The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Helena stared at the people who were part of the High House, glaring at them with her intense red eyes. Since the organization had formed, this was their first high profile case, and she wasn't going to let a bunch of men who worked for other people and not for the High House directly overrule the decision she had taken.

"Minister Merten Lowth was working for Queen Morganna and he was following her words. Let us not ignore that the Queen was executed on the High House and the King's orders," stated Helena, watching every person who was in the room, where the walls were black, including the marble floor that reflected their reflection. "According to Lucy Hawthrone's words, she saw the minister sitting next to the dead bodies with his hand on them and covered in blood. Not to exclude the fact that a heated discussion had taken place in the dining room between the King and minister Merten."

"Lady Helena," spoke a man who was in a high position in the High House, "Isn't it possible that maybe the man is being framed? Maybe the King and the Queen were dead before the minister arrived at the scene."

Helena's gaze shifted to the person who had spoken just now, "And who do you think is the culprit if it isn't the minister, Luther."

Luther smiled at her, "Maybe the one whom the minister mentioned. Didn't you say Rosamund Wilmot believes her nephew was the one to kill her brother and her sister-in-law?"

"You speak of the woman who didn't utter a word of pain or sympathy over the death that took place in the castle. If you aren't aware, Rosamund has been trying to get the throne for her son. I am sure the ministers who work for her family will be kind enough to explain it to all of us on the matter," and she then passed a look at the four ministers who blinked back at her.

One of the minister opened his mouth to say, "That isn't true, milady-"

"I did not ask your opinion," Helena was quick to shut him up.

Luther then said, "Lady Helena, don't you think it is strange that Calhoun met the man outside while the murder took place inside the castle. But then who knows it might have been done by someone else, who entered, committed the murder before disappearing from the castle?"

Helena stared at the man, "I have already discussed this with you and the others and I find it rather fascinating that you had no issue about it earlier and you are eager to bring it now. Is there something I need to know about, Luther?"

Everyone's eyes fell on the man who only offered her a smile, "I was only curious and thinking about the possibility that it could be someone else," answered Luther, "I did not mean any disrespect towards the Head of the High House."

Helena could sense the menace from this one, and she wondered how she had failed to notice it before recruiting the man. "After all the discussion we had, I reached the conclusion that Minister Merten will be executed within the next one hour and we'll be closing the case now."

She got up from her seat placed on the higher platform compared to the rest of the others and walked out of the room. Helena had keenly looked through the case, and she had tried to question all the people who were in the castle, finding out about their locations that particular hour when the murder took place. But she hit a dead-end that pointed to the minister to be the murderer. The servants, the guards, the guests who had come to attend lunch were all in favour of saying the same thing.

Helena had seen many injustices and very little justice take place, and now that she was in a position where she could protect and save the innocent people who deserved to be saved, she felt the weight of the responsibility on her shoulders.

Hearing footsteps approaching from behind her, she turned around to see it was Dimitri.

"The order has been sent, milady. The man is going to be executed in a couple of minutes," informed her fellow High House member.

"I will need you to keep an eye on Calhoun Hawthrone, Dimitri," ordered Helena with a frown on her face. "It is strange that first falls the Queen, and then falls the King. Very odd."

"Do you think he had something to do in this? Why not question him to get the right answer?" asked Dimitri looking at Helena.

"Have you not met the young man?" Helena placed both her hands on the edge of the rails, letting her wrists relax. "There is something very peculiar and familiar about him. He isn't going to give any more information than what we already are aware about. By the way, have you heard from Michael?"

Dimitri shook his head, "Nothing so far. Has he not written back to you?"

"He has the habit of appearing and disappearing whenever he wants. I wonder if it is better to replace him with another person. Also keep an eye on Luther and his sister," said Helena. "You never know if the people who we are working with in the High House, turns out we are working with lions or vultures."

Dimitri nodded his head. "What is going to happen next? Devon is left without a King."

A small chuckle escaped the vampiresses lips, "Laurence had openly claimed with his relatives and his ministers that Calhoun is his heir and the only heir. And as per the tradition that goes in every royal family, the crown belongs to the next in the bloodline of the family."

"I don't think the ministers and some of the relatives like Rosamund will take it too kindly," commented Dimitri. Every time a King fell, people were always eager to get hold of the crown for themselves. "There was already an appeal made and submitted where she wants to place her son on the throne. It was also mentioned in it that, no one ever bothered to find out if Calhoun was really the King's son or someone else's as the woman slept with many men."

Helena's lips twitched hearing this.

"You know Dimitri, my uncle, King Solomon, he was crazy to hold on to the power too. He had three sisters and four brothers. When his father died, he ordered the execution of every male heir in the family so that they wouldn't come to stand in his way by forming a threat to him. In one night nine people were killed, including children. Thankfully my brother had not been born at that time, not that it changed his fate later."

"I have heard the stories regarding King Solomon. It seems like he was rewarded with a much more gruesome death than what he had inflicted on his brothers and nephews," said Dimitri. "I will send the rejection letter to Rosamund Wilmot."

"That would be wonderful. Everyone is obsessed with the crown, but the truth is once you put that crown on your head, the head is often not safe," murmured Helena.