The Crown's Obsession

Seeing James Heathcliff standing not too far away from where she was, she found it hard to tear her gaze away from him. She was back in the village, and he was here. She softly gulped when James' eyes moved to look at the King along with whom she had come. The last time they had met, she had lied only to protect him, hoping he would step out of the castle in one piece instead of two.

When James turned his eyes to look at the maid's body who had been beheaded a few seconds ago, Madeline's own eyes moved back to look at the scaffold. The surface of it looked nothing less than a blood splatter where the maid's dead body continued to stay there. The cruel punishment had turned Madeline's stomach sick and her head heavy.

But Calhoun was not done with the little show for the villagers. He, who was sitting stood up from the seat that was arranged for him and walked up to the scaffold to gain everyone's attention. A lot more people had now gathered that even Beth, who had gone out to the market, came to see what was going on until her eyes fell on King Calhoun.

"What happened today was another demonstration of what can happen to people who will go against the crown. Treason shall not be taken lightly and will not be tolerated. Brave men and women, your loyalty to the King shall not go unnoticed," Calhoun smiled looking down at the crowd whilst he enjoyed the attention, "This man has been brave enough to take the place when we asked to catch the real culprit."

Madeline's eyebrows furrowed at Calhoun's words. Surely the servant didn't know it was a setup because he was in fear of the death approaching him yesterday. The servant man, Oswyn turned his head, a look of shock on his face.

"This was not a setup," murmured Madeline under her breath.

Theodore, who was standing on the other side, said, "It wasn't, milady, but it is only right, he is showered with gifts."

She didn't know why but something didn't feel right in here. She then heard Calhoun say, "For the loyalty, he has shown towards the King, I have asked the magistrate to gift him a house and increase his position in the castle."

The men and women around couldn't be any happier and clapped their hands before praising the King.

When Calhoun returned to where Madeline was, he saw the look she had in her eyes, and he said, "You look surprised."

"I thought you would be executing the man," Madeline responded.

"Thanks to you, my men spent less time in finding the maid who was involved in the matter. I am sure the man will be very thankful," stated Calhoun before asking, "What?" when he saw Madeline quiet.

"Lady Madeline, is it the first time for you to witness the execution? You poor thing must be shocked," Sophie placed her hand on Madeline's shoulder in comfort, "A human-like you must have been shielded."

Madeline felt the tight grip of Sophie's hands on her shoulder and arm, which felt as tight as the corset before she had stepped in the carriage. Bringing up her hand, she pushed Sophie's hand, politely, "No. The first one I saw was in the court of the castle," she didn't want to come off to be a weak person, not in front of this vampiress who never lost an opportunity to remind her that she came from the village with a poor background.

Sophie had a look of surprise on her face, "Oh? When was that?" she asked curiously.

Calhoun obsered how Madeline looked composed compared to the first time he had beheaded his minister himself, "It was a welcoming act so that the court knew who was in the castle," he said, his lips twisted into a smile while Madeline stared back at him.

Sophie didn't like the way Calhoun phrased it, and it seemed like as time was passing, the King was only giving this human more attention than she deserved, "I wish I were there," Sophie smiled.

Madeline wanted to point out that the King could have let go of the servant when he was found to be not guilty and rewarded him in the court. But Calhoun had made it a point to bring him here, showing his subjects of the generosity he bestowed on the man. It was an act that was put up for the people to think how kind their King was.

"Are you not satisfied with the way she was executed?" asked Calhoun to Madeline, his red eyes gazing down at her.

"I never said anything," she answered.

"How did you like it?" he asked her. Madeline pursed her lips. What kind of strange question was that to ask if she liked the way the person died, "If you tell what you like to be done next time, maybe we can reserve it for the special someone who crosses lines and attempts for treason. What do you say, Sophie?" his eyes didn't move away from Madeline.

"I think it's a good idea. But I don't think Lady Madeline is up for it. I mean she's such a sweet girl, she would not be able to do that," Sophie pointed subtly that Madeline was an unfit person to deliver punishment. It was like sending a rabbit for a hunt that knew nothing.

"Just because she doesn't know now doesn't mean she can't learn them," Calhoun stated, his tongue running across his teeth before turning his gaze to look at his cousin sister, "Weren't you telling how you wanted to walk through the villages shops and see what's in there?"

Sophie's eyes lit up at the question, "We will?"

"Well if we includes you and Theodore then yes, it's a we. Theodore will tour you around. I have something to do with Madeline," he said, ready to leave and Sophie couldn't stop but look like a frog with her mouth wide open.

"You won't be coming? That's alright. I don't want to go today. I can go some other day when you are free," replied Sophie, who didn't want to spend more minutes away from Calhoun while leaving the human with him.

"I don't know if we'll be coming here again. I am the King. I am a busy man," said Calhoun to see the worried lines on Sophie's forehead.

"It can wait. We have come here now, so let us go together-"

"Sophie," Calhoun called her name, his voice low, which had the vampiress stop talking. He had a sweet yet deadly smile on his lips, "Theodore will be with you. I have something more important to do, and it doesn't concern you. Theodore," on the word, his right-hand man was quick to come to stand beside the vampiress.

"Lady Sophie, shall we?"

Sophie's hands had turned to tight fists. She couldn't speak back because she knew relative or not, Calhoun wouldn't mind putting the person who crossed him on the scaffold without a thought. She bowed her head before leaving with Theodore.

Madeline, who saw Sophie walking next to Theodore, turned to look at Calhoun who was already looking at her, "Shall we?" She gave him a nod, but before leaving the place, her eyes moved, searching for James in the crowd where he had earlier stood, but the man was not there. She wondered if he was mad at her, for not supporting his words in the courtroom.

She would have thought that Calhoun didn't know the way, but it seemed like he knew where he was going.

They finally reached the place where the shop was built. At the sight of her father in the shop, who was sorting the woods, she felt happy. There had been times in the past where she had wished her father would not have to sit in an open place under the hot sun during the time of noon. She had hoped that one day she or Beth would get to help him so that he wouldn't have to work so hard.

Calhoun's footsteps stopped, but Madeline continued to walk forward.

"You can stop there."

Hearing Calhoun's words, Madeline turned around to look at him, "What?"

"There are somethings that you can only see from afar but not touch," said Calhoun, turning to walk towards her.