The Crown's Obsession

Morganna glared at Calhoun. She knew he was trying to frame her, but she wasn't going to let him disgrace her in front of anyone! When Calhoun turned to look at the woman who was in question, Morganna did the best she could, and she acted as if she fainted, falling from her chair.

"Mother!" King Laurence was quick to leave his throne to pick his mother up. "Are you alright, mother? Guards!"

Calhoun stared at Morganna, who had fainted and was taken out of the royal court room to her very own room while the physician was called to examine her condition. The old hag seemed to use the oldest book's trick, and his tongue ran over his fang.

After checking Morganna's pulse and other vitals, the physician informed the King and Calhoun, "There is nothing to worry about. It seems like she fainted because of fatigue that caught up to her."

"Thank the heavens!" exclaimed Calhoun with a relieved expression on his face.

"She will be fine with a night's rest," informed the physician, and Calhoun led the man outside while leaving Laurence in Morganna's room, who continued to behave as if she was still unconscious.

While Calhoun took the physician to the end of the halls, he said, "Did you bring what I asked you last time?" his polite expression dropping and his eyes looking straight at the man next to him.

The physician looked back and forth to make sure no one was around before he put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small paper that had been folded. "This is the one. The colour will change in a matter of a few seconds."

"Wonderful," commented Calhoun. "You have been of great help, Henry. Here you are," he pulled a small bag filled with coins, handing it to the man.

"Thank you," said the man before taking the bag, he disappeared from not just the castle but also from the town. Calhoun was about to go back to where his father was when he heard footsteps behind him.

"What is that, that you have in your hand?" asked a voice.

Calhoun turned around to catch sight of a woman, who appeared to be somewhere around his father's age whom he had never seen here before. "It's medicine for Queen Morganna."

The woman had a wise look on her face, and the clothes that she wore were slightly different compared to the frilly and heavier dress that women wore in the castle or around. It was a long and smooth navy blue dress made of tough silk—covering most of her skin, while one could see the black boots that peeked from below.

The person didn't question him, instead walked past him before making her way to where the Queen was. Calhoun followed her, and on her entrance, King Laurence looked surprised.

"Monique."

"King Laurence," the woman bowed her head, "I heard my niece was getting married and thought to attend it. But I guess I was late," said the woman named Monique, stepping forward to look at the Queen resting on the bed. "What happened to Queen Morganna?"

"She fainted. The physician said she will feel better by tomorrow morning. You should go back to your place," said the King, "Also, it might not be the best if you stay around."

Calhoun watched the interaction between Laurence and Monique, figuring out the woman was his half-sister. By the King's words, it was clear that Morganna didn't like the woman and the King wanted to send her out of the castle as quickly as possible.

When Monique's eyes fell back on Calhoun, Laurence introduced his son to his half-sister, "This is Calhoun, my son."

The woman looked taken aback by the King's words, and she stared at Calhoun, who bowed his head in greeting. "A pleasure meeting you, Lady Monique."

They stepped out of the room so that the Queen could have her required rest, and the King left the room.

"I didn't know Constance had a son," said Monique.

Calhoun's eyes looked at Monique with a hint of curiosity in them. People never brought his mother's name during a conversation. Even his own father refused to mention his mother as if she was his dirty secret, and the public had slowly started to view him as the future King of Devon, son of King Laurence.

"Seems like you knew my mother in the past," commented Calhoun, and the woman nodded her head.

"I did, but it was only for a short period. It was when she had arrived at the castle. Sadly I didn't get to stay in the castle and stayed mostly away from it," responded Monique. "How is she?"

"She passed away a few months ago," Calhoun's voice held no emotion, but it was like the chill cold in winter.

"I am sorry to hear that," replied Monique.

Monique had met Constance, Calhoun's mother, for a brief time, but the time she had spent with her then half-brother's lover had left a lasting impression on her.

From the corner of her eyes, she looked at Calhoun who was looking at the castle's ground. In Monique's eyes, the young man looked nothing like his mother, but then he didn't look like the King either. She would have never guessed that Constance's son existed and it made her wonder how he even ended up here. As she had been working in a remote location, she hadn't received the news about it.

"You can meet Lucy in Greville's mansion. It isn't too far from here," informed Calhoun.

"I will do that," said Monique. Her family had decided to forget to send her the invitation to the wedding like many other times, and it didn't hurt the woman as much as it did in the beginning.

Calhoun then asked, "How was my mother here?"

Monique turned to face him, "Your father brought her here."

"I meant, how was her life here," corrected Calhoun.

Monique remembered the time when Constance had arrived at the castle, and she said, "Your mother was a beautiful person. Not just by looks, but even the way she thought about things. You could tell somewhere my niece, Lucy reminds me of her."

A chuckle escaped Calhoun's lips. In some ways, Lucy did remind him of his mother, and maybe that is how he viewed his mother before she came to live in the castle and after what the King and Queen did to her.

"She was full of life, and truth to be told, I don't think she deserved to live here," Monique said in a low voice.

"It seems like you view life in the castle to be a bad one," commented Calhoun.

A faint smile appeared on the woman's lips, "I don't think I need to explain to you on why I feel that way. Anyways, I need to head back as the King has asked me to."

"The duty at the border seems to be a tough one. Why not ask someone else to stand by while you get some break," questioned Calhoun to her when she readied to leave the corridor.

"Maybe one day, I will," answered the woman. They bowed at each other and Calhoun saw Monique leave the corridor.