The Crown's Obsession (WN)
chapter-279

Calhoun's shoes clicked sharply against the white marble floor of the corridor as he made his way towards the parlour room. Without announcing himself, he pushed the door open to see the Harris' and the Wilmot's who sat at the table having tea.

On his arrival in the room, everyone stood up to bow, "Good morning to the King," Lady Rosamund greeted.

"Morning. It is good to see everyone up and early today," he offered everyone a smile that turned the humans nervous as they were not used to seeing a person smile like the way the King did.

Lady Rosamund replied to this, "Markus arranged a hunting session for everyone's amusement today. It took a lot of time to make Mr. and Mrs. Harris agree to join us as they are new to it."

Calhoun's gaze shifted to his in-laws, and they bowed their heads, "Lady Rosamund said it would be more recreational than sitting in the castle," said Mr. Harris.

"Yes, it is one form of recreation for us. Have you ever gone on hunting before, Mr. Harris?" questioned Calhoun.

"No, my Lord. My wife and my family members never have," answered the human.

"Not even your parents?" Calhoun continued to inquire. Though the man's heart didn't skip or change its beat, Calhoun saw Mr. Harris' eyes subtly widened before the man offered a smile and shook his head. "What a shame. I am sure you will enjoy your time. Hopefully, we don't have arrows flying like last time." His eyes then went to meet Sophie, who didn't utter a word.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Harris appeared worried over Calhoun's words. Not hunting but about Mr. Harris' parents interest in hunting. They brushed it away, thinking it was nothing of grave importance and the King was only asking to elicit a response out of them.

"Do not worry, I will be with Sophie this time to make sure nothing like that happens," Lady Rosamund assured, and Calhoun gave them a nod.

"I hope everyone enjoys it and bring me back some good meat."

"Will you not be joining us?" Lady Rosamund raised her eyebrow.

"Madeline and I will be here in the castle. There are some dresses that need to be stitched for her and I wouldn't like to delay it," Calhoun offered them a charming smile. Calhoun would have accompanied them, but with the grandparents who might be on their way, Calhoun wanted to have a word with them while Madeline's parents could breathe some fresh air. He would have cared enough to join them, but with them hiding Madeline's past and what was going on, he believed they deserved a little bit of time with his aunt.

When the time arrived, the Wilmot's and the Harris' family left for hunting while Madeline, Calhoun, and Lucy stayed back. The vampiress had not joined them because she lacked the mood and zeal for it.

"What do you think happened to Lady Lucy?" asked Madeline to Calhoun. They now sat in one of the cosiest rooms of the castle which was where Calhoun had once drank blood from her. Lucy hadn't spoken much, and she had been reticent.

Calhoun, who sat next to Madeline on the couch, said, "She caught her husband cheating on her. With the maid." Madeline instantly frowned.

"Why not send him away from here?" The man didn't deserve Lucy, "The maid knows they are married."

"Hm, she did. It is why her body will be left to rot in the dungeon for indulging with someone she was not supposed to," Calhoun answered with not a drop of emotion in his voice, "It is Lucy's decision. If she wants to stay with him or not. Since the time she was small, she never got a chance to choose and do things according to her wishes. She's still trying to wrap her mind and come in terms with the shock."

"When did this happen?" Madeline asked in a whisper.

"Since the time she went quiet. The day before she skipped breakfast with everyone," Calhoun took a sip from the crystal glass he held in his hand, "The man is a swine, but I have left it to Lucy on what she wants to do."

Madeline wondered how it felt, to see the man around who you believed, only to break the heart and trust. People often let others down when it came to the minimum expectations, thought Madeline to herself, just like her grandparents and her family.

"What about Theodore?" asked Madeline, and this had Calhoun turn his head to look at her.

"What about him?" Calhoun asked as if he had no idea what Madeline meant before a smile cracked on his lips, "Who knows what's going on. Lucy is still upset with him, and I think she has the right to be."

"You don't think Theodore is right for her?"

"It is hard to say who is right or wrong for someone, sweet," he turned towards her, bringing one leg up to rest on the couch while the other stayed on the ground. "When Theodore and I entered the castle, people didn't take our presence too kindly. I was someone important but not at the same time. Theodore was a nobody. Lucy might be the only one apart from my father, who welcomed us in here. If Lucy and I shared the relation we now have, maybe I would not have let Theodore mingle with her. But we both came here for our own benefit."

Calhoun continued, "We never know who is right and who is wrong. Once upon a time, you couldn't bear my presence around you. Your family believed that I was not suitable but as things changed, so did the thoughts. Don't you agree?"

He did have a point, thought Madeline to herself.

