The Crown's Obsession

If Madeline thought that Calhoun would stop feeding her with one bite, she was wrong. Calhoun wrapped another piece of meat with the vegetables before raising it to her lips. This was the fifth time he was doing it and each time the bite was turning to be bigger than the previous one, and she wasn't sure if she should hold it in.

"I am full," Madeline said before he could start wrapping another piece of food to stuff into her mouth.

"You sure?" he asked, his face serious, but his eyes told another story.

Madeline didn't want to be fed by his hand again. She could still feel his thumb that brushed near the corner of her lips before he took the same to suck into his mouth. She had heard the King to be cruel and cold-blooded, but she wondered how people had missed from the rumour that he was a presumptuous man who always did what pleased him.

"I don't have an appetite," she said, looking into his eyes, and he gave her a nod. It wasn't just the size of the bite or the person who was feeding her. With him poking her with the fact that the meat was brought in by his aunt after the animal hunt, it reduced Madeline's appetite.

"Okay," he believed, giving her a nod and said, "Give me company while I am eating. Having you around brightens my time," Calhoun picked up the glass, taking a sip while having his eyes on her and pulling back to lick his lips, "This is the time for you speak, sweetheart."

Madeline was in no mood to speak, but now that he asked her, she decided to ask, "Do you never make your presence known to the public?" her brown eyes looked at him, "I don't think any of us villagers and most of the townsfolk have ever seen you out there. You didn't show up at the ball."

"Did you forget that I danced with you? I am hurt that you don't remember the lovely night you spent in my arms. Dancing of course," he added as if she would take it in another sense, one of his eyebrow-raising at her in question.

Madeline's lips pursed at the thought that she would grow old here. At the same thought, she wondered why he wanted to keep her here in this castle when she would grow old and wither away. He could have a vampiress of his kind who would live the same years like him.

"That's not what I meant."

"What did you mean then?" he asked, wanting her to humour him.

She parted her lips to speak, "Like, you didn't make an appearance as the King. There was no announcement about you entering the ballroom. A lot of them were waiting to see or catch a glimpse of you."

"What about you?" asked Calhoun. The way he looked at her, his gaze haunting without leaving her face.

For once she felt her lips to be glued, her eyes darting between his eyes, "I didn't expect anything," and it was the truth. She had come to visit the castle at the thought that it would be pleasant. It was Beth who was talking about him, picking the good rumours about him and letting Madeline know about him, on how she would impress and charm him, "A person like me has never been invited to a ball before. I was looking forward to seeing what it was."

"And nothing about me?" Calhoun was persistent in knowing what she had been thinking before she met him, "If my memory serves right, you were keen to see the King. Asking me if I worked for him."

"I was just curious at that time. You invited us but didn't make an appearance."

"The mortals don't take the King with ease," said Calhoun, a chuckle escaping his lips, "I wouldn't want to frighten my subjects. Humans can be very skittish most of the time. It was an invitation to the lion's den, and I had no interest in others, just this one girl who appeared to be out of place in the ballroom."

Madeline shifted her gaze to look at the glass of water next to her. Taking it in her hand, she brought it up to take a couple of sips not realising she had been thirsty. She had run like she never had before. She helped herself with another glass of water when she heard Calhoun comment,

"Do you run a lot?" he asked while the same fork he had fed her with went to his mouth where he bit into his food to pull out the fork.

It would have been an odd question to ask if Madeline had not escaped from the castle. All her hard work and putting her respect aside, she had taken the help only to end up back here, "No."

"Hmm," he responded, looking at her, taking another bite. If she wasn't used to running, it was possible that she would be in pain later at night. Maybe it would be a good reminder, thought Calhoun to himself.

Calhoun took his own time to finish eating, admiring Madeline in the candlelit room that gave a soft golden glow that fell on her pale skin. Compared to this morning, she was quiet. He could tell she was unhappy with the way her plan to run away had failed. He wasn't done with her for the day though. If she was happy, he was still mad at her with the fact that she had neglected his words even after warning her.

Before the table could be cleared, Calhoun stood up to have Madeline quickly stand on her feet. He said, "Let's see you to your room," he would have got her to walk around the castle with him but with her running and getting hurt today, he decided to walk her to her room.

"I will be fine."

"I know you will, but I wouldn't want you to make another run. And the time right now is not good. You never know which wolf will bite you and they aren't gentle," Madeline softly gulped hearing this. She didn't speak another word of protest and left the room with him. Madeline knew what she had done, and she didn't need to be reminded again. But if a better opportunity ever came up to leave this place, she would take it in a blink of an eye but then there was no opportunity. There were only the King's commands that had to be followed.

When they reached her room, Madeline was eager to get inside her room. Bowing her head and murmuring a thanks, she went to reach for the door to hear,

"Is that how you take your leave in the presence of a King who was kind enough to save you from the lecherous man, feed you food and see you to your room?" demanded Calhoun.

Madeline turned around, her eyes meeting his. She had never conversed with a King before to be taught the etiquette apart from thanking him. He continued to gauge her, and he brought his hand forward with the back of his hand to her view. Was she supposed to hold it? She asked herself.

He then said, "Kiss it as gratitude of appreciation."