The Crown's Obsession (WN)

When the day of the soiree arrived, Calhoun arrived at the mansion that belonged to one of the minsters to keep an eye on Helena—sitting in the room and conversing with the people while watching the familiar faces of the people who worked for his father.

"I was hoping to see you here," came the woman's voice, and Calhoun turned around to find Helena standing in front of him.

"Was there something you needed to speak to me, Lady Helena?" he inquired.

"I was wondering what you think about joining the High House. You aren't the King yet and it would be valuable to have a smart man like yourself with us," stated Helena.

Calhoun offered the woman a smile, "I don't think my father would be pleased if he heard you offering me a position at something that he is against," a small chuckle escaped his lips.

"Do think about it. I am sure with the unfairness you have faced in your very own life, you will be able to make proper decisions in the organization," said Helena.

The smile on his lips, only broadened. He wondered what was proper and improper. He had no interest in protecting anything because his mother, who was worth protecting, was no more, and the only thing his mind was consumed with was revenge. A sweet revenge that he wanted to witness and that was all he cared about.

"Are you here scouting people to join the High House?" questioned Calhoun.

The woman stared at him, "We have one more spot open in the higher position and I thought I would appoint the right person. Because who knows how many men and women have joined hands only to keep an eye on what we do, or what I do."

As he thought, Helena was a smart woman, and he smiled, "If you ever need my support, I will be here to offer it, but I would rather prefer not to join the High House. I like to run things in a certain way. Excuse me," and he stepped away from her with a glass of wine in his hand.

Helena knew it would be hard to convince Calhoun to join the High House, but it was worth a shot. When a servant came towards her with a tray holding a wine glass, she was about to pick it up, but before that, someone else grabbed the glass sooner than she did. The maid looked slightly worried as the glass was meant for the woman and not the man.

When the maid stepped out of the room, a man who stood outside demanded, "Did you give it to her?"

The maid shook her head, "Some other man picked up the glass before she could take it."

"What?!" the man glared at the maid, who looked down at the ground, "You fucking couldn't do one job? Get out of here," and the maid quickly scurried away. He muttered, "I guess I will have to do this myself."

Helena, who was inside the room, trailed her eyes to look at the person who had taken the glass of wine, catching sight of blonde hair and blue eyes. She was no petty woman to bother herself with why the man had picked up her glass when she was about to take it. She was ready to leave the spot when the man introduced himself,

"Good afternoon, Lady Helena. I couldn't help but overhear what you were speaking with the young man over there about the free spot in the High House," said the man, his voice smooth and his demeanour calm like a still water.

Helena asked, "You seem to have very good ears to be eavesdropping."

"My apologies," the man didn't hesitate to bow his head, and when he looked back up at her, Helena could only agree with herself that she had never come across such blue eyes before. "I didn't mean to intrude."

"I don't know who you are. It would be troublesome if you are one of my many enemies," Helena didn't beat around the bush, and her thoughts were direct, catching some of the people off guard, who were secretly listening to her.

"I do not have a status, if that is what you are asking. I came here in the hope to speak to you, in the hope to have fairness in this world and for innocents to be protected," informed the man, "My name is Michael Reeves."

The man spoke as if he had full faith that the High House could change the world, making things a little better than the current state. He seemed like a genuine person, and she gave him a nod.

"It is good to see that you support the same thoughts as I do," responded Helena.

Michael smiled, and as he looked around the room, his eyes fell on a person sitting at the table who had long black hair, wearing shabby clothes compared to the rest of the others in the room. Two women sat in front of him, giggling amongst themselves over something he said.

"Everything alright?" asked Helena, her eyes following Michael's line of sight to look at the table, noticing the cards spread out in front of the woman.

Michael looked back at her and offered her a smile, "Yes. Everything is alright," he replied to her and said, "Now that I have spoken to you, I should leave. It would be wonderful if you could try to give me a chance to work in the High House."

"I will think about it," she responded.

Michael placed the glass on the surface of the table without taking a sip from it.

But before he could leave her side, he whispered, "You should be careful with what you pick to drink and eat in here, things are not what they appear to be," and offering her a smile, he left the room.

For a second, Helena frowned, not knowing why he said it, and her eyes then widened in realization. She quickly tried to follow the man she had been speaking to, but when she stepped out of the room, he had already disappeared.

A man appeared at Helena's side and said, "Milady, would you like to have a glass of wine?"

Helena stared at the wine and then at the man and said, "You can drink it in my name."