"Everything changes with circumstances," said Calhoun, "I can tell by the look in your eyes."

Madeline stared back into his red eyes and asked, "And what look is that?"

A smile broke on his lips, "I would like to hear that from you." Calhoun was waiting for her to utter those words of confirmation that she solely belonged to him, and it was he who held her heart. He took another sip from his glass whilst his eyes didn't break away from her. Giving her something to think and bite into, he said, "I can hear your heart race when we are alone as if you remember the things we did on the bed and behind the closed doors. I can see the hint of blush even in the darkness as your cheeks turn warm under my slightest touch and words. I can hear the hitch in your heart. The trust you are building with me, and it makes me extremely pleased."

Madeline parted her lips, her lips trembling over the words that filled her ears before she said, "I have no one to trust and believe. As much as I love my parents, I am still hurt that they tried to hide and left me behind."

"I can tell," replied Calhoun, "I asked your sister to drop a letter to your dear Aunt Mary. I thought it would be a good family reunion."

"She's innocent," Madeline voiced her opinion.

"I will decide that when I am done interrogating," Calhoun responded, his hand gently swirling the last two sips of the wine in the glass. He wanted answers, but at the same time he didn't want to rush things. It was possible that Madeline's parents only knew what she did and not what happened. For now, he was going to keep Madeline close to him so that there wouldn't be an opportunity for anyone to hurt her.

At the same time, he wanted to make sure nothing bad would happen by her hands. If Madeline was truly destructive, he would need to prevent it.

Calhoun liked spending time with Madeline. He loved every second of it, and it felt nice to have both his and her family out of the castle while they could spend time with each other like this. Thanks to her family who had been lying to her and also her grandparents, who tried to kill her, it had brought Madeline closer to him. She trusted him, and Calhoun basked in it.

"I want to show you something," she said to him, her hand reaching for his glass and he handed it to her. Curious as to what she wanted to show him.

Madeline took a deep breath, and when she exhaled, the glass started to form cracks within itself, spreading around and ready to break into pieces. But suddenly the lines disappeared, leaving the crystal as it was before she touched it.

"What an interesting ability you have in there. And here I was worried that I would have to replace all the glasses and plates to make sure you wouldn't hurt yourself," commented Calhoun, "Do you remember the card reader?" he asked.

Madeline nodded her head, "Raphael." The man she thought to be Calhoun's brother but only to find out it was just by words.

"Yes him. He told me something interesting that day. That you were the opposite of what we are. Or I would like to think of what I am as you are paired with me," stated Calhoun taking the glass from her hand and placing it on the side table, "Do you know the answer to it?"

"A witch?" asked Madeline. Though witches were not well known and she had never met one, she had heard rumours about them, "A werewolf?"

"It would be a problem if you are a werewolf, but you aren't one," replied Calhoun, "You said your grandmother told stories about fairies and witches, and I think she wasn't too far away from the line of truth. Do you know how vampires came into existence?"

Madeline shook her head.

"My mother once told me this story. A story about demons who came from under the ground and turned to vampires to sustain their lives. The humans already existed on the land but there was another set of creatures who fell from the sky." While lying next to Madeline, Calhoun had spent his time thinking about the possibilities when he remembered this story. "Not fairies but some angels who were cursed to lead lives like the humans."

Madeline frowned, "Angels are supposed to be in heavens. It cannot be true."

Calhoun let his head be supported by his hand, "Your back says another story. The way your bruises are formed, it looks like arched curves. I found it rather strange the way the bruises were spread. Of course, this can be confirmed only through your grandparents."

Calhoun then turned to look at the door, staring at it and Madeline followed his line of sight when they heard a knock on the door.

"My King, there are guests awaiting you in the front room of the entrance," came the servant's voice.

"Who is it?" questioned Calhoun.

"They said they are Lady Madeline's relatives."

Calhoun stood up and turned to Madeline who stared back at him, "The culprits are here who put you in the coffin," he said, and for the first time, Madeline felt nervous to meet her grandparents.

Leaving the room, they made their way to where Madeline's grandparents were. Before they could enter the room, Calhoun's hand slipped into Madeline's hand, holding it. It made her wonder if he could hear her beating heart that was ready to explode.

When Madeline entered the room, it wasn't Calhoun but her who squeezed his hand on seeing her grandparents sitting in the room. The memories of what she saw came rushing back to her. Noticing the door open, her grandparents' attention fell on them, and they stood.

"Madeline," her grandmother greeted, and Madeline tried to muster a smile. Both her grandparents looked at the King before their eyes fell on their granddaughter's hand that was being held by the vampire.