The Crown's Obsession

Music Recommendation: Epilogue by Dario Marinelli

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Calhoun wore clothes lent by Theodore, and he made his way to Lady Christine Rous, who was apparently not a young woman but a widow who had lost her husband eleven years ago.

"Theodore said he was going to send someone in his place, but never would I have thought that it would be a person who is younger than him," said the woman. Her hair had turned grey, and her skin shrivelled.

Calhoun bowed his head in greeting, "Good afternoon, Lady Christine. Even I didn't expect to meet a beautiful woman like you today."

The woman laughed, "You are good with words, young man. Come let's get into the carriage else we would be late," said the woman, and with the assistance of Calhoun as well as the coachman's help, she got inside first, and Calhoun followed her before the carriage's door was shut close. "What is your name?" she questioned him.

"Calhoun, milady," replied Calhoun.

"Theodore said I should call you Theodore, and it makes me wonder if you children are up to some mischief. He's a sneaky fellow," the woman laughed again. "But a fairly decent man. I didn't even know there was someone who joined Madame Fraunces' work," she said, looking at him. "By your face and words, you will go ahead in the line of work."

"I don't plan to continue working for her. It is just for a month," answered Calhoun, gaining the elderly woman's attention.

"Why not? You don't like it?" asked the woman, "A few years ago, I didn't even know work like this existed. But I suppose one would find it hard to view a job like this without judging it. I believe it is hard. Is this your first time attending a soiree?" she was more chatty than Calhoun had expected.

Not answering her previous questions, he nodded his head.

"I see," hummed the lady, "I wouldn't have gone, but my late and handsome husband, he was acquainted with Mr. Wilmot. With work, of course, else, why would us humans be invited to a vampire's mansion. Theodore said you were interested in attending it, also that I would enjoy your company."

Calhoun still didn't understand why Theodore was helping him. All his life until now, he wasn't used to people helping him. People had done nothing but deny it.

"How long has he been working for you?" asked Calhoun, and the woman gave a deep thought about it.

"It must be four years," she answered, "Time flies so fast. At first, I had refused the idea, but I kept him around later. I got him to clean things in my house when my maid wasn't there. Surprisingly he's very efficient."

Calhoun didn't comment on it because he didn't know anything about Theodore. He didn't know where Theodore came from or what his background was, not that it bothered Calhoun because he didn't care. When they finally reached Wilmot's mansion, Calhoun's face had turned passive, and he walked next to Lady Christine, accompanying her with slow steps as she was a human.

Entering the mansion, Calhoun took note of how big the mansion was, and it looked nothing less to a castle. His eyes shrewdly followed the servants as well as the guests who had arrived to have lunch with the Wilmot's, the King's sister's house.

"Lady Christine," a young girl made her way to where they were, exchanging kisses in the air on either side of their cheeks before she pulled back and said, "I was hoping you would come. It's been long since I last saw you. Where have you been hiding?"

"In my mansion, of course, you would have found me if you came to visit me," Lady Christine smiled back at the girl, "But I guess your coachman had forgotten the address." The smile that the girl had plastered on her face faltered.

"Of course not. I would never. Excuse me," she said, and left their side.

"That was very quick," muttered Calhoun under his breath. "Who was she?" he asked, as the girl turned around and gave them a look before going near a woman and whispering something in the person's ear. The woman turned around in their direction and waved her hand at Lady Christine.

Lady Christine smiled and then looked away in another direction, "Someone my husband once knew, you could tell, the woman was my husband's mistress."

"You seem to get along fairly well with them," replied Calhoun, and the woman laughed.

"Theodore was right. I am enjoying your company, come, let us get a drink," said the woman, dragging him towards a table.

While Lady Christine had pulled him to have some drinks, Calhoun's eyes keenly looked at the guests and the environment that he had never experienced before. He didn't come here to enjoy the food or the drinks. He had only come here to meet the King's sister.

"Lady Rosamund!"

He heard someone greet the lady of the mansion, and his eyes shifted from one side of the room to another, noticing a woman who stepped into the room with a smile that was spread across her lips. His blood boiled just by looking at the vampiress, who was right now the centre of the attention in the room. Here were people who were enjoying their life in bliss, while there was his mother back in the house, all alone by herself, battling for her life.

"You look beautiful, Lady Rosamund. Thank you for inviting us today," thanked the man, who stood next to his wife.

"Lady Rosamund is always generous when it comes to inviting all of us. We are grateful for your generosity, milady," said another person who was in the room. It was quite clear that the people who surrounded her were just like the woman trying to flatter each other.

Rosamund smiled, "Please, this is the least I can do."

There had been many times in the past where Calhoun had tried to get more information from his mother on what happened to her when she was living in the Hawthrone's castle, but his mother had always brushed it away like it was nothing. The only thing he knew was that the Hawthrone's family had kicked his mother out of the castle, ordering her never to return again.

"That's Lady Rosamund Wilmot," Lady Christine whispered to Calhoun while they stood at the back with their back close to the walls. "The King's very own sister. The people very much love her. The boy you see there," and Calhoun's eyes fell on a young boy who looked two to three years younger to him. "That's her son, and next to him is her daughter, Sophie. A small thing but often gets into trouble. I heard it was only a month ago that little Sophie threw water on Queen Morganna's face. Needn't be told, the day didn't go well."

Christine was more than happy to inform Calhoun, letting him know who was in the room, but Calhoun's eyes were glued on Lady Rosamund.

Not soon after Rosamund had made rounds in the room, interacting with her guests, she came to where Calhoun and Lady Christine were.

"Lady Christine, how have you been? We have been missing you in the soirees," said Lady Rosamund as if she was upset, "You should not miss the future ones."

Lady Christine bowed her head, "I could never refuse your request, Lady Rosamund. It is just that my bones have turned weak, and it's hard to get out of bed these days."

"Let me know if you need a physician to look after you. I would be more than pleased to help you with it," offered Lady Rosamund, and it made Calhoun question himself if people's words were true. Had he perhaps misunderstood things? Maybe it was the King who had thrown his mother out, and not this person, thought Calhoun to himself.

"And who is this young man whom you have brought here?" questioned Lady Rosamund, looking at the person who stood next to Lady Christine.

Before the woman could introduce him, Calhoun bowed his head and raised it, looking into her eyes, and said, "Calhoun, milady."

"What an unusual name. You seem strangely familiar, yet I cannot point my finger as to where I have seen you before," she made a hmph sound and then turned to look at Lady Christine, "What happened to the other one who was with you last time?"

"He's fallen sick, and this boy had been replaced for the day," Lady Christine patted Calhoun's arm.