The Crown's Obsession

The man had a confidant look on his face and he said, "Milady, I have been Madame Fraunces' neighbour for more than two decades. I used to speak to her every day and we are well acquainted with each other."

On hearing this, Theodore, who stood in the room, clenched his hands into fists. Given Mr. Barwood was speaking the truth when it came to him being Madame Fraunces neighbour, the man had been nothing but rude to the woman whom he had lived next to. Many times Theodore had heard Mr. Barwood's uncouth words, which Madame Fraunces ignored.

"We had such a good relationship, especially after her husband's death. You know how cruel the world can be for a widow," said Mr. Barwood.

Helena's gaze shifted to look at Lady Gracelynn, "How about you, Milady? How are you acquainted with the deceased woman?"

Gracelynn said, "Madame Fraunces was a dear friend of mine. In one of my visits to her house, she told me that she was troubled. Troubled because the boy whom she took in was threatening her to pass on the ownership of the house in his name. She was heartbroken," the woman paused to look at Theodore and then back at Helena. "In the recent visits, it seemed like she was hiding something, as if she was unable to speak especially when Theodore was present in the house. I think she was terrorized."

Calhoun, who stood next to Theodore, turned to him and whispered, "Do you know her?"

"Never seen her before," Theodore whispered in a way that only Calhoun could hear him.

Calhoun nodded his head. Clearly, the woman and the man were lying right through their teeth, and it didn't sound believable.

"Did she tell you anything else that must have caught your attention? When was the last time you spoke to Madame Fraunces?" questioned Helena.

"It must be three days before she was declared to be dead," answered Lady Gracelynn. "I think she must have died on the same day I last met her."

"Doesn't that mean you are the murderer?" Helena interrogated the woman, and Lady Gracelynn's eyes widened in shock.

"W-what me? Why would I ever do that to my friend!" asked Lady Gracelynn.

"It is surprising that you know when she died when she could have died any day," came the blunt words from Helena's mouth. "People have different motives when they kill people. Revenge, to hide truth, or whatnot. How about you Lady Christine? How were you acquainted with Madame Fraunces."

Both Calhoun and Theodore watched Lady Christine, who stood in the same line as the other two witnesses, who came to testify against Theodore. She was an older woman, someone with who both the young men had conversed in the past.

Lady Christine had a stoic expression on her face, "How I know her? She was someone who offered me what I wanted."

Helena raised her eyebrows, "I would need you to be more specific, milady."

"I used to get her company when I felt lonely. I am a widow and my life has been very dull and mundane, dear," answered Lady Christine without giving any further details about what business Madame Fraunces was in or about Theodore. "Fraunces was a good woman, someone who helped people like me. She took in Mr. Chauncey when he was very small, treating him like her own son."

"Do you believe and agree with what others just said about him wanting to illegally take the ownership of her house?" inquired Helena. "Lady Christine?"

The older woman stayed quiet. Like the other two witnesses, she had been bribed by money and had asked to speak against Theodore. Her eyebrows furrowed, and she said,

"No, I do not believe it."

Hearing these words, Queen's Morganna's eyes narrowed. She had asked her men to pay a huge sum of money so that they would tell the same things she wanted them to speak.

"I am an old woman, and my end is near. I would like to leave this world with a clear conscience unlike some others," came the dull words from Lady Christine's mouth. "I do not believe Theodore has anything to do with Madame Fraunces murder, in fact, I believe someone who hates him must be trying to frame and get rid of him."

"How can you be sure about it? Do you know who it might be?" demanded Helena.

Lady Christine looked at the people who were present in the room. After meeting everyone's eyes, she said, "I do not know."

Helena's jaw ticked because she could sense that the woman knew who it was, and even Helena knew it.

"I hope you are aware of the new rules made from the High House that were sent out two weeks ago to every single kingdom, lying and giving false information to the High House will only land you behind the dungeon. It is considered to be a crime," said Helena, looking at each one of them. "I need you to tell me, who found the woman's body that was in her house. It is because the body is missing and we have already taken a look at every cemetery that has fresh bodies being buried and none of them has Madame Fraunces' body in it. So who was it."

Lady Christine stood quiet, and the other two stared at Helena, "It was I who saw the body," confessed Mr. Barwood. This meant Lady Gracelynn was lying, thought Helena in her mind.

Helena nodded her head, "We'll need you to come with us to the High House, Mr. Barwood. There are further questions we would like to ask."

"W-what? Why me?!" demanded Mr. Barwood, and Helena took a step towards him.

"Because you look very suspicious to me and I feel like you were the one to kill her. I would like to give you a chance before I decide to throw you in the dungeon. Dimitri," Helena ordered the person and other men who had come from the High House to take Mr. Barwood out of the room. "I will have the rest of the discussion tomorrow. Dimitri, did you get it?" she asked her fellow High House member.

Dimitri walked to where Helena was, and he pulled out a scroll of parchment from his coat and handed it to her.

Helena then brought it in front of Morganna. "What is this?" asked Morganna in arrogance.