The Crown's Obsession

Sophie grew up with people who bowed at her, and she looked down at the lower category who didn't have the class or status like hers. And now to be spoken back about her character by a filthy human, it didn't sit well with her. She knew that humans from the villages were disgusting, but this was the first time she had met someone out of her family who had used such a tone with her.

"Are you sure she is Lady Madeline's friend?" asked Lucy as she had heard from Madeline on how she was anticipating her family's visit to the castle for the wedding.

Sophie nodded her head, "Yes, I am sure. They look nothing like sisters. Black hair, green eyes." They looked far apart to be called sisters, thought Sophie to herself which was why she concluded it was the human girl's friend, "She was the one who screamed. One of the wolves must have bitten her. Which idiot leaves blood trails all over the corridor?" she shook her head at the idiocy.

"You cannot expect anything less from the humans," commented Lady Rosamund, "They have the habit of not thinking about the consequences. Leaving the scent of an open wound will only result in her death because of one of the vampires feeding on her."

Sophie didn't mind it. She didn't like the little encounter that she had a few minutes ago before coming here to join her mother and cousin to have tea.

"A wolf's bite is considered to be fatal, be it, vampire or human," Lucy said, hoping whoever it was, was okay now. Too much blood loss could only lead to death. She then said, "Isn't it going to be exciting to have the families meet each other."

"Yes, it is something to look forward to," replied Lady Rosamund, "I wonder how the wedding is going to proceed. Mingling the royal family with the people in the village," she gave out a tired sigh.

Lady Rosamund wanted Madeline out of the frame, but if she did anything right now, Calhoun would know it was because of her and her family's involvement. She had to be careful right now. The first option of having Madeline leave the castle grounds had failed because the human didn't want to leave. It seemed like she had come to understand and had a taste of power.

"It would have been good if your mother and father were alive," said Lady Rosamund to Lucy, "They would have helped in arranging the marriage in a better way, isn't it. Their demise has been a really sad incident."

Lucy didn't react or reply to it. "Your father was such a good man. He must have known that something bad was going to happen to him, and he made sure that you were well settled before that."

"Hm, six months before the incident," Lucy's words were soft.

Lady Rosamund sighed again, "Only if they were here. I still don't get how someone from the court killed them. Are you sure you saw who it was who killed them?" asked the older vampiress.

Lucy had seen her parents body in the undercrofts of the castle. Blood spilt everywhere and their bodies that laid on the ground, "Yes, it was the minister." Though she didn't see the killing, she had seen the minister's hands that were covered in blood.

As much as she had despised her mother for pushing her to get married to Samuel, her mother and her father were still her parents. Parents whom she loved. The death of the King and the Queen was not small but a huge loss. It was good that Calhoun was there to take the crown right away, thus saving Devon.

The minister had been dragged away. Tortured and his tongue pulled out to be cut with a hot searing iron knife. While she was still mourning over her parent's loss, she had attended the execution of the minister who had killed them.

"Pardon me, Lucy, for bringing up such a sad event," Lady Rosamund placed her hand on Lucy's hand.

The princess said, "It has been years now. And the culprit was punished," a small smile came on Lucy's lips.

Lady Rosamund nodded her head in agreement, "You are right. Have you got your gowns ready for Calhoun's wedding? I heard the maid say that the King has arranged for his personal tailorman to visit the castle."

"I have some new gowns. I will be wearing them," Lucy replied, and everyone continued to have their tea that was mixed with blood.

The older vampiress stared at Lucy. The girl didn't know anything, and no matter how many times, Rosamund had tried to get an answer from Lucy, the reply was always the same. Rosamund knew this was not the ministers doing, and there was something more. She hoped there was something more so that she could pull out the dirt and show it to the people of Devon.

Lady Rosamund had been working on it, trying to figure out behind the scenes as there were some things that didn't add up. She knew Calhoun had a hand in it, but she didn't know in what way. There was no way, the King's illegitimate son who came out of nowhere one day could be the King.

"When are Uncle and Markus visiting the castle?" inquired Lucy.

"Father has been busy with his work. Markus should be here soon, isn't it?" Sophie asked, leaning forward, she picked up the cookie that was placed on the tray.

"I received his letter where he said he would be here by tomorrow," replied Lady Rosamund with a smile on her lips.

Away from the tearooms and the guest rooms, away from the court and the King's quarters, Madeline followed the maid who led her to the castle's chapel that she didn't know existed here until it was mentioned earlier to her. She saw the dull walls on either side of her, torches lit with fire burning at regular intervals of distance. The maid then stopped walking,

"The King awaits for you inside, milady," said the maid, bowing her head.

Madeline continued to walk for a few more distance before she stepped into the chapel that had long built windows on the left where light from outside seemed to pass through them. The glass that covered the window had a tint of blue in them, turning the floor blue where the light fell. On the right, several candles were lit at the bottom and the top, this left a combination of an orange glow along with the blue light inside the chapel.

She had been so enraptured by the colours in the room that it took her a second more before her ears picked up the music that was playing in the chapel.

The so-called chapel here didn't look like the ones that belonged to the church where she had visited in the past to pray in the village. But it still resembled like one with the ceilings that were built up and high, darkness covering it as the light didn't reach it. Both the walls on either side of her tapered towards each other to enclose the room.

There were barely sixteen to twenty seats at the front, light falling enough for one to see the paints that covered the nearby walls. The floor beneath her shoes was smooth and clean. The sound of her shoes could not be heard over the sound of the music that was played at the corner of the room where the pipe organ piano was built.

Madeline saw Calhoun sit in front of the large instrument with his back facing her as he played with the keys there. There was no one else here except them.

And even though the music was loud, Calhoun who was playing the instrument, stopped it abruptly when Madeline's shoes stopped clicking on the marble floor. Madeline wanted to hear him playing more because of the beautiful notes that filled this side of the room. The music contained itself in here, making the notes appear as if they echoed for a second more that vibrated in the room.

Madeline then spoke, "You wanted to see me?" Calhoun finally turned himself to look at her, his legs moving around the bench so that his entire body was facing her now.

"Do you know how to play the piano?" he questioned her. Madeline shook her head. Calhoun moved to the side of the bench he sat on, "Take a seat," and he turned again towards the instrument.

Madeline walked towards the bench. Sitting down, she saw him running his fingers over the white and black keys but not pressing it, "How is your sister doing?" he asked her.

"She is okay," with the bite and loss of blood, Madeline thought Beth was going to faint, but she was doing fine, "She is resting in the room."

Calhoun pressed the keys now, the music was light and softer on the ears now, unlike the louder one that he had played a moment ago, "Have your parents settled in?"

"Yes. They are in their rooms. Thank you for having them," answered Madeline. Her eyes fell on his large hands and long fingers that moved elegantly across the keys. She wished to learn how to play the instrument in the past, but there had been no opportunity to learn. She listened to the notes, her eyes trailing from Calhoun's fingers to move up to his face.

Madeline's brown eyes didn't stay too long to linger on his face as she felt her heart skip a beat, and she looked back at his hands.

Calhoun then said, "I wanted to speak to you about your father's shop."