The Crown's Obsession (WN)
chapter-836-30041322

Beth saw Raphael fish something in his trouser pocket before bringing his closed fist in front of her. She wondered what Raphael wanted to show her, and when he opened his palm, she noticed a delicate silver chain that laid in his palm.

"This is for you," said Raphael and Beth looked back at him. "You said you don't wear any accessories anymore and I thought why not replace your black thread by a simple chain?" he smiled, saying this.

She didn't know how to react to it, half happy and half sad, "I cannot wear silver, Raphael. My body doesn't allow it."

"I know that," he said before his hands reached behind her neck to unhook the black thread-like chain in which the pendant hung. "This is a special chain which won't harm you." Sliding the pendant in the silver-looking chain, he asked, "May I?"

Beth nodded her head, and Raphael helped her to wear it. Her heart felt full, and tears brimmed back into her eyes. "I am just a little emotional right now," she said to him before he would call her a cry-baby again.

Raphael smiled at her words, and he came to sit next to her. "It is fine. You can cry as much as you want in front of me. I won't think badly of you. Here, I even brought a good handkerchief," he brought the cloth in front of her.

Beth laughed with her eyes still filled in tears, "I have never heard anyone encourage a person to cry."

"What can I say, this is a special case," replied Raphael.

"Thank you," whispered Beth, letting the handkerchief soak the little drops of tears before they would fall on her cheek. "For everything."

"You don't have to mention it. Like I told your parents, I am here for good and would like to stay here next to you," he stated before moving his hand to reach out for hers, and he held it in both his hands. "We haven't spent our time together like people usually do, but Elizabeth Harris, would you like to live here, in this village with this fortune teller?"

Beth stared at Raphael as the words sunk in her mind that he just said to her.

"You mean together?" asked Beth to clarify.

"Well, I didn't think about living separately in two houses, it would be very strange, especially considering how we would be spending our time together. I will speak about it with your parents, but if you-"

"I would like that," replied Beth to his words.

Right now, the castle, the big life with people of high status, didn't matter anymore to her. As he said, she would have to work and try to gain people's trust, turning the wrongs into right.

"I am glad to hear that," Raphael beamed with a smile, and Beth smiled back at him.

His hands felt warm and nice, just like the bright sun that blew away the clouds of doubt in her mind.

After a few seconds, Beth asked, "Can I request a card reading too?"

"You already have yours," replied Raphael, and when he let go of her hand, Beth felt one of his cards appear in her hand.

She looked down at her hand where one of the metal cards had appeared out of nowhere. Bringing it in front of her, she noticed it was the card of the fool, and there was an impression of a person with wings. Beth didn't ask what it represented, and she only smiled. Forgetting what happened earlier, she couldn't help but feel her heart grow lighter in Raphael's presence.

"I have the fool," she murmured.

"You do," agreed Raphael, and he nudged her shoulders with his own.

Both Raphael and Beth continued to sit in the backyard house in each other's company.

Back in the castle, Madeline and little Morven were surrounded by Paschar, Vlad, Odin, Lady Monique, Lucy and Madeline's parents.

"Don't you have somewhere to go? You have been holding him for far too long," complained Paschar, watching Vlad holding little Morven without giving him to anyone except Madeline.

"Maybe we should wait for some years before we get to spend time with him," murmured Mrs. Harris under her breath.

Lucy laughed, seeing Vlad keep little Morven to himself and being brave, she said, "Vlad, you should let us spend time with him too."

"I will be going to Heaven, you can have him at that time," Vladimir was quick with his response.

Madeline smiled, seeing the happy family that was in the room. With everyone taking turns to dote on the little baby, it gave no time for Madeline to worry about as she slept in peace while her family took care of him.

Calhoun had already left the living world to go to Heaven so that he could visit his mother for the very first time after many years. He had been in a deep thought before he had left, and Madeline Calhoun would be alright.

"Master, I think the baby has poo'ed," said Odin, who stood next to his master.

"Now where is the cloth to clean him and the scented powder?" Vlad asked his servant, and Odin quickly brought the things to spread it on the table. Mr. and Mrs. Harris had a dumbstruck expression on their face as they would have never thought to witness something like this in their whole life.

Far away from the living world, Calhoun stood in front of the golden gates of Heaven that were heavily guarded by the gatekeepers, who held a staff in their hands.

"What is the Devil's grandson doing here?" questioned one of the gatekeepers. "Heaven is no place for a person like you. Leave this place right away!"

Calhoun's black wings flapped in the air before he came to stand on the fluffy clouds beneath him. He raised his hand to show the card that Raphael had given him.

"I am here to meet Constance Lazarus," said Calhoun.