The Crown's Obsession (WN)
chapter-242

"I hope you find your happiness, milady," Madeline prayed for Lucy.

If Samuel was indeed cheating on Lady Lucy where he was not giving any love or care to her, wasn't it better for her to return to the castle where her family was? Madeline asked herself. But then, they lived in a society where people would look unkindly at the woman and not at the man.

"Hm," Lady Lucy hummed in response.

"Anyways, when are your grandparents visiting the castle? They must be very excited to see their granddaughter marrying."

"Very excited," Madeline replied, and Lucy laughed.

"I heard from your mother earlier that she was worried because your grandparents are not accepting when it comes to us vampires," said Lucy, "Once they meet me, I am sure they will have a different opinion about the night creatures. It is what everyone says."

Madeline smiled, "I could agree on that."

She didn't know if things will go smoothly with her grandparents in the castle. She wondered if that is why she had come to be wary of the vampires, from her grandparents, but Beth wasn't like that. Her older sister was much more accepting when the matter involved a higher status.

Madeline and Lucy spent some more time together, out in the garden. It was not as quiet as the insides of the castle that was covered with walls and pillars. Madeline heard the chirping of birds that flew in the sky, who were going back to their nests as the time of night wasn't too far.

When the time to head back inside the castle came, Lady Lucy said, "If cousin Markus and your sister Elizabeth have had a successful hunt, it will be a feast tonight. Your first hunting must have been scary for you," remembered Lady Lucy.

"The King was there to catch the arrow, so it felt less daunting," admitted Madeline.

"Brother Calhoun's reflexes are amazing and on point," agreed Lucy, "I still remembered the time when there was some sort of demonstration going on when brother Calhoun was new in the castle. Our grandmother had tested his skills by having dozens of arrows shot at him. Grandmother was angry with father, for accepting Calhoun as the possible heir who wasn't from two royal families."

Madeline doubted their grandmother only wanted to test Calhoun's skills. She wondered what their grandmother had done to receive such death apart from mistreating Calhoun's mother.

It only shed that much light on what Calhoun might have been through, not just when he was living with his mother or out on the streets but also when he was in the castle. People were less accepting when it was someone who wasn't from the royal family, especially when it was an illegitimate son who was born from a mistress.

"This only made father proud when brother Calhoun demonstrated his skills," said Lady Lucy, bringing Madeline back from her thoughts to the present.

"How was your grandmother," asked Madeline, wanting to know Lady Lucy's view on the late woman.

"She was too strict. Don't do this, don't do that. She wasn't happy with her life," came the thoughtful answer from the vampiress, "I mean, I think even mother had a hard time pleasing her. She might be the least favourite and then grandfather. Only because I never got to meet him," Lady Lucy laughed.

"I think we share similar grandparents when it comes to strictness," Madeline replied, and Lady Lucy beamed that she had someone similar to talk about. Though there was Calhoun and Sophie along with the others, it never felt right to share things like this. Maybe because bad-mouthing one's own family was considered to be disgraceful, but it was only Lucy who thought so while the rest continued to play tricks.

Before they could step inside the castle, Madeline's footsteps halted, "Lady Lucy, if I were to ask of you something, will you keep it to yourself?" Madeline doubted that she would be able to get to speak to Beth freely, especially when she was mostly with either Markus or Lady Rosamund.

Lucy readily nodded her head, "Anything."

Madeline's eyes darted left and right, making sure no one was there. She then finally whispered to Lucy, "I wanted to know how…" Lady Lucy patiently heard it before a smile broadened on her lips, and she answered back to Madeline's questions. Madeline was thankful that Lady Lucy had not looked at her as if she had grown another head. Lucy had picked on what she was saying quickly before offering her advice.

When they stepped inside, Calhoun appeared from the other side, walking in their direction, "You don't mind me stealing Madeline from your side, do you, Lucy?"

Lucy bowed her head, a faint smile on her lips, "I will go and see what Sophie is up to."

"Please," said Calhoun to see his half-sister walk away in search of their cousin.

Madeline saw Lucy leave, and her eyes shifted at Calhoun to meet his blood-red eyes, "Was there something you needed from me?" she asked him.

"If I were to ask you, would you give it to me? Your grandparents were too nice to offer water. Will you repay the kindness on behalf of them?" asked Calhoun. He took one step closer to her and Madeline gulped.

"I can bring you a glass of blood from the kitchen," Madeline offered him. Technically, Calhoun had missed a glass of blood from her grandparents.

"I want you," came his reply and Madeline took a quick look to notice two maids who had entered the corridor to immediately turn around and leave on seeing her and the King.

Madeline cleared her throat, "I don't think my grandparents were offering me as cookies to you." She didn't want Calhoun to think that he could get his way every time by cornering her by his words and actions.

Calhoun's lips twitched, "You are a tasty cookie," Madeline noticed Calhoun run his tongue over his teeth, "Soft, and sweet, tantalizing. Let's blame it on your grandparents for not giving me blood." She gulped.

"You had enough time to drink blood in here. In the court," said Madeline. The way Calhoun was looking at her right now, it felt like he was barely able to hold his thirst, "I can ask someone to bring you a glass of blood," she offered, ready to walk to the kitchen but Calhoun placed one of his hands on the wall of the pillar to stop her.

Madeline hoped Calhoun was only teasing her and not being serious about it. She wanted him to control his thirst, and it wasn't like there was no blood in the castle. Calhoun was stubborn in wanting to drink blood from her. He was smart, but Madeline didn't want him thinking he could trick her into giving herself whenever he wanted.

She turned to her left side and then said, "Mother."

This caught Calhoun's attention, and he turned in the direction she looked at, but there was no one. Madeline took this opportunity to step away from him and escape from the corridor before he would sink his fangs into her skin.

Hearing the sound of a pair of shoes running, Calhoun's eyes narrowed, and he looked at her back. The nerve of the girl, thought Calhoun to himself.

His eyes turned dark, and his fang bit the inside of his skin to taste blood. He didn't like being denied. If Madeline was looking for a chase, Calhoun would give her one that was sinfully pleasing yet punishing.