The Crown's Obsession

Madeline who had only taken a glimpse of the kitchen from outside before, now saw how big the kitchen was, and she realised it was as big as her house. With the amount of food that would be needed to be prepared for the guests during the time of soirees and balls and other days, it was understandable that a lot of space was needed so that a huge amount of food could be prepared.

After falling off from the cliff, Madeline was sure that Calhoun would forget the cooking deal and maybe if she went to him...No no, thought Madeline to herself. She didn't want to see him in whatever state he was in now. Cooking was not a big thing to her as she was used to it. She wasn't sure about what had to be prepared that would be consumed by the King.

The maids didn't bother her and continued to work along with the head cook who left Madeline to herself. The maid who had accompanied her, stood with her back against the wall on standby if the lady would need assistance in cooking.

Madeline walked around the kitchen. Taking a look at the vegetables that were brought and placed inside which were fresh. The meat made her frown as she saw blood dripping from some of it and some that looked soft and tender. She finally started to cook, bringing whatever she needed. The maids in there couldn't help but take a sneak at what the lady was doing. No lady had ever stepped foot in the kitchen as it was considered to be beneath the high status. It made the maids curious about this human who had been staying in the castle since a few days.

Her hands were deep in the dough, which was sticky and powdered at someplace when the vampiress who had received news about what Madeline was doing decided to stop by the kitchen.

"Lady Madeline," came Sophie's voice that was filled with glee.

Out of all the years Sophie knew about the castle and Calhoun, not once had a lady who was involved with the King stepped in the kitchen. With the open opportunity, Sophie couldn't help but smirk that maybe Calhoun didn't care about this girl and was only going to turn her into a maid in good time, "What are you doing here?" asked Sophie, noticing the sticky dough that stuck on Madeline's fingers.

Madeline wanted to ask the same question to Sophie. She wondered how Sophie had quickly flown down here like a bird, "I am mixing the dough," she replied, her words polite and she looked at the bowl, kneading the dough.

Sophie smiled at Madeline, "I can see that but what I meant is we have the cook and the maids to do that. Why are you doing the job unless you plan to secure a job here in the kitchen? Don't tell me that brother Calhoun asked you to cook."

"He did," answered Madeline. She raised her hand to push the hair that had come to settle on the side of her face, "Would you like to join me?" came her sweet voice and Sophie only laughed at it.

"I would prefer to not to dirty my hands by cooking. You see, I never had to go through the day where there was no one to cook for me," replied the vampiress.

Madeline continued to knead the dough as it was the first thing she wanted to prepare before cooking other things to create a wholesome meal, "I thought you knew how to cook," she said.

"Of course, I do. We are taught everything, that is how the high families are. But that doesn't mean we have to put our hands into it. I don't have such bad days," Sophie sighed as if she was tired by looking at Madeline kneading the dough, "Also, I don't think it would be right for the future queen to do simpleton work like this in the castle."

When she turned around, the servants who were eavesdropping on their conversation while peeking at them bowed their heads at the vampiress.

"I hope you turn to be a wise Queen," Madeline bowed her head, but Sophie's eyes slightly narrowed. What did the lowly human mean 'turn to a wise queen'? Was she saying she was not wise enough right now? Thought Sophie to herself, "But allow me to say this," said Madeline to gain Sophie's attention, "It is often said that no woman's status becomes less if they cook for someone. Especially when its the King, we should take great honour in it. After all, I have heard that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach."

Sophie was displeased hearing this. With Calhoun who had asked her to get out of the room subtly, her mood had been ruined. She had been happy when she heard that the human girl was working in the kitchen on making supper. But after hearing Madeline's words, she was having second thoughts if she wanted to cook or not.

"Jarman, get me the maid here," said Sophie, stepping forward to cook. Madeline internally smiled at the thought of how easily she had tricked the vampiress into cooking. The same person who had mocked her barely a few minutes ago.

The bald head cook and the maids would have raised their eyebrows, but they knew better than to do that as she was the King's cousin sister. A relative who had to be treated with the utmost respect.

And so began the cooking by the two girls. Sophie was someone who was taught by experts of the kitchen. One might have viewed her to be child-like, always hanging around in the castle, addressing the King by calling him 'Brother Calhoun', but only the ones who knew her closely were aware that the vampiress was a persistent person.

Madeline worked on simpler things, who was much more well versed when it came to cooking as it was part of her family chores, her side of the table was neater compared to Sophie's.

Two and a half hours passed in the castle when Theodore went to visit Calhoun who hadn't left the liquor room. Stepped forward in front of the closed door, he announced his presence to the King. He pushed the doors open to see Calhoun, who looked as if he was sleeping on the couch. He had laid his body outstretched across the couch with one hand placed over his eyes to avoid any possible light to fall on his eyes.

Theodore wondered if Calhoun was sleeping and if he should return later before he heard Calhoun ask,

"What hour is it?"

"It is five past six," answered Theodore.

Calhoun, whose lips were parted, a sigh escaped his lips, "Finally." His hand that was positioned on his eyes moved away. He lifted his upper body, before swinging around his feet that were resting on the other side of the armrest, to place it on the ground. He raised his hand to weave through his thick black locks. His lips twisting and one of his eyebrows raising,

"Has the food been prepared?" he had asked one of the servant's to take Madeline to the kitchen so that she could prepare the food for him that she had promised.

"Yes, milord," answered Theodore.

Theodore, had never seen Calhoun send a woman as early as he did today, "Would you want me to arrange another person to attend you tonight?" asked the man dutifully. He stood there quietly in the presence of Calhoun, his eyes catching sight of the broken glasses as it reflected the light in the room.

"Doubt it would matter," stated Calhoun, pushing himself up and his eyes moving towards the fireplace.

Before he met Madeline, Julianne was one of the women who had a potent taste of blood with along with a few other women. But the day he had walked past Madeline in the ballroom for the first time, he knew he had found a delicacy that he was not willing to share. All Calhoun wanted to do was, sink his teeth into Madeline, not just her neck but every possible space on her pale skin.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to take another bite," said Calhoun as he stepped out of the room to be followed by Theodore to make their way towards the dining room.