The Crown's Obsession (WN)
chapter-23

Madeline used her fork and knife, cutting down the smallest of the food that was on her plate so that she wouldn't have to open her mouth wide to put in the food. And every time she raised her fork to her mouth, she could sense his eyes on her, looking at her as if there was nothing else in the room to look at which turned her nervous and the movements of her hand awkward.

She slowly chewed and swallowed the food, her eyes moving towards him to see him looking at her.

The man didn't falter when it came to letting her know that he was looking at her. The attention was brazen to handle, his red eyes looking at her that had her heart skip out of restlessness.

Theodore Chauncey, who appeared to be close to the King, spoke to Mrs. Harris, "You have grown both your daughters well, Mrs. Harris. It is hard to find people when it comes to cutlery etiquette."

"Thank you," her mother bowed her head, "Beth and Madeline often visited their aunt from where they picked up the habits. They just turned out to be lucky when it came to learning things like these."

Theodore gave the woman a warm smile that had Madeline wonder how genuine the smile was. Both the King as well as this man shared red eyes and everyone in the village knew not to trust red eyes. The night creatures were full of deceit.

"Indeed very fortunate," Calhoun commented, "It is a shame that not everyone learns or adapts to it. Do you have other relatives who live in the village?" he inquired, taking another sip from the glass.

"I have my sister Mary who lives not too far from our house. She lives with her husband and two sons," Mr. Harris answered.

"Must be good to have a family member closeby," Calhoun smiled, a simple smile that looked far from it.

Madeline saw her father nod his head, "Yes, milord. Do you have your relatives who live here?" her father asked for formality.

"It's just me. All alone, but once I marry your daughter we can start planning to have a family," Calhoun's words were firm, and he continued to speak, "Mr. Harris, I heard both of them have been getting marriage alliance. How come you didn't get them married? Most of them get married when they are sixteen? Especially considering the financial condition of the family," he placed the glass aside that still had wine and brought both his hands forward to interlink his fingers below his chin.

Mr. Harris smiled, "We might be poor, but I didn't want to marry my daughters quickly. Sixteen is where girls are growing and trying to understand the world around them. It would be a shame to curb their growth. Beth wanted to get married, but we didn't agree to it. It might be a silly thought-"

"No, I agree with you," said the King, agreeing to her father before adding, "If you didn't believe in it things would have gone differently," he gave an unnerving smile that had everyone not touch their food for a good two seconds.

Madeline didn't know why, but it felt like she was standing in a lake that was frozen with ice, but the ice was thin. One wrong step and the person would be under the cold water. She was only turning anxious with the way he was looking at her that she wanted to go back home as fast as she could. Unable to eat, she placed her fork and knife beside her plate.

When their meal had finally come to an end, the King finally spoke for what he had called the Harris' family today,

"As mentioned in the letter, your daughter has caught my attention, and in the interest of it, I would like that she starts living here in the castle," the King's words had Mrs. Harris almost slip the knife that was in her hand. He had a serious look on his face, "Do not worry about her living conditions. She will be treated like a queen. She will be looked after with maids and servants waiting on her. She will be tended from the tip of her hair to her toe, with jewels and fine quality of clothes on her skin."

"R-right away?" Mr. Harris asked with evident surprise in his voice. The man knew that the King had taken an interest, but this was too sudden. They hadn't been prepared for it.

"I do not see why there's any need to wait and prolong the time. Having her here, she can learn about life in the castle and the ordeal that runs. It would be just enough time before we wed," Calhoun remarked to lean back against his seat to see the look of shock on their faces.

"Milord," Mr. Harris bowed his head, "We won't be able to spend time with her after she gets married and lives here. Give us some time so that we can-"

"Mr. Harris, I wasn't asking you," Calhoun interjected.

The palms of Madeline turned sweaty hearing this, and on the other side, Beth couldn't be any more glad to come to live in the castle.

Calhoun then let out his final verdict, "From this time onward, Madeline will stay here in the castle."

Beth's eyebrows drew together in confusion. Madeline? Did she hear it wrong? The King had taken his time to talk to her, charming her and not her younger sister who looked particularly pale today in comparison to her.

Mr. Harris felt a sheen of sweat form on his forehead. It appeared that what he was worried had come to be true. The King had his eyes on his youngest daughter, Madeline, "Milord, my daughter has been promised to marry another man. I beg you to reconsider it. My older daughter is much more eligible and you might find her to be of your taste."

"Break it off," said Calhoun, his eyes looking at the human.