The Crown's Obsession (WN)
chapter-44

When he had taken a step close to her, Madeline had not meant to step away from him, but now that she did, she could see him staring at her. There was a slight trail of annoyance as he looked at her. The next time when he stepped forward, Madeline made sure to stand still where Calhoun raised his hands towards her hair, and he pushed the small stem along with the rose into her braided her.

"You forget that I enjoy a chase, Madeline," he whispered to her as he let go of his hands from her hair.

Madeline had to hold her breath when he had stepped close to her breathing space, letting it go only when he moved away.

"Why didn't you wear a red dress on the day of the Hallow?" he questioned her, "Most of the women prefer to pick red as it brings out the colour of their skin. Didn't want to get noticed?" he raised one of his eyebrows at her as he asked the question, his eyes burning into hers as he waited for an answer from her.

The truth was not about being noticed but that there was no red dress in the store that she could wear. The one red dress that was there in Mr. Heathcliff's store was taken by her sister, Beth and the next decent dress was the beige dress that she had worn that looked mellow compared to the red dress that could catch anyone's eyes. But in the end, the Hallow had a sea of red dresses that were worn by most of the women. Madeline had turned out to be the odd one out who had turned up at the castle with pale looking clothes.

"There weren't many dresses to be rented," she replied to his question.

"Rent?" Calhoun tilted his head as if he didn't know what the word meant, "Why did you wear the rented dress?" he asked her.

Madeline knew her family was poor and he didn't have to rub the fact over her face, "Because we didn't have enough money to buy the dresses. You must have forgotten that my father is a woodcutter and a woodcutter don't earn much."

"How can I forget that your father is a woodcutter," Calhoun commented, his eyes taking in her expression, "The daughter of a woodcutter who can hold an axe."

And in the end, he smirked, looking down at her, "I thought you forgot about it especially when I made a deal with your family that I will help your father in his work. Give a better life if you decide to cooperate and marry me."

Somewhere Madeline was relieved that he was not forcing on her, not yet at least but the fear lingered in the back of her head with what if's.

She didn't know the King. This was the second day she was spending her time with him, and his intentions didn't appear to be apparent apart from how he was forceful with his demands and how he liked to get things done by his terms. This was how the King was.

"I haven't done anything you don't want me to," she responded to his words and the smile on his lips broadened.

He stepped closer to her again. His mouth going to rest next to her ear, "Are you sure about that?" he asked her. Madeline felt a chill shiver run down her spine when his breath hit her ear, and though she wanted to step back, she felt compelled to stand still and not irk him by moving away from him. "I feel like your mind has been running with things I wouldn't like, if I knew about it. I can hear your little heart beating, Maddie. A quiet one beating in fear is it?"

Calhoun was an intimidating man. Though she wasn't able to see his face and the wicked expression on it, she could feel fear sink into her skin. Madeline had done nothing wrong so far that would have displeased him, but his warning was making her wary, and she wished she could go back to the room, lock the door and get to sleep never to wake up again so that she would be far away from this person.

"I didn't do anything," Madeline held her ground.

He pulled away, his eyes falling back on her face, "I believe you," he responded to her claims with a smile on his lips that told otherwise.

Calhoun turned away from her and started to walk, expecting her to follow him, and she did. It seemed like they were the only ones in the open garden, and it was indeed beautiful. But what was beauty when it was imprisoned in strong hands, asked Madeline to herself.

"Why did you not choose my sister?" Madeline questioned him, "She would be the perfect queen for you. She is smart, intelligent, beautiful who has stolen many hearts, and she would be to your par-"

"Why does it feel like we have already gone through this before?" asked Calhoun in a nonchalant voice.

"Because I am unable to wrap my mind on how you picked me," her footsteps stopped, wanting an answer from him, which was reasonable.

Calhoun's footsteps paused when he couldn't hear Madeline's steps behind him. If it were someone else, he would have ripped their head off for the disobedience and the attitude towards him, but for once, Calhoun was patient as this was not any person. He turned himself to face her.

"Your repeated questions are going to make me think that you want to hear me sing praises of yourself on why I chose you," his red eyes were filled with mirth, "Must feel nice to receive compliments from the King," he poked her to see how she pursed her lips.

"I am not fishing for compliments!" Madeline reverted to him.

"Your words say otherwise," he shrugged his shoulder, "Do you want to know why I picked you?" He noticed how her innocent brown eyes that didn't know how the world ran to look back at him.