The Crown's Obsession (WN)
chapter-187

Beth looked at the vampire who had introduced himself as Markus Wilmot. She had never heard the man's name before, nor had she seen him around here. He had blonde hair that was combed to the side, a coat that was made of rich fabric which would cost a fortune. Her green eyes moved away from him to watch the King's men who left the shop after destroying it.

She couldn't believe that the King, would do something like this. Did Madeline do something to offend the King which was why they were being punished here? If it was true, her hands clenched together in more anger.

"What are we going to do, papa?" asked Beth, her eyebrows furrowed at the thought that her father would have to continue working alone in the heat and rain without a shelter to keep the logs of wood. Even the men who had been appointed by the King were nowhere to be seen, "We should probably write a letter to the King, to check what happened," she proposed.

Her father's shoulders were slumped, and he looked dejected. He wasn't sad because the King had taken the shop and the men back who were helping him. He never had it before, but with Madeline in the castle, he didn't know if she was being treated well. Now that his younger daughter was getting married to the King, did he decide it was worthless to help him and his family?

"Milady, if I may," said the vampire who had intervened the men from harming his daughter Beth when she had demanded to see the seal, "By my experience, the King has never taken too kindly when his actions were questioned by someone. It would be better to know by yourself, why it happened so that you could gain his favour again."

"But he cannot go destroying things when he was the one who promised and gave it to us," replied Beth. It looked like the King was indeed a very cruel and ruthless man.

Markus looked at Harris' elder daughter who appeared to be outspoken compared to the other women he knew. She had a fierce look in her eyes, and he realised that she was more attractive compared to the girl who the King had chosen for himself. But when Markus Wilmot was staring at Beth, he wasn't admiring her beauty but out of displeasure because she was not being the obedient village girl and not going along with his word.

After his father had asked him to find out more about the girl's family, he had decided to act on it. He wasn't going to throw away the lineage, which led to power of the throne. When Calhoun didn't exist to the King and to the castle, the crown was going to come to him, but it had slipped right through his fingers. Killing the King was not easy, and the next option was, for his sister to marry the King, to be the rightful Queen. But nothing was going according to the Wilmot's plan as the King had picked up a nobody from the streets to be his wife.

"I work for the King as one of his ministers in the court," said Markus to Beth, "His grace doesn't like when he is being questioned. I don't know if you are aware, but he beheaded a few people since younger Miss Harris entered the castle."

This caught Mr. Harris' attention, "Why is beheading related to my daughter?" Was his daughter not safe there? Had someone told something to the King?

Markus smiled at the old man, "They said something which didn't sit well with him. I say this because I am also the King's cousin. It is not my place to be saying this, but...maybe you should check with your family, if something was done to cause his mood to be upset?"

Beth pursed her lips at the stranger's words. Was it due to the letter? She couldn't be sure.

"Please do not be sad. I will ask my men to fix this up. Or maybe set up your shop in a better place?" saying this Markus called one of his men who stood far away from where they were.

"No, no. That won't be necessary," said Mr. Harris as he didn't like to be indebted by others.

"I insist," Markus responded with a charming smile, "I wouldn't like it if a good man like yourself would be out in the sun without a roof over your head. Also, I am helping you to gain your favour."

Mr. Harris gave him a questioning look, "I do not understand."

Markus bowed his head and then said, "Forgive me if I am too forward, but I am taken by your older daughter Elizabeth. I was hoping we could get to know each other better that would lead to a possible marriage in the near future."

Beth was taken aback by this revelation.

She wasn't shocked, but she was surprised. After all, men had always flocked around her in the past. But she was astonished that a man who was the King's cousin was asking for her hand in marriage. She took another closer look at him, his features sharp and poised. The smile on his lips gentle and kind.

Beth didn't feign to be shy, but it didn't mean she was not interested in forming an alliance. It wasn't every day a woman got asked by the King's relative for hand in marriage. And Beth had been trying to think, how to get back at her sister, for the humiliation she had caused her since the time word had spread out about her marriage to the King.

"Ah, that is very kind of you, Sir," replied Mr. Harris who was at loss of words because it had only been a couple of minutes since the shop that he newly owned had been pulled down. He turned to look at Beth, who didn't say a word before she put a smile on her face.

"Miss Elizabeth, would you like to spend some time with me for a cup of tea? So that we can get to know more about each other?" Markus directly asked her.

On turning Mr. Danvers away, Beth had heard enough from everyone. She was no idiot to repeat it all over again. This was an excellent opportunity to get closer to the crown than just being the sister of the Queen. That was if Madeline would turn to be a Queen. Beth still had her eyes on the highest prize, and she wasn't going to let it go. History had heard and seen things where one could divert the fate of another. If Beth could do it, she would be the one standing next to the King-- using this man in front of her didn't seem like a bad idea, thought Beth to herself.

She gave him a polite nod, "If my parents agree to it." Beth was not going to show this man that she was an excited puppy. She was going to make sure that this man would listen to every word of her so that she could use him.

Markus then turned to her father who nodded his head, "If Beth has no problem, it should be alright. But we are going to visit the castle this weekend. For the preparation of my younger daughter's wedding."

"Of course, Sir. As I said, I am the King's cousin and also one of the ministers there. I will meet all of you there again. Do not worry about the shop. I will get it fixed," he offered the old man a polite smile. Then he turned to the lady, taking her hand in his, Markus kissed the back of her hand while his eyes on hers, "Have a good day, milady."

Beth felt superior now, "You too, Sir." She didn't forget to smile at him, an enchanting smile on her lips that had worked wonders in the past.

Earlier she had been worrying simply for nothing when the women in the market gossiped about her. Beth was still the most beautiful girl in here, and it was just that fate had been unlucky that day during the time of Hallow.

This vampire was nothing less to a prince charming, thought Beth to herself.

But what Beth didn't know was that Markus Wilmot didn't come here to woo her for marriage. He was no prince charming, he had entered in the life of the Harris only to harm them for his gain.

"I am sure Mr. Wilmot will help us fix the shop back. Come, papa," said Beth to walk back home with her father.