“I don’t think I ever gave you an impression that I am interested in you, King Edison. There are many willing young women who would happily agree to marry you,” responded Helena, her expression continuing to stay the same and uninterested in the King’s proposal.
“The other young women aren’t as smart as you. You are a woman of great caliber and I wouldn’t like to lose this opportunity,” said King Edison.
The one side of Helena’s lips pulled up, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes, “I thought we are going to have a meal.”
“Of course, let us eat together,” proposed the King and together, they continued to walk towards the dining room.
On reaching the room, Helena noticed the former Queen sitting right next to the King’s chair. Guilene glared at Helena for even showing up in the castle. It was because of Helena that her husband had been killed and dethroned. The Ruffords had been lucky enough to keep the throne within the family because, at that time, Edison was old enough to ascend on the throne.
“If we knew you were coming today, I would have asked the cook to prepare things that are of your taste,” said Guilene while Helena walked around to take a seat in front of Guilene.
“I don’t plan to stay here for long and only came here on the King’s invitation,” replied Helena, watching Guilene pick up the napkin and spread it over her l.a.p.
“Always trying to get away from the castle, isn’t it?” smiled Guilene.
“When the atmosphere is so dark with people I am not exactly fond about, I think anyone would feel that unless the next person has a dark mind,” came the blunt response from Helena and Guilene’s eyes flared in controlled temper.
“You might be the head of the High House, but don’t forget right now you are in someone’s kingdom and disrespect towards the royal family shall not be tolerated in the slightest,” Guilene gave her a warning.
“How about both of you calm down and have this delicious food that is placed on the table while it is still hot,” King Edison tried to appease both the women. He had already spoken to his mother to behave and not to lash out about past issues.
Helena stared at the woman and replied, “Wasn’t like you tolerated anything when it came to my brother and me. Your actions in the past shall not be overlooked.”
“Are you trying to threaten me and the King? Guards!” Guilene stood up from her chair, and the guards came near the door, waiting for the command.
The woman was easy to predict as she had always been petty enough to be offended by the slightest things, thought Helena to herself.
“Mother, please sit down,” the King requested his mother to sit, but she refused to do so. “Helen, watch what you speak. There is no reason to attack my mother. Apologise to her.”
Helena had allowed herself to lean against the chair, and her appearance looked calm and stronger than before. She bowed her head, and when her eyes met the woman’s eyes, she said, “My apologies if my words hurt you, but I didn’t know it would offend you greatly, when in truth I was only talking about your actions. You shouldn’t feel bad about it, unless you feel attacked for being guilty.”
King Edison placed his hand on top of his mother’s hand, gaining her attention. He said, “She is right, you don’t have to feel offended because you haven’t done anything bad.”
Guilene’s jaw ticked in anger, and she gingerly sat down while her son was yet to dismiss the guards who stood outside the room. The meal went quietly with just glares sent by the former Queen while Helena seemed unaffected by it.
Once the three of them finished their meals, Helena dabbed her napkin over her lips. She then said,
“I am glad that you invited me to have a meal with you, King Edison. There is something I wanted to speak to you about,” addressed Helena to the King. “Whatever illegal activities the kingdom has been involved with until now with yours and the ministers, it would be better to stop it unless you want those ministers to be executed.”
“Don’t you think it is a little too harsh?” questioned King Edison, the smile from his face dropping.
“She’s nothing but bad luck. Back then she was a bad luck for her brother and then she killed your father,” commented Guilene.
Hearing her brother being mentioned, Helena’s eyes narrowed, “Be careful with what you speak. I am no longer a person who is not in power, and you don’t want a similar fate to what happened to your husband.”
“You should drop such an exchange, Helen. We are family and we shouldn’t harm each other. You did what you had to do by punishing my father, don’t you think that you are going a little too far?” questioned King Edison.
Going far, said Helena in her mind. These were the same people who had not stepped forward when her brother had been executed and in the middle of the court, where everyone knew he wasn’t responsible.
“I am not the one joking here, King Edison, instead it is you who joked with me about us two getting married to each other,” came the calm and collected words from Helena’s mouth.
Guilene’s eyes snapped to look at her son in shock, “What?!”
Right now, King Edison, son of Solomon Rufford, whom Helena had dethroned, stared at the head of the High House, while his mother looked shocked by what Helena just said.
“I was hoping you would agree to my request, and I was polite about it, Helen,” stated the King, his voice turning low and threatening. “Being close relatives, I was hoping you would understand and comply with it.”
Helena’s stoic face looked at the King, “If that is all that you wanted to speak about, then I believe we have finished talking and there is nothing more here. Thank you for having me, I should get going now.”
King Edison made no attempt to move from his chair, and he watched Helena step away from the chair, and before she could reach near the entrance of the dining room, he said,
“I truly hoped you would have agreed but with your refusal to accept my proposal, I don’t have any another option.”
Suddenly the entrance was blocked by the guards as they entered the room. “You are under arrest, Lady Helena,” said King Edison and his mother finally smiled, glad to see the girl being caught.
Helena looked unruffled, and she stared at the guards with her eyebrows subtly frowning.
She turned to look at the King. Her eyes narrowed at him while she somewhere had doubts that he would try to pull something like this against her.
“It isn’t too late for you to have your guards move out of my way so that I can pass and return to Devon, Edison,” said Helena, her eyes staring at the King, who huffed. “Do you think you can get away with the fact of holding me as a prisoner in your land? The other authorized people from the High House won’t be pleased with it.”
