A normal person was supposed to feel concerned that his life was at stake but Sebastian was elated. He had a smile on his face as he walked through the corridors of the castle, admiring the paintings. Both the ones he painted himself and the ones that was already in the castle before he became king. He had a quirky smile on his face and it concerned Benjamin who was now walking beside him. Curiosity almost suffocating Benjamin and just when he was about to ask, he heard the king say "Last night.... something strange happened. I felt pain" Sebastian paused as he recalled that moment "....in my chest and it hurt alot but it stopped" he concluded. "How milord? What do you think caused it?" Benjamin asked worriedly.
"The cook has been in the castle for a while now..." He paused as he stared at a particular painting. "Gather every servant that works in the kitchen, including the new girl" Sebastian ordered and when Benjamin was about to walk away, he heard Sebastian say "I don't trust the new girl, inform me of any unusual activity she indulges in". Benjamin bowed in response before walking away to carry out the king's orders.
All the servants who worked in the kitchen were gathered and so was Evon and Helena. Sebastian had his legs crossed as he stared down at them from his throne, all daunting and domineering. The servants were deeply concerned about why the king called on them and some were already shaking nervously, already implicating themselves when in reality they hadn't done anything wrong. But that's how the king was, his presence alone brought fear into people's fragile hearts.
"Maria!" Sebastian called and the main cook jolted in surprised.
"Yes Milord" she answered with a shaky voice.
"How long have you worked in the castle?" Sebastian asked as the smile he had on earlier was already gone.
"For about four years Milord" Maria answered. "And throughout this four years I believe you have never conceived the thought of poisoning the crown?". Maria gasped lightly "No Milord, I'd never do such a thing!". Sebastian stared at her for some uncomfortable seconds before saying "You know what? I actually believe you. You won't dare poisoning the crown after what happened during your first year in the palace". Maria's mind recalled the events that occured during that time in her life and she nervously clasped her hands together. "So...any of you? Has the thought of seeing me dead crossed your mind?" The servants had an uneasy expression on their faces and they wondered what made the king ask such questions.
Helena felt her heart doing a back flip. She didn't prepare herself for this.
One of the servants, a female, nudged another as she whispered "What's making this king paranoid again? For all the years he had been eating from the royal kitchen...why make a fuss now?". The listener glared at her wondering why she'd say those words about the king. "Are you blind Acrius? Isn't it obvious that someone tried to poison the king?" The latter said and before the former could respond, Sebastian pointed at her and immediately her lips went dry.
"Milord" she bowed. Due to the fact there were a lot of servants that worked in the kitchen, Acrius thought she camouflaged well into the numbers and the king wouldn't hear her conversation with her fellow servant.
The king gestured one of the guards to come closer and the man did so.
"Chop her head off" Sebastian said earning a light gasp from the servants.
Acrius' brows twisted in confusion, "Milord, I didn't do anything. I haven't conceived the thought of poisoning you Milord". Her cry fell on ears that weren't ready to listen. Another guard held her down and just like that, Acrius' had her head severed from her body. The blood tainting the clothes of the servants that stood nearby, including Helena. For some seconds, Helena couldn't breathe properly. The oxygen got stuck in her throat. She stared down at the blood on her clothes and found out that her fingers which were locked at her front, were shaking.
"Saying nonsense, gossiping about vain things and bad mouthing the crown might land you in a similar situation" Sebastian said as his silver eyes glanced all of them.
He stood up from his throne, "Think hard and inform me about any strange behavior between yourselves. Anyone that looks like they could hurt the crown. Report them and I'd give a reward at the end". With that, he left their presence with Benjamin following him behind. He decided to have a little more fun and put a reward on it though he suspected someone for the crime.
Acrius' body and head was taken out by the guards, leaving the servants in shock and confusion about what to do next.
Sebastian thought long and hard. What happened to him last night was as a result of a poison and not just any kind of poison, a special kind for vampires. He realized this and decided to call all the kitchen servants that morning.