds later, Calhoun pushed the doors, and he quickly approached Laurence.

"Father!" called Calhoun. "Are you alright? What happened?"

Laurence was coughing blood, and he raised his hand towards the liquor bottles and then to look at the broken glass that had slipped from his hold to fall on the ground.

"Someone poisoned you," whispered Calhoun, and he said, "Stay right here."

Calhoun went to the fireplace, and he picked up the charcoals that had turned cold. He crushed the coal into powder, putting it in the glass and then adding water to it. Bringing the glass to where the King laid on the ground, Calhoun said,

"It is an unorthodox method, but this will help," he assured the King before making the man drink it.

It was hard to make the King drink the crushed coal powder liquid as he was coughing blood, where some of the liquid fell on the King's clothes. Once Calhoun had succeeded in making the King drink it, Laurence finally coughed out blood and the charcoal liquid that had absorbed the poison.

The guards who had entered the room were startled by the scene. King Laurence wheezed, placing his hand on his chest, and suddenly anger consumed him.

"Search for poison in every single person's room and in the castle!" ordered Laurence, wanting to know who had dared to poison him!