Chapter 222

Chapter 222
Sebastian's POV

He reported, "My beta will arrest the individuals we identified. They'll do it quietly to avoid alerting anyone here. We don't want to tip off the local conspirators."

Edward frowned, leaning forward. "And then what? Arresting them only buys us time. We need a more permanent solution to this problem."

I nodded, appreciating his directness. "I plan to give you and Killian seats on the Elder Council. It will strengthen my position and yours." I paused, my gaze sweeping across the room. "And we need to find him, the one they call 'Sovereign.'"

The room fell silent as everyone considered the implications. We had pieces of the puzzle but were still missing the central figure orchestrating everything from the shadows.

I drew a deep breath, making a decision. "There's something else you should know. Something about Helena Holbrooke." I glanced at Evanth, uncertain if he already knew. "Did you know Helena had a son?"

Evanth's head snapped up, his expression shocked. "What?"

"Helena was... prolific in her relationships," I said. "She had affairs with our father, with Benedict's father, with Samuel's father... possibly others."

Killian let out a low whistle. "She got around, didn't she?"

I nodded grimly. "A few months ago, I discovered that Helena kept extensive records, official and personal. Some of the content was... disturbing, to say the least. That might explain why she was killed. She knew too much. And then Halloway was framed for it."

Killian looked confused. "What?"

Benedict quickly explained, "Helena was killed in the Levenston residence in Goldenvale. The attack was made to look like you were responsible."

Evanth shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "It seemed plausible at the time. Border skirmishes were increasing, and there was already tension between our territories." His voice carried a note of shame. "I... I said some things to the women that I regret now."

"Someone was desperate to start a war," Killian concluded, his expression grim.

I nodded, keeping my face carefully neutral while my thoughts raced. The truth was more complicated, my mother had killed Helena and framed Killian for it. But that was a secret I needed to keep, even from these men. My mother had her reasons, and I understood them, even if I didn't approve of her methods.

"Let's get back to Helena's records," I said, redirecting the conversation. "She claimed to have had a child with my father, a son. According to her, my father took the child away."

"Why would she keep that a secret?" Edward asked.

"Helena's husband was already dead by then. She had taken his seat on the Elder Council. If it became known that she had a child with another man, she would have lost the Ashford seat," I explained.

Evanth's lip curled in disgust. "Another bastard."

I shook my head firmly. "If what Helena claimed is true, then her son would be the only actual bastard. As I said, Chris isn't one."

"Not just that," I continued. "Helena's child's paternity was uncertain. It could have been any of her lovers' child. She was obsessed with our father, though. She convinced herself the child was his."

Samuel nodded. "Natalie mentioned reading some of Helena's journals. She said the contents were delusional and bizarre."

"Her mental state appeared increasingly unstable over the years," I added.

A heavy silence fell over the room as everyone processed this information.

"You think this son might be the 'Sovereign'?" I finally asked, voicing the theory that had been forming in my mind.

Evanth shook his head immediately. "He'd be too young—maybe 25 or 26 years old. This feels like a continuation of problems from Father's era."

"Our intelligence is contradictory," I admitted. "I initially suspected Chris, but after meeting him, I'm convinced he's not involved."

Edward leaned forward, his eyes intense. "We should investigate this son. If he believes he's the legitimate heir to the throne, he would have a strong motive. What else would drive someone to want to be King besides believing it's their birthright?"

The others nodded in agreement. Edward had a point, someone who believed they were denied their rightful place would have the strongest motivation to overthrow me.

"So what's our next move?" Benedict asked, bringing us back to practicalities.

"The tournament is ending early due to security concerns and the high dropout rate," he explained. "I suggest we go to the arena tomorrow as if everything is normal, then strike against the traitors during the night."

Edward suddenly smiled, an expression I hadn't seen on his face since he arrived. "We could play polo. Quinn and Maddox are on their way here."

Everyone except Killian chuckled, remembering the last polo match that had ended in disaster.

"Don't worry," Edward added quickly. "Quinn and Maddox won't cause trouble for Natalie or Maggie this time. Maddox has his hands full with the mess Charles created, and Quinn is worried about his warriors."

I nodded, appreciating the suggestion. "Maddox and Quinn are strong warriors. We could use their strength in Forestvale." I looked around the table, meeting each man's eyes. "If we set aside our differences, we can form a formidable team."

The discussion continued as we finalized details for the coming days. By the time we finished, everyone was ready for some rest.

"Anyone want to join me in the west wing?" Benedict asked. "I'm going to introduce Killian and Edward to some of the ladies."

I raised an eyebrow, knowing full well they were still primarily interested in Berry. "You're all free to do as you wish. I need to get back to my room."

I left quickly. As I approached my room, I was surprised to see my mother knocking on the door.

"Mother?" I called out. "Why didn't you link me?"

She turned, her expression pinched with annoyance. "Chris presence is giving me a headache."

I sighed, unlocking the door and gesturing for her to enter. "Come in."

Once inside, she paced the room like a caged animal. "I can't believe Eleanor being so nice to him and his family. It feels like a betrayal."

I pulled her into a hug, feeling her stiffen before gradually relaxing. "Let it go, Mother. The past is the past. Helena told him you are looking for him, that's why he was hiding."

"Helena did a lot of damage," I replied, keeping my voice gentle.

Mother's eyes flashed with anger. "That bitch! Did she also tell him the truth? That she killed his mother out of jealousy?"

I squeezed her shoulders gently. "We need to focus on the present, Mother. We have bigger problems now, and Chris could be a valuable ally."

She was quiet for a moment, then asked softly, "How is he?"

I felt a wave of relief. Despite her protests, she didn't truly hate Chris. "He's doing well. He has a beautiful family, a mate and twins."

"I feel terrible for suspecting him," she admitted. "I thought he might be behind all this."

"He's not interested in power," I assured her. "He signed documents with Helena, renouncing any claim to anything."

Mother's face darkened. "That bitch again. She probably wanted to clear the way for her own son."

Her words triggered a thought. "Do you think Helena really didn't know where her son was?"

Mother looked thoughtful. "Now that you mention it... she never seemed like someone who had lost something precious. Perhaps she was in contact with him all along, right up until her death."

I considered this new angle. Mother was observant, this could be a lead we had overlooked.

"If that's true..." I began, my mind racing with implications. This might fit with my theory that Helena's son was the "Sovereign," but it conflicted with intelligence suggesting the "Sovereign" was older. Was Helena's son the mastermind, or just another pawn like Fox?

The questions multiplied, but answers remained elusive. After Mother left, I stretched out on my bed, deciding to take a short nap to conserve energy. Tomorrow would be exhausting, and I needed to be at my best.