The Crown's Obsession

Music Recommendation: Avenues - Seth Fernsby

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Lucy watched Ethan walk up to where she stood. In those spare seconds, she couldn't help but ponder on the words that Theodore had uttered to her. Was it true that Ethan liked her? But then why didn't she realize it until now?

Her eyes took in the man's presence, who offered her his kind smile, "Is something wrong, Lady Lucy?" he questioned her in concern, noticing her stare at him.

"Um, it's nothing," Lucy shook her head. "I just got lost in my thoughts. Thinking about the wedding."

Ethan nodded his head, "Yes, it is good that everything went accordingly without any much things going around. Now we have a Queen."

"We do," replied Lucy, turning quiet as she tried not to stare at him this time. Theodore had surely not told it out of spite, did he? Slowly her eyes moved to look at Ethan, who had a smile on his face as he was busy looking at the people on the dance floor.

While they stood next to each other, Lucy noticed how his expression subtly changed on seeing Ethan standing next to her. It seemed like Theodore didn't like Ethan because he believed she would give her heart to Ethan.

Their eyes met, staring at each other from where they stood. Lucy couldn't help herself but admire the man who looked sophisticated in the black suit. Theodore had always been a looker because of his elegant demeanour, and it was hard to believe that he didn't come from a well-known family and, in truth, had come from the dark alleys and the streets.

When someone came to stand in front of him to speak, they broke their gazes, and Lucy looked somewhere else so that no one would catch her staring at him.

It was strange how she was always trying to catch up to him in the past, following everywhere he went so that she could look at him. She had put her heart and soul into loving him wholly, and the way things had ended a few weeks before she got married, it had been the hardest time she had spent. Even harder to live with a man whom she didn't love after her marriage. She had cried at night, time after time until the tears had dried, and there was no more of it for her to shed.

"Lucy?"

"What?" Lucy turned to look back at Ethan, who had a quizzical look on his face.

"You look distracted. Is something the matter?" asked Ethan in a polite tone, and Lucy shook her head.

"Everything is fine," she answered him before asking, "Would you like to dance, Ethan?"

For a moment, she saw him turn startled before he nodded his head, "I would be delighted, milady, if you allow me the chance."

Ethan bowed at her before taking her hand in his and leading her to the dance floor where Calhoun and his bride were dancing with the others.

Lucy couldn't help but want to know the truth if Ethan had feelings for her for a very long time, but at the same time, she wondered what would be the point by knowing it. It wasn't like she would be able to return his feelings to him as she had never seen him that way apart from being a good friend. She decided not to ask him, letting it be.

"Did you speak to the King about moving to the mansion, Lady Lucy?" inquired Ethan.

Lucy nodded her head, "I did. He is willing to support me with my decision," she answered him as they danced. One hand in his hand and the other was placed on his shoulder. She couldn't help but wonder if Ethan was helping her because he still had feelings for her. "If you don't mind, may I ask you something?"

"Please go ahead," Ethan responded to her curiosity.

Lucy wet her lips as she tried to get the right sentence from her mouth without it being too direct, "Why didn't you find any person to marry until now? I mean, everyone gets married, I did too," she chuckled in her dry humour.

Ethan didn't take her words to be intrusive as Lucy had always been someone who had been outspoken with him. He stared into the vampiress' eyes, "I guess I didn't have the heart to marry."

"Because of the girl?" asked Lucy, and he shook his head.

"I wouldn't like to blame her. She had no idea of my feelings towards her and maybe it would have never happened. As time has passed, I have come to learn that some things in this world are meant to be while some things are not meant to be even after years," responded Ethan. "Do not feel bad for me, Lady Lucy. I don't...resent the girl. You don't have to hate her," he laughed at the end.

Lucy smiled at his words. Ethan was a good man, and she wished for him nothing but happy life.

"I will try not to hate her," she laughed with him. "I hope you can find love again, Ethan. I am sure there are plenty of women out there who are eager to marry you."

"Thank you for your encouragement, Lady Lucy," he answered as he stepped back and she stepped forward.

While Lucy continued to dance with Ethan, she caught Theodore looking at them, but his expression didn't change. It was like watching a man who was frozen in time.

It wasn't that she was trying to punish Theodore. She was tired of being hurt. She was being careful as the pain continued to linger in her mind that she had carried for the past two decades. Emotions like those didn't disappear in a week or two. But then she remembered what Aunt Monique had advised her.

Lucy wondered if it would be easy to let it go, the pain she had been holding.

The celebration continued, and Lucy stepped out of the castle for some fresh air. For the last few days, she had needed a lot of fresh air, and she wanted to stay away from people.

"Didn't think there would be somebody here," said a voice from her right side. Lucy turned to find one of the High House members she had seen around Calhoun, who now stood at the garden side.

Lucy bowed her head, and the man did the same. His silver hair was smooth and straight that had been tied into a ponytail, "You can have this side of the garden, I was about to leave."

"That's fine," said the man. "I came to view the beauty of the garden. What are you doing here, instead of being inside?" He looked at the walls of the castle.

"I thought I would take a walk. I am not used to staying around too many people."

The man nodded his head understandingly, "I know how that feels," but his eyes looked at her as if he didn't believe her words. "May I?" he asked, glancing at the bench.

"Please," Lucy said, giving way for him, and as the man walked past her, she felt a sense of calmness wash over her mind. She took a seat herself on the other side of the bench.

"I don't think we officially met with each other, I am Reginald and you must be King Calhoun's sister- Lady Lucy," said the man. The High House members who had come to attend the wedding hadn't changed themselves to wedding clothes and instead wore their uniform, a long black cloak with a collar. "Wonderful, isn't it? To see your dear ones getting married. Time moves so quickly."

Lucy smiled at the man's words. "Indeed it is."

The man had a faint smile and a distant look in his eyes, "Children grow up so quick that you don't even realize, but be happy for them. For a person like me, everyone are my children, almost," he added when Lucy gave him a look. "It seems like you are holding some heavy thoughts in that mind of yours."

"Are you a mind reader?" asked Lucy, and Reginald smiled.

"Unfortunately, I don't have such profound skills. But I have often hear that burdens turn lighter when you share it with others. It eases your mind," said the High House member.

Lucy looked down at her hands, and a small sigh escaped her lips, "Frankly my mind is too blank to think anything."

After a few seconds passed, she finally said, "Would you forgive a person easily?"

"Maybe," came the answer from the man, "But then it depends on if the plea for forgiveness is asked sincerely or not. We all make mistakes, don't we. I think I did one too, and I only hope I can rectify it." Reginald looked up at the clear sky, "We all do something that we regret, but sometimes we do things to protect."

"Why not be truthful about it?" asked Lucy. "It would avoid so many heartbreaks. Why do we complicate things by not talking when it is needed?"

A faint smile appeared on Reginald's lips, "Maybe the person was trying to protect you, thinking about your well being. There is a time for everything, milady. Sometimes, it might not be the right time to tell things to a person because not everyone takes things well. It is all circ.u.mstantial."

Hearing this, Lucy turned quiet.

Reginald said, "If the person truly means sorry for what happened, why not mend it, instead of wasting the precious life by being angry at that person."

Lucy wondered if this person, by chance, had any idea about whom he was speaking about.