The Crown's Obsession

Lucy watched her mother turning back to speak to the guest who was seated in front of her. She clenched her hands together. She knew if she were to question it, her mother would get angry, and she didn't know what repercussions she would have to face.

Her mother didn't bother to look at her, and Lucy bowed her head and stepped out of the room. She wondered where else Ruby might be.

When the time of supper arrived, the people who were sitting at the dining table were quieter than usual. In King Laurence's presence, everybody stood up, bowing their heads in greeting before taking their seats after the King seated himself.

"What a pleasant evening!" exclaimed the King as he appeared to be in a good mood. "Don't you agree, mother?"

Queen Morganna wasn't particularly fond of her son for not addressing her as Queen Morganna, but considering how he was the King, and she was only the mother of the King, she decided not to react to it. "And you seem very pleased about something. Did something good happen that the news didn't reach me so that I could share my joy too?"

"The minister of the West land with whom we have been trying to get favour from is a dear friend of Calhoun, and he willingly gave out some information to us," informed King Laurence, "Isn't this wonderful? Now we all know how important it is to have Calhoun here with us."

Morganna was not interested in what the boy did and didn't, but it seemed like Calhoun had been successful in charming her son.

"How strange that Calhoun has all the answers for the problems that we seek for," murmured Morganna under her breath while looking at Calhoun with her scrutinizing gaze.

Calhoun returned her smile, "I am more than happy to help my father and you," he paused for a second and then added, "Grandmother."

Theodore, who stood against the wall, watched the Queen, who looked perfectly normal, but with him standing behind her, he caught sight of the woman clenching her hand in anger.

Morganna knew if she were to allow this boy to stay in this castle for any longer, he would brainwash her son and her people. For a young man of his age, who hadn't even lived half of what she had lived, she noticed the smugness in his eyes that annoyed her.

"Of course, I hope we can get plenty more help from him," Morganna answered with a tight smile on her face.

While the maids started to serve dinner, Calhoun pulled out something from his pocket and placed it on the table. "I forgot about this," Calhoun apologized. Morganna's eyes fell on the pepper bottle, and her eyes narrowed.

When the King used the vial bottle of salt, his hand reached out for the pepper bottle that Calhoun had placed.

"Wait!" Morganna stopped Laurence from using the pepper vial. "Let's ask the servants to get a new bottle of pepper filled in."

"Do not worry, grandmother, I didn't add anything in it," Calhoun offered her a smile, "Or do you think I am lying?"

Morganna and Lady Samara stared at Calhoun as they knew earlier he had put his finger inside the bottle, and now he was offering the same to the King.

"My King, why don't I spread the pepper on my plate for grandmother's assurance," suggested Calhoun, but Laurence dismissed it right away.

"That won't be necessary. It is just pepper," said Laurence. He took the bottle and shook it for the pepper to fall on his food. Morganna's lips set themselves in a thin line. Somewhere she was also angry at her own son for not listening to her words and bringing this trash into their castle. Her son deserved to be taught a lesson.

"Lucy, dear, how was your time with the governess?" questioned Laurence.

Lady Samara turned to her daughter with a sharp gaze, "What did I tell you before about singing, dear?" her words were calm and collected, unlike her eyes that were displeased with her daughter's actions.

Lucy didn't reply to her mother's words but only rotated the spoon in the bowl of soup that was placed in front of her.

"Did something happen?" asked King Laurence, who had been sitting in the royal court where Lucy's voice went unheard as the study room was located in the opposite direction.

"You should ask your daughter. Even after telling her multiple times not to sing, she goes ahead and sings," stated Lady Samara.

"But mama," started Lucy, "I will get better if I keep singing-"

"You sound worse than a creaking gate, Lucy. If any of your suitors by chance hears you singing, they will run away from the castle," said Lady Samara, a hint of horror in her voice as it reflected her worry if her daughter would forever stay with them. "Ms. Lewis."

"Yes, milady!" the governess, who was already sitting in a straight position, her back straightened further. "Lady Lucy said she wasn't keen on learning any instruments and would rather prefer to sing songs."

King Laurence started to laugh, finding amusement in the situation, "If Lucy decides to start singing, I doubt we would have to repair every window in the castle, Ms. Lewis." The smile on his face then died down, and in a stern voice, he said, "I thought my wife made it clear on what and how we want things to be with our dear daughter. We aren't paying two hundred gold coins for no reason, and it won't take a moment to replace you with a new governess."

Ms. Lewis quickly bowed her head, "I understand that, milord. I will be more strict and careful with the princess henceforth."

King Laurence then looked at his daughter, "Learn an instrument. It would be better and also easier to get approval from your future husband. I have already selected a list of names, and they are all men of the highest-ranking. You will do good, won't you, Lucy?"

Lucy nodded her head. She found it hard to refuse her mother or her father's words. She had been instilled with the thought of respecting their wishes while also listening to every word spoken by them without disobeying them.