The Crown's Obsession (WN)
chapter-24

Madeline who heard what the King said, felt everything tumbling down around her. She looked at the King and then at her parents with worry in her eyes. She didn't want to stay here; she didn't want to live here. They had come here in the intention of her sister, Beth to meet and possibly marry the King.

"You have only given your word of promise. They haven't married and consummated their marriage. I don't think it should be difficult to break it," said the King, not caring if Madeline was promised to marry another man.

Though Mr. and Mrs. Harris had decided to lie to the King, they hadn't expected him to ask them to break their word.

Beth was still in shock that the King had asked for her sister and not her. She was the eldest daughter; she was supposed to be given the first preference and not her sister, who was younger to her. It was her who was interested in living here while clearly, her sister was someone who wanted to live a simple life back in the village.

She had been the one thriving to move forward in her life. There were times when she had worked harder in teaching the children to earn an extra penny of a coin which she had used to buy the dress for the ball. She had been the one to pick up the etiquettes and have her sister learn; she didn't understand how this could happen that the King had chosen Madeline over her.

Both the sisters had their troubles right now.

Calhoun stood up from his seat, and the servant who had been standing behind went quickly to pull out the chair for the King.

"Milord," Mrs. Harris bowed her head this time, "Madeline shares affections with the man and we promised to marry her to him. They have liked each other for some time now," Madeline had told her that the man wanted to spend time with her daughter; therefore, she didn't hold back in mentioning it to the King. The woman then raised her head in the hope that he would reconsider his demand, "It would be miserable if they-"

"It would be more miserable if only his head ends up on the spear," his words were cold, not pleased with the way the woman had spoken about the girl sharing her affections with another man. But that was alright, in time it could be fixed.

Calhoun looked at Madeline whose eyes had turned wide in shock and fear, "She might not like it now, but she will eventually come to like the life that is present here. I am sure her sister Beth, can put great insights into why she should choose life here. Right, Miss Beth?" he turned his head to look at Beth, who managed to smile at him.

Beth's hands had turned to fist as she nodded, her nails digging into the palms of her hands.

"Lovely," praised Calhoun, "It is not every day a person gets to share the same table with the King. You should count your stars that my eyes fell on your daughter, and I am willing to ignore your family's poverty and take her as my woman."

Madeline and her parents didn't agree with this. Madeline felt like she had ended up with unlucky stars that she had caught the King's attention.

"I don't want to stay here," Madeline vocalized her thoughts, her eyes moving back and forth in between her parents and the King.

Mr. Harris hoped the King would listen to Madeline's words. The man must have a soft corner for his daughter if he had taken an interest in her.

In the meantime, Madeline gave her mother a pleading look because she didn't want to be left here in the castle. This wasn't a place she belonged to. She liked Mr. Heathcliff because he wasn't an overbearing man. He respected her wishes, and it was something that she valued. They had decided to meet each other this Saturday, which was only two days away from today. If she was going to be here, she would not be able to meet him.

In comparison to Mr. Heathcliff, the King was forcibly tearing her away from her family and wanted to keep her here against her will.

Her father took the courage to speak and said, "My King, we would like to spend more time with our daughter. We would like to take her home today and bring her-"

"No," Calhoun's words of refusal was quick. When his eyes met Madeline's brown innocent one's, he saw her plead at him without words, "Madeline stays here," he declared, not wanting anymore argument on it.

To let her would mean sending her in the arms of the lover to be consoled which he would not allow. He would give her all the comfort and care she needed.

He then said, "You can stay here for ten more minutes to say your goodbyes to Madeline. It would be wise to follow my word unless you would want to lessen the number of people in your family," he gave them a polite smile to diffuse the dangerous atmosphere which instead of turning calm turned eerie. Calhoun looked at her father to say, "You will be taken back in the carriage to your home. And as promised, you will be showered with the favours of the King. Theo," the King called to leave the dining room with Theodore.

When it was just Harri's family in the room, Madeline could feel the blood rushing through her veins in panic, and she went around to her parents,

"Please don't leave me here, papa," Madeline begged her father, but the King had given his word. Madeline could see the helplessness in their eyes. Her parents appeared to be in a dilemma as they didn't want to leave her here all alone. She was the child they had protected, "Mama, please!"

Madeline felt as if she were caught, and there was no way out.