The Crown's Obsession (WN)
chapter-377

Music Recommendation: Epilogue by Dario Marianelli

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From the wake of the dawn, snowflakes had stopped falling from the sky. Snow covered the most of Devon, with the colour of white spreading across the village and nearby towns that were near the Hawthrone castle. And though the weather was dull and gloomy, the castle held a light chatter of noise from the guests who had arrived at the castle, greeting and getting to know each other, while the servants hustled in and out to make sure everything was perfect.

Mr. and Mrs. Harris stood in one of the open corridors, talking to their relatives who had come to attend their daughter Madeline's wedding.

"I would have never guessed that vampires get married in a chapel," came the whisper of one their relative who had come to talk to them, "I heard that Madeline had tried to…" the woman trailed looking at Mr. and Mrs. Harris.

"It was a wrong information that was spread out by one of the maids who used to work here, Lydia," Mrs. Harris quickly tried to dismiss the woman's words.

"Is that so?" Lydia responded, who is one of Mr. Harris' distant cousin, "We were worried about what might have happened. Not to forget how cruel vampires can be."

"The King has been generous and thoughtful about Madeline and us," Frances didn't know how far the false rumour had spread in Devon about Madeline, "We can hardly wait to see them married."

Lydia smiled, "Of course, marriage is a beautiful thing when you get married to the right person. I hope it is the same with your elder daughter. I heard she is still waiting for a suitable man. Since you are the mother, you should tell her not to wait so long. Not everyone has the fortune of marrying the King. I mean, you don't want to have one daughter married and the other ending up as a spinster."

Another relative who stood next to the Harris couple was Mr. and Mrs. Halls, "I am surprised that Elizabeth was not the one to get married," commented Mr. Halls, "Where are uncle and aunt?" the man turned to ask Mr. Harris, "I don't think I have even seen Mary since I arrived at the castle. Has she not arrived yet?"

Mr. Harris felt his throat turn dry, "You know how mother and father are when it comes to their distaste towards vampires," he forced a smile on his lips, "I sent out the invitation, but I think they decided to sit this one out. Mary, I am not sure. We have been waiting for her since we arrived here. Isn't that right, Francis?" Mr. Harris turned to look at his wife.

"Yes, he's right. Hopefully, she will be here on time," came the forced lie from Mrs. Harris, who was uncomfortable talking about it. She knew questions like these would come up during the conversation where she and her husband would have to behave as if they knew nothing.

Mr. Harris then said, "Why don't you go inside and make yourself comfortable? We'll join you soon," his words were polite and he saw their relatives walk away from them.

"I am worried if something will happen," Mrs. Harris whispered as she placed her hand on her husband's arm, "I heard the High House members will be attending the wedding too. Do you think they will find out something?"

"Don't worry, dear," Mr. Harris rubbed his wife's back, "It will be fine. The King has taken care of everything. And we have more eyes than what we had in the past, on us and on others. All we need to do is behave like we know nothing. People don't know anything," he whispered back, "Where is Beth?" Mr. Harris had heard from Madeline that Beth had remembered on what happened in the past.

"She must be with Madeline, helping her to get ready," answered Mrs. Harris, noticing carriages riding from a distance, making their way towards the castle.

In a room, which was away from the main halls and corridors of the castle, Madeline stood in front of one of the bedpost, holding it with her hands as the maid tightened her corset before tying it. There were three maids in the room, helping her along with her sister Beth, who had got ready beforehand so that she could help Madeline.

"Have everyone arrived?" asked Madeline after wearing her dress.

"Most of them," replied Beth, who stood next to the window, looking outside at the carriages arrive one after another. "I met Uncle Joaquin on my way up here. Uncle Desmond is here with our cousin brothers." Madeline couldn't help but worry on what Uncle Desmond would say regarding his wife Mary's sudden disappearance. With the maids in the room, neither did Beth nor her speak about it, and only shared glances at each other. "I must say, Mr. Heathcliff sure did a good job with the wedding gown. He knows his work."

Madeline moved towards the place where the oval mirror was nailed on the wall. She looked at her reflection. Her hair had already been combed. Partitioning her hair from the side and pinning them entirely behind. Some pieces of her hair had been pulled out near her temple and she looked at the wedding gown that she wore. There were small pearls embedded into the dress along with the thread work on the silk gown. She could tell that James had really outdone himself, and she could feel the admiration and his soul poured into this gown. And at that thought, she wondered where James was now.

It had been a few days now since she had last seen James. Even though Mr. Barnes had been executed, and the marriage was no more going to take place because of the death of Catherine Barnes, James still had not returned.

Beth noticed how Madeline had turned quiet and was thinking about something. "I think that is all the lady needed help with. You can leave," she dismissed the maids, who bowed their heads at both the sisters before closing the door. Beth asked, "Do you still love him?"

