Even though Calhoun left the cemetery after having Madame Fraunces' body placed in the grave, Theodore continued to stand in front of the grave that had its lid closed. Death wasn't unknown to him, but he hadn't expected Madame Fraunces to bite the dust this soon.
They weren't related to each other by blood, but the woman was no less to a motherly figure to him.
Back in the castle, when Calhoun arrived, one of the guards walked to him and informed, "Advisor Calhoun, the King has asked you to present yourself in the royal court."
Calhoun went straight to the royal court room to find King Laurence, who was talking to one of the ministers, and on his left side sat Queen Morganna; her eyes fell on him the moment he had stepped into the room.
"Good that you are here, Calhoun," said King Laurence. "We have an important matter to be relayed."
Calhoun offered the King his deepest bow, a pleasant smile coming to form on his lips, "I hope it is a wonderful news for Devon."
King Laurence gave him a nod, "Indeed it is. We have some of our men, to keep an eye on the members who agree to be part of the High House. Some of them have changed their decision about their interest in it. This has put a doubt on the minds of the Kings of the other lands on the unnecessary unneeded existence of such a thing. It is only a matter of time before it comes to an end. Good job at the soiree, Calhoun."
Calhoun smiled at the King's words, "You praise me for nothing, my King. It was a small job that I did."
King Laurence shook his head, "It wasn't an easy job, to have people step down from their planned positions. This has even other men we have to step away as it isn't necessary anymore."
"Are you sure they are not going to change their mind to go back to the High House?" questioned Morganna.
"Not after what Calhoun did. Him attending the soiree seems to be a success and we don't have to worry about that wretched woman Helena," stated King Laurence.
According to the King, Calhoun had spoken and convinced the people why they shouldn't work towards the High House formation, and the people who had joined had stepped back.
But Calhoun had his motives. The High House could be infiltrated by the King's and Queen's men, who could still hold control by either Morganna or Laurence. But what Calhoun wanted was to run the entire thing in his hand movements like a puppeteer. He was having his own chosen people join the High House. This was so that there wouldn't be any influence against him in the future.
"I still think it is right that we get rid of that woman. We wouldn't want her to strike back," said Morganna, her eyes falling on Calhoun, and she then asked, "Where is your bodyguard?"
Calhoun's eyes shifted from his father to look at his grandmother, "He is taking a stroll, was there something that you needed from him, grandmother?" he questioned her.
Morganna's eyes twitched, and the others in the court room took a deep breath, hearing Calhoun addressing the Queen informally.
All these years since Morganna Hawthrone had turned to a Queen by the help of her deceased husband, and now next to her son Laurence, she had compelled people to treat her with the utmost respect while keeping the title of Queen with her, without handing it over to her son's wife. She demanded the people address her as the Queen, which included the royal family members.
And then comes this whore's son who dares to disrupt her title.
The ministers and the others remembered the time when one of her very own relatives forgot to address her as the Queen had spent a week in the dungeon before being released to never return to the castle ever again.
Disregarding Calhoun's question, Queen Morganna said,
"Did you forget to address me as the Queen or are you doing it on purpose?"
King Laurence's eyes fell on his mother, who had a look of displeasure on her face.
Calhoun's expression didn't change, and instead, it stayed calm before he spoke, "Grandmother," he addressed her one more time, and one could only tell that the young man was taunting the Queen once again, "I use that word so that I can become close to you my Queen. I have spent my years without an actual family, and now that I have one with you, my father, a sister, a mother, I would like to have a better relationship with all of you."
Queen Morganna was well aware Calhoun was always up to no good, and she said,
"If you aren't aware, the tradition in the Hawthrone's castle has always been where you address the royal members who is in higher position with utmost respect. Haven't you seen your cousins and your sister do it?" Morganna played nice as she didn't want to throw mud at Calhoun in front of her son. Doing that would only result in spoiling her own image, it had happened before, and she wasn't going to fall for that one more time.
The ministers and others in the room couldn't help but internally smirk at the Queen's words, and they then looked at Calhoun. He was a young man who was trying to change things, but he should know better than that, thought many of them in their heads, when Calhoun hadn't responded to the Queen.
King Laurence was more than amused by watching the small discussion, and he didn't bother to get in the middle and instead watched his son and mother.
Calhoun smiled, "I was finished reading the book that was written by the previous Queen of Devon. By what I read, she liked to be addressed as mother, grandmother, sister."
"Are you trying to insinuate on something by mentioning this?" Morganna was quick to comment, and her eyes narrowed at Calhoun.
"I would never dare," Calhoun bowed his head and then continued. "I was only thinking by addressing a person on their relation, the family often bonds in a better way. What do you think about it, my King?" he turned to look at Laurence. "Forgive me if it is something unacceptable."