The Crown's Obsession

The man who was with the older man bowed at the three ladies, and he introduced himself, "Samuel Gerville."

"Aren't you a handsome young man. Where have you been hiding him?" joked Queen Morganna.

"He has been away, learning about the ministry work as one day in the near future he wants to work in the royal court, my Queen," answered Senior Mr. Gerville.

"What an ambitious man," hummed Queen Morganna, and she looked at Lady Samara, "King Laurence has been looking for you. And Mr. Gerville, I have something to talk to you."

Lucy didn't know how many times she was left alone with a man before trying to go back to where her family, who only pushed her again to stand and provide her company to eligible suitors.

"Is there something you would like me to get you to drink, Lady Lucy?" asked the man named Samuel.

Since she had arrived here, it was the first time someone had offered her to get something to drink, and Lucy shook her head, "No, I am fine. But if you want to get something for yourself, please don't worry about me," said Lucy. She was more than glad to be left alone. She hoped that her time here in the ball would be good, but now that she was here, all Lucy wanted to do was get back to the castle and her room.

"Pardon me for my forthcoming words," Samuel apologized to her and said, "I feel if I would leave you alone, you would be surrounded again with a bunch of people with whom you don't want to be surrounded with. I have been noticing you, Lady Lucy."

Lucy felt like she was caught, and her eyes looked into his red ones. Most of the people who had come to attend the ball were vampires, and there were only a few people who were humans.

"It's nothing new to me," said Lucy, keeping her calm demeanour intact. "Please do not hold back on my accord. I will be perfectly fine here."

But the man didn't leave her side, instead, he turned around and raised his hand forward, "Would you be kind enough to dance with me, milady."

Lucy had danced enough for the day, and the person with whom she actually wanted to dance was dancing with another vampiress. She felt agitated, and she wanted to push the woman away from Theodore, but that was out of character even for Lucy.

"I promise to keep you company and make sure that you are not bothered by anyone else for the rest of the evening," he gave his word, and for the first time since Lucy came here, she felt like her prayers were finally being answered.

"Okay," replied Lucy, placing her hand on Samuel's hand, and the man's smile widened as if he was happy to have her dance with him.

When she was pulled to the dance floor, Theodore was still there dancing. She thought being near him would help diminish the raging feelings in her chest, but instead, it only felt like oil was added to set it ablaze.

"I have never been on the village side, though I think it is quite lovely on what they do during the fairs." Lucy overheard the woman speaking to Theodore, and when her eyes met Theodore's again, she had to tear away her gaze from him. This was torture, thought Lucy to herself.

But then it wasn't just Lucy who was being tortured. Ethan Moryett, who had feelings for Lucy for a long time, had hoped he would get his opportunity to speak and ask her for a dance. But before he could ask her, someone else would come and occupy her time.

Lucy heard Theodore say something, "...I would love to show it to you. Maybe we can meet…"

The young vampiress's mood had gone downhill, and Samuel, who noticed this, asked, "Are you alright, Lady Lucy?"

Lucy offered him a polite smile, "I am feeling a little unwell. I should go and rest."

"Of course. Please allow me to get you a glass of water, or perhaps blood?" asked Samuel.

Before Lucy could say anything, her eyes fell behind Samuel to see Theodore looking at her with a concentrated expression on his face.

Feeling her heart skip a beat, she replied, "Water will be fine. Thank you," and both of them stepped away from the dance floor.

When it was time to leave, Lucy was more than happy to leave the place, and she quickly went to her carriage and had it ride back to the castle. She wondered if anything could be done, considering their status and not knowing what Theodore's thought about her.

As expected, her parents or other family members didn't bother to come and check on how she was feeling, deciding things about her on their own. When it was midnight, Lucy was still unable to fall asleep. She twisted and turned in her bed, a certain anxiousness filling up in her mind and her chest, not letting her sleep.

At past two in the morning, Lucy finally got up from her bed and stepped out of her room. Unlike the previous time, she didn't walk in the usual corridors, and she decided to go to the other side of the castle where her family would not come to find her. Away from the madding crowd, she walked in the narrow passage of the tower.

The night sky was clear, and as Lucy headed the stairs upwards, she caught sight of the stars and moon in the sky. By the time she entered the deserted room, knowing no one ever came here, she was mistaken when she caught sight of a silhouette who stood at the window.

As if sensing her, the man with the glasses turned around, slightly taken aback by her presence here at this hour of the night.

Seeing Theodore, Lucy turned around to go back to her room, but he stopped her,

"Lady Lucy," Theodore called her.