Madeline looked startled, and she saw her sister through the mirror, "James? No," she shook her head. "I don't know if he's alright because if people find out about him...they won't think twice before pulling the arrow at him, to kill him."

Beth gave her sister a nod, "Let me help you in fixing the veil. I need to put the roses in here too. We don't want to miss it," she offered, walking towards the bed where the thin fabric and pale pink roses were placed. Picking them up, she came to stand behind Madeline, "Sit."

Even though there were parts in her mind that were empty because of what was going on, Madeline was happy to have her sister by her side, "Beth?"

"Hm?" responded Beth, who was concentrating on pushing the small pink roses into the back of Madeline's hair before pinning the veil.

"I am happy that you are here." Madeline was happy that Beth's memories had returned and that they were in the process of reconciliation. It meant a lot to her, that things between them weren't awkward anymore and that they were alright. She could see how Beth thought twice or thrice before saying anything like she was considerate since yesterday.

Beth lifted her gaze to look at Madeline's reflection on the mirror, and she smiled, "I am glad too," and she went back to finish her job of pinning the veil to Madeline's hair before spreading it. "There, the bride is ready. I will be going to check on mama and papa. Do you want me to stay here with you?"

Madeline shook her head, "I will be fine."

The door shut close when Beth left, leaving Madeline alone in the room.

Silence filled the room, and Madeline continued to stare at herself. Her hair had been set with pins, and her lips had a tint of red, something Beth had applied on her lips. In a short time, she would be walking to the chapel and down the aisle, and the nervousness slowly crept in her nerves.

Even though the room she was in was away from the front side of the castle, Madeline heard every carriage that came to enter or leave the castle ground. She stood up from the dressing mirror when she heard rustles coming from outside the window. At first, she took it to be the birds that were chirping a few minutes ago, but when the sound continued, Madeline was about to make her way towards the window and at the same time, someone got inside the room through the same open window.

"J-James?" Madeline was shocked and happy to see him here.

The handsome man whom she once knew, he now looked exhausted with the dark circles under his eyes. His hair was unkempt, his shirt not tucked in and his sleeves unrolled. She could tell by looking at him now that he had lost weight. "Where were you all these days?" she questioned. She turned her head around to look at the door before looking back at him.

"I ended up in the North, and it took time for me to come here," replied James taking in the wedding gown she wore, "You're getting married today. Happy?" he asked her.

Madeline nodded in response. She had not expected to see him in here, not at this castle or this time, but she was happy to know that he was still alive. "That's good. You look beautiful," complimented James.

"Thank you. You are the person who made the gown," Madeline smiled, and James returned it, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

It was the gown that had caught the King's attention in the ballroom. Madeline had looked exceptionally beautiful that day who could captivate anyone's attention. When James had realized his talent when it came to the fabric and threads along with the needles, he never knew that the same skill would be a downfall when it came to his love life. Maybe not entirely, but the gown that he had rented to Madeline to wear, it had somehow contributed to the change of events in his and Madeline's lives.

"You are the one wearing it, milady," James bowed his head, accepting his final defeat, knowing he would have to let go of his feelings about Madeline from his heart, but he wondered if it was possible. Maybe it would take time, but until then, he would continue to love her.

Madeline didn't know if James had heard about the last two cases, and she said, "Mr. Barnes was executed in the town for the murder of his daughter."

And her words only made James realize that his life was not the same as before. "I heard about him." He was too ashamed to admit that he had killed Catherine, "I came here to bid you bye."

"Where are you going?" asked Madeline with a frown, "We are trying to find an antidote that can help you to turn back. Stay here in the castle. It's not safe outside."

James smiled at Madeline's concerned words. "There is no antidote, and I might never return to the life that I once had, but I met a werewolf who offered to help me with my current condition. I had to settle a few things with the shop and thought to drop by in here, to see you before I left. I will be moving to the North, where there are many people like me."

Madeline saw James walk towards her, stopping to stand in front of her. James seemed like he had already decided to leave Devon. She hoped that the person or people whom James trusted wouldn't put him in trouble.

"I don't want to bring up the past as you are going to start a new life soon, and if there are any regrets, it is only that I should have been brave enough to do or stop things," said James to her, "I am happy for you," he placed his hand on Madeline's arm for the briefest moment before dropping his hand to his side.

James then leaned forward to the side of her face, moving closer for one last greet when he sensed her body turn rigid, and he smiled. Pulling himself back, he wished her, "I wish you a happy married life, Lady Madeline." Before Madeline could say anything, he quickly jumped out of the window and disappeared into the woods.

A moment later, the door opened and Lucy stepped in to see Madeline looking at the window, "Lady Madeline? It is time."