The Crown's Obsession

It was hard for Lucy to ignore his words and behave as if she didn't hear him. Lucy slowly turned around, and she met his red eyes. He wasn't wearing his glasses again.

"Would you like to watch the stars?"

"No," Lucy's response was quick, and she looked as if she was in haste to leave the tower and not be anywhere near Theodore.

Theodore would have let her go, but he had caught her looking at him more than he could count. If she continued to look at him, that would have been a different matter, but the princess had been stealing glances at him.

Lucy was sure he would let her go without any question, and when she was ready to turn, he asked, "Why not?"

What kind of question was that? Asked Lucy in her mind.

"I realized it is rather late and I should get back to my room," said Lucy half-heartedly. Part of her wanted to run away from here, but the other part of her, she wanted to stand next to Theodore and talk to him. The emotions inside her slowly teared her up, and she wished she knew what to do with it.

"You came all the way up here to decide it?" Theodore's head tilted to the side, and he said, "Looking right, my smile smiles with my thoughts of you, countless and endless."

Lucy's eyes widened hearing Theodore recite the poem that she had written, "Y-you read what was written in the paper."

Theodore didn't move from his place, and he placed both his elbows behind him to rest on the edge of the open windowpane. Lucy noticed how his demeanour appeared similar to when she had first met him in the alley of the market. There was something daunting in his eyes, and as curious as she was, Lucy doubted she should wander to see what those eyes held.

"I couldn't resist my curiosity, milady," confessed Theodore while watching the young vampiress in her white nightgown. "At first, I thought to not read what it was, but curiosity got the best out of me. For whom did you write it?" he questioned, and Lucy felt her heart stutter.

It took her a few seconds to calm herself, and she ended up shaking her head, "I am not sure," she breathed the words, too shy to confess that she had written it with him in her thoughts.

But the man who was in front of Lucy right now was not one of her suitors to flatter her, or behave politely on her face because she was King Laurence's daughter. Theodore said, "Are you not sure, or you don't want to share?"

"Why does it matter?" asked Lucy, her cheeks holding a faint flustered blush.

Theodore, who was staring at Lucy, a small smile tugged on the corners of his lips.

"I was merely being curious, milady. There's no reason for you to be defensive about it," Theodore pushed himself away from the wall as if he was about to leave the room for Lucy to stay until she wanted.

"And what about you?" asked Lucy, remembering the woman with whom Theodore was humouring during the entire time of the ball.

Theodore raised his eyebrows, "Me? What did I do?"

Lucy didn't know if she should tell now or maybe in the morning, but the question was when was the right time? She then shook her head, "It's nothing."

Theodore then asked, "How was your time in the ball, Lady Lucy? Did you enjoy anyone's company?"

None, thought Lucy.

"Yes," Lucy surprised him with her answer. "They were all polite and rather kind to me."

"Is that so," responded Theodore, his eyes keenly continuing to watch her. "One of them must have made quite some impression on you. I am sure the King would be very pleased to hear the news."

Brushing away his words, Lucy said, "I think compared to anyone, you are the one who enjoyed the ball the most. You barely left the dance floor."

Theodore nodded his head, "It was thanks to Lady Adrienne. She was too kind to keep me in her company."

"She seemed wonderful," agreed Lucy. Her heart squeezed as she said this, and she wondered if she should go back to her room and get some sleep. While she was contemplating about it, she heard Theodore say,

"You had some of your dance steps wrong."

Lucy frowned, hearing this, "That's not possible," she said, "I was taught by Madame Georgiana. She's one of the best teachers. Not that I am telling I am perfect," she added in the end.

A chuckle escaped Theodore's lips, "They weren't all wrong, just two or three of them. And the partners you danced with happened to make the mistakes too."

"You speak as if you know everything about dance," then, in doubt, Lucy asked, "Do you?"

Theodore left his place and walked to where Lucy was standing, "I know some, maybe not everything," and he stretched his hand forward and towards Lucy.

Lucy was slightly startled, and she could feel the blood in her heart, pumping fast. Though Theodore didn't ask her like the other gentleman for a dance, Lucy's hand moved up, and she placed it in Theodore's hand. When he clasped his fingers around her hand, she felt the air leave her lungs for a moment.

Theodore didn't wait for her to walk forward, and instead, he tugged her hand for her to come near him quickly.

"Let me show you."

A gasp escaped Lucy's lips when Theodore placed his other hand behind her back. Unlike others in the ball, who had placed their hand directly and some apprehensively on her back, Theodore placed his hand at the top of her back, and it slowly slid down to its actual position.

The wind rustled the leaves on the trees, and Lucy, who stood in front of Theodore, looked into his eyes, standing near to him as she had never done before.