The Crown's Obsession

Music Recommendation: Tema d'Irina - Giordano Maselli

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On seeing Theodore talking to a woman who looked like she had some work with him, Lucy's lips set itself in a thin line with a faint frown on her face. Just the mention of his name was enough to make her alert and quick to take a look where he was.

If she was going to stay here in the castle, this was how it would be, crossing paths with Theodore who would often be found either speaking to the ministers or the maids. If there was something Lucy had noticed, the maids always stopped their footsteps when they saw Theodore in their vicinity.

What did the maids even want from him? asked Lucy in her mind, her frown deepening as she stared at the woman with whom Theodore was speaking.

When he was only Calhoun's bodyguard, the women around were suspicious about him because of her grandmother's order to keep an eye on them. But since her brother had claimed his throne and Theodore had been promoted to be the King's advisor along with minister Fitzwilliam, it seemed like Theodore's popularity had only increased.

"Lady Lucy?"

"Hm?" Lucy turned to look at Ethan, her frown disappeared from her face.

"You seemed to be lost. Let's go and talk with Advisor Theodore. It is so hard to get hold of him when I am here in the castle," Ethan proposed, and in a few seconds, they reached where Theodore and the woman stood.

Theodore, on the other hand, was speaking to the woman who was a member of the High House when he caught sight of Lucy walking in his direction with a familiar man, Ethan Moryett. What a lovely surprise thought Theodore to himself.

"Advisor Theodore, it is good to see you," Ethan bowed his head in greeting and then to the High House member who stood next to him. "Lady Daphne."

The woman looked at Ethan, offering her greetings, "Mr. Moyett. I never thought I would see you here, especially this soon." Lucy wondered if Ethan and the woman knew each other through work. "Lady Lucy," the woman bowed her head. I must get going now."

"Please do think about my request, Lady Daphne," Theodore said to the woman, his eyes not breaking away from her, and Lucy looked back and forth between them before looking away.

The woman, in return, smirked, "I will give you my answer before tomorrow evening," and she left them.

When Ethan turned back, he looked at the bruises on Theodore's face that hadn't caught his eye at first glance, and he asked, "What happened to your face, Advisor Theodore? Seems like you were in a brawl," there was a surprise in his voice.

Theodore chuckled as if it was nothing, "I had a little bit of fight with a dog. It should get better within a few days."

"I would have never pegged you to be someone who would be caught up in fights, but it is good to see that the wounds are healing. You should have a physician have a look at it," advised Ethan out of good intention.

It was the first time even Lucy had seen Theodore fight after he had come to stay in the castle. She didn't forget the first time he had fought to save her.

"That's fine, Mr. Moryett. I had my own personal physician who had come to take a look at the injuries," came the nonchalant words from Theodore and Lucy's face burned bright redt. Was he calling her as his physician?!

"You should be careful, Advisor Theodore," stated Lucy, her eyes looking straight into his, "You never know if the medicines will be mixed with poison." Just because she had tended to him out of kindness, it didn't mean they were alright now. Theodore was wrong if he thought he was forgiven that easily.

Ethan laughed, "I don't think anyone would dare to poison people who live in the castle, Lady Lucy. Though word did reach me that someone had tried to poison the King twice. They must have been very brave to do it."

Theodore noticed the way Ethan looked at Lucy while Lucy was still oblivious about the man's feelings. Having already known from the past that Ethan was in love with her, he didn't like the man being here. Not right now, at least when things between him and Lucy were in delicate condition.

"Do you recommend any physician, Lady Lucy?" questioned Theodore. "My stomach and my back still hurt. I was thinking about asking one of the maids to help me with that."

Lucy's eyes narrowed, and she said, "Why don't you ask one of your lovers to do that? I am sure they wouldn't mind lending you a hand."

Theodore's own eyes subtly narrowed at Lucy's words, "Considering some of them have died, it would be hard to do it."

Ethan didn't know what just happened, but he could feel the tension between the two of them. Curious, he asked Theodore, "Died?"

"My lovers were mostly old women. They were quite mature in their thoughts compared to the younger girls," explained Theodore, and Ethan nodded his head.

"I see. You are a man of many mysteries, Advisor Theodore," Ethan tried to brighten up the atmosphere. "The fight must have been quite bad."

"I will see you later, Ethan. I remembered I have something urgent to do," Lucy bowed her head and slipped out of the corridor.

Lucy's steps were quick on the floor as she tried to get away as far as she could from where Theodore was. It wasn't her business what Theodore did or whom he spoke to. Some of his words pushed her even though she didn't have to care about it. When she reached the other side of the castle, she saw Theodore walking from the other side.

Lucy opened her mouth, ready to speak but then she closed it. It was better to ignore the man and she decided to walk past him,

"What was that?" Theodore asked her.

Lucy raised her eyebrows as if she didn't know what Theodore was speaking about, "What?"

"What you just said there," stated Theodore, removing the glasses from his face. "It sounded like you were jealous."

"I think you were hit quite badly to assume it," replied Lucy.